| How to Calculate Your Cycle Length Posted: 06 Feb 2018 04:00 PM PST Calculating your menstrual cycle is an easy task that can tell you a lot about your body. By looking at the number of days between the start of your periods, you can get a better idea of when you are most fertile and your overall reproductive health. In addition, tracking your flow, your symptoms, and any irregularities in your cycle can help you get more in tune with your body, and provide you with warnings of possible medical complications. EditCounting Days Between Periods - Start counting on the first day of your period. To get an accurate depiction of your menstrual cycle, start counting on the first day of your period. Make a note on your calendar or in a menstrual cycle monitoring app when your period begins.[1]
- Smartphone apps such as Clue, Glow, Eve, and Period Tracker are designed to help you monitor your menstrual cycle, ovulation, and other key points in your cycle. They can be an easy and data-driven means of monitoring your cycle length.[2]
- Count up to the day before you start your next period. Your count resets on day 1 of your menstrual cycle. This means that your count for each cycle should end on the day before your next period. Include a count for the day before your period starts, but do not include the start date of your period, even if it starts later in the day.[3]
- If, for example, your cycle started on March 30 and your next period came on April 28, your cycle would be March 30 to April 27, and would total 29 days.
- Monitor your cycle for at least 3 months. The length of your menstrual cycle may vary from month to month. If you want an accurate depiction of your average cycle length, monitor your cycle for at least 3 months. The longer you monitor your cycle, the more representative your average will be.[4]
- Calculate your average cycle length. Find the average for the length of your cycle using the numbers you collected while counting your period. You can recalculate this every month to get a more accurate depiction of your general cycle length. Remember, though, that the average shows a trend—it doesn't definitively represent the length of your next cycle.[5]
- To find the average, add the total number of days of your cycle for each month that you have monitored. Then, divide that total by the number of months you monitored. This will give you your average cycle length.
- For example, you had a 28 day cycle in April, a 30 day cycle in May, a 26 day cycle in June, and a 27 day cycle in July, your average would be (28+30+26+27)/4, equalling a 27.75 day average cycle.
- Continue to track your cycle. Keep tracking your cycle every month. Even if you pass a certain target, such as getting pregnant, keeping track of your cycle throughout your life can help you know when something is off. Medical professionals often ask for information about your cycle, as well. Monitoring your periods and cycle length will help you provide the most accurate information possible.[6]
- If your doctor asks you the date of your last period, the answer is the first day of your last period, not the day it ended.[7]
EditMonitoring Your Period - Watch your flow. Very heavy menstrual flows can be an indication of other problems. It may even lead to its own problems, such as anemia and lethargy. While you track your cycle, keep an eye on what days your flow is heavy, normal, and light. In most cases, you don't need to measure the quantity of blood. Instead, estimate by looking at what type of menstrual products you are using (super tampons, regular pads, etc.) and how often you need to change out those products.[8]
- If, for example, you have to change a super tampon every hour, you may have an irregularly heavy flow.
- Keep in mind that most women will have heavier days and lighter days. It is normal to have different levels of flow on different days.
- The severity of flow varies greatly from person to person. A heavier or lighter cycle isn't inherently problematic. Instead, watch for very heavy cycles or completely skipped periods, which may be an indicator of another medical issue.[9]
- Note changes in your mood, energy, and body prior to and during your cycle. PMS and PMDD can do anything from make you a little cranky to make it difficult to function. Knowing when these symptoms are most likely to hit can help you better plan and cope. Take note of any extreme mood changes, changes in energy level and appetite, and physical symptoms such as headaches, cramps, and breast tenderness in the days leading up to and during your cycle.[10]
- If your symptoms are extreme enough that they make daily functioning difficult, contact your doctor. They may be able to help you find a solution or proper management program.
- If you notice symptoms suddenly happening that you have never experienced before, such as severe lethargy, you may also want to contact your doctor. In some cases, these could be an indicator of a larger medical issue.
- Seek medical help for any sudden, major changes. Different people naturally have different cycles. Your cycle isn't problematic just because it doesn't follow the same pattern as someone else. Sudden or major changes to your cycle, though, are often an indicator of larger medical problems. Contact your doctor or OB-GYN if your period suddenly gets very heavy or disappears completely.[11]
- You should also contact a medical professional if you experience severe cramping, migraines, lethargy, or depression in the days leading up to and during your cycle.
- Your doctor will be able to talk to you about your symptoms and run tests as necessary to see if changes in your cycle may be related to medical issues such as endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, thyroid disorders, or ovarian failure, among others.
