5 Bedtime Routines to Help You Ease into Sleep

In such uncertain times, it can be hard to shut our minds off and relax — especially for a good night’s sleep. Whether it’s checking the news before bed or stressing about work the next day, the worries that run through our mind can often prohibit us from getting proper sleep. 

One way to relax before bed is by creating a soothing bedtime routine for adults. Creating a relaxing bedtime routine signals to our brain that it’s time to go to bed and can result in a deeper sleep. To help, we’ve outlined five of the best bedtime routines for adults below.  Set an Alarm  

Oftentimes we get wrapped up in a TV show or a good book and end up going to bed at a much later hour than we intended. Your bedtime routine should start and end at the same time each night. This consistency is great for sleep. To help, set an alarm an hour to 30 mins before you want to head to bed. Use this time to unplug and unwind before you hit the hay.  Take a Hot Shower or Bath  

Taking a hot shower or bath before bed lowers the body’s temperature and promotes healthy sleep. Even if you prefer to shower in the morning, taking a shower at night allows you to wash off the day you just had. Take your time in the shower and consider putting on a relaxing playlist.  Write a To-Do List  

Lying awake thinking about the laundry list of things you have to do the next day will only increase your anxiety and make it harder for you to fall asleep. To help, write down a to-do list of the top seven to ten things you need to get done the night before. This will ease your mind and help you drift off into sleep.  Practice Yoga  

Yoga has many positive benefits including the effects it has on sleep. Certain yoga poses can relax your muscles and mind, making it easier to fall and stay asleep. Consider practicing five minutes of yoga before bed. Try muscle-relaxing moves like the wide-legged forward bend, seated spinal twist, and knees to chest stretch.  Use Aromatherapy  

Aromatherapy is a common technique used for stress management. Various types of essential oils can be applied to the skin or a diffuser to help you relax. Scents like lavender are great for helping you doze off. 

While there is no one-size-fits-all bedtime routine, there are some great all-natural methods to signal to your body that it’s time for bed. Nightly yoga and aromatherapy are just two of the many all-natural bedtime routines that are extremely beneficial for your health. To learn more about bedtime routines for adults, take a look at the infographic courtesy of Casper below. 

---

Don't Get Tackled By Fitness

Are you trying to get fit? The struggle is certainly real, and one of the reasons people shy away
from fitness is due to the problems they find when they first try and get healthy. We have good news
on that front though because there are a few simple steps that you can take to keep your health in
check and avoid the usual issues that mean people tend to end up back on the sofa rather than in a
fitness schedule. Updated to add 15 Apps to Keep You Healthy While Sheltering in Place

Forgetting To Wear The Right Gear

Pic Source

What you wear is important when trying to keep fit. You might think that people choose their exercise
wear to look stylish and cool, but they don’t. Well, okay, some do, but most are choosing the clothing
and items that are going to benefit them the most. For instance, you don’t wear sweatbands to look
good. You use a head sweatband to stop it dripping down your hair or face and into your eyes while
running. Trust us, when you’re trying to finish a two-mile jog the last thing you want is a blurred vision!

Or, how about socks. A lot of people wear socks that aren’t seen because this is stylish, apparently?
But you should really be wearing exercise socks. Exercise socks for women and indeed men are
available online. The right socks can make sure that you don’t get a blister on your foot which can
be a fantastic excuse to give to yourself why you can’t exercise.

Hitting The Gym Too Hard

Pic Source

Determination and positive energy are both fantastic traits to have when you’re trying to get fit, but
you don’t want to be too active too fast. Weightlifting is a good example here. Weightlifting can
benefit your body in a number of ways but lifting too much when you start off will have catastrophic
effects. You’ll wake up the next morning unable to lift your arms above your chest.

If you do have this issue, then you won’t be able to workout again for a couple days at least, which
can throw your exercise routine completely out of whack.

Relying On Alternate Methods

Credit Source

There are lots of alternatives to a good hard workout that people put forward to try and get fit. For
instance, you might have heard of supplements. While health supplements can be beneficial, it’s
important to realize that they should be used with exercise, not on their own. You also need to eat
well, or you will continue to put on extra pounds, regardless of how many supplements you take.

Going It Alone

Credit Source

Last but not least, it’s not a smart move to try and exercise alone. It’s far better to actually get out
there with friends or even make it a family activity. Why should you do this? Well, you need someone
to keep pushing you to do more and get you moving. Otherwise, you will end up back binge watching
shows on the TV. Usually, if you head to the gym, you will find someone on your exercise schedule
happy to help out.

A Guide On Roth and Traditional IRAs

Controlling your money is difficult, but the worry of running out of money throughout retirement can be overwhelming. 46% of people say that they haven’t started saving for retirement, but setting up an IRA account is easy. With this guide, you’ll know the in’s and out’s to Roth and Traditional plans with Accuplan. 

When taxes are involved, it can be reasonably complicated. Still, with Traditional plans, you pay your taxes once you retire, but remember when you withdraw an amount from your account, that it will be taxed before it gets to you. Roth plans are a little different from how their taxes work as you pay your fees upfront. So when you contribute an amount of money, you will be taxed on this amount before it hits your account, meaning your withdrawals are free. 

