| How to Handle the Stress of Planning Your Future (for College Students) Posted: 30 Mar 2020 05:00 PM PDT Planning for your future is exciting, but it can also be really stressful. As a college student, you may be thinking about what you're going to do after graduation. A job, more school, a career path, or even traveling are all paths that you could take. To handle the stress of planning for your future, try to solidify your plan, avoid comparing yourself to others, and focus on your day-to-day experiences to turn graduation into a positive milestone rather than a negative one. [Edit]Managing Anticipatory Stress - Make graduation a positive goal instead of a negative deadline. As you prepare for the future, you may start to dread your graduation date. However, getting through college is tough, and you should look forward to your graduation and congratulate yourself for making it this far. Try to see your graduation date as the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in your life.[1]
- Celebrate your graduation with your friends and family to solidify this as a good thing instead of a negative deadline.
- Focus on your day-to-day experiences. It can be easy to become overwhelmed by thoughts of the future as you start planning ahead. Take time out of your day to appreciate where you are right now. Although college can be stressful at times, take note of your friends, your family, and the good times that you are having while you are in school right now.[2]
- People often look back on their college years as some of the most fun ones. Try to appreciate where you are right now instead of stressing about the future all the time.
- Think positively about your future. A negative mindset will only serve to bring you down and lead to more stress. Try to keep a positive outlook when you think about your future plans. Remember that you are more than just your career path, and try to think about all the things you might accomplish some day.[3]
- The future should be something to look forward to, not something to dread.
- Avoid comparing yourself to others. Everyone is on a different life path, and when you compare yourself to others, you are ignoring your different backgrounds and struggles. As you plan for your future, keep your thoughts on yourself, and try to avoid comparing your achievements to your peers', friends', and family members'.[4]
- Remember that most of your friends are also stressed about the future.
- Try not to get discouraged if you can't find a job right away. If you plan to start a career right after college, it can be frustrating to look for jobs. Often, people do not end up getting their dream job when they first apply to it. As you look for jobs, keep in mind that you are still young and you may not go down the exact path that you set for yourself.[5]
[Edit]Planning for Your Future - Evaluate your own skills and interests to decide what you want to do. As you get closer to graduating college, you have probably amassed a fair amount of skills from classes and internships. Combine these with your interests to determine what path you want to take after college. Graduate school, a job, or a career path are all valid options to choose in your desired area.[6]
- Factor the degree you will be graduating with into your career path as well.
- Reach out to your advisors to get advice. The advisors who helped you pick your class schedule can also help you plan for your career. Set up a meeting with your advisor and ask them specific questions about their own career paths and if they have any advice on reaching your goals. Write down any suggestions or tips they have that could help you in the future.[7]
- For example, you could ask, "Are there any job posting boards for my career path?"
- "Do you know how much demand there is in the field?"
- "Do you have any advice on how to get my foot in the door at a large company?"
- Go to graduate school if your job requires a higher degree. Grad school is a huge step, and it usually takes more time and effort to complete than an undergraduate degree. If you are committed to following a job path that requires either a Master's degree or a PhD., consider going to graduate school right away. Undergraduate degrees like pre-med and pre-law will probably not be applicable to any jobs you apply for.[8]
- You may be able to find a job that will pay for your graduate program while you work there.
- Find a job if you're eager to work in your field or if you need the money. If you're excited about starting your career, look for a job that begins right after you graduate. Also, student loans are a concern for many college students. Typically, you have about 6 months after you graduate with your undergraduate degree before you must start paying your student loans back. If you'd like to get a jump start on the process, look for work so you can start chipping away at your debt.[9]
- Be sure to factor your student loan payments into any budget you create for yourself in the future.
- Visit your college's career center for job-hunting resources. Most 2 and 4 year colleges have career centers that help students plan for their job and career prospects. Set up an appointment with yours and get advice about finding a job, building a resume, and making connections in your field.[10]
- Take a gap year to decide your path if you can. If you aren't really sure what you'd like to do after college, consider taking 10 to 12 months to think about it. You can work a minimum wage job, travel, or pursue a hobby as you decide what to do with your life. Keep your expenses as low as possible by living with a family member as you decide which avenue to pursue.[11]
- Taking a gap year can help your brain to decompress from the stresses of college.