EditTracking Your Ovulation by Cycle Length - Find the midpoint of your menstrual cycle. Ovulation typically occurs around the midpoint of your menstrual cycle. Count the halfway point in your average cycle to give you an idea of what the midpoint of your next cycle might be.[12]
- So if you have a 28 day average cycle, your midpoint would be at 14 days. If you have a 32 day average cycle, your midpoint would be at 16 days.
- Add 5 days before ovulation. If you are trying to get pregnant, the 5 days before ovulation are just as important as the day of ovulation. Your chances of getting pregnant increase when you engage in sexual activity 5 days prior to ovulation, as well as the probable date of ovulation.[13]
- Your egg can be fertilized up to 24 hours after it is released, and sperm can live in the fallopian tube for up to 5 days after sex. Having sex 5 days prior to ovulation, as well as on the day of ovulation, helps give your egg the best chance of fertilization.
- Use an ovulation predictor kit if you have irregular cycles. If your cycles are irregular, monitoring ovulation by charting your cycle length might not be the most accurate. Using an ovulation predictor kit may be the most accurate method if you have irregular periods.[14]
- Ovulation predictor kits are available from most pharmacies and drug stores, as well as online retailers.
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| How to Keep a Dog Off the Couch Posted: 06 Feb 2018 08:00 AM PST If you're tired of your dog jumping on the couch, it's time to train your dog to stay off the couch. Start by setting out a comfortable dog bed or a piece of furniture that is only for your dog and offer treats to encourage your dog to enjoy its own bed. You may want to protect your couch with a cover while your dog learns to stay off of it. With a little training, your dog will be off the couch and in its own space in no time! EditProviding Alternatives - Buy a comfortable pet bed for your dog. Pay attention to how your dog likes to sleep and then buy a bed that supports its sleeping style. For example, if your dog usually curls up into a ball on the couch, buy a donut or bolster bed. If your dog likes to spread out on the couch, purchase a soft, cushion bed.[1]
- Make sure that the bed is the right size for your dog. If you're uncertain or if your dog is between sizes, order a size up. It's better to get a bigger bed just in case, because smaller beds can lead to spine and neck problems
- Make a place for your dog's bed. Place your dog's bed on the floor in a quiet room (if the dog likes to be undisturbed when it sleeps) or in a corner of the living room (if the dog wants to be around the activity of the house). Put a few of the dog's toys near the bed to encourage the dog to use it.[2]
- Designate a piece of furniture as the dog's. If your dog is disinterested in a dog bed or you don't want to buy one, pick a chair or piece of furniture that can be just for the dog. Don't let any other pets or people use the furniture.[3]
- Your dog may be confused at first about why it can use one piece of furniture but not the couch. Be consistent in keeping the dog off of the couch and it will soon learn to stick with its own furniture.
- Do not try to section off a part of the couch for the dog. The dog may not understand why it is allowed on one part of the couch and not the other. The dog should have a completely separate piece of furniture.
- Use treats to encourage the dog to use its furniture. One of the simplest ways to teach the dog to use its bed or furniture is to set a dog treat on it. Do this several times throughout the day so your dog associates its bed with a positive experience. Eventually, your dog should come to prefer its furniture instead of the couch.[4]
- You can also reward the dog with treats whenever you see it relaxing on its furniture.
- Teach your dog the "go to bed" command. Start telling your dog to "go to bed" whenever you want it to use its own furniture or bed. At first, reward the dog whenever it touches or sits on its own bed. After a week or 2, start rewarding the dog only after it lies down on the bed for a certain amount of time. Soon, your dog will start to go to bed whenever you give it the command.
- Keep your dog in a crate or different room at night. Restrict your dog's access to the couch when you won't be around to keep it off. Put your dog in a crate or in a separate room in the evenings so it won't get into the habit of sleeping on the couch.[5]
- Set out the dog bed or comfortable blankets so your dog won't miss sleeping on the couch.
EditMaking Furniture Less Desirable - Place sheets of aluminum foil on the furniture. Ensure that the length of the couch is covered with the aluminum foil so it will startle your dog if it jumps onto it. Putting down aluminum foil is a good option if you want to keep the dog off of the couch while you're not home.[6]
- If you don't have aluminum foil, lay large pieces of bubble wrap on the couch. The dog may pop some of the bubbles when it gets on the couch. This can startle the dog so it won't want to get back on the furniture.
