Home of Home and Garden

All about home and garden

Entries for July, 2010

Seasonal Depression and Light Therapy

At the beginning of the 1980’s in the United States Professor Rosenthal discovered the benefits of light therapy lamps.  At first they were used in cases of seasonal depression also called SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  Light therapy is today practised in a number of hospitals a number of pathologies, but mostly with trouble linked to the upset of the biological clock (circadian rhythm problems) like insomnia and generally trouble sleeping.

Light therapy reveals its effectiveness in numerous cases, and helps to quickly find energy when a lower morale lets us feel the changes in the seasons.

Light therapy lamps and seasonal depression or SAD.  The principal symptoms of winter season depression start to show at the end of summer when the days start to grow short and become dull as there is less light it is the seasonal change that affects a number of people.

In a number of cases it is Winter Blues which we all suffer from in one way or another, it is a simpler version of winter depression, and this in no way stops us from continuing with our daily lives.

In the cases of SAD people will suffer from a depressive state, tiredness and will have a tendancy to isolate themselves socially.  Also noticing a significant rise in their appetite with a tendancy to gain weight or even bulemia due to sweet foods, gloomy humour a tendancy of insomnia and an excessive need of sleep, loss of concentration and motivation with a loss of interest and a loss of out put.  The people suffering from seasonal depression do not automatically show symptoms, this is why it is important to contact a doctor for a check up.  The signs of this depression disappear with the arrival of beautiful days and sunlight.

Light therapy lamps : How does it work?

Light therapy consists of facing a light therapy lamp which transmits light to the eyes. The intensity of the light should be between 2500 and 10 000 lux (light units).  It is the retina via the neurotransmittors that inhibit the melatonin, a sleep hormone which is at the root of the problems linked to a loss of light.  This homone is normally secreted at night for us to sleep. The fact that this sleeping drug is naturally blocked during the day helps us to find out natural energy.

How to use the light therapy lamps

First you have to remember that light therapy lamps used as treatment in hospitals and at home respond in the same way as any normal medecine.  This is why you should verify that the lamps have an agreed EU license.

The origin of light therapy lamps are reserved for medical use (by a GP or at the hospital).  Today light therapy lamps may be used at home, at the office in response to normal usage.

The power will be the first factor in the choice of a lamp, of course the more powerful the lamp the more the use will be a greater comfort.

Each session should be done in the morning.  The user must place the lamp at eye height or just underneath the eyes.  It is not necessary to look at the lamp but it is important that the retina swims in the light coming from the light therapy.

The length of the session must be between 30 minutes and 2 hours (30 minutes at 10 000 lux or 2500 lux for 2 hours).

The effects on the morale can be felt quite quickly, from the first couple of days, but may take 10 days for others.

There are very little indications … Read the rest

Comments Off

How An Executive office Chair Can Increase Production In Individuals?

For most people if you ask them does a chair make a difference they would say no? For others though it can make all the difference in the world. Take the executive office chair for example. These are well constructed and give the user ultimate comfort as individuals go about their daily business chores. The one thing many people do not realize about the executive office chair it does more than they realize. People who sit in them feel entitlement and sometimes power. With this, they know they must perform to keep their position in the company. In reality, the chair and its symbolism many times will make people do more things they might not do otherwise. This can be staying after work or doing things beyond what is asked of them.

Even though for most the executive office chair would be their first option, many people opt for other types as well. The desk chair also is extremely popular in the office setting as well. This type of chair has been around for so long it carries an aura about itself. In fact, many executives prefer this to chairs that are more expensive. For the longest time the swivel chair probably was used as the primary chair in most office buildings. One of the biggest reasons it gave great flexibility to the user and people loved how mobile they tend to be. For some a chair makes all the difference in the world. Some people perform in certain chairs better than others do. It is hard to explain, but it does happen more than people even realize.… Read the rest

Comments Off

Murphy Bed Mounting Options

Some systems require that the unit be drilled into the floor of the room. These are generally systems that rely on spring mechanisms. Mounting a Murphy bed unit into the floor provides grounded stability and truly makes your Murphy bed a fixture in your home, but it is important to note the long-term effects of mounting on your floor. Most floor-mount systems call for a solid mounting surface, requiring any carpeting to be cut away which can permanently damage your floor. In addition to marking your floors, floor mount systems are difficult, if not impossible to move once installed.

The “False Floor” Option

There are several Murphy bed manufacturers that offer a “false floor” option, where the Murphy bed is attached to a specifically cut piece of plywood, which is then attached to the wall or baseboards. This option is ideal for those who have settled on a Murphy bed requiring floor mounting, but want to preserve the appearance of their flooring.

Wall Mounting

Mounting to the Wall

Systems that require the Murphy bed be mounted to the wall are most commonly used with piston mechanisms. Mounting to the wall provides a much less permanent fixture in your home, as wall mount systems can be easily moved and incur very little damage to the structure of your room. The most common way in which a Murphy bed is mounted to the wall is by locating three studs, and then attaching the back panel of the Murphy bed to those studs with the use of a drill. Utilizing studs in your wall creates a stable foundation for your Murphy bed. It also allows you to reposition your Murphy bed if need be later on.

Different Wall Types

When deciding on a wall mounted Murphy bed, take into consideration the wall you will be using. Is the wall made of sheet rock, concrete or bricks? While most manufacturers provide solutions for all types of walls, certain wall types will require additional installation steps. Deciding between floor mount and wall mount styles of Murphy beds, and how they best fit into your home is an important choice. Be sure to investigate all of your options early on in your decision making process, and when you have decided which style is right for you, you will be one step closer to enjoying your Murphy bed.

Read the rest

Comments Off

How to Choose the Right Modern Outdoor Furniture

When you want to buy Modern outdoor furniture, you should consider of some important aspects that will determine your decision and result overall home design and look. In fact, most people do not know on how to choose the right modern outdoor furniture because they do not know that they can do it by themselves without paying professional and expensive interior designer. In this chance, we will talk about this, you should be able to find the right step for you but of course you must not follow all the steps because you should have your own improvement steps to choose modern outdoor furniture.

Buying modern outdoor furniture will be the same when you want to buy Modern Patio furniture because in fact Patio furniture is always used for outdoor decoration especially for terrace and also back yard. So, let’s talk straight to the tips. First, when you want to buy Patio furniture you should understand what kind of patio you want. If you want to buy patio for terrace, you should consider of buying medium size of patio.

Don’t buy too big size because will be cover your major outdoor decoration and accessories. Besides, if you buy big patio size you need additional accessories to beautify the patio. Second, you should consider of buying patio with the simplest design and concept, especially when you want to get the minimalist design. But, if you need luxurious style you can buy patio with good shiny look, white and gold accessories will add more luxurious style to your patio and overall outdoor decoration.… Read the rest

Comments Off