Lifehacks 21

Most people think that the conditioner is only effective for the hair. That you must apply it on the strands and then keep it away for your next hair-wash session. But, the conditioner can serve more purposes than just that. In fact, there are some easy hacks which you need to know about, which are believed to make your life easier. Here are some interesting uses of your regular hair conditioner that you ought to know about.

* You can use the conditioner as a bath moisturiser. Especially if you have used a body scrub, or a bathing lather which created a lot of foam. In order to get back the natural moisture of the body, you can add a little bit of conditioner to your bath, just as you are getting done. In no time you will get a moisturised skin.

* The next thing you need to keep in mind is that since conditioners smell really nice, people like to use it to enhance the fragrance of their hair. But, the conditioner can also make your clothes smell great. You can make your own fabric softener and refresher. For this, you need to mix a little bit of conditioner with some water and put it in a spray bottle. Just shake the bottle so that the contents inside mix thoroughly, and then spritz it on the clothes from a distance. This works when you do not feel like washing your clothes but want them to smell fresh.

* Conditioners can also be used as shaving cream. The goal is to moisturise your skin and we have already explained how conditioners can make that happen.

* You can get soft cuticles for both your manicure and your pedicure session, if you apply just a little bit of the conditioner on the nails using a cotton swab. Massage the cuticles gently and they will get soft in no time.

* If your shower drain gets clogged for some reason, just pour a little amount of conditioner down it, to loosen the clog. You must follow it up by pouring a little bit of hot water down the drain to clear whatever has been clogging it.

* It is believed that you can even do your laundry using conditioners, especially if you have run out of laundry soap. Just put your clothes in a clean sink. Soak them in hot water and then pour a teaspoon of conditioner. Let the clothes stay like that in a foamy mix for half an hour, because you take them out, rinse and then dry.

Memory. Some of us claim to have poor ones, while others seem to remember everything. But is a strong memory really something innate? Or something we can work at?

It is important to know about some quick hacks and tricks to make life simpler. There are many interesting things that you can do at home with everyday objects. These life hacks save you a lot of time and resources. Today, we discuss about some interesting uses of cotton balls.

* Did you know that cotton balls can act as substitute for your perfume bottle? In case you are stepping out and do not want to carry a bottle with you, just pour a few drops into a few cotton balls, and then put them in a zip pouch. Whenever you think you need a touch-up, just dab the cotton on the neck and under-arm, and you are good to go.

* In the same way, you can make any corner of your house smell blissfully serene. Just soak a few cotton balls in an essential oil of your choice, and place them in a bowl in a particular corner. You can also add a few drops of vanilla extract on the cotton ball and place it in your cupboard for your clothes to smell great all the time.

* Just like your perfume, you can also pack your makeup and carry it with you in a cotton ball. Wipe your favourite bronzer, blush, etc., on a cotton ball and put in a zip bag. Take it out whenever you think you need a touch-up.

* Cotton balls can also protect your feet from blisters. Place it in any area where you think your feet rub the most against the footwear. This will prevent blisters and even corns from coming up, or protect a particularly vulnerable portion of the skin.

* When you are storing your jewellery, or carrying it somewhere, give it the much-needed protection and cushion of cotton balls. This way, it will keep it from breaking.

* Also, you can extend the life of rubber gloves and stop them from ripping, by storing some cotton balls near the finger tips. This way the holes won’t come up soon.

* If you have spotted an ink stain on your shirt, remove it by soaking a cotton ball in alcohol solution and then applying it gently on the affected area.

Everyone knows turmeric is a highly-effective home ingredient that can take care of many health issues. Not only does it add colour to the food you cook, but it can also take care of your beauty problems. For instance, did you know you can use it to make your teeth whiter, despite it being powerfully yellow? Or that there are many DIY scrubs and pastes you can make at home which have turmeric as the primary ingredient? While it suits almost all skin types, turmeric powder is known to work highly efficiently on sensitive skin.

Here are some other interesting beauty hacks you ought to know about, involving the humble turmeric. Read on to find out.

* Most people who use foundation during their everyday makeup routine, or even otherwise, complain that they do not always find the shade that is closest to their natural skin colour. As a result, they have to settle for one that is lighter. This problem can easily be fixed by using turmeric. Just take some foundation and add some turmeric powder to it. Mix them well and apply it on the back of the hand to check the shade. Now blend it on the face; it will give you a natural golden glow. You can also use this hack to fix your BB cream, if you think it is necessary.

