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 At a company I consulted with, there was a manager, Brad, who would never think of taking a full week away from the office. "Much too much to do, and I don't really need it anyway," he told me. Brad hasn't had a vacation for over 6 years & just gets by.
Mirna, at the same company, took her family on a first trip to Hawaii. She came back tanned, relaxed, excited and energized! She can't wait to go on her next trip! She is now a Top 20% closer.
Vacations are key to staying energized, focused, rested and motivated. When you are energized and motivated, you perform better. Not all vacations are created equally however, and there are definitely some guidelines and "best practices" to ensure that you get the most out of your vacation.
Here are "The 5 Secrets to Taking A Great Vacation" -- enjoy!
Secret #1: Schedule and pay for your trips at least six months or more in advance.
By planning, scheduling and paying for your trips far in advance, you're almost certain to actually take them.
Benefit: When you plan that far in advance, you get to look forward to it for months! It's a great motivator.
Secret #2: Go somewhere special.
Make a list right now of the six places you and your family would love to go to. Then enlist their help! It's a great family activity. Book it now. Buy the airfare, book the hotel and car and pay for it.
Benefit: Watch the attitude of your family change -- for the better.
Secret #3: Don't return to work until Tuesday!
Even though you get back Saturday or Sunday, don't go right back to the office. Give yourself time to readjust. Nothing ruins a good vacation more than going back to work the very next day.
Benefit: Reduce post vacation stress.
Secret #4: Take at least one mini vacation per quarter.
Also, plan to take at least one extended weekend break per quarter. Go somewhere on one. Spend others around the house getting things done or just relaxing. All the rules apply: plan, schedule, and pay in advance.
Benefit:Even more to look forward to!
Secret #5: Don't work while on vacation.
Your vacation is exactly that - a vacation! Leave your laptop, blackberry, and paperwork at the office. Resist the temptation to check in with your office. This is your and your family's time. Ask your sales manager or assistant to handle all business while away. They will do fine without you, and it will all be there when you return.
Benefit: You will actually feel like you're on vacation and you'll enjoy it even more!
If you follow these rules, you will not only enjoy your life more, but you'll be more productive at work as well. Imagine that -- more successful and happier!
 Keeping cool effectively in the heat of summer can be a challenge. Here are some ideas to beat the heat without breaking the bank.
1. Ice the air.
Running a fan? Set a bowl of ice cubes in front of it. The melting ice will cool the breeze, turning an ordinary fan into an air conditioner.
2. Clever cooling sachet.
Fill a clean sock with raw rice, seal it with a rubber band and put it in your freezer for at least two hours. Before you turn in, slide the frozen compress under the covers to cool the sheets. The rice will hold a chill for hours, so keep it handy to counteract any hot spots.
3. Work the windows.
When it's hotter out than in, close the window, pull the blinds and draw the drapes – the more layers between you and the sun the better. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates this can reduce the heat coming in by up to 45%.
4. Backward fan relief.
This trick could help you cut the A/C at night: simply open your bedroom window and position a fan so it's blowing the air out. Forcing hot air out of a room is twice as effective as trying to blow the cool air in.
5. Close your fireplace.
An open damper actually sucks hot air into your house. Just remember to open the damper back up before you light your first fire next fall.
6. Change your bulbs.
Compact fluorescents produce almost 70% less heat than standard incandescent bulbs generating the same amount of light.
Summer outdoors can be a very enjoyable experience. Here are some ideas to increase your pleasure outdoors.
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Keep flies away.
Put vases filled with mint and basil in the middle of the table. Flies don't like the odor and they'll find somewhere else to land.
Light up the area.
Keep votive candles from blowing out by stashing them inside terra-cotta pots. To double the glow, line the insides with aluminum foil.
Keep salads fresher longer.
To make sure a salad stays crisp and fresh in the outdoor heat, nest the bowl in a bigger bowl filled with salted ice. Toss regularly to keep everything cool.
Create a smoke-free zone.
If you're grilling your dinner, set up the grill downwind of the party so guests wont get smoked out.
Fend off mosquitoes.
Set up an area with bug spray or wipes in case mosquitoes come out at night. Add a box of baby wipes to clean residue off faces or hands. |
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Use this solution.
