Time management tips for busy college kids

Today's college students are busier than ever before. Tuition hikes and higher cost of living has forced many college students to work part-time jobs in addition to their full-time jobs as students.

In addition to the need to work, college students are also embracing extracurricular activities in an attempt to make themselves stand out in an increasingly competitive post-college job market.

While that ability to multi-task might one day prove attractive to prospective employers, it's an ability many students must learn. Time is often a commodity for college students, and managing time effectively can make the difference between a successful student and one who is overwhelmed by stress.

*Learn to prioritize. For some college students, the weekend is the ultimate priority. Though this might be a recipe for fun, it's not a recipe for success. Prioritizing both academic and social commitments is a very important step for students looking to manage time more effectively.

First and foremost, school should be a student's top priority. After studies, it's up to a student to choose what's the next most important priority. This is often very difficult, as colleges typically offer a bevy of activities to students. Socializing is an important aspect of college life, but students must be careful not to place socializing too far up the totem pole of their priorities. When prioritizing, it's best to keep in mind education comes first. Keep school and school-related activities high on the list of priorities.

*Don't over-extend. Many students love college for the very reason that there is so much to do. In an effort to ensure all students make the most of their college experiences, colleges and universities provide many different avenues by which students can express themselves and become a part of the college community's fabric. However, with all those activities, it's easy for college kids to go overboard and over-commit themselves. Attempting to do too much can lead to feelings of stress and burnout, often resulting in poorer academic performance. When managing time, college students should schedule some daily time to relax and take a breather.

*Keep a planner. Daily planners might seem very adult, but they're also very practical. Students with academic, extracurricular and social commitments should write things down in a daily planner to help keep their heads from spinning. Larger things like midterm exams or research papers don't need to be included in a daily planner. But smaller details that tend to get lost in the shuffle should be written down to help students stay on track and make the most of all of their commitments.

*Stay as flexible as possible. While today's busy college students might scoff at the suggestion they stay flexible, flexibility is an important element of time management. Few plans ever go off without a hitch, no matter how well planned they are. Something unexpected tends to pop up around every corner. By remaining flexible with their time, students are putting themselves in positions to better handle these unexpected surprises, be it a sickness, a computer crash, car troubles, etc.

Women's health issues doctors may miss

While many women are comfortable with their family practice or women's health office and find they get good care, many more women are dissatisfied. Experts say that many women complain that their doctors aren't taking their symptoms seriously. They're told symptoms could be psychosomatic or the result of over-worrying. As a result, many walk out of medical offices without answers and could face further complications down the line.

Oftentimes, women are suffering from an autoimmune disease, in which the body is attacking itself. Doctors could miss the symptoms and rule it out as "something in your head." However, generally women know when something is amiss with their bodies. Therefore it is important for women to educate themselves about common diseases that often go undiagnosed. Learning about the risk factors and the symptoms of diseases can help you to get help and feel better faster by broaching the subject with your doctor.

-Fibromyalgia. This is often unexplainable widespread pain, extreme tiredness and sometimes numbness that lasts for months or more. There are no lab tests to test for fibromyalgia, therefore doctors generally go through a few questions and do a tender point test. If various points on the body are tender without obvious sign of bruising or redness, it could be fibromyalgia. There is no cure, only pain medication to alleviate symptoms. Light exercise with stretching can help.

-Lupus. Each year, more people are diagnosed with lupus - 90 percent of them are women. Doctors think that hormones play a role in lupus, seeing as many women are diagnosed right after pregnancy. Lupus affects many areas of the body, including the blood, kidneys, skin, joints and lungs. Generally the body becomes its own worst nightmare. Lupus is diagnosed if you have at least four of the symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medication is used to treat the pain of lupus, but there is no cure.

-Rheumatoid Arthritis. This is another debilitating disease that can impact quality of life. Rheumatoid arthritis attacks the linings of the joints (called synovium) due to the immune system. Swelling, aching, and potential deformity in hands, wrists, hips, knees, and feet can occur. RA can be difficult to diagnose because many different types of arthritis have the same symptoms. However, an antibody called rheumatoid factor is present in 80 percent of RA patients. A blood test can detect this antibody. Tests that measure inflammation also may be ordered. For a visual, X-rays are taken over time to plot the level of joint deterioration. High doses of omega fatty acids can help with swelling and pain, as can certain medications.

-Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. This is caused by high levels of androgens -male hormones- in a woman's body. The androgens form when there is too much insulin present. The insulin infiltrates the ovaries and causes them to produce more testosterone. Cysts form as a result. Half of all women with PCOS end up with diabetes. Symptoms of PCOS include excessive weight gain, more hair growth on the chest, face, back and limbs, irregular or nonexistent periods, and baldness. When other diseases are ruled out, such as hyperthyroidism, an ultrasound to see if abnormal growths are present on the ovaries could be ordered. Treatment includes birth control pills to regulate menstruation and medicine to reduce blood glucose.

Eliminating painting odors

Painting a room can give it a face lift in a day. While painting can have many appealing benefits, one of the project's pitfalls is the odor left behind. This can leave homeowners wondering how to reduce paint smells in the home.

The advancements of paint have led to many varieties of low-odor paints. However, even the most low-odor of the bunch will have some residual smell. What's more, homeowners retrofitting spaces that are older or who have used oil-based paints in the past may need to use a more potent paint to cover dark colors, block water infiltration or simply adhere to previous paint applications. These stronger paints tend to be more potent.

There are some steps homeowners can take when paint fumes are bound to overwhelm, particularly in a child's bedroom.

1.Empty the entire room of furniture and any porous materials that can trap paint fumes. This also will make it easier to paint with no obstructions.

2.Open the windows in the room before any paint cans are opened, and keep them open during the duration of the job.

3.Consider the use of latex paints, which are generally low-odor.

4.If alkyd, alcohol, or shellac paints must be used, add a few drops of vanilla extract to the paint to alleviate any odors. It won't affect the color of application.

5.Wait until the walls have fully dried before closing windows and returning the furniture to the room.

6.Promptly close paint cans and gather materials used for cleaning and removal from the room. Store them in a sealed container to prevent odors from spreading throughout the house.

7.If odors are persistent, placing a bowl of cut up onions in water in the room is an old trick that may or may not work. The onions supposedly absorb the paint odors, sometimes in as little as one day. This is an inexpensive idea to try.

Many consumers choose green clothing

Eco-friendly is the buzzword "du jour" in the fashion industry. More and more designers and manufacturers are turning to green fabrics and production policies to produce clothing for the mainstream.

So what is "green" clothing? Generally green items are produced with organic fibers of naturally sustainable materials. They also could be made from recycled items -- even plastic. Green clothing can be produced under the auspices of fair trade policies and without the use of dangerous chemicals or dyes.

According to Fashion and Earth, an eco-friendly clothing retailer, Organic and eco textiles cover a wide range of natural and recycled fibers. Certified Organic textiles are grown in controlled settings with no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers and are certified by an international governing body such. The term 'eco textiles' refers to a select group of textiles that have a reduced carbon, energy and pollution impact when compared to the standard methods used to produce textiles and manufacture clothing. Generally, sustainable textiles are produced from crops that do not require pesticides or chemicals to be grown, use less water and energy to be produced and processed, and create less waste during production, processing and at the end of their useful lives (known collectively as their 'environmental footprint'). Sustainable textiles can also refer to manmade fabrics produced from renewablesources such as bamboo or wood.

People are looking for easy ways to improve the environment. Choosing green clothing is one of the easier ways to make voices heard.

Many consumers will purchase green clothing if it is easily accessible and on par with traditionally produced clothing items. It's rare that the average shopper will intentionally seek out eco-friendly clothing. Therefore, stores are stepping up their efforts to make green clothes as accessible and affordable as other items.

Oftentimes, shoppers can find tags and labels that tout the green properties of a particular piece of clothing. Some of the verbiage that can be found on labels includes green, organic, fair trade, renewable and sustainable.

What's more, the feel and look of green clothing is improving as much as its availability is increasing. It used to be that organic fibers were duller and more coarse than traditionally produced fabrics. Today, however, manufacturers of organic cotton, hemp and bamboo produce clothing that is just as attractive and comfortable as other fabrics.

While many organic items tend to be more expensive than traditionally produced clothing, some big-name retailers are offering items at prices that are equal or nearly equal to other clothing. This eliminates price point as a factor in choosing green over traditional clothing.

Choosing eco-friendly clothing is still largely a personal choice among consumers. But the improved feel, fit, look, price, and availability of green items is contributing to the increasing popularity of these items.