| How to Hang a Mirror Posted: 31 May 2018 01:00 AM PDT Hanging a mirror is a great way to open up your space and make it look bigger and brighter! Weigh and measure your mirror to determine Once you've picked the perfect spot to hang your mirror, it's time to straighten it up and mark where the hardware will go. Install your hardware and hang the mirror in place, then admire the finished product! EditChoosing a Location - Stand on a bathroom scale with and without the mirror to calculate its weight. The difference between the 2 numbers is the weight of the mirror. A heavy mirror will weight between , while a lighter mirror will fall between . While both weight categories hang the same way, you'll need to put more thought and care into anchoring a heavy mirror into the wall.[1]
- If your mirror weighs over , have someone help you with the placing and hanging process.[2]
- Heavy mirrors need some kind of anchor, such as a stud in the wall, so that will affect where you can place it.
- Make sure to choose hardware with a high enough weight capacity to hold your mirror!
- Choose a room to hang the mirror in. Think about which rooms feel smaller, dark, or more cramped, and could use some brightening up, such as bathrooms or bedrooms. You could also use the mirror as a statement piece in main areas of the house, such as the living room mantel or the dining room.[3]
- Hang a mirror above your mantel for a central statement piece.
- Display a dramatic mirror in the dining room or entryway to reflect light and open up the space.
- Add a new mirror to your bathroom to add visual interest.
- Hang a full-length mirror on your door to conserve space.
- Ask someone to help you hold and place the mirror to get the full picture. Have a friend or family member hold the mirror up to the wall while you step back and look. This will help you visualize the finished product and find the exact placement you want. Once you've decided on a spot, mark the outline with pencil or masking tape.
- Make a paper outline of the mirror to easily visualize where to hang it. Use butcher paper or cardboard to trace and cut out the shape of the mirror. Hold the outline up to the wall and use it to visualize how the mirror would look. Adjust it until you find a spot that you like, then use pencil lines or masking tape to mark the placement.[4]
- Find a stud in the wall to hang a heavy mirror. If your mirror is over , your best bet is to drill into a stud to support the weight. These wooden beams in the walls act as inner supports and will help hold the mirror more solidly than plaster or drywall. To find a stud, use a stud finder tool, knock and listen, or look for indicators like outlets and molding nails.
- Use a straight-edged board to check the wall for flatness. If the wall is bumpy, it can make a heavy mirror wobble or even break from uneven pressure. Use a long, flat board, such as a yardstick or a straight piece of 1x3 lumber. Slide the board over the wall and note any rocking, which indicates a bump.[5]
- If the wall has too many bumps, mark them in pencil and sand them down gently with medium or coarse sandpaper. To save time, you could also just choose a new place to hang the mirror.
EditMeasuring and Marking the Space - Draw a line on the wall where the bottom of the mirror will go. Once you've picked the perfect spot for the mirror, have someone help hold the mirror while you mark its position. Line up a level below the mirror's bottom edge and make sure it's straight. Set the mirror down, but keep the level in place as a straightedge. With a pencil, draw a light line along the top of the level indicating the position of mirror's bottom edge once it's hung. Make the line as long as the bottom of the mirror.[6]
- Before you draw, tilt the level until the bubbles in the liquid line up perfectly, indicating that the line is perfectly straight.
- Keep your level and pencil close by for hanging an unbacked mirror. At this point, you can start installing the hardware for your unbacked mirror. However, you'll need to keep your measuring and marking supplies handy during the process, so don't put them away yet!
- Measure and mark the distance for a backed mirror. Use a tape measure to find the distance between the bottom edge of the mirror and the top edge of a hanging point/hole. With the measuring tape, measure the same distance up from the line you drew on the wall. Draw second line at that height, making sure it's the same length and parallel to the first.[7]
- Use a strip of masking tape on a backed mirror with 2 hanging points. Larger mirrors often have 2 hanging points on the back, which can make it difficult to accurately measure and space out the hardware. An easy way to measure is to take a piece of masking tape and lay it horizontally across the 2 hooks on the back of the mirror. Use a pen to mark where the 2 hooks are under the tape, then peel off the tape and place it on your wall, along the second line.[8]
- Once the tape is placed on the wall, you can start installing the hardware. You can keep the tape on the wall while you install, then peel it off once you're done!