- Lay double-sided packing tape on the couch. If your dog is sensitive to noise and doesn't respond well to being startled by aluminum foil, lay down long strips of double-sided packing tape instead. The sticky feeling can prevent the dog from jumping on the couch and scratching the furniture.[7]
- Avoid leaving food near the furniture. Your dog may be drawn to the couch because you frequently eat there or leave crumbs on it. If you stop eating on the couch or remove the crumbs once you've finished eating, your dog will be less interested in the furniture.[8]
- Protect the couch with covers. It may take some time for your dog to learn not to get on the couch. In the meantime, protect the couch by covering it with a plastic cover, sheet, or blanket. You can easily remove the cover once your dog begins using its own bed or space instead.[9]
- Make the furniture hard for your dog to access. Your dog will be less likely to get on the couch if it's covered with things such as cushions, blankets, or baskets of laundry. Even if your dog manages to get on the couch, it will find that there's no comfortable space to rest and the dog should jump off.[10]
- Spray a furniture deterrent on the couch. Go to the pet store and buy a non-chemical furniture deterrent that you can apply to the furniture. These are formulated to smell bad to dogs so your dog should leave the couch alone.[11]
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions about reapplying the spray once the scent wears off.
EditTeaching the "Off" Command - Say "off" when you see your dog get on the couch. Spend some time monitoring your dog around the couch. Wait to see if your dog will stay away from the couch and go to its own furniture or space. If your dog does get on the couch, say "off" in a firm voice. Do this as soon as you see the dog on the furniture.[12]
- Avoid yelling or getting angry at the dog. Yelling will only damage your relationship with the dog.
- When you give the command, try pointing to the ground. This will help your dog learn the cues for getting off of the couch.
- Give the dog a treat to encourage it to move. Get out a dog treat and hold it in front of your dog's face right after you tell it to get off the couch. Move the treat away from the dog and lure the dog to its bed. This will encourage your dog to move off the couch and onto its own bed.[13]
- You shouldn't move the dog off of the couch or it won't learn that it shouldn't be on the furniture in the first place.
- Praise the dog when it gets off of the furniture. As soon as the dog jumps off of the couch and onto the floor, say something like "good job!" Rub the dog's ears or pet it as another reward for keeping off of the couch. If your dog prefers, get out one of its favorite toys and play together for a few minutes as a reward.[14]
- Remember to be consistent with your praise. Praise the dog every time it gets back onto the floor so it learns that the couch is off limits.
- Use a clicker device to train the dog. Buy a clicker device and get your dog excited about hearing the click. Give your dog a treat and click the device at the same time. Do this about 10 times so your dog associates the sound with a reward. Then, use the clicker to reward your dog for avoiding the couch or jumping down off of the couch.[15]
- For example, click the device when you see the dog in its own dog bed or space.
- Click the device as soon as you see behavior that you want to reward. This will strengthen the positive association that the dog has with staying off of the couch.
EditThings You'll Need EditProviding Alternatives - Dog treats
- Furniture for the dog
- Dog bed
- Crate
EditMaking Furniture Less Desirable - Aluminum foil or bubble wrap
- Double-sided packing tape
- Furniture deterrent spray
- Blankets, cushions, or baskets
- Plastic couch cover, sheet, or blanket
EditTeaching the Off Command - Dog treats
- Dog toys
- Clicker device
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Plan a Romantic Treasure Hunt Posted: 06 Feb 2018 12:00 AM PST A romantic treasure hunt is a fun and unique way to celebrate your anniversary, Valentine's Day, or just to let your partner know that you love them. There are many different ways to create a treasure hunt, so cater yours to your relationship. With a bit of planning and effort, you can create a romantic treasure hunt that your partner will absolutely love. EditPlanning the Treasure Hunt - Decide what and where the final treasure will be. When planning your own romantic treasure hunt, it's easiest to start with your end result and work backwards. Knowing how the treasure hunt will end will help you plan how to get there. Choose a final location and/or activity that has a special meaning to you and your partner. You can include numerous activities and locations throughout your treasure hunt, but make sure to end it in the most special way imaginable.
- Choose the spot where you had your first date or first kiss.
- End your treasure hunt in a romantic hotel room setting.
- Consider ending your treasure hunt at the spot where you and your spouse got engaged.[1]
- Plan the other parts of your treasure hunt. Create a list of all of the activities and/or locations that are meaningful to you and your partner, as these could be used in your treasure hunt. Use locations where you share amazing memories, include your partner's favorite coffee shop or restaurant, etc.
- The longer you want your treasure hunt to be, the more steps you should have.
