| How to Hang Your Phone While Charging It Posted: 15 Apr 2020 05:00 PM PDT Hanging your phone by the outlet makes it super easy to charge your phone without needing a flat surface nearby for your phone to rest. All it takes is a few seconds and your charging cord, and you can hang your phone while it charges easily. You can even use materials around your house to create your own holder if you'd like. [Edit]Hanging Your Phone by Its Cord - Plug your charger in and form a loop with the loose cord. With the charger inserted into an outlet and the cord hanging loose, bring the cord to the left and upwards, forming a large loop. The loose end of the cord should be at the adapter.[1]
- Set your phone down in the loop and hold it in place. Keep one hand on the loose end to hold it on top of the adapter while the other hand balances your phone on the cord. Place your phone down so that the charging end is to your right.[2]
- It's okay if the phone isn't perfectly balanced at this point.
- Bring the loose cord end over the adapter down into your phone. Continue your circle with the charging cord, arcing over the adapter and plugging the cord into your phone. The charging cord will rest on top of the adapter, letting your phone balance on the bottom of the loop you created.[3]
- You may need to reposition your phone until it's perfectly balanced on the cord.
[Edit]Using an Empty Bottle to Make the Phone Holder - Remove the labels from an old bottle and rinse it out thoroughly. Find an old lotion or shampoo bottle and peel off any labels. Rinse out the bottle to be sure there isn't any soap or lotion left in it. Dry the bottle thoroughly before using it.[4]
- If there's sticky residue left from the labels, use a sticky residue remover like Goo Gone or warm water and soap to get rid of it.
- Create an upside-down 'U' shape on one side of the bottle. Use a permanent marker to draw the upside-down 'U' so that the curve of the 'U' is at the top of the bottle, going along the bottle's curve as well. While the curve of the upside-down 'U' should take up as much of the bottle's width as possible, the legs of the 'U' only need to go halfway down the length of the bottle.[5]
- Make a wide 'U', using up as much of the top of the bottle as possible.
- Flip the bottle over and draw a horizontal line halfway down the bottle. On the back of the bottle, use the permanent marker to draw a straight line right across the middle. Connect the upside-down 'U' shape and horizontal line on the left and right sides of the bottle so that they're both connected.[6]
- The horizontal line will become the pocket for the phone.
- Draw a square or circle in the upside-down 'U' shape. This is where the holder will fit over the hook or adapter. Place your power adapter in the center of the 'U' shape's curve and trace around it to create a hole large enough to fit over it. This shape will ensure easy hanging on the hook.[7]
- Another way to get an accurate square is to measure your adapter and transfer the measurements to the bottle.
- If you make a mistake while using the permanent marker, use a paper towel or cotton ball soaked in acetone to erase the lines.
- Cut the bottle according to your markings using sharp scissors. Go along the lines you made with the permanent marker and cut off the top of the bottle so that you create a pocket where your phone will sit. Don't worry if the cut edges of your bottle aren't perfect or pretty—you can always cover them up later if you'd like.[8]
- Use a precision knife instead of scissors, if desired.
- Decorate the bottle with washi tape or stickers for a quick fix. If you don't mind the plastic bottle look, add a few decorations to the bottle to finish it off like tape, ribbons, or any other craft supplies you have. For example, you might add washi tape along the edges of the bottle to make them softer, tie a ribbon around the bottle for a cute look, or cover the plastic bottle in your favorite stickers or glitter.[9]
- Use acetone and a cotton ball to remove the permanent marker from the bottle, if you'd like.
- Use spray paint or fabric on the bottle to cover it completely. While this takes a little more time, it will help make sure your phone holder looks less like a plastic bottle. Use a paint or foam brush to cover the outside of the bottle in acrylic paint or use a can of spray paint to quickly transform the bottle.[10]
- You could even paint patterns or flowers on your bottle for a unique design.
- Attach an adhesive hook to your wall to hang the holder. Purchase a removable hook from your local big box store, remove the adhesive, and place it next to your outlet. Hang the phone holder on the hook using the hollow circle at the top of the bottle and place your phone in the pocket you made by cutting the plastic.[11]
- It's okay to hang your new phone holder overtop the adapter if you're only charging it for a few minutes. Otherwise, hanging it next to the outlet is safer so the holder doesn't accidentally touch the metal prongs and cause melting or other damage.