- If the mirror only has 1 hanging point, measure from the side of the mirror to the center of the hanging point. Measure the same distance on the wall, along the second line. With a pencil, mark where the hanging point will go.
EditHanging an Unbacked Mirror - Use brackets to hang heavy unbacked mirrors. You'll need 2 J brackets for the bottom, with a cradle wide enough for the thickness of your mirror, and 2 sliding J brackets for the top.[9]
- Install a row of 3-4 J-hooks along the bottom line drawn on the wall. Use as many hooks as you need to support the mirror's weight. Evenly space them out and install them with sturdy hollow-wall fasteners for wallboard or plaster, wood screws for wall framing, or masonry anchors if you're fastening the hooks to brick or concrete.[10]
- You may also want to pad the J-hooks with pieces of felt to protect the back of the mirror.
- You can also use a single J-shaped metal strip called a J-strip. You should pad this piece as well.
- Mark where the sides of mirror will sit on the wall. Use a level and a pencil to draw 2 lines on the wall, indicating the length of the mirror's sides. They should extend upward, both at a right angle to the bottom horizontal line.[11]
- Install 2-3 L- or Z-clips along the drawn vertical lines on the wall. Following the same intervals as the bottom J-hooks, loosely attach additional fasteners that will keep the mirror in place. Choose L- or Z-clips based on the mirror's design, then screw them into the wall. Keep the screw loose so the front side that will rest against the mirror is loose as well.[12]
- Since these clips won't support the mirror's weight, you only need light-duty fiber or plastic anchors called wall plugs to install them.
- Pad the L- and Z-clips with adhesive-backed felt where they'll touch the glass.
- Slide the mirror into place and tighten the clips to keep it secure. Move the side fasteners out of the way before setting the mirror's bottom edge into the J-hooks. Lift the mirror by the sides and tilt it backward against the wall, then tighten the L- or Z-clips just enough to hold the mirror firmly.[13]
EditHanging a Backed/Framed Mirror - Use monkey hooks to hang a heavy mirror if you don't have any tools. These thin, minimal-damage hooks make it easy to hang a mirror that weighs up to on drywall. They don't even require any tools to install besides a tape measure and a pencil! Just push and twist the hook to insert it into the wall.[14]
- The best part is that monkey hooks only leave a tiny, nail-sized hole behind, instead of a big anchor hole.[15]
- If your mirror weighs more than , try upgrading to gorilla hooks. They have the exact same design and installation style, and they can handle up to .
- These tap-in hooks are perfect for hanging on drywall.
- Use plastic wall anchors for a variety of sizes and weight capacities. Although these create a larger hole in the wall than the monkey hooks, they still do less damage than anchor holes and they're much easier to install. Choose your size and weight capacity based on how large and heavy your mirror is. To install, simply screw the hooks into the wall![16]
- Use a toggle bolt if you don't have a wall stud to drill into. Anchoring with a wall stud is the best method, but if you can't locate a wall stud or it's not available, toggle bolts are your next best bet.[17] Drill a hole in the wall large enough for the toggle bolt, then thread a machine screw through the toggle bolt nut. Pinch the wings on the toggle bolt flat, then push it into the hole you drilled in the wall. Tighten the bolt with a screwdriver until it hits the back of the wall.[18]
- To finish, hang the mirror's hooks on the toggle bolt and use a level to make sure everything's straight.
- Toggle bolts work best for hanging heavy mirrors on plaster walls.
- To save time, use a toggle bolt already fitted with a picture-hanging hook.
