Live SV logo

Lennox

3 Things To Consider When Creating Your Budget For Your Home Renovation

If you are going to start working on some renovations around your home, one of the most important things to iron out before you start the work is your budget. Without a properly thought through and planned budget, you might find that you aren’t prepared to spend the money that is necessary for a quality renovation. On the other hand, you may also easily spend much more than you anticipated if you haven’t put some financial boundaries on yourself.

To help with both of these aspects of your project, here are three things to consider when creating your budget for your home renovation.

Prioritize Your Needs Over You Wants

Your budget is going to depend not only on what you can actually afford, but it will also depend on how big of a scope you’re hoping to cover within your projects. For smaller projects, you can usually get by with a smaller budget.

With this in mind, you’ll really have to think about the scope of your renovations when making your budget. If you don’t have a lot of money to work with, you’ll need to start with prioritizing your “needs” over your “wants”. But if you do have a lot of money to spend on your renovation, you can start getting into some of the things on your wishlist rather than just doing the bare minimum to make your home functional.

How Your Contactor Impacts Your Budget

Unless you’re planning on doing all of the work for your renovations yourself, you’re going to have to hire a contractor to do the actual work for you. This will add some money to your budget, since you’ll have to pay your contractor as well as paying for the materials they’ll be using.

While you might think that getting the cheapest contractor would be the best option for you financially, as with most things, you get what you pay for with a contractor. Generally, you should try to go with a contractor with a good reputation that has bid for your project in the middle of the road as far as costs. This way, you can know you’re working with someone who will give you a quality product without having to spend too much.

Think Ahead To Resale Value

It’s not only the cost of completing your home renovation project that you should consider when you’re planning your budget. With many renovations, you may end up increasing the resale value of your home along the way. And when this happens, you can recoup a lot of your costs once you sell your home. This may give you a little more flexibility in your budget if you know that you’ll be selling the home sooner rather than later and can then get a fast return on your investment.

If you’re trying to create a budget for your home renovation project, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you with this.

 

Tips For Properly Maintaining Your Home

Buying a home is one thing, but maintaining your home is a whole other thing. The responsibilities that come with owning a home cannot be ignored if you plan on enjoying that home for some years into the future.

If you’re a new homeowner, you may not even think about some of the aspects you’ll have to consider to keep your home in good condition through the years.

Take some time now to look over this brief compilation of a few tips for properly maintaining your home, and move forward as a more confident homeowner.

Maintain your HVAC unit

Keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter is an important part of ownership. Your HVAC unit does a lot to maintain the environment of your space, but there are things you need to do to keep the unit in good working order.

First, you need professionals to regularly come out and service your HVAC unit twice a year. You also need to do your part by changing the air filter on your unit once per month. Some units only require you to change the filter every six months, but it’s your responsibility to keep up with this factor.

Clean and clear your gutters

The gutters and downspouts on your house are a vital part of the home’s structure. You shouldn’t avoid maintaining them. They are there to draw rainwater away from the foundation of your home, making it less likely that moisture will collect in your basement space.

Twice a year, you should take the steps necessary to clean and clear your gutters and downspouts. You want water to freely move through the gutters, down the downspouts, and away from the base of your house.

Take measures to control pests

Pest are pests because they cause trouble in many different ways. Roaches, mice, and other common household pests can be very unsanitary in the home. They can also take over your house if left untreated.

The best move is to take action against pests to create a boundary around your space. Call professional pest control services to your home to create a chemical barrier that will keep common pests from entering your home.

Maintain the foliage in your yard

The upkeep of your yard is about more than just keeping everything aesthetically appealing to people. Keeping up with the foliage in your yard can save you a whole bunch of other problems in the future.

Unkempt trees and weeds can really cause damage to your home over time, and vines like poison ivy can take over your property rather quickly. It’s best to regularly trim and prune the foliage surrounding your home, and keep up with regular lawn care as well.

Must-Have Travel Beauty Essentials

Brown Cowboy Hat on Sand

Travelling can be beneficial to the mind, body, and soul. However, it can be unforgiving for your skin due to drastic changes in time zones, long days, red-eye flights, and layovers. Moreover, the tight schedule and the busyness of it all can take a toll on your skin. A non-negotiable to long-haul flights are never to disrupt your skincare regimen. Serums and creams like those from the SkinCeuticals product line may come in handy as a must-have trip essential.