[Edit]Creating a Phone Holder Out of Fabric - Cut fabrics to make upside-down 'U' shapes. Use a pen or marker to draw a large upside-down 'U' on 2-3 pieces of fabric. Make the 'U' roughly long and wide so there's plenty of room for your phone. Use sharp scissors to cut each piece of fabric.[12]
- Use any type of fabric you'd like to make the holder, though sturdier ones work the best.
- Sew the fabrics together to create a thicker base. Place each of the upside-down 'U' shapes on top of one another so they're all perfectly even. Use a needle and thread or a sewing machine to sew around each edge of the shape to keep them together.[13]
- It doesn't matter which type of stitch you use to sew the fabrics together as long as they're secure.
- Use sewing pins to keep the fabric in place while you're sewing if you'd like.
- Cut rectangles and sew them together. Pick out 2-3 pieces of fabric and draw a rectangle on them that's long and wide. This will be placed overtop the upside-down 'U' shape to make the pocket. Once they're all cut out, place them on top of one another and sew them together.[14]
- Pick out any type of fabric you'd like.
- The multiple layers of fabric will help make a thicker and sturdier phone holder.
- Use sewing pins to keep the rectangle in place against the upside-down 'U' shape.
- Place the rectangle on top of the 'U' shape so they're lined up evenly. Situate your upside-down 'U' shape so the fabric that you'd like displayed is facing upwards. Set the rectangle on top of the 'U' shape at the bottom, lining up the edges so they're perfectly in line.[15]
- The upside-down 'U' and the rectangle are both wide, so they should fit nicely inside one another.
- Sew the left, right, and bottom edges of the rectangle onto the 'U' shape. Use a needle and thread or a sewing machine to carefully sew the rectangle onto the upside-down 'U'. Only sew the left, right, and bottom edge of the rectangle, leaving the top edge loose to create the pocket.[16]
- Cut a large hole in the top of the upside-down 'U' shape. Create a hole large enough to fit over the hook you'll use or your phone charger's adapter. Use scissors to cut out the center and add ribbon or string around the hole to hide the cut edges of the fabric.[17]
- Place a circular object or your charger's plug on top of the fabric and trace around it with a pen, if needed.
- Glue or sew ribbon around the edges of the hole to make them look better.
- Add decorative elements like ribbons onto the edges, if you'd like. If you want to hide the sewn edges of your phone holder, glue ribbon around each edge. Use hot glue to finish it quickly, or even sew the ribbon onto each edge so it's super secure.[18]
- Hang the phone holder on a hook next to a charger to use it. Purchase an adhesive hook and attach it right next to your outlet. Place your phone in your new phone holder using the pocket and put the holder on the hook. Plug the charger in, and you're all set![19]
- It's best not to put fabric directly on top of the adapter in case it touches the metal prongs by accident. Always put the fabric holder next to the charger if possible.
- Look for removable adhesive hooks at your local big box store or online.
- If you don't want to make your own phone charger holder, there are several options you can buy online instead that work just as well.
[Edit]Warnings - Be aware that putting plastic or fabric over the power adapter could cause damage, so it's best to place the holder next to the outlet instead.
[Edit]References |
| How to Make Your Own Electricity Posted: 15 Apr 2020 09:00 AM PDT If you want to start going green, generating your own electricity through renewable sources can have a huge impact. If you live in an area that gets a lot of sun, you may be able to install solar panels to generate power. If you live in an area that's pretty windy, a small scale wind turbine can work well too. Just be sure to check with local regulations to make sure you're allowed to install either system! [Edit]Mounting Solar Panels - Check that your area gets 4 hours of peak sunlight throughout the day. Peak sunlight hours occur when the sun is the highest in the sky and locations closer to the Equator get more peak sun hours than those further away. Look online to see how many peak sunlight hours your area has. Once you determine the peak hours in your area, check your property for places that aren't covered by shade during the day since solar panels can't generate electricity if they aren't exposed to sunlight.[1]
- Look for solar power companies near you and schedule a consultation. Solar power companies can look at your home and property to determine how efficient solar panels would be.
- Remember that the sun moves throughout the day so areas that have light change. While one spot may have sunlight in the morning, it may be covered by the shadow of a tree or a different home later on.
- Choose a type of solar panel that works best for you. The 3 main types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. Monocrystalline panels are the most recognizable types and have about 20% efficiency. They take up the least amount of space, but they are the most expensive. Polycrystalline panels are more affordable, but they only have about 16% efficiency and don't work well in higher temperatures since they have a low heat tolerance. Thin film panels are flexible and the cheapest option, but they are the least efficient at 7-13% and they take up the most space.[2]
- See if there are any financing options for the solar panels so you can pay them off over a set period of time rather than spending a lot up-front.
