Problem: Article: We tend to feel more tired when we are dehydrated because our blood thickens, forcing your heart to pump harder to circulate the blood throughout your body, and this extra work by the heart tires us out. Doctors recommend having 2 liters of water a day, or about 8 glasses. Soft drinks and coffee don't count. You can also get water naturally through fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, celery, and broccoli. You'll know you're getting dehydrated if your urine turns from a pale, clear fluid (as it is when you're well hydrated) to a darker yellow. Don't wait until you feel thirsty to drink. By the time your brain starts sending you signals, you're already lacking fluids, hence the message of being thirsty. Drink regularly throughout the day to stay hydrated. Getting little bursts of carbohydrates and protein throughout the day will help you stay awake and alert. Plus, if you eat every 3-4 hours, you won't have blood sugar crashes, which make you feel tired. Eating breakfast really is the most important way to start the day, so don't skip it. If you find you're often on the run to work or school and don't have time for breakfast, get into the habit of preparing grab-and-go options. Include fibre so you have the slower release of carbs that keeps you from crashing. Include popcorn, tortillas, or whole grain pitas in your meal and snack time, for example. Small meal examples that work include low-fat yogurt with berries and granola, a whole grain chicken wrap with greens, or apple slices with some peanut butter. It is generally recommended that you avoid caffeine after noon. When you live with chronic insomnia, this might be really hard to do so try to minimize it to 200-300 milligrams, or no more than 2 cups of coffee. Decaffeinated coffees are not 100% caffeine free, so don't be fooled. Energy drinks may not be a good choice. They have up to 250 milligrams of caffeine per serving and can increase your tolerance to caffeine, meaning you need more and more caffeine to feel the effects. They also have a lot of sugar and don't actually provide any more energy than a regular soda. Although alcohol is often associated with partying and fun, it is actually a depressant that will drag you down and make you even more sleepy, make you restless at night, and increase your night-time waking.
Summary: Stay hydrated. Eat small meals regularly throughout the day. Enjoy caffeine responsibly. Avoid alcohol.

Problem: Article: Red onions go great for this recipe; with their distinctive taste and deep red color, they actually turn pink after a couple days in the refrigerator. You can slice the onions to the thickness you prefer however thick, they'll still take the pickling solution. Some people prefer to cut the onions in a full moon, which makes them easy to grab with a fork; others prefer them smaller, cut them into half moons. Heat enough water to completely submerge the sliced onion. Throw the cloves, cinnamon, chili, and thyme into a pot and toast them over medium-low heat until they become aromatic, about 3 - 5 minutes. Count to 10, and then strain the water and onions through a sieve. Why parboil the onions? Parboiling removes a little bit of the acid zing from raw onions. You don't have to parboil if you like the zing of raw onions, but a slightly mellower onion makes the pickling juice really stand out. You can let the onions rest there or remove them after 10 seconds. Onions which are left in the ice bath will continue to mellow while the sulfur compounds (the onion's natural defense) diffuse into the water. Once onions are done, drain them completely and place them into a container. Turn on the burner to medium high and bring the pickling juice to a simmer, dissolving the sugar completely. Simmer for an additional minute. Seal the container and place into refrigerator. The pickled onions will be ready to try in as little as one hour, but are best after at least one day. Store pickled onions in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Red onions which are pickled will turn slightly pink as they age. Try your pickles on homemade tacos, sandwiches with richer cuts of meat (like pork), or a hearty stew.
Summary: Halve, peel, and slice the onion. Heat some water over the stove or in a kettle. While the water begins to boil, toast the spices in a small pot. When the water is just about to boil, remove it from the heat and add the onions to the water. Transfer the onions from the sieve to the ice bath to stop them from cooking. Add the vinegar, lime juice, and 1/4 cup of sugar to the toasted spices. Remove the pickling juice from heat and pour into container with onions. Enjoy.

Problem: Article: If you're hunting on a small body of water where it's not too windy, choose a duck call that isn't too loud, or you'll scare the ducks. A double-reeded wooden call is perfect for the job. On large bodies of water or when it's windy, you need a loud duck call. An acrylic call would be more appropriate. If you only have one call, vary your calls to compensate. Remember: accuracy is the most important thing. Watch the ducks for reactions to your calls. Calls are to be employed when you've spotted a group of ducks flying overhead and you want to attract them to land as close as possible to your position. Calls are most effective when they're used sparingly, and they must be done correctly if you hope to fool the ducks. Watch the ducks for their reaction to your calls. If you see them flying over-head and change their direction to your position, don't keep skronking away at full-tilt and risk ruining your cover. Wait for them and see what they do. If you're calling more than once in 30 seconds, you're probably calling too much. If you're listening to Waylon on the portable radio super-loud, your whistles will make poor accompaniment. If you're hunting with decoys and the ducks are clearly attracted to them, don't risk ruining a good opportunity by blowing your lungs out. Ducks will often swoop around, dive, leave, come back and land several times before they decide to jump in front of your sights. Be consistent, avoid frustration, and wait. Listen to commercial CDs of duck calls. Listen and practice at home or in the car. Also spend time listening to real ducks in the wild. While you're calling, you should be actively listening to the sounds the real ducks are making so you can imitate them in response. Wooden duck calls especially will need drying out and wiping down after use, so the wood finish won't wear and crack. Unscrew the reeds and check to make sure they haven't broken or chipped, which will affect the sound of your calls. If they have, replace them. Before you remove the reeds, use a felt-tip pen to mark how far down the reeds are screwed into the call so you can replace them at the same depth. Misaligning the reeds will result in a changed tone and make it difficult to reproduce your calls.
Summary:
Use the appropriate call for the occasion. Call sparingly. Eliminate other distracting sounds while you're hunting. Don't call if the ducks seem attracted to your decoys. Be patient. Practice. Clean and tune your duck call after using it.