- Not everyone can afford to take a gap year.
- If you are having a lot of trouble managing your stress, talk to a student counselor on campus.
[Edit]References |
| How to Preserve Roses in Resin Posted: 30 Mar 2020 09:00 AM PDT Instead of throwing away that beautiful bouquet of roses, use them to create a keepsake you can enjoy for a long time to come. By preserving roses in resin, you can make paperweights, decorative accents, or personal gifts to give to others. It's best to use dried roses so their coloring stays vibrant, and it takes about 5-10 days to dry them by hanging them upside down. After you've dried the roses, you should be able to complete this project from beginning to end within 4-5 hours. [Edit]Drying the Roses - Choose roses at the peak of their bloom for the most vibrant color. Avoid picking roses that haven't opened up yet or that are already starting to brown or droop. You can either buy roses from a store or cut them from a rose bush.[1]
- If you're cutting your own from a rose bush, it's a good idea to wear garden gloves to protect your skin from the thorns.
- Trim away the majority of the leaves from the roses' stems. Either pull the leaves off by hand or use a pair of scissors to cut them off where they intersect with the stem. You could also shave off the thorns if you're worried about getting pricked by them.[2]
- Leaving a few leaves in place will give you the chance to incorporate them into your design if you want. They can add a nice pop of color against the rose.
- Wrap a piece of twine around the stem of each rose and tie it in a bow. Use a piece of twine and wrap it around 3-4 times before tying the bow. Make the bow as tight as possible so the bundle of roses won't come apart once it's hanged.[3]
- If you don't have twine, a rubber band will work just as well. Just wrap it around several times until it's tight against the stems.
- Hang the roses upside down in a dry, airy place. Keep them out of sunlight so their color doesn't fade. Put them in a closet or cupboard where there isn't a lot of moisture in the air, and simply hang them from a hook or nail.[4]
- Excessive moisture could keep the roses from drying and could even cause them to grow mold.
- Check the roses every 5-10 days to see if they are dry to the touch. Roses don't take very long to dry, so you should be ready to move on with your project within 1-2 weeks. When you touch the roses, they should feel crispy and the petals should no longer be soft or pliable.[5]
- Cut the stem away from the bud of the roses after they have fully dried. Once you're ready to start the preservation process, trim away the stem. If you want to use any of the leaves, cut them off and set them to the side along with the rosebuds.
- The stem would most likely just get in the way and be too long to fit in the mold properly.
- Use a convection oven to dry roses in 3-4 hours. Lay the roses out on a clean baking sheet and preheat the oven to . Place the baking sheet on the lowest rack and leave the roses in the oven for 2-3 hours. Check them after that time and add an additional hour if they aren't dry yet.[6]
- A normal oven may not be able to go as low as and often has more moisture than a convection oven. You can still try this method with a normal oven, but be aware that you may not get the same results.
- Dry roses in 1-2 days with desiccant in the microwave. Bury roses in a microwave-safe container filled with desiccant. Microwave the container along with a mug full of water for 2 minutes. Poke through the desiccant with a toothpick to check the roses, and continue microwaving them in 1-minute intervals until they're fully dry. Carefully remove the container and let it sit for 24 hours before removing the roses.[7]
- A desiccant is any substance that can be used as a drying agent. There are several options you can use, but silica gel is the fastest. You can buy it at most garden supply stores.
[Edit]Preparing the Resin - Use clear polyester casting resin for the cheapest option. This type of resin will dry clear so you'll be able to see the rose inside really well. It also dries a little slower than epoxy resin, which means you have a little more time to arrange the rose and perfect your craft.[8]
- You can find this product at most craft stores or you can order it online.
- Choose an epoxy resin if you want an amber cast to the finish. Epoxy resin is typically a little faster-drying and longer-lasting than polyester resin, though both options should create keepsakes that will last for years. If you like the idea of a lightly tinted finish, epoxy resin is the way to go.[9]
- You can also buy clear epoxy resins, but the cost is much higher than what you would pay for a clear polyester resin.