- You can install single solar panels at a time if you can't afford to buy multiple panels.
- Install the mounting system on your roof or on the ground. If you plan on installing the solar panels on your roof, attach the mounts that come with your panels to the trusses, which are the long wooden pieces under your shingles that run toward the roof's peak. Space the mounts far enough apart so they line up with the holes along the side of the panels. If you're installing a ground-mounted system, mount the provided post with cement before attaching the racks.[3]
- Some ground-mounted systems have a motor included that rotates the solar panels to follow the sun.
- If you don't have room on your roof for solar panels, see if you can mount the panels on a detached garage or shed instead.
- Secure the panels to the mounting system. Have 1-2 helpers assist you with holding the panels against the mounting racks so they're level. Screw the mounting nuts into the sides of the panels and tighten them with a wrench so they are secured in place. Keep installing the rest of your panels until you're finished.[4]
- If you don't feel comfortable installing the solar panels yourself, many solar power companies will install the panels for you.
- Attach inverters to the panels to convert the electricity. Solar panels generate DC power, but inverters convert it to AC power so you can use it in your home. Make sure you get inverters that match the output rating the solar panels you purchased. Plug individual inverters into each of your solar panels to get the most efficiency; otherwise, your panels won't work if even one of them is in the shade. Once the inverters are in place, secure them to the undersides of the panels so they stay safe.[5]
- You can buy inverters from a store that specializes in solar power or online.
- Don't get inverters that are rated higher than the output of your solar panels or else your efficiency will drop.[6]
- Connect the solar panels to your electrical system. Hire an electrician to run the wires from the solar panels into your home to your switchboard to connect the power. Once the solar panels are installed on your system, your home will use any electricity generated by them during the day. When your solar panels aren't exposed to sunlight, your home with pull electricity from your existing power grid.[7]
- Your electric company may need to install another power meter in your home to determine how much electricity your panels are generating.
[Edit]Installing a Small Wind System - Check the zoning restrictions in your area for the maximum structure height. Since wind systems are tall, you may not be able to install the system in a residential area depending on your zoning requirements. Check with local building inspectors or your city's homeowner's association to see if you're eligible for building a turbine. If zoning isn't an issue, then you can build a turbine on your property.[8]
- Many zoning ordinances have a height limit of about , and many wind systems need to be higher than the tallest structure within .[9]
- Opt for a turbine if the average wind speed is or more. Look online for wind speed maps or airport wind speed data to see what the average wind speed is in your area. If the average wind speeds are around , then a turbine might be an efficient way to generate electricity to power your home. If the wind speed is slower, then you may not get the turbine's full effectiveness.[10]
- Wind speeds increase the higher above ground you are. Many airports measure their wind speed from about above ground, which is similar to the height of a residential turbine.
- Hire a professional who installs wind turbines to check the efficiency and wind speed of your property for you if you have trouble determining it yourself.
- Calculate the minimum diameter for the turbine blades to power your home. Check with your electric company to find out how many kilowatt-hours your home used in the past year. Use the formula AEO = (0.01328)D2V3, where AEO is your annual energy output in kilowatt-hours per year, D is the diameter of the rotor in feet, and V is the annual average wind speed in miles per hour. Solve the formula for D and buy a turbine system with the correct size rotors.[11]
- For example, if you use 11,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and the average annual wind speed is 20 miles per hour, your formula would be 11,000 = (0.01328)D2(15)3. If you solve for D, the diameter you need for your system is about .
- Once you know what size turbine you need, purchase one from a reputable supplier. This company may also be able to supply you with other crucial parts (like the tower) and/or complete the installation.
- Place the turbine on a tower that's taller than other structures. Wind systems work the most efficiently when they're at least higher than any structure within . Purchase a tower that's the height you need from the same supplier that as your turbine. Secure the bottom of the tower in a concrete foundation so it's sturdy. Assemble the pieces of the tower and connect the turbine on top.[12]
- Ask the company you bought the turbine from to see if they offer building and installation. Otherwise, if you don't feel comfortable building your turbine, hire a professional service to do it for you.[13]
- Hire an electrician to connect the turbine to your home's power system. Run the wires attached to the motor of the turbine through the tower toward your home's power supply. Hire a professional electrician to bury the wires in your yard and then connect them to your switchboard. Once it's connected, the wind will spin the rotors and provide you with electricity.[14]
- Your electric company may also install another power meter to see how much electricity your turbine is generating. If you generate more than you use, you may also get reimbursement for it.