- Make sure to keep the treasure hunt fun and interesting. If you make it too long, your partner may get bored or tired.[2]
- Consider the scope of your romantic treasure hunt. Do you want to do the whole treasure hunt in your house? Do you want to plan it to be throughout your neighborhood? Do you want to create a treasure hunt around the entire city? Do you want your treasure hunt to last all day or just a couple hours? Do you want to include activities or do you just want to leave clues at numerous locations? Be creative, and remember to choose locations that are important to you and your partner.
- Consider how your date will get around town. If they have a car, you can plan a larger scale treasure hunt. However, if they have to take public transit, walk, or ride their bike, you might want to plan your treasure hunt on a smaller scale.
- Plan your treasure hunt so that it geographically makes sense. Don't make your date zig-zag around town. Plan each step so that you treasure hunt flows easily.
- Take advantage of your city's landmarks when planning out your treasure hunt. These landmarks could serve as a guide for parts of your treasure hunt.[3]
EditMaking the Clues - Determine what kind of clues you want to give. You can create a variety of written clues, you can use photos, or you can use small gifts to lead your partner to each step of the treasure hunt. You can use the same type of clue throughout your entire treasure hunt, or you can incorporate all different types of clues.
- Write romantic clues that lead to special places. These clues should be special to your relationship, so include locations that are extremely memorable to you and your partner. At each place, you should leave another clue that leads to a new location. Consider adding rhymes to your clues to make the treasure hunt even cuter.
- For example, simple clues could be:
- The first place we kissed.
- The place where we had our last tickle fight.
- The place where we first said "I love you."[4]
- Clues with riddles or rhyming could be:
- This was a night I'll never forget, go to the place where our lips first met.
- I know you love your morning cup of joe, ask your favorite barista for your next place to go.
- Write clues that lead to your partner's favorite locations or activities. Make sure to choose locations that aren't too difficult to figure out, otherwise they may end up going to the wrong locations. For this approach, you may need to get employees involved at each location. If the locations are willing to participate, give an employee at each location the next clue to give your partner. For example, clues could be:
- Your favorite restaurant.
- Our Sunday fun-day location.
- Our favorite ice cream spot.
- To make clues, it's recommended to use bright, sturdy paper (like colored construction paper) so that your partner can easily find each clue.
- Use pictures to lead your partner to each clue. Use pictures of special memories, recognizable locations, and other specific things to lead your partner on a romantic treasure hunt. Tell them to follow each photo to get to the the next photo. For example, take photos of:
- A photo of you two at a particular restaurant.
- A photo of a certain dress / shirt you wore for a special occasion.
- A photo of an inside joke that will lead your partner to a specific location.
- Give your partner little gifts throughout their treasure hunt that will lead to the final surprise. Individually wrap each gift and include a clue to lead them to the next gift. This will allow your partner to have fun trying to figure out what the grand surprise is as they unwrap each gift.
- For example, your treasure hunt could lead your partner to a romantic massage that you've set up in your bedroom. Leave gifts such as candles, massage oil, a bathrobe, lotions, etc. in each step of your treasure hunt. Once they get to the final location, you'll be able to use all of these items for your final surprise.[5]
EditSetting Up the Treasure Hunt - Gather your supplies. Whether you're writing clues, placing photos in special locations, or giving little gifts throughout your treasure hunt, you'll need to get all of the materials that you'll need to create your treasure hunt. Get these supplies when you're not with your partner so that they don't become suspicious.[6]
- Whether you're writing clues or giving small gifts, you'll need to prepare all of the steps to your treasure hunt.
- Consider numbering the each clue to make sure that you place the clues in order.
- Set up each step. Go to each of your treasure hunt locations to set up your clues. Tape your clues in place, use an object to weigh them down, hang them from a fence with ribbon, hang a banner from a tree, or have someone waiting there to hand out your clues to your partner. Each clue should be fairly easy to spot so that your partner doesn't have a problem finding it.
- Consider getting your mutual friends involved to help deliver the clues to your partner in each location.
- Consider hiring people to help deliver clues to your partner. These people could be dressed up in costumes to really take your treasure hunt above and beyond.
- If you're setting up clues in stores, restaurants, etc., make sure to talk with the management to get their permission. Some of your clues may require the assistance of these stores, so make sure that they are willing to help.
- Do a test run of the treasure hunt. It's a good idea for you to do a test run of the treasure hunt so you'll know whether it works, if it's too easy or too difficult, and approximately how much time it takes to complete it. This will allow you to make any necessary adjustments before sending your partner on their romantic treasure hunt.
- This will also help you determine what time you should be waiting for them at their final location.
- Start the treasure hunt! Now that you've set everything up, get this romantic treasure hunt started. Give your partner their first clue, and let them begin the journey. Make sure that you are waiting it the final location by the time they get there.
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