From point A to B, weather pressure drops and even dietary changes may cause the dreaded skin breakouts, dryness, sunburn, or intense oiliness. So here are must-have travel beauty essentials you should bring during your travels.

The necessities

A pro-tip is choosing the most hardworking beauty products and travelling toiletries carefully. For example, instead of separately packing a moisturizer and a sunblock, opt for all in one tinted moisturizer. In this way, it functions as a cosmetic, seals in moisture while protecting the face from harmful UV rays. Streamline your beauty travel products through careful selection and planning.

The inclusions

Set aside the products for your daytime and evening skincare routine and the make-up items. Gather them in a travel pack and re-fill them accordingly. Be wary of expiration dates and best before notices to avoid allergic reactions. Place the products for regular use like a facial wash, moisturizer, lip balm, sunscreen, concealer, and mascara in your carry on. In this way, these items are accessible even during long-hour flights.

  • Moisturizer: Take with you a brand you trust. Depending on your skin type and preference, both creams and serums can bring intense hydration that is essential while you travel.
  • Primer: Select a brand that has built-in sunblock.
  • Concealer: Bring a tone that suits your skin colour and type.
  • Tinted Moisturizer
  • Mascara
  • Multi-tasking tint sticks for lips, eyes, and cheeks: Most tint sticks in the market today can act as colourant for the lips, cheeks, and eyes.
  • A palette for eyes, bronzer, and blush
  • Setting spray
  • Make-up removing wipes
  • Mini-eye roller
  • Under-eye cream
  • Sleep mask

Preparation for long haul flights

Overnight flights, transfers, and layovers can intensely dehydrate the skin. Furthermore, the first line of defence is drinking water consistently. To prepare for a long flight, a road trip, or a cruise, make sure not to sleep on your make-up. Instead, remove gunk and impurities and catch some snooze time when you can. Then, get rid of your make-up with wipes and kick start your basic skincare routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. Best to stick with your routine before going to sleep, like using a mini-eye roller, applying an under-eye cream, and putting on a sleep mask for 15 minutes. By sticking to this regimen, your skin gets to be pampered and refreshed.

Wrap-up

The must-have travel essential is your skincare regimen. Moreover, the key to stress-free travel is not to allow the journey to take a toll on your face and appearance. In this way, you look good and refreshed in your travel photos. Ultimately, it depends on visualizing your skincare routine and sticking to multi-tasking products as part of your travels.

The best foods to balance your hormones

Travelling through the bloodstream in our bodies, our hormones act as powerful chemical messengers. They control various aspects of our bodily functions, including our sex hormones. Therefore, ensuring we optimise our diet with the right foods will internally balance our hormones. During a monthly cycle, we can experience a range of disturbing symptoms, including sugar craving, bloating, weight gain, spots, and general sluggishness. Together with Complete Me, we’ve collated a super helpful guide to inform you of the optimal foods to balance your hormones and increase your sense of wellbeing.

Balancing Blood Sugar

As you’re probably aware, sugar is prevalent in so many foods that we enjoy, from the blackberries we add to our morning smoothies to our lunchtime sandwiches. Sugar is volatile, and although it offers a quick rush, we need to manage our intake. It’s common to experience significant crashes when your blood sugar dips after eating in excess, which means you need even more later on. And although it’s not a sex-related hormone, insulin is one of the most important hormones we need to balance. If our insulin levels are too low or too high, they will harm the others. Be sure to stabilise your blood sugar levels by eating at regular intervals throughout the day instead of gorging on lots of sugar in one go. Get into the habit of looking at the GL guide (glycemic load) of the foods you eat – typically, the lower, the better, so try and stick to these types of food. While carbohydrates are undoubtedly key to our diet, eating the correct ones is equally as important.

Healthy Fats

As a result of the demonisation of fats, people have turned to refined carbs, sugar, and processed foods as alternatives. But studies have indicated that fat isn’t as bad as it was once considered to be. Instead, we now know that there are myriad healthy foods that contain high levels of fat – such as avocado – and we now even consider them to be superfoods. Incorporating good fats into your diet and eliminating trans fats simultaneously is a smart move for your health and wellbeing. Good fats are plentiful in avocados, legumes, and oily fish (sardines, mackerel, herring, anchovies, etc.) and are an excellent way to boost your overall health. What’s more, healthy fats are essential for producing your hormones!

