Problem: Article: What is it that's setting you off? Is it something truly annoying, like a brother repeating the same noise you've asked him twice to knock off, or is it harmless, like someone breathing loudly? If it's something harmless that annoys you, there's probably some underlying issue that you haven't resolved, either about the person, or about yourself. Stay friendly and polite instead of showing your annoyance. Avoid acting negatively or unfriendly and try making conversation with the person annoying you (if he/she is doing something harmless). If you're annoyed with someone and you don't know why, or you're frustrated by the fact that you're annoyed, try this trick. Formulate some advice you'd like to give to that person. Say the person has played a joke on a friend of yours at their expense, and you want to tell the prankster "be considerate of other people." Now, instead of giving that advice to the other person, turn it around and see if the advice is applicable to you. Yes, you! Is there a way you can be considerate of other people? Can you let the good-humored attempt slide? Can you consider how your friend may have thought the joke was funny? Sometimes, the advice that we're most eager to give to other people is just the advice that we ourselves should swallow. It's certainly possible that the reason we find something or someone annoying is that it reminds us of ourselves; we don't want to believe that that's who we truly are, so we distance ourselves from the person or thing by summoning annoyance and getting angry. Ask yourself: Is the reason you're annoyed because the other person is reflecting something that hits too close to home? Being annoyed can be a sign that you're too entrenched in your comfort zone. Try shaking things. Rearrange your bedroom furniture, read books by authors who challenge your fundamental beliefs, take a trip overseas. Changing something in your life that shifts you out of your comfort zone and into new territory can lower your annoyance and crank up your compassion. Anything that helps you to grow and mature will tend to dampen annoyance with other people. The more that you learn about the world, and the more understanding you are of people's motivations, the less you'll expect of other people. The key to happiness is low expectations.
Summary: Identify what is bothering you. Change your attitude when annoyed. Turn any would-be advice that you'd like to give back on yourself. Be aware your annoyance can be a problem with you instead of a problem with them. Consider shaking your life up a bit.

Problem: Article: Adults who are busy and active throughout the day expend more energy, and consequently tend to sleep better at night, and the same is true of babies. While babies are too young for most activities, you can encourage wakefulness during the day by talking to your baby, singing to your baby, and stimulating your baby with sounds, visual aids, and play. There are several reasons why getting outside with your baby is important, and one of them is that fresh air can clean out the lungs. It can also increase oxygen intake, and this will help your baby sleep more soundly. Another reason to get outside is that exposure to natural light will help your baby’s internal clock regulate itself faster, meaning she’ll adjust faster to sleeping through the night. If you can't get outside for play and activities, open the windows to allow some fresh air inside. While it may seem counterintuitive, making sure your baby gets enough sleep during the day will actually help her sleep better at night. The reason for this is that babies do need quite a bit of sleep each day, and restricting their daytime sleep will make them overtired, which will make it harder for them to fall asleep at night. To promote daytime sleep, you may have to use motion to help your baby nap. This could include using a swing or carrier, a car ride, or rocking. Recognize and look for signs of sleepiness throughout the day, and when you spot them, get your baby down for a nap as soon as possible! Again, this will ensure she gets enough sleep during the day, and isn't overtired when it comes time to go down for the night. Signs of tiredness include:  Rubbing the eyes and tugging on the ears Becoming whiny and tearful Blank staring, stillness, and quietness Yawning and stretching
Summary: Get lots of exercise. Spend some time outside. Promote daytime naps. Know the signs of tiredness.

Problem: Article: Alcohol adds empty calories and it also lowers your inhibitions, so you end up eating more than you normally would. Limit yourself to no more than 1 drink per day if you’re a woman or 2 drinks per day if you’re a man. One alcoholic drink is 12  fl oz (350 mL) of beer, 5  fl oz (150 mL) of wine, or 1.5  fl oz (44 mL) of spirits. whenever you’re thirsty. Staying well-hydrated will help you to prevent confusing thirst with hunger, which may cause you to overeat or eat when you’re not actually hungry. Instead, drink water throughout the day and any time you get sweaty to keep yourself hydrated. Try carrying a reusable water bottle with you wherever you go and refill it any time it gets low. Being well-rested can help you to make better decisions about the foods you eat and have the energy to stick with your exercise routine. Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time each day to maintain a regular schedule. Some other things you can do to promote better sleep include:  Turning off electronic devices 30 minutes before you go to bed Avoiding caffeine in the afternoon and evening Keeping your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet Using your bedroom for sleep only and not working, eating, or paying bills in bed Being overwhelmed by your life or by your desire to lose weight quickly can make you feel stressed. Stress causes some people to eat more than they normally would and this can lead to weight gain. Set aside at least 15 minutes every day to relax. Try using a relaxation technique, such as:  Yoga Meditation Progressive muscle relaxation Deep breathing
Summary: Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages. Drink water Sleep for 7 to 9 hours every night. Incorporate relaxation techniques to avoid stress eating.

Problem: Article: Cotton swabs can be very useful to clean small spaces like the area behind your ear. You can also clean behind your child’s ear with cotton swabs – this can be done more regularly and easily than bathing. Select the appropriate cleanser and wet both sides of a clean, fresh cotton swab – use one end for each ear. Whether you’re cleaning your own ears or a child’s ears, be gentle – pulling hard on the ear can cause discomfort. Use small vertical wiping motions to remove any dirt or crust that’s behind the ear. Wipe in a single direction, up or down, to sweep the dirt away. Wipe away any visible debris with a washcloth, another cotton swab, or a cotton ball.   Be sure to wipe inside any small nooks and crevices on the outside of your ear.  If the cotton swab dries out, rewet it with your cleanser. Do NOT put cotton swabs or any other objects inside your ear. Despite being a popular practice, this does not help to remove earwax and can even damage your ears. Reserve cleaning with cotton swabs for outside the ear only, and clean inside your ears with peroxide, oil, or other liquid products.
Summary:
Prepare the cotton swab with your cleanser. Wipe dirt away gently. Only use cotton swabs on the outside of the ear.