By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
5 simple ways to make your husbands day a better one
Husbands
Telling your husband how thankful you are for the things he has done or telling him how much you love him is a good start to making his day a better one. - photo by istockphoto.com/shapecharge

Chances are your husband is not expecting a dozen red roses from you. However, he wouldn’t mind hearing words of appreciation. Telling your husband how thankful you are for the things he has done or telling him how much you love him is a good start to making his day a better one.

It’s hard to admit that we sometimes complain a little too much. We disapprove how our husbands do certain things or compare how they do things to how we do them. Truth is we are treating them unfairly. We are not respecting their feelings or taking into consideration the effort they put into doing something. At times, I take my husband for granted, complain and forget to give thanks for the many things he does for me daily. Therefore, I take advantage of every chance I get to do special things for him – as simple as it is.

Instead of complaining or criticizing, try doing little things on random days that will show your husband you do love and appreciate him.

Here are 5 simple ways to brighten your husband’s day.

Show interest
You and your husband may have different interest in activities. For example, you love to spend hours shopping and he loves spending hours crafting airplanes or toy cars. As an alternative to shopping, spend those hours with your husband working on his craft. Let him teach you the process. Show him you are genuinely interested in the things he loves.

Lending a helping hand
Men do get overwhelmed. Just like women, they have their share of responsibilities. And, at times, we tend to overlook how they feel. But the next time you see your husband in distress, figure out what is on his to-do list. Take at least one of the tasks and complete it. If he is responsible for mowing the grass, do it for him or take the car to the mechanic. Age permitting and if possible, include the kids to help you get the task done.

Thank you, and I love you
If you are not used to telling your husband “I love you” or “Thank you” frequently, you should start now. Hearing those words will instantly brighten up his day. Your husband will feel appreciated and know that you recognize his hard work.

Time with his friends
Between work and helping with the house and children, your husband might like to spend a couple of hours with his friends to unwind and catch up on things. Therefore, surprise him by setting up a boy’s night out.

Sports
If you are not a sports fan but your husband is, give him that time to enjoy the game alone without interruptions or worries. Spoil him by bringing out his favorite snacks and drinks.

Showing your husband appreciation through simple gestures will not only make his day better, but will make him feel lucky to have you in his life.

Mayra Bitsko is a freelance writer, the author of A Second Chance and The Past Beckons and holds a master's degree in business administration-accounting.

Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
93cbd7a5475cccd1cee701424125d3abaa9b4beaa58d3663208f656cbbbd7661
A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.