Fibre

Many of us could do with reducing our intake of added sugars while increasing our consumption of fibre. Eating sufficient fibre reduces your risk of heart disease, strokes, bowel cancer, and Type 2 Diabetes. Incorporating whole grain and fresh vegetables into your diet is a great way to increase your fibre intake. Approximately 50% of the UK population misses out on half of their recommended 30 grams of fibre every day. Fibre also plays an important digestive role, and it is necessary for forming our stools. This is one of the primary ways in which hormones are exerted from our bodies after being broken down.

Cruciferous Vegetables

When it comes to hormonal balance, including cruciferous vegetables in your diet is also key. Consider the likes of cabbage, sprouts, broccoli, and kale to get you started. The reason these vegetables are so important is that they enable our livers to excrete our hormones, which is crucial as it’s dangerous to have reused hormones recirculating around our bodies. Cruciferous vegetables are loaded with excellent hormone-balancing nutrients, so be sure to incorporate them into your diet wherever possible! A side note – if you have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism (a low thyroid), you will need to cook cruciferous vegetables in order to break down the goitrogens within. If you don’t, it may interfere with your body’s ability to process iodine.

Hopefully, you now have a better insight into how to enhance your wellbeing while balancing your hormones.

 

4 Ways to Prioritize Your Health

Most people can admit that they’d like to live a long and healthy life for as long as possible. In most cases, as long as you don’t have any serious health conditions, living a long and healthy life is completely attainable! It all comes down to prioritizing your well-being. If you’re looking for some of the best ways to prioritize your health, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the best tips for being as healthy as you can be.

Visit the Doctor Regularly

Going to the doctor is a great way to catch any serious health issues early on. Often if you lead to a serious health condition progress too far, then it could wind up being fatal. Planning a funeral for someone too young can be heartbreaking. Instead of letting your health slide, prioritize getting regular checkups and ensuring that you catch problems as soon as possible.

Get Active

Something as simple as 30 minutes a day of basic exercise can make a huge difference in your overall well-being. Rather than seeing exercise as something you have to force yourself to do, try to see it as an opportunity to get your blood pumping and clear your mind. If you start to view exercise as a burden then you’re not prioritizing your health. Try to get up and move at least several times a day, and your body will thank you for it.

Get Sleep

If there’s one thing you can do for your body that can improve everything from your mood to your immune system it’s getting enough sleep. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep at night can significantly improve your health. If you have trouble getting to sleep at night, then you should consider meditating or using some kind of hypnosis. The most important thing is to avoid looking at screens right before you fall asleep. The bright lights and colors can be too stimulating for your brain to be able to fall asleep afterward.

Spend Time With the Ones You Love

Spending time with the people you love can make a huge difference in your quality of life. Try to get plenty of social time in to reap the benefits of a great social life. Studies show that the people who live the longest and healthiest lives are the ones that have the support of their families. This is especially important if you’re a senior citizen.

The older you get, the more help you need getting day-to-day activities done. If you live near your family that means you always have someone to give you a helping hand when in need.

 

What Is Home Inspection?

Home inspections are a process in which trained professionals look at all components of the home to ensure it is up to code. A qualified inspector will look for anything that may be hazardous or unsafe for living, including structural damage, water leaks, roof problems, pest infestations, electrical problems, and other specific things that could affect your safety.

It is important to have a home inspection done because it can save you money. You may discover that repairs need doing, but this gives you time before moving into the New York house so that you can arrange with repair people, etc.

If however, you do not have an inspection on your new house and then move in and find out there is something wrong (e.g. mold growing) then legal action can be taken against you. It is always best to know what might be wrong with the house before moving in.

A home inspection can also save you money if there are no major problems with the house, as you will know that it is worth buying and not waste your time or money on a new home that needs repairs that would be more costly than the house is worth.

Having a home inspection done gives you peace of mind as well as knowing that your potential new home is up to regulations and will not have any hidden costs for repairs once bought.

Benefits That Home Inspections Offer

There are many benefits to having a home inspection. A qualified inspector can determine how sound the foundation of a house is, what type of roofing material it has, where the water shutoff valve for your home is, where the main electrical box and circuit breakers are located, etc.

It can also save you money as stated before by allowing you to find out if there are any problems with the house so that you can avoid buying it or negotiate a lower price. You will no longer have to wonder about mold, rot, pests, or faulty wiring because all of these things will be uncovered during an inspection.