- Work in a well-ventilated area to combat the resin's strong odor. Once your roses are dry and you're ready to complete your project, set up your tools outdoors if possible. If you do have to work inside, open up as many windows as you can and use a fan to circulate the air faster.[10]
- If you're sensitive to strong smells, consider wearing a face mask while you work.
- Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the resin. If you do happen to get resin on your fingers, simply rinsing them with water won't get it off completely and the resin will leave a sticky residue. Safely remove resin without using harmful chemical products by doing the following:[11]
- Mix 1/2 tablespoon (4.5 grams) of poppy seeds with of dish soap. Rub the mixture into your hands for 60 seconds without adding water. Then add water, wash your hands, and scrub away any remaining resin. The poppy seeds act as an exfoliant to rough up the resin and get it to detach from your skin.
- If you don't have poppy seeds, coffee grounds would also work.
- Measure how much resin your mold will hold. Your mold may have this information printed on it, but if not, you can figure it out yourself. Simply pour water into the mold and then pour that water into your measuring cup to see how much liquid there is.[12]
- You can buy molds at most craft stores or online.
- Plastic molds work just fine, but you could also invest in latex-rubber molds, which are more flexible and easier to remove once the resin is set. deep}}.
- Pour enough resin into the disposable measuring cup to fill the mold. You can buy disposable measuring cups online, at craft stores, or at most local grocery stores. Look for ones that include measurements on the side so that it's easy to pour the right amount of resin.[13]
- Because the resin is so hard to clean off, disposable measuring cups guarantee that you won't accidentally ruin your normal measuring cups.
- Add the catalyst to the resin per the instructions on the resin container. In general, the catalyst makes up 1-2% of the total volume of the resin, so if your mold holds , you would need to add about 16 drops of resin. The resin container should have a chart on the back that gives you a breakdown of how much to use.[14]
- The catalyst heats the resin and helps it harden, or cure. Without it, your mold would never harden into a beautiful keepsake.
- Stir the resin and catalyst with a wooden skewer for 60 seconds. If you don't have a wooden skewer, use something else that is also disposable, like a plastic spoon or popsicle stick. It's important you mix things well so that the catalyst gets activated.[15]
[Edit]Creating the Mold - Pour the stirred resin into the mold. After stirring together the catalyst and resin for 60 seconds, carefully pour the mixture into the mold you've chosen for your roses. Be careful to not drip the resin onto your work surface or get it onto the edges of the mold itself.[16]
- If you're worried about spills, lay some old newspaper underneath your work station.
- Place the rose into the resin in the design that you want. Depending on the type of mold you chose, be aware of which side will be the top. For example, if you're using a domed mold, you'll want to insert the rose into the resin facedown so that it'll be visible once it's right-side up. Use the wooden skewer to push the rose into place.[17]
- The rose will most likely rise to the top of the resin, and that is okay. Right now, focus on getting it into a general placement. You'll have a chance to push it deeper in a little while.
- This is also the time to add the dried leaves if you saved any. You could also add other dried flowers.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes and let the resin set to a gel-like consistency. If after 10 minutes the resin is still very liquid-like, set the timer for an additional 10 minutes. You want the resin to be pliable so you can push the rose in further without it popping back up but not so hard that you can't make any adjustments.[18]
- If you're working indoors or in a humid climate, it may take closer to 30 minutes for the resin to get to the right consistency.
- Finalize the positioning once the resin is the right consistency. Use your wooden skewer to push the rose deeper into the resin. If it floated off to the side, you can also push it back into place. Use this time to arrange any other flowers or leaves that are in the mold.[19]
- It's very hard to make roses look bad. Even if things are off-center a little, the end result will still look beautiful.
- Let the resin set for about 4 hours or until it is completely hardened. Consult the back of the resin container to see how long they recommend for the curing process. It usually takes several hours, but if you made a really large or deep mold, it could take longer.[20]
- If the resin is still sticky to the touch, it's not done. When it's fully dry, it should be smooth and hard.
- Remove the mold from the resin to reveal your creation! Loosen the mold from around the resin to pop it out, or peel away the mold if you used a flexible one. Use your mold as a decorative accent around your home, as a paperweight, or give it away as a gift.[21]
- The molds should come away clean, which means you can reuse them to make even more!