Put 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol in a 1-qt. spray bottle and fill with water. Give it a shake, and it's ready to use!
Sayonara, stubborn streaks.
All you need is a small squeegee, a sponge and two squirts of dish detergent in a bucket of water. Use the sponge to wet the window with the solution, than squeegee the streaks away!
Smart paper towel substitute.
Hate the lint left behind by paper towels? Use coffee filters to clean instead. Your windows will shine.
Use the news.
The best trick for drying off windows and leaving them without lines is newspaper. Crumple up a piece and wipe away excess liquid.
Lemony clean.
Clean your windows and scent your home at the same time. Add a 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. dishwashing liquid to 1 cup of water, put this mixture in a spray bottle for a green glass cleaner that smells great.
Great idea.
Wash the windows when the sun is not shining directly on the glass. The suns heat causes the windows to dry too fast, which can lead to streaks. |
 A heat pump is an air conditioning system that is capable of working in reverse. Part of the unit is located outside and part inside, and these parts act as condenser or evaporator depending on whether the indoor air is being cooled or heated. The heat pump can absorb heat from the air, from the ground or from a body of water.
Air to Air System
The evaporator (outside) absorbs heat from the outside air, even when the temperature is as low as 20° F because the refrigerant within the evaporator is at a low temperature. This type of unit is economical where winters are relatively mild. Where temperatures below zero are common, auxiliary heat is needed.
Geothermal System
These units use the ground or groundwater instead of outside air as their heat source. Ground and groundwater temperature remain relatively constant throughout the year. At six feet deep, the temperature in most areas is 45° F to 70° F. It is easier to capture heat from the ground at these ranges than from the air when the air temperature can be below zero. Geothermal units use a plastic pipe configuration to extract heat from the ground, groundwater or surface water.
Horizontal Ground Closed Loop – Is the most cost-effective and consists of a loop of parallel plastic pipes buried in trenches three to six feet deep.
Vertical Ground Closed Loop – This configuration is ideal where there is insufficient space. Vertical holes are bored in the ground 150 to 450 feet deep.
Pond Closed Loop – The plastic pipe is submerged under the water – and should only be used if the water level never drops below six to eight feet at its lowest level.
Open Loop – In this system, ground water from an aquifer is piped directly from a well to the building, where it transfers its heat to a heat pump and is then pumped back into the same aquifer via a discharge well.
Standing Column Well – Water from the bottom of a well is typically six inches in diameter and as deep as 1,500 feet, is drawn and circulated through the heat pump's heat exchanger and then returned to the top of the water column in the same well.
THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM PILLAR TO POST® HOME INFORMATION SERIES
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL HOME INSPECTOR FOR A FULL VERSION
How does the way you take the wheel reflect the road you're on?
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You're an innovator when you:
- rarely get nervous when merging
- favor the fast lane
- haved dodged fender-benders with your quick thinking
You're an ambitious charmer when you:
- are more comfortable going under the speed limit
- prefer side roads to highways
- always map things out before you go
You're a class act when you:
- enjoy a close-to-perfect driving record
- always drive at or close to the speed limit
- wave other cars through at intersections
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 Planning a summertime barbeque? Here are some safe-grilling tips to protect you and your family.
1) Position grills at least three feet from shrubs, bushes or other objects and maintain a distance of at least 10 feet from houses or other buildings.
2) Only use starter fluid made for outdoor barbecues when using a charcoal grill.
3) Before operating a gas grill, always check the connection between the propane tank and the fuel line to be sure it's working properly and not leaking.
4) Never use a match to check for leaks. If you detect a leak, turn off the gas immediately and don't try to light the grill until you've found out where the leak is and had it fixed.
5) Never use an outdoor grill in a garage, a breezeway, covered porch or indoors.
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- Do not operate pump in cooling mode if temperature is below 65° F.
- The outdoor portion of the heat pump should be free of debris and snow (and be at least 18 inches above the ground and level).
- Check the blower and filter and replace the filter monthly when in use.
- Check the fins on the condenser coils (exterior portion) at least twice a year.
- Check the manufacturer's manual for when and how to lubricate and make adjustments.
PILLAR TO POST® HOME INFORMATION SERIES
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