Having an inspector come look at your potential new home offers peace of mind by showing you exactly what condition the cash for houses are in and whether or not it would be safe for living. It also tells you how much life is left in the roof, foundation, and HVAC (heating/cooling system) which helps with budgeting repairs over the next few years after you purchase it.

Having a home inspection done is not something to be afraid of. A professional inspector can answer any questions you may have about the house and provide advice on how to remedy any problems without spending too much money. He or she will help ensure your family’s safety by checking for dangerous conditions that could put your loved ones at risk.

They are also willing to give helpful information on how to fix issues that they find if you are planning on doing the repairs yourself, which means less stress for you because instead of frequenting multiple stores searching for materials needed, an expert will tell you exactly what to buy and where they can be bought.

If there are major repairs needed, the inspector might recommend contacting a professional and will provide a list of reputable companies that could do the job. They will ensure your family’s safety by checking for dangerous conditions that could put loved ones at risk.

The Cost of Having a Home Inspection

The price of a home inspection ranges from $300-500, depending on how much information you can provide about Queens, New York houses and their location. This includes access to crawl spaces, attic, garage, surrounding area, and where the water shutoff valve is located.

If you are not sure what problems to look for or would like more specific advice on questions you have about the house, it might be worth purchasing an inspector’s report which provides full details of their findings when they inspect your potential new home. It also includes the option to add pest/radon inspections and termite inspections if needed.

The inspection could save you money by letting you know if there are any major issues with the house so that you can negotiate a lower price or avoid buying it completely. You will no longer have to wonder about the condition of such things as mold, rot, and pests because they will be uncovered during an inspection.

Having an inspector come look at your potential new home offers peace of mind by showing exactly what condition the house is in and whether or not it would be safe for living. It also tells you how much life is left in the roof, foundation, and heating/cooling system which helps with budgeting repairs over the next few years after moving in.

What to Expect from Home Inspectors

A qualified inspector can answer any questions you may have about houses in New York and provide advice on how to remedy any problems without spending too much money. If there are major repairs needed, the inspector might recommend contacting a professional and will provide a list of reputable companies that would do the job.

They will help you avoid bad deals and save money by finding out if there are repairs needed before moving in. They also provide advice on how best to fix any issues they find and tell where materials can be easily purchased. Having a qualified professional inspect your property offers peace of mind by showing exactly what condition it’s in and whether

Overall, a home inspection is an important process that should not be skipped when buying a house in New York or a condo. It can help you avoid bad deals and save money by finding out if there are repairs needed before moving in.

A qualified inspector can tell you what life is left in your roofing, foundation, and heating/cooling system so budgeting for repairs over the next few years becomes easier. The peace of mind knowing exactly what condition your potential new place is in ensures safety to your family and friends living under the same roof as you.

They can also provide advice on how to fix any issues they find and tell where materials can be easily purchased. Having a qualified professional inspection come to your house is not something to be afraid of. They will give answers to any questions you may have and provide advice on how best to remedy issues without spending too much money.

3 Things To Negotiate On When Selling Your House

If you’re preparing to put your home on the market, you’ve also got to get your mind ready to start negotiations with anyone who wants to make an offer on your property.

While you might feel like you have the upper hand in this situation, if you’re wanting to sell your home quickly or are hoping to make a big profit off of it, you might need to do some fancy footwork with your negotiations to get exactly what you want without giving up too much in the process.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three things that you should be ready to negotiate on when selling your house.

Negotiating Closing Costs

One of the most common things that buyers will try to negotiate on is the closing costs. Knowing this, if you’re hoping to get your home sold quickly, this can be one of the first things that you try to throw in to sweeten the deal.

If the buyer does ask you to cover part or all of the closing costs and you weren’t wanting to do this, something you can try is negotiating so that the actual price of the home increases a bit. Usually, buyers who are looking to get out of paying closing costs out-of-pocket are more willing to increase their loan amount a small portion if it means they can keep some of their cash in the pocket.

Your Move-Out Date

Another thing that you could give up as part of your negotiations is a closer move-out date for you in your home.

While the time for closing procedures is usually going to take at least a few weeks, if you’re ready to get out of your home sooner than you were initially planning, this could be something that a buyer will look forward to and will encourage them to close on the home as soon as possible. And if you already have a place to move to, this shouldn’t be that big of a deal to you in the long-run.

