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OUT WITH THE OLD: DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE THIS NEW YEARS

OUT WITH THE OLD: DECLUTTER YOUR SPACE THIS NEW YEARS 

Minimalism and decluttering have been a hot topic in the last five years. Everyone’s rushing to throw out their junk and start fresh. So what better time to adopt this concept than during New Year’s? Cleaning up isn’t just about picking up your household cleaning products and scrubbing till everything is spotless. Tidying up requires long-term thinking, and involves prioritizing the right items in your living space. The key to decluttering your living space is by embracing the notion that less truly is more. But it's easy to just say “get rid of stuff you don’t need”. Putting the mantra into practice can get a bit tricky. Here’s a little guide from us at HerbsDaily to you on how to streamline your space… 

You’re probably living under a rock if you haven't already heard this technique. Japanese organization extraordinaire Marie Kondo invented a revolutionary method for tidying up spaces. As a cleaning consultant, she told her clients to organize items category by category, rather than room by room. There are six basic rules for getting started:

1. Commit yourself to tidying up. You’ll never get far in terms of cleaning up, if you don;t first find the motivation to see the project through to completion. Organizing and getting rid of things is a tedious but rewarding task. So make sure you commit yourself to the entire process.  
2. Imagine your ideal lifestyle. It is vital that you are able to properly picturize the kind of life you want to live. This will help you develop the right framework for the kind of living space you want to create for yourself. Try inculcating sustainable practices like using organic cleaning products around the house. 
3. Finish discarding first. Before getting rid of items, sincerely thank each item for serving its purpose in your life. Think about the memories you had with each item before bidding them one last farewell. It is an excellent exercise in gratitude, so that you can appreciate all the items you decided to keep.  
4. Tidy by category, not location. Most people attempt to organize their houses room by room, like starting from the living room, then the kitchen, and so on. However, this may give you an inaccurate gauge as to what or how much stuff you own. Marie Kondo suggests moving from category to category, like books, clothes, papers, etc. 
5. Follow the right order. In doing so, you will be able to start with the easiest category and hone the skill of decision-making. Below is the order of the 5 main categories through which to sort: 
1. Clothes 
2. Books
3. Papers 
4. Komono (Miscellaneous items)
5. Sentimental items
6. Ask yourself if it sparks joy. The crux of Marie’s technique is choosing what to keep rather than what to get rid of. Tidying up requires devoting your energy into selecting objects that spark joy in your life. If they don't, then let them go with gratitude.

We hope these 6 steps help get you started on your journey towards a cluttered space and an organized life. To learn more, check out her book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing”. 

Looking to do some New Year's cleaning? HerbsDaily offers a wide range of sustainable and organic all purpose cleaners, kitchen cleaners, and household cleaners at great prices. Buy the best household cleaning products today at HerbsDaily.com. 

Flu 101: Myth vs. Fact

Flu season brings about its fair share of skepticism and unending questions. However, it's important to draw a distinction between myth and fact. Random Facebook posts and uninformed relatives may tell you a thousand different rumors about the flu, which is why you should always cross-verify advice and refer only to medically reviewed articles. For starters, read on to find out some common misconceptions about the flu, and the truth behind the lie…

Myth 1: “The flu is just like a cold.” 

Fact: Influenza is much worse than the flu; in 2019 alone it caused approximately 24,000 deaths. Though symptoms like runny nose, sore throat, headache, fever, sneezing, and cough are experienced with both the flu and the common cold, hospitalizations occur as a result of influenza-induced breathlessness, high fever, etc. Getting vaccinated can reduce the chance of flu severity. 

Myth 2: “Starve the fever/cold.” 

Fact: Poor nutrition can slow down recovery time significantly. It is vital that you eat well while fighting a cold or flu. Even if your appetite decreases, it is still important to eat full meals and stay hydrated. 

Myth 3: “Going out in cold weather, having wet hair, swimming, and forgetting to wear a jacket can cause the flu.” 

Fact: Just because the flu coincides with colder seasons does not mean that the two are related. Weather does not cause the flu, only catching the influenza virus can cause the flu.