EditThings You'll Need - Pen
- Pencil
- Painter's tape/masking tape
- Measuring tape
- Hardware
- Drill
- Butcher paper or cardboard
- Straight-edged board
- Medium to coarse sandpaper
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| How to Live in Alaska Posted: 30 May 2018 05:00 PM PDT Alaska is a beautiful state with so much to offer for its residents, including outdoor adventures, breathtaking views, and prosperous job opportunities. If you're thinking about living in Alaska, you'll want to consider the cost of moving, how well you'll adjust to your new home, and the benefits of living in Alaska. EditMoving to Alaska - Visit Alaska to scope out potential places to live. The best way to decide if you're ready to live in Alaska is to visit. If you're interested in Alaskan cities, visit Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau, which have plenty of housing options and job openings for professionals. Smaller towns like Homer, Ketchikan, Skagway, Nome, and Haines are great if you prefer the wilderness.[1]
- Suburbs are normally slightly less expensive and have more houses available than the inner cities.
- Commuting into the city for work is common in Alaska, and traffic normally isn't a concern.
- Renting is more expensive in the cities, but is a good option for students and people who are just moving to Alaska.
- Use the Multiple Listing Service to view homes currently on the market. Visit http://www.alaskarealestate.com/ to access a database of all of the homes on the market currently in Alaska. You can narrow your search by location, price, and number of beds/baths.[2]
- The website also provides contact information for the real estate agent who lists the house. If you find one that you like, simply contact the agent to schedule a tour for the next time you visit.
- Secure a job before making your move. Unemployment rates tend to be high in Alaska, so make sure you have a job before you move. If you don't have a job, make sure you have enough money saved for a ticket home in case your job search turns up short.[3]
- Big cities have a lot more jobs than smaller towns, and many people choose to commute so they don't have to pay city living prices.
- Some seasonal work might be available at hotels or parks, but you should try to find a permanent position as soon as possible.
- Consider Alaska's high cost of living before deciding to move. Because Alaska is so far from the rest of the United States, items like groceries tend to cost more due to shipping. Utilities are also relatively expensive in Alaska because of the remote location of most homes.[4]
- However, to offset the cost of living, Alaska has some of the lowest taxes in the U.S. and doesn't have a sales tax.
- Additionally, the government pays each Alaskan resident, including children, about $1,000 per year from the Permanent Fund Dividend.
- Pack light for your move because shipping can be expensive. If you do decide to make the move, your best option is to get rid of most of your belongings, such as furniture, and purchase new items when you arrive. Stick to items you can fit into a suitcase, and avoid shipping things if you can.[5]
- If you're planning to drive to Alaska through Canada, be aware that there are certain items that aren't allowed through Canadian border control, such as produce and soil.
EditAdjusting to Life in Alaska - Prepare for long, dark winters. Winters in Alaska can seem like they last forever. Depending on your location, you can experience up to 24 hours of darkness at a time! Bring clothing like sweaters, jackets, and snow pants to keep you warm and dry in the snow. Try to keep a regular schedule throughout the winter and get involved with hobbies.
- If you're having trouble coping with the winter season, consider seeing a therapist to develop some strategies for dealing with how the weather affects your mood.
- If you're having troubling thoughts about self-harm or suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Line for help at 1-800-273-8255.
- Consider adopting a furry friend to be your companion. Most cities and towns in Alaska are extremely dog-friendly. There are plenty of places for a dog to run, jump, and play. Visit a local animal shelter when you're settled in Alaska to pick out an animal friend who's right for you and your schedule.[6]
- If you're not interested in getting a dog, cats also make great companions, and there are many cats in need of a home at shelters throughout Alaska!
- Purchase a reliable car for easier travel in cities and towns. Alaska definitely isn't very walkable, unless you're interested in hiking everywhere. A reliable vehicle that performs well even in snowy conditions, like a truck or SUV, will help you get around Alaska.[7]
- Many of the remote areas in Alaska are off the road system, meaning that there is no roadway to get to the town. In those cases, you have to travel by plane or boat to get there.
- Make friends with your neighbors, even if they're far away. You're probably going to live pretty far away from your neighbors, even if you're in a city like Anchorage or Fairbanks. When you move in, introduce yourself and let them know where you'll be living in relation to them. This can help you avoid problems, and they might have some tips for life in Alaska.
- Some people come to Alaska to be left alone. If your neighbor doesn't seem interested in having a friendship, respect their space. You can still be kind and friendly to them!