Give Them A Home Warranty

Buying a new house is always a gamble. While you can give some trust to the home inspection, what can usually give buyers even more confidence in their decision is getting a home warranty.

If you feel confident in some of the features and fixtures of the home you’re selling, giving the buyers a warranty can help to ease their fears. And if this can allow you to keep the selling price that you wanted in the first place, this warranty could be a great way for you to retain more money in the process, just so long as the buyers don’t actually make a claim with the warranty you give them.

If you’re selling your home in the near future, consider how negotiating on some of the things mentioned above could help you close the best deal even sooner.

How To Start Cooking With CBD

CBD is a fantastic compound that offers a lot of benefits to our health and wellbeing. The ability to add this versatile ingredient to your recipes every day is just one of the benefits of using CBD, making harnessing the nutritional properties easier than ever. If you’re curious about how to start cooking with CBD, we’ve compiled our top tips to make it as easy as possible.

How does cooking with CBD drops work?

CBD is like other fat-soluble cannabis substances, and since many recipes have fat in them, from butter or olive oil to coconut milk and nut butters, it’s the perfect addition. It can be added to sauces, dressings and dips, to cooked meals such as stews and curries, and desserts. Just be mindful when you’re adding CBD drops, such as Vitabiotics CBD, not to expose them to a high heat as this can deteriorate the quality of the compounds.

What are the benefits of cooking with CBD?

CBD drops provide a slow, gradual release of this compound into your body, and if you add it to your food, it will be even more gradual which makes digestion easier and allows your body to process it slowly. It’s also a discreet way to take CBD, rather than vaping or using topical treatments, which can be inconvenient when you’re out and about. With CBD drops, you can experiment with different recipes and dosages until you find the balance that suits you best.

What can I add CBD to?

CBD can be added to a wide range of dishes and drinks, so you can play around with your favourite dishes and see which ones you enjoy adding a dose of CBD to. From breakfasts and snacks to dinner dishes and drinks, CBD can work with a variety of cuisines. Why not try adding CBD to your baked goods, such as cookies, brownies and cakes? Or try adding it to ice cream and frozen desserts, such as cheesecake bites or energy balls. CBD can also be added to hot and cold sauces and dips such as guacamole. If you’re looking for a healthy meal idea, you may like adding it to soups and smoothies, which can be tailored to your tastes. For a more laid-back solution, you can even add CBD to tea and coffee.

Final thoughts

When you’re cooking with CBD, it’s important to choose a high-quality, reputable brand so you can be sure of the quality of the product and that it’s been tested properly. CBD is incredibly versatile and it can be added to so many types of food and drink, both hot and cold, that it’s no wonder so many people have gotten into experimental mode when it comes to trying out new and exciting recipes. It offers a discreet way to take your daily dose of CBD isolate and can be a fun way to try out new ways to add this to your routine.

Your Complete Guide To Horse Jumping Obstacles

Horse jumping is one of the most popular equestrian sports in the world. Since it is practised in all four corners of the globe, there are countless variants for this sport. This guide will help you to acquaint yourself with some of these variants and their accompanying riding gear, making it easier to understand what’s happening at the races and to make informed betting decisions.

What is Horse Jumping

There are many variations to horse jumping that have been invented over time all around the globe. The two major versions are show jumping and cross-country. Showjumping has a set course, usually consisting of jumps that are no more than 1.2 metres high, 4m wide, or 3m long. For every cleared obstacle, the height decreases by 20cm until it reaches 180cm when there are no obstacles left. A showjumping course measures 2000m to 2500m in length and takes approximately 45 to 50 seconds to complete. Once completed, the rider has to return along the same route (the ‘go-and-jump back’ rule) without knocking down any of the obstacles they passed on their way out.

The History of Horse Jumping

All the way back to the Ancient Olympics, the horse has been considered a symbol of power and nobility. With the rise in popularity during Renaissance Europe, it became customary for royalty to have their own horses.

The history of Horse Jumping starts with Xenophon who was at one time an Olympic competitor for Greece. Xenophon’s writings are what provides us with our first written accounts on how to work with horses, which is where our current training methods originate from.