- Try a combination of solar and wind power if you want to generate additional electricity to power your home.
- If you live near steep rivers or streams, you may be able to get a hydroelectric generator installed in your area. Contact your area's Environmental Protection Agency to see if hydroelectricity is viable near your home.
[Edit]Warnings - Hire professional contractors and electricians if you don't feel comfortable installing alternate energy systems on your own.
- Always check local zoning laws to see if you're able to install alternate energy solutions on your home.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Teach Confidence Posted: 15 Apr 2020 01:00 AM PDT While it might seem like some people are just born confident, confidence is largely an acquired skill. It's something you can model and teach other people, especially children. This is important for parents, teachers, and coaches as they guide children into adulthood. Start by building up their self-esteem, independent thought, and positive self-talk. Show them how to set and achieve goals, and how to deal with failure when it happens. With lessons like these, you can teach the people around you to become more confident. [Edit]Building Up Self-Esteem - Model confident behavior for people. If you're trying to improve someone's confidence, be a model for how they should act in a confident way. Act confident around them and in all your interpersonal interactions. If the person sees that you live the lessons you're trying to teach, then they're more likely to try them in their own life.[1]
- Show them confident interpersonal relations like eye contact, handshakes, and making small talk. This lets them practice in a safe environment.
- If you do make mistakes or fail at something, let it roll off your back. Show the people around you that failure is fine and you can persevere.
- Praise small accomplishments to raise a person's self-worth. If you're trying to build someone's confidence, start small. Each accomplishment they complete is a cause for celebration, even if it seems small. Be happy for your friends, kids, or students. Over time, your positive energy will teach them to celebrate their own accomplishments.[2]
- For example, if your daughter only hits a single during a softball game, congratulate her as much as if she hit a home run. That's still an accomplishment worth praising, and gradually her confidence will improve.
- This works for school settings. If your student is feeling down about getting a B a test, remind them that they got a C+ on the last test. This means they're improving and are on the right track.
- Remember to keep your praise genuine. Don't lie or over-exaggerate, or the person might see that you're not serious.
- Give specific compliments so people know what they did well. A specific compliment is better than a simple "You did well." Instead, tell the person exactly what they did well so they know where they're strong. This makes your compliments more genuine and boosts the person's self-esteem more by showing them their strengths.[3]
- If you're happy with student's paper, for example, don't just say the report is good. Tell them it's very thorough and well-written.
- You can still compliment someone if they failed as well. For example, if your son didn't have the best soccer game, you could say "I'm proud that you kept going and didn't give up." This turns a negative situation into something positive and teaches a lesson about always giving a good effort.
- Start with a positive statement before correcting something. At some point, you may have to point out where someone needs to improve. This is especially important if you're a parent, teacher, or coach. If you do have to make criticisms or corrections, always start by saying something positive first. This raises the person's spirits and makes it easier for them to take the critical feedback that's coming up.[4]
- If you're correcting a student's research paper that needs a lot of work, try and find something to compliment first. Start by saying, "You did a good job finding a lot of different sources to use." Then pivot to, "This paper would be much better if you improved the writing and developed a clearer argument."
- Always point out if the person has improved. If a boy you coach used to bat 0-4 in baseball games but is now batting 1-4, say, "It's great that you're improving! Let's do a little more work on your swing to make it even better."
- Offer constructive feedback and suggestions instead of just criticisms. Whenever you do have to criticize someone, always be ready to follow that up with suggested remedies. Then, instead of feeling criticized, the person will feel like you're really trying to help. Eventually, they'll grow the confidence to critique their own work and fix problems on their own.[5]
- Try to preface your criticisms by saying, "You might not want to hear these critiques, but remember I'm trying to help. We can talk about how to fix these problems later on."
- If you don't know what feedback to offer, try flipping the script and asking, "What do you think you can do to improve?" This shows that you're interested in guiding the person even if you don't have all the answers.
- Discourage negative self-talk. Negative self-talk is when a person speaks about themselves poorly and focuses on their weaknesses. If you see your friend, child, or teammate talking about themselves like this, stop them. Tell them they're making themselves feel worse rather than fixing the problem. Encourage them to look at the positive side of situations and see the glass half-full.[6]
- You might have to point out someone's strengths to help them see the bright side. If your friend is mad about striking out, remind them that they got 3 hits last game.