* As mentioned earlier, turmeric powder works best on acne-prone and sensitive skin. You can use it to remove the scars from the face and also to soothe the acne. There is no need for you to make an elaborate face pack though. Simply take half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and mix it with half a teaspoon of aloe vera gel. Apply this coat on the breakouts for instant relief. Doing this regularly can give you a smoother skin.

* And finally, with the monsoons almost over and winters around the corner, the lips are likely to get dry. You can take care of your chapped lips by simply using turmeric. The powder can be used to make a quick lip scrub. Simply mix a pinch of it with petroleum jelly, and exfoliate your lips to remove the dry skin. Wipe it off with a tissue and then apply a moisturizer. Do it every day.

Which hack did you like the best?

Coconut oil is a household staple, especially in India. In fact, it is difficult to imagine not having to use the oil on a regular basis. Mostly, people associate its usage with cooking and hair care, and some even use it for enhancing the beauty of the skin. But, there are many interesting uses and purposes of the oil, and you only need to know about it. Listed below are some unique life hacks; find out.

* Did you know that coconut oil can be used as an aftershave lotion? While some women use it after they have shaved their legs and arms, in an effort to moisturise the skin and treat any minor cuts and bruises, men can do the same after they have shaved their beard. If you suddenly realise there is no aftershave lotion in the house, worry not. Just rub a little bit of coconut oil on your face to make the skin feel smooth and glossy.

* The oil can be used to make a healthy, natural and home-made toothpaste. You can mix the oil with baking soda and a little bit of peppermint oil, too, to make the perfect toothpaste at home. It will keep your teeth and gums healthy.

* Given that is a great moisturiser, you can even use it to treat cuts and dryness in the paws of your pet. After all, they deserve to experience the goodness of the oil, too. Just massage the oil on their paws on a daily basis.

* If you want to add a shine to your old wooden furniture, you can do that as well, by rubbing coconut oil on the surface, and using a clean cotton cloth to gently wipe it clean. Your wooden furniture will begin to look new in no time.

* The oil has natural healing qualities. As such, you can use it to treat minor bug bites or mosquito bites. Just apply the oil on the skin to reduce the itchiness and the redness. Do it every time you feel uncomfortable, and you will notice that your skin will benefit greatly from it.

* You can also use it to remove makeup. Just wash your face with water, and then dab your face with a cotton pad soaked in cotton oil to gently remove your makeup before bed. It is a clean and effective process.

* You can also clean your makeup brushes using coconut oil. Just add a little bit of coconut oil to warm water, and soak the brushes overnight. In the morning they will look brand new.

You need to control your time rather than just haphazardly try to manage it. Setting priorities and commiting to a solution is what makes you boss of your own time. The busier you become, the more you have to manage, control and prioritize. Although I certainly don’t have some scientific formula that will magically make this easier, I can tell you one thing: If you start with a commitment to success and then agree to control time, you will create an agenda that accommodates all you want.

You have to decide how you are going to use your time. You must command, control, and squeeze every second out of it in order to increase your footprint and dominate the marketplace. Get everyone necessary — your family, colleagues, associates, employees — to recognize and agree upon which priorities are most important. If you don’t do this, you will have people with different agendas pulling you in all sorts of directions. My schedule works for me because everyone in my life from my wife to the people who work with me knows what is most important to me and understands how I value time. This allows us to handle everything else that comes our way.

In our culture, we’re frequently encouraged to “slow down, relax, take it easy, find balance” and just “be happy” with where we are and what we have. Although this can sound great in theory, it can be very difficult for people who abandon every decision to be in control of their lives. Most people can’t simply “relax and take it easy” because they never do enough to free themselves from the meager existence that comes as a result of mediocre actions.

Work should provide a purpose, a mission, and a sense of accomplishment. These things are vital to every single person’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. People who promote the new age, esoteric advice to “take it slow” are encouraging a mindset that isn’t doing anyone any good. Consider the types of traits this thinking has created in people: laziness, procrastination, lack of urgency, sloth, tendency to blame others, irresponsibility, entitlement, expecting someone else to solve your problems.

Wake up! No one is going to save you. No one is going to take care of your family or your retirement. No one is going to “make things” work out for you. The only way to do so is to utilize every moment of every day at 10X levels. This will ensure that you accomplish your goals and dreams. Happiness, security, confidence, and fulfillment come from utilizing your gifts and energy to achieve whatever you’ve decided success is for you. And it requires every bit of your time, which is yours — and only yours — to control.

If you want to turn your life around, think about what are some of your own time wasters? How much time do you spend on wasteful activities every day (e.g., watching television, smoking, drinking, oversleeping, getting coffee, having lunches or meetings with no business opportunities)?