Gunman dead following deadly shooting in New York
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Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
5 Work-Life Balance Non-Negotiables That Will Save Your Sanity — and Your Wealth
In one of the most iconic moments of 'The Simpsons,' Homer stares at his work console to find photos of baby Maggie plastered all over it, along with a simple mantra: 'Do it for her.' Learn More: Check Out: While you're probably a much harder worker than Homer Simpson, you still have the people, pets and goals you support. And sometimes, you're prone to overworking. You forget that you have to do certain things for yourself, like achieving better work-life balance. In the time you've spent giving all of your energy to your job, you may have neglected things like taking a walk, laughing with a friend or refining your financial plans — things that will make your life materially better. While you can't always control your workload, you can treat work-life balance as non-negotiable by adopting these five habits. Your heart, soul and wallet will thank you. 1. Set Boundaries Instead of Carrying It All Remember the myth of Atlas, the titan forced to carry the entire world on his shoulders? Before you joke that it's no myth — that it's your daily life at work — just know that he doesn't have to be your role model. If you've become the default go-to person for, well, everything on your team, you may need to take a step back and re-arrange your priorities. When you continually volunteer to take things on, others will take you up on it. You fall into a pattern, resentment builds, and burnout starts to creep in. Over time, you could become so overwhelmed that you leave your job, even if it means accepting less pay. Instead of letting it reach that point, set boundaries and claim your time. Start by setting up clear expectations for what you will and won't take on for each project. And yes, hard as it is, you should stop responding to work messages outside office hours. For You: 2. Prioritize Self-Improvement Beyond Work Whether it's taking a long walk after work, plugging into your favorite meditation app or enjoying a movie, you're better equipped to enjoy life and succeed at work if you're doing things that boost your mood and your mind. Cultivating your hobbies and self-care outside of the office will improve your physical and mental health — and can also spark financial growth. With the time and intellectual bandwidth you've regained by setting boundaries, you could meet with a financial advisor to map out money goals, like investing for retirement or setting up an estate plan. 3. Learn Skills That Improve Life, Not Just Work Like any dedicated employee, you've spent a lot of your personal time brushing up on job-related skills — finishing LinkedIn Learning modules, watching expert videos and earning certifications. While these efforts aren't necessarily wasted, they shouldn't be the only kind of growth you pursue. Real work-life balance means investing in yourself in ways that go beyond your career. That could mean learning to cook a few nourishing meals, finally taking a photography class or picking up a new language before your next big trip. These types of skills expand your world, boost your confidence and bring joy and fulfillment into your daily routine. Of course, personal growth can include money matters too, but it doesn't have to feel like work. If you've been curious about how to make your money stretch further or how to protect your future, explore financial topics that support your overall life goals, like planning a sabbatical, budgeting for a creative pursuit, or setting up a simple estate plan for peace of mind. 4. Protect Your Mental Health To Avoid Overspending You're not just burned out — you're crispy fried. So tired, in fact, that you're hitting the drive-thru again even though your fridge is stocked. And once you're home, scrolling aimlessly on your phone, that impulse buy becomes the one bright spot in your day. When work feels like it's sucking the life force out of you, you're more vulnerable to emotional overspending. Rather than let it wreck your mood and your bank account, talk to a trusted friend or counselor about how you're feeling. Many employers offer Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that can connect workers to counseling or therapy services. You can also check your health insurance benefits to find a therapist in-network. 5. Use Company Benefits to Your Advantage To paraphrase JFK: Ask not what you can do for your company — ask what your company can do for you. That starts with using your paid time off. If you've been banking PTO, take a real vacation. If your company has a 'use it or lose it' policy, make sure you're not leaving money (or rest) on the table. And if you're owed any money for past unused PTO days, make sure you get your payout. And while you're scheduling your overdue vacation, set up a health savings account (HSA) if your employer offers one, and check whether you're eligible for wellness stipends or reimbursements. These can help offset costs for gym memberships, mental health apps or even massages. And don't forget: someday, you'll retire. Make those golden years that much brighter by taking advantage of your company's 401(k) match — it's basically free money for your future. Bottom Line Taking care of yourself helps you thrive — physically, mentally and financially. When you treat work-life balance as a priority instead of a luxury, you'll uncover benefits that extend far beyond the From GOBankingRates 5 Steps to Take if You Want To Create Generational Wealth I'm a Financial Advisor: My Clients Who Retire Early All Do These 3 Things 4 Things You Should Do if You Want To Retire Early Dave Ramsey: The 3 Worst Mistakes People Make When Trying To Build Wealth This article originally appeared on 5 Work-Life Balance Non-Negotiables That Will Save Your Sanity — and Your Wealth Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
19 minutes ago
- CBS News
Melvindale home damaged in fire early Thursday
No injuries were reported in the aftermath of a house fire early Thursday in Melvindale, Michigan. The call was made just before 6 a.m. to report the house fire on Wall Street. The Dearborn Fire Department responded and noticed heavy smoke when they arrived. Everyone who was inside the house at the time got out and firefighters got the blaze under control shortly afterwards, the Dearborn Fire Department reported. The fire marshal will do an investigation into the cause.
