Problem: Article: Don't think about your workday as revolving around a clock. Instead, you should have several tasks that you set aside blocks of time to finish. Once you finish the tasks, you're done with work.  So rather than having a random to-do list that you have to finish before five o'clock, you'll have several blocks of time dedicated to completing individual projects one at a time. This doesn't mean you won't still be in a routine. Your blocks of time should be consistent from day to day. For most people, this will be right at the start of the workday. Dedicate a minimum of one hour to your highest-priority task. Start there, and then move through to the next time block in order of priority.  For example, if you know you work best before noon, plan to spend the block before your lunch break on your toughest task -- perhaps a budget proposal that's due in six months. Usually, time blocks aren't effective if they last more than a few hours. Schedule the rest of the day in shorter blocks dedicated to one task per block. These blocks should go in order of priority, since your energy level will probably go down over the course of the day. You'll also feel better if you know the hard stuff is done as early as possible.  If you're the type of person whose energy increases as the day goes on, feel free to reverse the order of the tasks you're tackling. Make the schedule work for you! So, for example, if you've handled the hardest task first thing in the morning, break the afternoon down into two, three, or four blocks of time (each lasting an hour or two). The first could be for mapping out future sales strategies, the next for meetings with your team, and so on. Everyone's schedule will be different. You'll need to decide what's most important for your work on any given day. Address less complicated issues late in the day, when you're tired and probably not feeling particularly productive or creative. These should be tasks that are relatively mindless or monotonous, and don't require a lot of critical thinking. Lower priority tasks could include answering emails and calls. You should plan to do this at the same time each day. Let your coworkers know that these are your “office hours,” and you'll always be responsive to emails and calls during that time block. Since time blocking is all about scheduling and advanced planning, you need to make time for that too! Set aside one day each year for annual planning (for long-term projects), an hour each month for monthly planning, and an hour each week for weekly planning. This means that all your scheduling and writing of to-do lists should occur only in the blocks you've set aside for planning. Schedule in time to spend with your family and friends each week. Input a large block of time for a big vacation once or twice per year. Remember to also add blocks for working on your house or cleaning. This doesn't have to be a huge block. Try having a 30-minute block and increase it if you need to. This can be for tasks that overflow beyond their set blocks, or unexpected disasters you have to deal with right away.
Summary: Plan to finish tasks, not work by the clock. Block time for your hardest tasks when you're most productive. Block out the rest of the day by tasks. Handle lowest priority items at the end of the day. Add in blocks for planning. Don't forget to reserve time off. Schedule an empty block of time each day for flexibility.

Problem: Article: When you call your ex, notice whether they answer the phone or send you to voicemail. If they are regularly ignoring your phone calls (especially if this is a new behavior), this could be sign they’ve fallen for someone else.  Wait and see if they ignore your calls three or more times in a row. Be sure to spread out each of your phone calls by at least a day, if not more. If you text your ex and they fail to write back (or wait more than a day to do so), this can mean they love somebody else. They might be out with that person (or even sleeping over) when they receive your text, and that is why they do not respond.  As with calls, try and wait for them to drop text messages at least three times before you jump to conclusions. Once again, be sure to spread you text messages out, as not to overwhelm your ex in the process. If your ex responds to text messages and phone calls, but never initiates any communication, this can be a sign that they’ve fallen for somebody else. This can show that they still want to be polite, however, they seem to have no innate desire to speak to you.   Try ceasing your attempts to get in touch for a while (say, one week). Notice whether or not the step up to get in touch with you instead. If you try to visit your ex’s Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram page, only to realize you are no longer among their friends list, this can be a negative sign. They may have deleted you because they don’t want you to see a change in their relationship status, or photos of them with their new love.  If their social media pages are set to private, it will be immediately clear that they have unfriended you. If they keep their profiles public, you may need to directly check to see if you are listed among their friends. A far more dramatic action for your ex to take (and a much more dramatic sign) is to change their telephone number. If you attempt to contact your ex and realize that they have changed their number without notifying you, there is a good chance they have fallen in love with someone else. Inquire to your friends about the change in number. If there is some kind of good explanation for the phone number change, a mutual friend may be able to clue you in.
Summary: Notice if they ignore your phone calls. Acknowledge their failure to answer text messages. Check if they fail to initiate conversations. Check to see if they have “unfriended” you on social media. Make sure they haven't changed their phone number.

Problem: Article: To clean Formica, apply a mild dish soap to the surface. You can either apply the dish soap directly to the surface or mix with water and then dip a sponge into the solution before rubbing it on the surface. If your counter tops have a high gloss finish, you may need to use a simple glass cleaner to remove any streaks or smears that may become present after a normal cleaning. To do this, spray glass cleaner on the streaky area and then wipe with a paper towel or cotton cloth. These can etch, corrode, or discolour the surface. As a result, only mild and gentle cleaning agents should be used. Read the ingredients on your cleaning products to ensure they will not mark the surface.
Summary: Apply a mild dish soap to the surface. Spray high gloss surfaces with glass cleaner. Avoid cleaners that contain acid, alkali, or sodium hypochlorite.

Problem: Article: Guying a tree is the best method for large trees in areas with heavy winds. Guying anchors are shorter and stronger, and so you’ll need 3-4 stouter wooden stakes. You’ll need to gather wire and padding for the wire around the tree as well. Since you’ll be using shorter stakes, make sure you mark them with bright paint so no one will trip! You’ll want to place the stakes equidistant from the tree’s stem below the edge of the tree’s canopy. Make sure they’re at an angle away from the tree for maximum support. Attach the wire tautly, but not restricting all movement, from the tree to the stake.  You’ll tie the wire around the stem above the first set of branches, also called the canopy stem. Be sure to use padding, such as a rubber hose, to protect the tree stem. If the tree’s root system seems firmly anchored in the ground, remove the guying system after one growing season.
Summary:
Select stout stakes and strong wire. Drive the stakes angled away from the tree. Tie the wires on the canopy stem. Remove the stakes after one or two seasons.