“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”
― Andy Warhol, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol
Warhol may have said this in another context, but as a blanket statement, it applies to almost everything in life. Especially to these three:
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A Mattress Your Bought 7 Years Ago: If, lately, you have been waking up feeling tired despite eight full hours of sleep, it may be time to examine what lies beneath—your mattress. Do you remember when you purchased it? At least seven years ago, if not more? If yes, it is time to replace the mattress with a new one. With every passing year, its ability to provide adequate support for your body reduces. Most often, there are no obvious “signs” that your mattress needs to be changed—it won’t start poking you or develop holes for you to sit up and take note of. But there are definite clues: waking up with a stiff back, tossing and turning at night, and feeling tired all day. Often, we blame these on our hectic routines, when a simple change of mattress could ease matters. While the amount of wear and tear does depend on the amount of usage, the Better Sleep Council opines that a mattress is best changed after seven years.
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Walking shoes that have traveled 300+ miles: Your have a beloved pair of runners, stylish and cool. Lacing up for your daily run, the thought of replacing them with new ones does not even cross your mind. But take a pause. Here is some wise advice from the American Council of Exercise—“Even if your shoes still look great on the outside, running and walking shoes should be replaced about every 300-400 miles, or every 3-5 months, if you’re averaging 20 miles a week. If you’re heavy-set or have a higher weekly mileage, replace your shoes at the shorter end of that range.” If you continue to walk and run in your old shoes, they could cause pain and injury. An easy way to determine whether your shoes are still doing good is to examine them. They should not be worn out on the edges, or sagging inward. An even pattern indicates they are still good to go.
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A Toothbrush that is 3 months old: According to the American Dental Association, you should replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months; sooner if the bristles have become frayed. If you use an electric toothbrush, the advice is to replace the head every 3 months. Check your children’s toothbrushes, too–they need replacing even sooner. A good tip from Richard Price, DMD, a dentist in Newton, Massachusetts and a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association, is to check the health of the bristles rather than go by the calendar. If the bristles spew in different directions, toss the toothbrush.
This article was originally published on www.care2.com. Read the original here.
*Images of “sticky note,“ ”sneakers,“ ”toothbrushes“ and ”bed“
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