CNET
an hour ago
- CNET
No Excuses — Clean Your Air Conditioner. Here's How
Summer is well underway and with how hot it was last year, you'll want to keep your air conditioner on to ensure you have a peaceful cool summer season. But the real question is how well does your air conditioner perform? After all, if you run your AC for a long time, allergens, hair and dust can begin to accumulate in the air filter. This is why regular cleaning of AC units is necessary, just like other appliances. Neglecting your AC by not cleaning it can lead to energy waste and increased costs. As heating and cooling account for the largest share of home energy use, and with a CNET survey reporting that 78% of Americans are concerned about rising energy bills, maintaining your system is more important than ever. With the rising costs of, well, absolutely everything thanks to inflation, it's more crucial than ever to save where possible. A CNET survey revealed that 93% of Americans are concerned about inflation, and given the current situation in the US, many of us will struggle to get by. If you plan to continue using your air conditioner, ensure it's operating efficiently to avoid high electricity bills. CNET Changing the filter on a regular basis is the most important factor in ensuring your AC delivers as much cool air as possible but there are other ways an AC gets dirty and backed up. Giving your AC a full cleaning on a regular basis will ensure it lasts as long as possible and functions as it's supposed to. It's important to change the filter regularly, as it is key to keeping your AC working efficiently and providing plenty of cool air. Besides that, your AC can get dirty and clogged in other ways, which is why giving it a thorough cleaning often will help it last longer and perform at its best. For other ways to help keep you cool throughout the summer, check out our window AC buying guide. We also have guides and how-tos on how to fix a noisy air conditioner and how to tell if it's time to replace your AC. Read more: Lower Your Electric Bill This Summer With These Air Conditioning Tips Gather your AC cleaning materials You'll need a few items from around the house to give your air conditioner a thorough clean. Before you get started, grab the following materials: Compressed air Drip tray to place beneath your unit Fin comb Mild soap or detergent Reusable cloth Screwdriver Spray bottle filled with 3% hydrogen peroxide Warm water 1. Clean the filter A dirty filter is the No. 1 reason AC units stop working properly. mphillips007/Getty Images Cleaning the filter inside your window AC unit is the most critical thing you can do to keep it working smoothly. It's a good idea to wash the filter monthly, even if you don't clean the entire appliance. Here's how to do it. First, make sure your air conditioner is unplugged, then take off the front panel and remove the filter. If it's covered in dust or hair, use a vacuum to clear away as much debris as you can. From there, wash your filter with warm, soapy water and set it out to dry. Wait until it's fully dry before putting it back into your window AC unit. It's also a good idea to replace your air conditioner filter regularly. The exact frequency will depend on how much you use your AC and environmental factors but you should strive to swap your filter out every six weeks to six months. 2. Wipe down the grill and exterior Wiping down the front grill can help air flow your filter is drying, wash the grill with warm water and mild detergent. Or if you don't want to wash it, you can instead use a damp reusable cloth to wipe it down -- just make sure to clean thoroughly in between the gaps where air comes out. Let it dry completely before reattaching it. Once you've cleaned the grill, wipe down the top and sides of the air conditioner. Take care to get inside small spaces where it's easy for dirt and dust to collect. Wait until the grill and exterior are fully dry before running the unit. 3. Dust off the fins and coils Don't forget the back of your AC unit if you can get to it. Screenshot by David Watsky/CNET Now it's time to roll up your sleeves and get inside your AC unit. You don't need to dust the fins and coils every time you clean your air conditioner but most manufacturers recommend doing it quarterly or semiannually. First, take a fin comb or soft bristle brush and gently comb the aluminum fins inside your AC. Take your time during this process because the fins bend easily and can be sharp. If you notice any bent fins, gently move them back into place. Next, spray your can of condensed air inside the unit to dust off the coils. You should be as thorough as possible to remove any debris that could be preventing your appliance from working correctly. Paint your house instead of installing air conditioning Paint your house instead of installing air conditioning Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 3:04 Loaded : 0.00% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 3:04 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Paint your house instead of installing air conditioning 4. Clean out the tray and drain Finish the interior clean of your window AC unit by emptying the drip tray and clearing the drain. To remove debris or dirty water from your tray, grab a wet-dry vacuum (if you have one) or a damp cloth and pull out everything that's collected inside. Leave it to dry before reassembling. Finally, check the drain to see if anything is blocking it. Use your cloth to wipe around the opening and make sure there's a clear pathway for water to exit your unit. 5. Reassemble and spray cleaner on your unit A clean AC unit will power you through the hottest summer days. Martin LaMonica/CNET After you've cleaned and dried everything, it's time to reassemble your window AC unit and give it a final spray to prevent mildew from growing. Grab your hydrogen peroxide spray bottle and apply the solution to the areas where air flows in and out. Wait for the peroxide to dry before using your appliance -- and you're done. Not only will you breathe in cleaner and colder air but you'll extend the life of your air conditioner as well. Final tips In addition to cleaning it regularly, there are other steps you can take to keep your air conditioner in proper working order. For instance, remove it from your window and store it inside during the winter months or when you won't be using it for long periods of time. If this seems like more work than you're willing to put in, you can always hire a professional to clean your window air conditioner for you. To find someone, ask your friends and family for referrals or check with reputable service providers in your area. Whether you decide to bring in an expert or clean it yourself, just make sure to stick to a regular cleaning schedule. At a minimum, clean your filter monthly and spray your unit with hydrogen peroxide to fend off mildew. FAQs What is the most important part of the AC to keep clean? The filter is the most important part to keep clean in your air conditioner. It can easily become clogged with hair, dust and other debris, and this can affect the AC's cool air flow and energy efficiency. How often should I be cleaning the inside of my air conditioner? You should be cleaning the inside of your air conditioner at least twice a year, according to most AC manufacturers.
