Whether your cholesterol test results came out high or you're just trying to maintain your good levels, you can help ensure a positive result at your next lipid test by making some basic lifestyle changes. Perhaps most importantly, physical activity is essential to raising levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL)or "good cholesterol" as it is often called. Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as brisk walking, cycling, jogging, or swimming, per day. Daily exercise can also be invaluable for managing one's weight. This is important for lowering your cholesterol levels, as excess weight has been linked to high cholesterol and heart disease as a risk factor. Soluble fiber is important to a cholesterol-conscious diet, as it binds to cholesterol in the digestive tract and gets it out of the body. It's recommended that you consume at least 20-35 grams of fiber a day, with five to ten grams of that being of the soluble variety. Some fiber-rich foods include oats barley, oat bran, beans, and eggplant. Including polyunsaturated fats in your diet can directly lower your low-density lipoproteins (LDL)or "bad cholesterol" levels. Eat plenty of foods rich in these 'good fats'for example, nuts, vegetable oils, and fatty fishand you may be able to get better results on your very next cholesterol test without taking any medication or supplements. Also be sure to avoid saturated fats and trans fats! Trans and saturated fats have been linked to heart disease and high 'bad cholesterol' levels, so keep them out of your diet at all costs. Trans fats are designed to extend shelf life, so you'll find them mostly in fast food and highly processed products. Smoking is one of the risk factors most strongly correlated to high cholesterol and heart disease. If you're a smoker, consider quitting this highly addictive habit for a plethora of health benefits. In addition to improving respiratory health and decreasing your chances of contracting cancer, you'll also improve your HDL cholesterol levels. The cardiovascular benefits of quitting are so significant that it halves your risk of heart disease after just one year. If your doctor deems it prudent, you might be prescribed a regular medicine to help lower your cholesterol. Statins, bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid, fibric acids, and cholesterol absorption inhibitors are all popular drugs with demonstrated success in this capacity. Even if you end up taking a cholesterol lowering drug, you'll still need to make corresponding lifestyle changes, such as performing daily exercise and monitoring your diet.
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One-sentence summary -- Exercise for 30 minutes every day. Eat foods rich in soluble fiber. Consume polyunsaturated fats. Quit smoking. Ask your doctor if you should take a cholesterol-lowering drug.

Lay your cardboard flat on a work surface. Mark these measurements on the cardboard and cut the strips. Then, mark a line up the center of the strips and fold them in half using the center line as a guide. Use a sharp utility knife or sharp scissors to cut your cardboard. Measure 3.2cm (1.3in) from the end of each strip and cut them to create tabs. Then, fold these tabs over each other and glue them together with hot glue. Folding the tabs will reinforce the ends of the cardboard strips. Don't cut these squares out of your strips! Use the rest of the cardboard you have. Then, cut the squares in half diagonally to create perfect triangles. Place the top end of each triangle on top of the fold line. Put glue on the sides of your triangles and put them in place along the strips. These triangles will provide support to your long cardboard strips. To make this easier, cut your big piece of cardboard so it's 56cm (22in) in length. Then measure and mark the 2.5cm (0.98in) segments along the cardboard. Cut along the lines and fold the pieces over to create a square tube. Measure from each end of the strip, mark lines across the segments, and cut along the lines. Fold the strips at each end to make tabs. Then, fold your square and tabs up and glue it all together. Place glue on your segments before you roll your square tube up. Using the rest of your cardboard, mark this rectangle with a pencil and cut it out. Measure and mark 5 2.5cm (0.98in) segments on the rectangle. Then, fold these segments to create a square tube that is approximately 2.5cm (0.98in) thick and 56cm (22in) long and glue it. Folding the cardboard like this will create sturdy legs for your easel. Make a mark at 3.8cm (1.5in) from the end on one of the legs. Flip it over so you can make a mark on the back side, then piece through both holes with a pencil. Place the other 2 legs right next to the pierced leg, mark holes at the same place, and push the pencil through these holes. Then, lay the 3 legs side by side and push the pencil all the way through to connect them. The pencil is what holds the legs together. Stand the 3 legs up, then push 2 of the legs forward to be the main legs, and push the middle leg back to be the support leg. There's no need to glue the cross-member to the support leg as the support leg needs to be able to move. Mark your desired distance on each side leg and place some glue at that point. Put your cross-member square tube on top of the glue and let it dry for 20 minutes or so. At this point, you've connected all 3 legs and you've connected the cross-member to the 2 side legs. The string will provide additional support to your easel by preventing the support leg from sliding too far back.
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One-sentence summary -- Cut 2 strips of cardboard, 56cm (22in) long by 6.4cm (2.5in) wide. Create 2 tabs and glue them together for support. Cut 4-8 squares of cardboard that are 3.2cm (1.3in) each. Cut a 13cm (5.1in) wide by 56cm (22in) long strip of cardboard. Make 2.5cm (0.98in) tabs on each end of your square tube. Measure and cut out a 13cm (5.1in) by 41cm (16in) rectangle. Pierce the cardboard to connect the 3 56cm (22in) long legs. Place the easel flat and glue the cross-member to the 2 side legs. Tie string around all 3 legs and stand your easel up.

The sound of a shotgun being racked delivers the universal message that says "wrong house, go away".
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One-sentence summary -- That said, for defense within the home, the shotgun is generally recognized by many to be a superior choice due to the close ranges and reduced likelihood of over penetration.

Work, games, and most other activities should be done at a table or desk instead of on the bed, and in another room whenever possible. Training yourself to associate the bed with sleep or calm bedtime activities can help trigger falling asleep more consistently. A way to wind down each night puts you in the right frame of mind for sleeping, especially if you repeat the same ritual every time. If lying awake in bed causes anxiety or fear, this is especially important. Try the following ideas: Read a calm book. Listen to a book on tape or a podcast, with your eyes closed. If this keeps you up, listen to nature sounds instead. Eat a small snack if you tend to wake up hungry, such as a glass of milk, a banana, or a small bowl of low-sugar cereal. Exercising is a great idea, as long as you don't wake yourself up with a workout right before bed. Exhausting yourself to extreme fatigue will not produce restful sleep, but some form of physical activity is often a necessity to help you stick to a daily sleep schedule. As mentioned above, your body slows down as it starts to sleep, including your metabolism. If you eat a heavy meal before bedtime, your slowed metabolism could keep you uncomfortably full or return to "active mode" and produce unwanted energy.
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One-sentence summary --
Use your bed only for bedtime. Have a bedtime ritual. Exercise earlier in the day. Finish the day with a light meal.