Thought of the Day:
“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner                                      peace.”
– Dalai Lama

Hectic Schedule? Here are a Few Surprising Reasons to Make Time for Meditation

In our increasingly noisy modern world, it can often feel impossible to truly slow down, unplug, and restore a sense of inner calm. For many people, the idea of taking time out of the day to meditate seems counterproductive or even absurd. However, research suggests that there are numerous science-backed reasons to meditate—and this important practice for overall wellness does not need to be time-consuming or adhere to any specific ritual.

While meditation can take many formats, the common thread is the focusing of one’s attention on a single point of reference. For example, you may turn your attention to your breathing, relaxing your muscles, or repeating a word or phrase that has significance to you.

Regardless of your preferred meditation style, here are a few physical and mental benefits that researchers have identified:

• • Relief of depression. Meditating for just 30 minutes has been shown to alleviate symptoms of depression, including pain and anxiety. In fact, making time for regular meditation may help to prevent depression by enabling you to gain greater control over your brain’s processes and negative thoughts.

• • Headache relief. One study found meditation to be a powerful source of relief against tension headaches.

• • Social benefits. Meditation has been linked to a greater sense of empathy, the adaptation of a team-oriented mentality, and an increased tendacy to be social. These benefits can strengthen relationships and lead to more positive interactions with others which can increase overall happiness

• Improved memory. Because meditation increases mindfulness, those who meditate tend to have sharper memories.
• More effective workouts. By alleviating stress and promoting deep relaxation of your body and mind, meditation can prepare you for exercise sessions that yield better results. In addition, meditation may reduce sensitivity to pain, making it more likely that you will challenge yourself when working out

Myth vs. Fact: Common Home-Selling Misconceptions Debunked

When faced with the overwhelming task of trying to sell their homes, many people rely on the advice of family and friends, or gather ideas from TV shows and other sources. As a result, myths and misconceptions surround the home-selling process, causing many homeowners to have erroneous ideas of the best ways to market their homes and prepare for a successful sale

Have you heard any of these common myths about selling your home? Test your knowledge!

Myth: Repainting is easy, so buyers won’t be deterred by a home’s paint colors.

Fact: It can be difficult for many buyers to see past paint colors they find unappealing—particularly if those colors are bold, unconventional, or do not showcase the home in its best light. When your home is on the market, consider painting rooms in neutral hues, such as taupe or pale gray. Colors like these will help prospective buyers envision themselves living in the home and tend to look better in online photos.

Myth: You have a better chance of successfully selling your home during the spring than other times of the year.

Fact: Although spring has long enjoyed a reputation as the most favorable time of year at which to attempt to sell your home, many factors can impact the market in your area. For example, if your home tends to appeal to buyers who are parents due to a great local school system, you may have increased interest during the summer or when kids are on school breaks throughout the year. On the other hand, if you live in an area with very hot summers, buyers may be more actively house hunting during the cooler months. Your realtor will offer the most reliable insight on the current and projected market conditions in your area.

Myth: If your home well-maintained, you don’t need to enlist the help of a professional stager.

Fact: Staging has surged in popularity over the years, leading many buyers to grow accustomed to seeing homes that have been staged for maximum appeal. Even if your home is clean, updated, and well-maintained, working with a professional stager could be instrumental in securing a quick sale. Stagers have various methods of easily highlighting your home’s best features and downplaying its less desirable ones. For example, they may move furniture to make a room look larger, remove blinds to showcase a nice view or hide personal items that could interfere with how buyers see the property.

Myth: Major renovations, particularly on the kitchen and bathrooms, will yield the greatest return on investment.

Fact: A common real estate mantra holds that kitchen and bath remodel deliver the strongest resale value. As a result, many buyers mistakenly believe that gutting these rooms and outfitting them with the latest design trends will enable them to sell their homes at a much higher price. In reality, most sellers do not recover the cost of extensive home improvements. Decluttering, applying a fresh coat of paint, and making other minor, relatively inexpensive changes are more likely to yield a positive return.