EditEnjoying the Outdoors - Take advantage of abundant summer sunshine. Even though Alaska is known for its long winters, the summers are amazing. In some places, the sun shines for almost 24 hours a day, and temperatures are normally no higher than . Get outside, go for a walk, and enjoy the beautiful weather while you can.[8]
- In the summer, many people like to visit Alaska's beautiful parks, like Denali National Park.
- If you have kids, enroll them in organized sports to ensure that they're making the most of the summer and getting outside.
- Find new hobbies to keep you stay occupied year-round. People in Alaska are often involved in many different sports and activities. Some favorite Alaskan hobbies include fishing, hunting, skiing, biking, running, and hiking. If you're more interested in staying inside, take up a hobby like knitting, reading, learning a new language, cooking, or baking.[9]
- Hobbies are also a great way to make friends and meet new people, which can be difficult to do in areas with very few people, like Alaska.
- Get a private pilot's license to explore Alaska from the air. Because much of Alaska is only reachable by air or by boat, many people fly private airplanes. It's a fun hobby, but can be a bit expensive when starting out. You'll have to take classes and pass a certification exam from the FAA before getting in the air.[10]
- While many people have their own private planes, there are also hangars that will allow you to rent a plane at an hourly rate as long as you have your license.
- Always follow safety protocols when flying, and never fly in inclement weather.
- Always be respectful of the wildlife and keep a safe distance. Bears, moose, and other wild animals are common in Alaska.
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| How to Recognize Signs of Over Exercising Posted: 30 May 2018 09:00 AM PDT Regular exercise is a vital part of leading a healthy lifestyle. However, exercising too much can pose significant health risks. Signs of overtraining include decreased performance, chronic fatigue, and mood swings. If you think you might be overdoing it, stop exercising for 1 to 2 weeks so your body can recover. If your friends or relatives raise concerns, or if your exercise routine interferes with your daily life, it might be best to talk to a mental health professional. EditSpotting Signs of Overtraining - Stop exercising if you experience muscle or joint pain. Don't try to work through muscle or joint pain. Pain is a clear sign that you're overdoing it, so listen to your body and take a break.[1]
- Even if you don't experience serious injuries, chronic, nagging muscle soreness is a sign you're exercising too much.
- Call emergency services if you experience chest pain. Chest pain and breathlessness are major causes for concern, and might indicate heart problems. Too much cardiovascular exercise or endurance training can strain the circulatory system and even lead to cardiac arrest.[2]
- Being winded after exercise is normal, but you should be able to catch your breath by resting for 5 to 10 minutes.
- Get help if you can't catch your breath, if shortness of breath occurs suddenly with no explanation, or if you experience chest pain, tightness, and pain or tingling in your arms, back, neck, or jaw.
- Watch for decreased agility, strength, and endurance. Decreased performance despite increases in training time and intensity is a telltale sign of overtraining. If you're overdoing it, you aren't giving your muscles the time they need to regenerate after intense exercise.[3]
- Lower performance levels are more noticeable in endurance-based activities, such as long-distance running, cycling, and swimming.[4]
- Keep an eye out for excessive fatigue. Feeling tired the day after a tough workout is normal. However, you might be exercising too much if you're always mentally and physically tired. Chronic fatigue can result when your muscles don't have a chance to recover between intense exercise sessions.[5]
- Fatigue can also indicate that you're not consuming enough calories to fuel your body.
- Note any feelings of depression, irritability, or mood swings. When your body is physically stressed, it releases hormones that affect your emotions. Do your best to monitor your feelings, and take note if you feel inexplicably depressed, angry, or cranky, or if your moods change suddenly.[6]
- You might also experience restlessness or difficulty concentrating.
- Monitor your sleeping habits. The same stress hormones that cause depression, irritability, and mood swings can interfere with your normal sleep cycle. Keep track of how long it takes you to fall asleep, and take note if you have trouble falling asleep.[7]
- The quality of your sleep might also change. You might wake up groggy or feel like you didn't have a full night's sleep.