Different types of jumping obstacles

The types of horse jumping obstacles you can expect to come up against in competitions and games range from poles and brushes to water and ditches. There are four main types:

  • Fences: Fences are usually the closest thing to the ground, with the height gradually decreasing until it’s reached its final height of about 180cm. Fences needed for competition may be bamboo or white birch trees, while those used for leisure riding might be stone. You can choose to jump a single fence or multiple ones at once
  • Poles: Poles are not allowed in competitive events but often feature in recreational games. They’re typically between 3 and 4 meters high and take up a large amount of legroom when jumped over – roughly 1.2 to 1.5 meters
  • Brushes: Brushes are as close as a horse can get to a fence without knocking it down. They’re usually about 100cm high and ideally take up an area of about 1.5m x 1m, so you have to be careful not to knock them over while clearing them
  • Ditches: These come in every variety and may be filled with water for extra difficulty. They can also contain sandy ditches which, like the name suggests, makes it very tricky to keep your footing.

Difference Between Showjumping And Cross-country

The main difference between showjumping and cross-country is that show jumps are in a fixed location and cross-country obstacles can be set up anywhere. Competition in showjumping is judged on the speed of the horse and rider, however, cross-country jumps are judged on safety and accuracy instead. This means that you need to keep your focus at all times while riding cross country, even if you’re riding through an unfamiliar course.

Want to put this knowledge to good use? Check out Timeform’s new customer offers and test your luck in winning big!

8 Easy Ways To Improve Your Office Space

The advancement of technology in the past decades led to new opportunities for people across the globe. The downside? Most of these opportunities confine workers inside an office for hours on end. With most office workers spending more time in the office than they spend at home, it is essential to adapt this space to your needs. How? Here are 8 easy ways to improve your office space.

1. Pay Attention to Lighting

The most important thing in an office is light. Artificial lighting can’t beat nature, so try to move the desk near a window if possible. Light is essential in regulating hormones such as melatonin and serotonin, both of which affect mood and wakefulness. Instead of keeping the blinds down, opt for anti-glare monitors or monitor screens. As far as artificial lighting is concerned, replace the old bulbs with modern LED lights that output light in a natural hue as opposed to clinical white or yellow.

2. Tweak the Temperature

Another thing that can make or break productivity is temperature. A too hot environment can increase the levels of stress and anxiety. A too cold environment can reduce wakefulness and make you feel more tired than you actually are. According to several studies, the perfect temperature for the workspace is around 22°C – so set the temperature to that and show the studies to whoever has the courage to argue with you.

3. Personalise with Engraved Signs

In addition to temperature, several studies show that personalising your workspace can increase productivity. There are many ways to do that, from keeping your favourite pictures framed on your desk to personalising your items such as the coffee mug, door plate, or keychain. Companies such as The Engraving People can also help you customise other office items, such as the switch sockets in your office kitchen or the signs around the workspace.

4. Adjust the Monitor Height

Sitting in front of a computer for hours on end is tiresome, but it can also be detrimental to your health if you don’t maintain the correct posture. The first thing to do before investing in ergonomic chairs and desks is to adjust the monitor height.

If you’re using a desktop PC, keep in mind that the monitor’s top edge should be at eye level when you look straight ahead. You can achieve this with a monitor stand if the monitor isn’t height-adjustable.

If you’re using a laptop, invest in a good laptop stand. Not only will it help you adjust the monitor height, but most laptop stands also help you keep your wrists in a natural position.

5. Unclutter Your Space

Clutter can jeopardise your productivity efforts; this is why you should keep it to a minimum. Start by organising the various cables and wires. Then, get rid of everything that you don’t need. Use containers and organisers to sort out the papers and writing instruments on your desk and avoid piling up unnecessary items.

6. Add a Splash of Colour

If you didn’t know it, it’s time to find out that colour can affect your mood and motivation. Sterile office spaces can decrease productivity, so try to add some hues into your work life. If painting the walls isn’t feasible, add some colourful wall art. You can also use colourful containers to keep your pens or add a red or yellow lamp to your desk.

7. Bring Nature Inside

Plants can also boost the mood, especially if your office doesn’t have sufficient windows and lacks natural light. Greenery can improve your productivity, so add some plants to your desk. Alternatively, place some pots on the office windowsill.

8. Tune It Up

Noise isn’t your friend when you’re trying to be productive, but your favourite tunes could be. In fact, listening to music at work can help you complete your tasks faster and come up with better ideas. Sure, not all music may suit your office space, and sometimes you may have to opt for instrumental music only, but nothing stops you from investing in a pair of headphones to tune up your time at work.