- Examples of negative self-talk are, "I'll never be good at this," "I'm just stupid," or "Everyone is better than I am." These are destructive attitudes that make a person feel worse without offering anything positive.
- Remember that there's a difference between negative talk and realistic talk. If, for example, your friend never studies and is being hard on himself for getting bad grades, say, "You're right, you're being lazy at school. But you can fix that. Let's work on it." This offers constructive solutions without engaging in negative talk.
[Edit]Guiding People to Accomplish Goals - Set attainable goals for them. Having ambitious goals is a good thing, but setting extremely high goals doesn't work well for building someone's confidence. This sets them up for disappointment when they don't meet that high goal. Instead, design a manageable goal that you know the person can reach with some extra effort. Little victories like these will build a person's confidence over time.[7]
- If you're a teacher, for example, it's unrealistic to try and make a student with a D average get 99% on the next test. A much more realistic goal is 80%. This is high enough to make the student work, but low enough that it's attainable with normal effort.
- After a few small successes, you can start encouraging the person to tackle more difficult goals. After a few small victories, their confidence will be high enough to handle the added pressure.
- Make sure goals are dependent on the person themselves, and not others. Don't say, "I want you to be the best hitter on the team." That depends on someone else not being better. Instead, say, "I want you to get a .300 batting average." This is based on the person's individual effort.
- Take a step back and let others make the decisions. People can't build confidence if you always make decisions for them. Encourage them to think independently and come to their own conclusions. This helps them develop and trust their own problem-solving abilities without needing help.[8]
- This can start simply. If you're helping your son with his homework, don't solve the problem for him. Ask what he thinks the answer is. Then, if he doesn't know, walk him through the process to get the answer.
- You can do this as a teacher as well. Guide the class to the correct answer rather than just telling them. If a student asks a question, rather than answering right away, ask the class if anyone can answer that.
- For younger kids, you can start teaching independence with little tasks like letting them pick their clothes for the day.
- Make suggestions rather than taking over. Even confident people need help sometimes, and you can still offer help while building their confidence. The trick is not doing all the work yourself. Observe and offer suggestions based on the person's needs. Leave it up to them whether or not they take the advice you offer. This way, they're working mostly independently and building their own confidence.[9]
- If your daughter asks for help with a science fair project, don't build the entire thing for her. Work with her and let her do most of the work. If she needs help, intervene to push her in the right direction.
- Don't get angry if someone doesn't take your suggestions. Remember to let them make the decisions for themselves.
- Let people make small mistakes without correcting them. If you never let your children, students, friends, or teammates mess up now and then, it has a negative effect on their confidence. People who aren't allowed to make mistakes have a hard time handling rejection and failure, which are normal parts of life. Don't make decisions for people all the time to save them from failure. Let them make their own decisions and if they do fail, explain to them why they messed up and what they can do better next time.[10]
- If your daughter always leaves her homework all around the house and expects you to pack it for her, stop doing that. If she forgets to bring her homework and gets in trouble, tell her that's what happens when she's disorganized.
- Of course, this doesn't apply to serious or dangerous mistakes. If you suspect someone is about to do something that's very negative for their life, then don't hesitate to let them know it's a bad idea.
- Show the person that perfection is not the goal. Striving for perfection is an unrealistic goal because people aren't perfect. Tell the person you're working with that trying to be perfect will only make them stressed and anxious if they can't reach that level. Instead, encourage them to be good enough to satisfy themselves. This builds confidence in a much more productive way than demanding perfection.[11]
- Try to avoid using the word perfect. This can give someone the wrong idea and think that you're telling them to be perfect.
- If someone is having a hard time accepting that they can't be perfect, try showing them some videos of professional musicians, sports stars, or athletes making mistakes. Tell them that these people still mess up after working for years and still aren't perfect, so they shouldn't expect to be.
- Encourage the person to step outside of their comfort zone. Staying in your comfort zone doesn't build confidence. People have to do things that they aren't used to in order to build their confidence. Encourage the person to try new hobbies, go new places, try new foods, listen to new music, and overall break their everyday routine. As the person gets more comfortable trying new things, their confidence for handling different situations will rise.[12]
- If your friend has confidence problems, try encouraging them to join you at the gym or doing another hobby they aren't used to. It may take some persistence, but trying new activities gradually gets people out of their comfort zones.
- A simple way to step out of your comfort zone is making a commitment to order something new every time you go to a restaurant. This is low-risk, makes you try new things, and potentially introduces you to some great food.
[Edit]References |
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