Myth 4:  “You don’t need to get the flu shot every single year.” 

Fact: Much like COVID-19, the influenza virus mutates every year, so vaccinating against the flu will help you stay protected against newer strains that are most likely to cause an outbreak. 

Myth 5: “It is impossible to spread the flu if you aren’t having any symptoms.” 

Fact: About 20% - 30% of people who have influenza do not experience any symptoms, but are still capable of passing the virus onto someone else. Not everyone will have symptoms at the same level of severity, which is why it is important to get vaccinated and stay protected against the virus. 

Myth 6: “Antibiotics can cure the flu.” 

Fact: Influenza is caused by a virus. Antibiotics are only effective against bacteria. Hence, curing influenza will require antiviral medication, not antibiotics. 

Myth 7: “If you’re healthy, you do not need the flu shot.”

Fact: Able-bodied, healthy individuals are still capable of getting the flu, however they may be less susceptible than those who are immunocompromised. Regardless, the CDC recommends that all those above 6 months of age, including pregnant women, must get the flu vaccine once a year. 

There is no reason to be intimidated by the flu. Don’t allow medical misconceptions to keep you away from the help you need. Instead, stay informed and stay healthy this flu season. 

What to Have in Your Flu Kit?

In the United States, flu season begins every year from October, and intensifies around the holidays until finally petering out around February. Though it varies every year, flu activity seems to intensify during fall and winter. The common cold also occurs frequently during these months, but flu symptoms are much worse, causing fever, chills, sweats, body ache, muscle pain, headache, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea. So how can you and your family stay prepared while influenza makes its rounds this year? Here are some tools to have in your arsenal while battling the flu season: 

It is worth noting that the above recommended tools can help with easing symptoms, but do not treat the root cause of your illness. Perhaps the most important tool in your kit is Antiviral medication. Consult your doctor for prescription antiviral medications such as baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza), oseltamivir (Tamiflu), peramivir (Rapivab), or zanamivir (Relenza). 

HerbsDaily offers a wide range of OTC and herbal flu symptom busters that can help you deal with fever, cough, cold, and congestion.    

COVID-19 or Just the Flu?

Curious to know the answer to one of the most frequently asked questions from the onset of the coronavirus pandemic? Though caused by different viruses, COVID-19 and the flu have striking similarities, making it pretty hard for people to know what’s what. However, there are differences in a patient’s vulnerability to these two diseases, as well how each is treated. 

Let’s start with the similarities: 

1. COVID-19 and influenza are both diseases of the respiratory system, causing symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, and fatigue. 
2. Both are spread similarly, that is through droplets in the air. Infected people who cough, sneeze, talk, sing, or even breathe run the risk of passing the virus to people nearby. Both diseases can also be passed through infected surfaces. 
3. COVID-19 and influenza are potentially fatal. 
4. Older people, those suffering from chronic conditions like chronic cardiac, pulmonary, renal, metabolic, neurologic, liver or hematologic diseases, or those who are immunosuppressed such as chemotherapy patients and HIV/AIDS patients all run the highest risk of contracting both COVID-19 and the flu. Even healthcare workers and pregnant women are placed in the high risk category for both illnesses. 
5. Both require the same countermeasures for protection:
1. Wear a mask 
2. Keep at least 6 feet distance between yourself and others
3. Avoid crowds 
4. Sanitize hands and surfaces frequently 
5. Cough and sneeze into a bent elbow or tissues 
6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
7. Stay home if you are sick
6. Effective vaccines are available for preventing both diseases. 

So what are the main differences? Here’s a simple table to help: 

It may be hard to tell the difference just by looking at a sick person, as symptoms of both these viral infections are incredibly similar. However, in any case it is recommended that a patient be tested immediately for COVID-19. If they test positive, quarantine measures can be taken, and the right treatment can be given on time. However, if it turns out to be the flu, don't brush it off as ‘just the flu’. Hygiene measures still apply, and patients should be given antiviral drugs and sufficient isolation.