Just because the symptoms of mental illness might not be visible in the same way as those of a physical disease, you shouldn't dismiss the symptoms of stress, depression or anxiety. Symptoms of poor mental health might include:  Anger or irritability Crying Feeling powerless or helpless A sense of disconnection or numbness to your emotions A loss of appetite or diminished libido Loss of interest in activities you normally love You probably have a very busy schedule with the demands of work, home and everything in between. But preserving your mental health means making time for doing things that bring you joy and also keep you calm. Make a list of things that you enjoy doing in your spare time. Perhaps you like practicing photography, reading mystery novels, or testing out new recipes. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, set aside at least a few hours each week in which you can relax and take this time to yourself. Simply breathing in long, soothing breaths can help regulate your body's response to stress. Inhale by expanding your diaphragm outward; this is located in your lower stomach. Hold your breath for five seconds. Then, exhale, drawing your diaphragm back inward. In meditation, you empty your mind so you only focus on your breathing and the rhythms of your body as you inhale and exhale.  Find a comfortable space to sit or lie down while you focus on your breathing. If you are not comfortable lying or sitting down, then try going for a walk and focusing only on your surroundings. If you tend to "overthink" or have a rush of anxious thoughts, especially before you go to bed, meditation can help you clear you mind of these toxic ideas and instead focus on the experience of breathing. . In addition to having excellent physical benefits, exercise can also relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety. The endorphins released during exercise might help boost your mood and relieve the symptoms of depression. Many forms of exercise -- such as yoga and tai chi -- combine the benefits of exercise with the focus on deep, meditative breathing. These exercises are a great way to quell the symptoms of stress or anxiety. While you should certainly visit a counselor or psychiatrist if you suffer from depression or acute anxiety, you might seek treatment for seemingly more minor experiences of stress. A counselor, therapist, or psychiatrist can give you helpful tips for managing stress and maintaining your mental health.

Summary: Treat mental illness as seriously as physical illness. Make time for activities that give you joy. Practice deep breathing. Embrace meditation and spirituality. Exercise Consult a therapist.


You can use Twitter Counter to keep tabs on who unfollows you, as well as dozens of other metrics for your Twitter account.   The service is not free, but you can sign up for a 30-day free trial. You have to provide a credit card number or PayPal information to start the trial. After the end of the trial, your account will be billed for the subscription price (unless you cancel first).  The button is at the top right corner of the screen and displays a blue Twitter logo. If you see a place to enter a username and password instead, enter your Twitter account information to log in. You should see the Authorize App button now. If you don’t want to follow Twitter Counter on Twitter, uncheck the box next to “Follow @theCounter.” If you don’t want to automatically follow Twitter users featured by Twitter Counter, remove the check next to “Discover interesting people.” Twitter Counter will email the specified address with tips on how to use the site. It’s a grayed-out link on the left sidebar. Note that you won’t have any unfollowers listed yet, as Twitter Counter just started monitoring your account. They differ in amount of accounts the site can monitor, maximum date range, support options, and available report types. The button appears at the bottom of each plan option. Be sure to click the one beneath the plan you want to try out. After the trial is over, you won’t be able to use Twitter Counter to see who unfollowed you unless you pay for a subscription. ” Choose between “Credit Card” and “PayPal.”  ” This option appears for both credit cards and PayPal. Once your card is processed, you should see the dashboard. This is where you’ll find out who unfollowed you in the future.

Summary: Open a web browser. Navigate to twittercounter.com. Click Sign In. Click Authorize App. Type your email address. Click Let’s get started. Click the “unfollowers” link. Read through the available plans. Click Start Free Trial. Click “Next Step. Select a payment method. Type your payment or account information. Click “Process Card. Click the “unfollowers” link.


Find a water gun or a Nerf gun that has the right shape. Take it outside and spray paint it black using a matte, black spray paint. Apply the paint in a light, even coat. Wait for the paint to dry, then apply a second coat, if necessary. Once the paint dries, flip the gun over and spray the other side.  Most spray paint will stick to plastic, but it won't be very durable. To make your paint job durable, make sure you are using a spray paint that is intended for plastic. Also, you might want to coat the gun with a layer of spray paint primer first. This will help the paint stick better. It is better to apply many thin coats rather than one thick coat. If you apply the paint too thickly, you may get drips and puddles. Also, the paint may not dry properly. Know that not all places allow any prop guns. Before you make your blaster, it might be a good idea to check the prop rules of the event you are attending.

Summary: Consider making your own blaster using a water gun or a Nerf gun.


1 US gal (3.8 L) of Waterlox will cover 500 sq ft per coat. 1  qt (0.95 L) will cover 125 sq ft per coat. You can use Waterlox’s online “Purchase Assistant” to help you determine how much finish to buy: https://www.waterlox.com/support/purchase-assistant.  Typically, you’ll need 2 basecoats and 1 topcoat. This means that for a 500 sq ft area, you would need 2 US gal (7.6 L) of Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish and 1 US gal (3.8 L) of whatever topcoat you choose. You may need more coats for very porous, untreated, or recently sanded wood surfaces. Waterlox is a potentially harmful chemical solution, so you must always protect yourself against its effects during use. Wear safety goggles and gloves whenever you are handling this product. Nitrile gloves work best for this purpose. Ventilation is crucial when using Waterlox. If you are unable to ventilate the area properly, you should not use this product. Cross-ventilation is best to aerate the room and to help the finish dry. For best results, place a box fan in a window or door with another window or door open on the opposite side of the room. You should ventilate the room while you are applying the finish and while it is drying between coats. Continue ventilating the area for at least 7 days after applying the final coat to ensure the finish is properly dried and to help evacuate the solvent odor. It is imperative that you vacuum the surface you want to finish completely before applying the Waterlox. This will remove any dust or debris left on the surface so that it doesn’t get painted over.  Consider using a shop-vac or a canister-style vacuum for best results on larger surface areas. For smaller surfaces, use a damp microfiber cloth to remove any dust particles. After vacuuming, wipe the surface with a dry rag to get up any remaining flecks or fibers that the vacuum may have missed. Wrap your sand block with 220-grit sandpaper and rub it across the surface of the wood in 2 ft (0.61 m) to 3 ft (0.91 m) sections. Be sure to go with the grain of the wood as you sand it.  Do not sand the wood too roughly or this could remove any existing protective stain. When finished sanding, wipe the surface with a rag to remove any leftover debris from the sanding process.
Summary: Buy enough Waterlox to get the job done. Purchase safety goggles and gloves. Ventilate the area properly. Vacuum or dust the surface thoroughly. Lightly sand the wood surface.