Setting a good example will encourage others to follow suit. Humans take in their surroundings to know what's acceptable and what's not. Do your part to keep your area looking good.  Plant trees in your area or local park. Don't litter! Anywhere or anytime. Encourage your local representatives to 'go green' and keep an eye on local parks and recreational areas. Most towns and cities have numerous organizations dedicated to beautifying and bettering the area. Contact friends and family and do your research. If there isn't a group already attacking the issues you're concerned about, start your own. Visit your local library, courthouse, tourist office, and city website for more information. If those turn up nothing, seek out private sources at parks or recycling centers. If you desire action on a community level, take your concerns to different organizations or local committee meetings. Making your voice heard is the first step to seeing progress.  Write an article for your local newspaper. Back a candidate for a local political office and work with them to back environmental change. Lots of cities are starting to feel the pressure of "going green." After all, knowledge is power. The more you know, the more you'll know what to do and how to do it more efficiently and effectively. Seek out professionals and resources on the internet to boost your expertise. The internet is full of like-minded people like yourself. They may also know more about this topic and be able to give you some really great ideas. Chat up everyone you meet when on your quest to help our planet.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Keep your neighborhood beautiful. Join an organization. Speak up. Learn more.


Consider having a few in easy to reach locations and make sure everyone in your household knows how to use them. Keep one in the basement, one in the kitchen, and one elsewhere in the house, like near the sleeping quarters. They're good for several years, but get them tested out regularly and recharged to make sure they'll be ready when you need them. Check your fire alarms every month to make sure the batteries are in good condition and change them out regularly. Having the right warning system in place can give important extra minutes that can be the difference between an inconvenience and a disaster. Never overload outlets or power strips with chords. Avoid plugging in more chords than an outlet can handle to eliminate the possibility of dangerous electrical fires. Regularly unplug unused appliances to avoid needless circuits. Use space heaters wisely. Keep flammable clothing and other substances clear of space heaters and other devices that might catch things on fire. More than one-third of home fires begin with candles. Please remember not to leave candles unattended and make sure they're far enough from drapes and other cloth that could start a fire. Always put them out safely and make sure candles are entirely out before you leave them unattended. Consider using battery or electric-operated heaters in lieu of open flame candles. You can get all the aromatic benefits of burning candles without the risk of fire.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Always keep a good quality fire extinguisher in your house. Keep your fire alarms in good working order. Maintain your electrical appliances regularly. Be careful with candles.


Since sleep-related problems are a common issue with menopause, your doctor likely has some tips and tricks you'd never think of. Make an appointment with them or ask them about sleep solutions during your next physical. Let them know what you've already tried, and they can tell you what other treatment may help. Don't try to wait out your sleep deprivation. Being sleep deprived can dull your senses and reaction time, and may also lower your resistance to illness. If you are struggling to sleep and home adjustments don't help, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) using progesterone have both been shown effective in treating menopausal symptoms. Either hormone needs to be prescribed by your doctor, so talk to them to see if either therapy could work for you.  Hormones may be taken as pills, injected, or applied topically as patches, gels, or creams. Hormone therapy should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose, and only for short periods of time. This is because long-term exposure to HRT, particularly, may be linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and dementia. If you are struggling to sleep and other treatments haven't helped, ask your doctor for a referral to a therapist that specializes in sleep problems. Even short courses of cognitive behavioral therapy focusing on sleep issues may help women going through menopause to sleep better. Therapy will differ for each person, but may involve processes including keeping a sleep diary and talking to a sleep coach.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Talk with your doctor about your sleep concerns. Ask about short-term treatment with estrogen or progesterone. See a sleep therapist.


Remove any spiders that you see while cleaning to prevent them from laying eggs in your car. Trap the spider with a cup or with your hands and exterminate it or release it far away from your car. If you can't or would prefer not to touch the spiders, set up spider sticky traps around the car where you've seen spiders before. Using a vacuum with a tube attachment, look for and suck away any spider egg sacks, webs, or additional spiders that you see. Pay special attention to the corners or areas under mats and chairs. Suck up any dirt, crumbs, or other debris you see as well—it could be attracting the spiders.  After vacuuming the car, remove the vacuum bag and discard it far away from your car to prevent any spiders from escaping. Spider egg sacks are usually small, oval-shaped grey bundles with a silky consistency. Spiders are attracted to bright lights, so keep your inside car lights turned off at all times if you've noticed an infestation. At night when you need your exterior lights on, turn them off immediately after parking. If someone uses electronics in your car, ask them to turn the screen to a low brightness setting. Spiders are most likely to slip through any cracks, gaps, or holes in your car's exterior. Inspect your car for damage, particularly any holes leading to your car interior, and fix them yourself or take your car to a certified mechanic for repairs. Eliminating open spaces will make it more difficult for spiders to enter your car.  This only applies to cracks, gaps, or holes made by damage. Never try to seal your car's doors, vents, windows, or pipes. If you have a broken or cracked windshield, for example, repair it yourself or hire a mechanic to fix it as soon as possible.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Catch and get rid of any existing spiders in your car. Vacuum your entire car. Turn off your interior car lights while using your car. Fix any cracks or holes in your car so spiders can't get in it.