- Put a felt bottom on the completed mold if it'll be on top of a hard surface that you want to protect from potential scratches.[22]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Scissors
- Twine
- Rubber gloves
- Clear polyester casting resin
- Catalyst liquid
- Disposable mixing cup
- Resin mold
- Wooden skewer
- Dried roses
- Paper towels
[Edit]References |
| How to Store a Fur Coat Posted: 30 Mar 2020 01:00 AM PDT Fur coats, fur stoles, and fur accessories are expensive to replace. Fur is also easily damaged over time. Proper storage can help prevent damage to fur. Choose a dark place to store fur and one that has a low relative humidity. Make sure to avoid over-filling the closet or wrapping fur in a plastic bag. For best results, seek professional storage if it is affordable for you. [Edit]Selecting a Place to Store a Coat - Pick a dark place to store your fur. Fur does not do well if it gets exposed to direct sunlight. The ideal place to store fur is a dark location. A closet, for example, is a great place to store fur.[1]
- Choose an area of your home that does not get a lot of direct sunlight. A closet right by your bedroom window may not be a great place for a fur coat. A closet near the hallway, away from windows, may be a better option.
- Choose somewhere cool. Fur does best at colder temperatures. You should store your fur in an area of your home that tends to be cooler. A closet on the first floor near the air conditioning, for example, can be a great place to store fur.[2]
- It's especially important to store fur in cool places during the summer months.
- Avoid storing a coat in humid places. Humidity can be very damaging to fur. Many people try to store fur coats in the basement, due to cooler temperatures. However, basements tend to be very humid. You should never store fur in areas prone to excessive humidity.[3]
- It may be a good idea to keep a dehumidifier in the room where you store your fur, especially if you live in an area prone to humidity.
- Do not use cedar closets or moth balls. Both cedar closets and moth balls absorb moisture. This can dramatically increase humidity, which can be very harmful to a fur coat. In addition to this, fur can absorb odor from moth balls and cedar. Once absorbed, this odor can be very hard to get rid of.[4]
[Edit]Storing the Coat Safely - Select the right hanger. How you hang your coat matters. The wrong kind of hanger can damage a fur coat. In order to support the full weight of your coat, choose a broad-shouldered clothes hanger.[5]
- You can buy a broad-shouldered hanger at a department store or online.
- Store your coat in a cloth bag. A plastic bag is not suitable to use to store a coat. Plastic will dry out a coat. Buy a cloth bag big enough to comfortably fit your fur coat. [6]
- You may be able to buy a cloth storage bag at the store where you got your coat.
- You can also order a storage bag online.
- Avoid over filling the closet. A coat should never be pushed into the corner of a crowded closet. Coats need ample room for safe storage. If you don't have room for a fur coat in a closet, do not squeeze the coat in. Either move other clothing elsewhere or store the coat in another area.[7]
[Edit]Considering Professional Storage - Think about the climate in your area. If you live in an area with hot, humid summers, professional storage is strongly recommended. It's very hard to maintain safe levels of heat and humidity in your home, even with amenities like air conditioners. If professional storage is within your budget, it's worth the investment to keep your coat safe.[8]
- Make sure to ask questions at the facility. You can find storage facilities online or in the local yellow pages. You should always ask questions when selecting a storage facility. Storing coats is expensive, so you want to make sure your coat will not get damaged by the wrong facility. Ask where the storage area is. Some facilities store fur coats in a cramped back room.[9]
- You should also visit a facility in person and ask to see the storage area. You do not want to store your coat in a facility where it will be jammed in with other clothing items.
- You should also ask about coverage in the event the fur is lost or damaged. If you have insurance, make sure your insurance still covers your fur if you choose to store it. You should also make sure the storage facility has insurance coverage, and ask whether or not you would be compensated in the event of damages.
- Ask about the vault's temperature and humidity. When exploring your storage options, you want to make sure they're adequate to keep a fur coat safe. Any reputable storage center will maintain a 50 degree temperature and a 50 percent humidity. This is ideal for fur.[10]
- If your fur is valuable, make sure it's covered by insurance, especially when you send it away for storage.
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