- Keep track of how often you get sick. If you've been getting more colds lately, you might be pushing your body past its limits. Exercising too much can weaken your immune system. You might get sick more than usual or feel wiped out by a minor cold.[8]
EditRecognizing Signs of Compulsive Exercising - Notice if you feel guilty or anxious when you skip a workout. Your physical and psychological health go hand in hand, so be honest with yourself about your feelings. Reflect on how you feel when you skip a workout. Experiencing dread, guilt, depression, or anxiety when you don't work out might be a sign of compulsive exercise.[9]
- Ask yourself if you have fun when you exercise. Exercise should be a positive, rewarding activity. Red flag symptoms include being obsessed with exercising, fixating on planning workouts when you're not exercising, and feeling obligated to exercise. You might want to see a counselor if exercise has become an obsession instead of a fun activity or health benefit.[10]
- Athletes are prone to compulsive exercise. Take some time to reflect on your sport and the pressures you face. Try to be honest and objective, and ask yourself if you've crossed the line from dedication to obsession.
- Determine if you justify poor dietary choices with excessive exercise. Notice if you have a pattern of exercising vigorously to work off calories you consumed while eating junk food or fast food. Conversely, you might refuse to eat certain foods if you haven't exercised that day. If you're justifying poor eating habits by "making up for it" with exercise, it could be a sign of a problem.[11]
- Get help if exercising interferes with your daily life. Look for ways that exercise might interfere with your relationships or your performance at work or school. Examples include blowing off plans with friends, ditching responsibilities, skipping work or school, or isolating yourself from other people in order to work out.[12]
- Look for signs that you use activity trackers obsessively. Fitness trackers are excellent health tools when they're used positively. However, they can also promote compulsive exercise. Monitor how much time you spend planning workouts, filling out food charts, and checking your fitness data.[13]
- If you can't go a day without checking your data, you might be exercising compulsively.
- Listen to loved ones who raise concerns about your exercise habits. If someone you love and trust tells you they're worried, don't brush them off. Take them seriously and listen to their concerns.[14]
- A loved one might let you know they've noticed sudden changes in your weight, feel that you're fixated on exercise, or note that you don't seem satisfied with your physical achievements. Hear them out, and ask them when they began to notice these signs.
- Your loved ones care enough to bring their concerns to you, so they'll support you if you need to get help. Ask them to help you find a counselor and make any changes necessary for your physical and psychological health.
EditTreating Exercise-Related Conditions - Take a break from exercising for 1 to 2 weeks. If you experience fatigue, insomnia, mood swings, or any other symptoms of overtraining, give your body a break. In most cases, 1 to 2 weeks is all it'll take. You can do yoga or stretching during the time off. When you resume exercising, take it slow, and rest a muscle group for at least a day.[15]
- For instance, if you work out using a bicycle on Monday, exercise your upper body the following day.
- When you begin exercising again, stick to 45 minutes or less per day. Don't do more than 30 minutes of cardio on 2 consecutive days.
- Ask your doctor or counselor for advice, especially if you suffered an injury or exercised compulsively. They might recommend you start with cycling, swimming, or a fitness class. Group activities can help keep you from falling back into a compulsive routine.[16]
- See your doctor if resting for 1 to 2 weeks doesn't help. If rest doesn't help, schedule an appointment with your primary doctor. They can diagnose an injury and recommend a treatment plan for your specific needs.[17]
- They might also recommend counseling or refer you to a mental health professional. If you're injured, they can also recommend a physical therapist.
- It might also be helpful to get help from a personal trainer or physiotherapist. They can help you determine if you are overtraining and formulate a healthy exercise regimen.
- Ask your doctor if they recommend an antidepressant. For some people, antidepressants can help resolve feelings of anxiety or obsession related to overtraining and compulsive exercise. Ask your doctor if antidepressants are right for you, and take any medication as directed.[18]
- You might need to try different medications and dosage amounts before you find the best solution.
- Side effects could include nausea, constipation, dry mouth, mood changes, weight gain, and changes in sex drive. Tell your doctor if you experience these or any other side effects.
- Talk to a counselor about compulsive exercise or an eating disorder. It might be tough to distinguish between dedication to a sport and compulsive exercise. A counselor can help you make this distinction and, if necessary, identify why exercise has become a compulsion.[19]
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