If you are after a cheap way to invest while the idea of your tax bracket changing one in a while changing, a Roth plan will be the better option. Otherwise, if the idea of a moving tax bracket worries you, then the Traditional method is for you. Ensure that you retire by seventy and a half to ensure the RMD doesn’t become active. 

If you choose the Roth plan, you will only be taxed if you decide to withdraw funds before you are fifty-nine and a half while early withdrawals with the Traditional IRA are taxable. If you are under the age of fifty-nine and a half, you will most likely need to pay an additional 10% on top. 

A Guide On Roth and Traditional IRAs Accuplan

What to Know Before Replacing Windows in Your House

Replacing windows in your house is a significant project that needs careful consideration and investment of time and money. So, you should plan well.

Replacing Windows in Your House; What Experts Want You to Know

Before the idea of replacing windows in your house comes to your mind, you have probably inspected your home and saw that the windows need replacement. Various reasons may necessitate window replacement. They include old and drafty windows, damaged windows and broken glass, among others. However, one thing that you should know is that window and door replacement is not something you should rush into. It takes time and resources, and therefore you need to plan well. Here are some things Total Home Barrie wants you to understand before diving into a windows and doors Barrie replacement project. Take a look.

1. You May Not Need Replacements, But Simply Repairs

Before you waste a lot of time and resources putting in replacement windows and doors, consider the fact that it may not be necessary. However, whether to replace your windows and doors or repair them will depend on various aspects such as the extent of the problem you are trying to fix. That is why it is essential to do a thorough inspection of the windows and doors before making a decision of what to do. For instance, the cost of replacing basement windows may be high compared to the cost of repairing them.

2. You Don’t Have To Use The Same Style

Assuming that you have decided replacing windows in house is the better option than repairs, should you install the same style of window that is currently installed? No. Nowadays, there are many window options that you can consider. You will be overwhelmed by many options available in the market. Your window installer will help you choose the best option that complements your home's architectural style.

3. Energy Rating Is A Key Consideration

As professions from Total Home Barrie will tell you, energy ratings is a key consideration when selecting windows and doors Barrie. Many aspects determine this feature, but the key thing you would want to make sure is that your window offers the best insulation. As such, you would want to opt for triple or double pane windows. You should also consider the material making your doors and windows. The material affects the amount of heat or cold getting into your home.


With the help of your contractor, you will be able to understand various energy ratings and what each rating means. That will make it possible for you to select the right one for you. Remember that through investing in energy-efficient windows and doors Barrie in your home, you stand a chance to enjoy tax benefits.

4. The Professional You Choose To Work With Matters

When it comes to replacing windows in house, most homeowners emphasize on the selection of the window materials and style. Those are essential considerations. However, you shouldn’t underestimate the need to choose a professional to install your windows and doors. Window and door installation companies vary significantly; therefore, you would want to choose the best company to work on your project.

Securing & Supporting Your Home Finances During Lockdown

Our most precious asset is under threat, due to Covid-19. People are no longer heading out to go to work, employers are unable to pay salaries and no one really knows when this will all end. It's quite a nerve-wracking time because the financial world doesn’t just come to a halt. We’re still having to pay our rent, mortgage, and utility bills. Governments have stepped up to provide relief in the form of different stimulus packages but, even this may not be enough. We’re in uncharted water and no one seems to know what the best move forward is. It's in your best interest to start looking at your own options and not rely on other means to secure your home during the lockdown.

Indices to the rescue?

Index funds were just beginning to rise to the top of the investment options pile. They took a brief hit, but they are slowly but surely becoming the best option once again. You should consider speaking with an index fund firm and see what your options are. Index funds offer a lot of advantages other forms of investment don’t. For one, the risk is broadly spread and the risk appetite is kept in one index per investment. This pretty much ensures that even if you were to make a loss in one particular stock, you would have it balanced out by another stock rising. This is the great thing about investing in indices because you’re keeping your investment in a broad spectrum with many options that other investors will run to when one is dropping in value. Index funds can be used as collateral for home finances. They’re happily accepted by many loan companies and bank mortgages.

A long-term shift

If you believe that the financial hit to you will be too severe for a short-term solution, then home refinance rates are something to look into. For loans that are up to around $500,000, you could choose from a range of lengths and rates. If you’d like a 30-year fixed plan, the rate will be 3.500%, 0.125 points, 3.544% APR with a total number of payments of 360. The monthly payments would be $1,347.13. As you would expect, this is for those that are planning to be homeowners for a long time so you should be sure that you will be able to make these payments hundreds of times over. For a high balance fixed-rate loan, one of the options is a 15-year fixed at 3.375% rate, 0.125 points, 3.405% APR and a total payment number of 180. The monthly payments will be $4,252.56 but you can borrow between $510,000 to $765,000. 

Precious metal 

Gold has been on the rise since Christmas. Going from $1,344 to around $1,730 per ounce. This particular precious metal can be used as collateral as it's an asset with stable growth patterns even during economic turmoil. 

If you would like extra help to secure your home during this troubling financial time, you should look for index funds, gold, and fixed-rate loans to refinance or support your home.