Did you know that appliances that are plugged in keep using energy, even when they're switched off? Even an appliance as small as a coffee pot continues slowly sapping energy every moment it stays plugged in, long after the last cup of coffee has been consumed. A power strip with a switch makes this easier. Instead of pulling 5 devices out of their sockets, all you have to do is flip a switch. Power down your computer and unplug it at the end of the day. Computers use a lot of energy, and when they stay plugged in you're wasting both energy and money. Don't leave your TV plugged in all the time. It may seem inconvenient to unplug it when you're finished watching, but the savings are worth the trouble. Unplug your sound system and speakers. These are some of the worst culprits when it comes to sapping extra energy when they aren't in use. Don't forget small appliances such as phone chargers, kitchen appliances, hair dryers, and anything else you've got that runs on electricity. When older appliances were manufactured, companies weren't as concerned with saving electricity. Newer models are designed to conserve energy, reducing your household costs and lowering your carbon footprint. If you have an older refrigerator, electric stove and oven, dishwasher, washer and dryer, or other large appliance, look into getting it replaced. Look for "Energy Star" ratings on new appliances. These help you assess how much energy the appliance uses. Many energy-conserving appliances are more expensive than those that don't have this feature, but you'll earn the money back over time through electricity savings. If replacing your appliances isn't an option, there are still plenty of ways to change your routine so that you're using as little electricity as possible. Fill the dishwasher up before running it, rather than running a smaller load. Don't open the oven while it's in use, since you release heat and the oven has to use extra energy to produce more. Don't stand at the refrigerator with the door open trying to decide what to eat. Open and close it as quickly as possible. You should also check the seals on your refrigerator and replace them when they get worn out. Do full loads of laundry instead of small loads. In the old days people didn't need large appliances to run their households; experiment with ways to use only what you really need. Using fewer appliances can make some tasks more time-consuming, but if you get the whole family involved you won't be spending too much extra time on chores. Most people wash their clothes more than necessary; try reducing the number of loads you do each week. Hang a clothesline in the backyard and let your clothes line dry instead of using the dryer. Wash your dishes by hand (using the water conservation method) instead of using the dishwasher. Limit your baking to one day a week, during which you make several dishes within the same period of time. This way you won't have to heat the oven over and over. Get rid of small appliances you don't really need, like plug-in air fresheners. Open the windows instead!
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Unplug any appliances that aren't in use. Replace old appliances with energy-saving models. Reduce your reliance on appliances.

If you are using a longboard, wax the entire topside of the board from nose to tail and edge to edge. If you are using a shortboard, wax the topside of the board from the front logo to the back edge (about two thirds of the length) and from edge to edge. You can get by just fine without a basecoat wax, but your wax won't last as long. If your board doesn't have the right basecoat, the topcoat won't stick to the board, leaving you with a naked spot on your board where slipping and sliding can happen. Your basecoat should stay on the board until you re-wax your board. Your topcoat clings on to the basecoat. When it comes to getting the basecoat to stick onto the board, surfers tend to use different techniques sometimes in isolation, sometimes in combination: Circle pattern: Rub the wax onto the board in small circles, moving up and down the board until bumps start forming. Straight line pattern: Rub the wax onto the board in straight lines up and down the board, parallel to the rocker. Crosshatch pattern: Rub the wax onto the board on a diagonal, and then perpendicular to that diagonal, completing a crosshatch pattern. Kitchen sink: Rub the wax onto the board in any direction, using any of the patterns listed above or making your own. Use the edge of the wax stick, not the flat side. Apply until there is a bumpy coat. Your topcoat will adhere to these little bumps. Depending on the size of your board, you may need to use an entire stick of wax, or up to two sticks, in order to get the basecoat right.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Apply your basecoat. Use any one of several techniques to apply the basecoat. Apply the basecoat until bumps start to form.

It is easy to focus on the things that you do not like about yourself or the areas that need improvement. When you focus on the negative, you forget about all the other wonderful attributes you have. It is important that you acknowledge the things that you are good at and make time to do those things. Examples of good qualities you may have include being smart, funny, kind, generous, creative, loving, caring, etc. Talents and skills you may have include being an athlete, dancer, musician, writer, artist, poet, singer, volunteer, etc. How much time do you spend doing these any of these activities? How will you make these activities part of your everyday life? A lack of confidence can stop you from trying something new or doing something that you enjoy. What would you do if you had more confidence? What is stopping you from doing it? Write down the following sentence, "If I had more confidence, I would..." What type of support or encouragement would you need to try this? How would you feel if you actually tried this? For example, maybe you are a good writer and would like to work on your skills. However, you are not confident enough to write for your school newspaper. You may write, "If I had more confidence, I would join my my school newspaper. I know that I am a solid writer, but I am afraid of other people reading my work. If I joined the newspaper, I would become a better writer and make new friends." Every person has strengths and weaknesses. These are different for each and every girl. When you compare yourself, you are often comparing a weakness you have to someone else's strength. If you continue to do this, you will never feel good about yourself. When you find yourself comparing yourself to another person, direct your attention back to yourself. Remind yourself that you are unique and have your own strengths and talents. Go back and read the list of positive attributes, talents, and skills that you made. It may help to post the list by your bed or on your bathroom mirror. There may be areas that you would like to improve upon or things you would like to accomplish. When you achieve things, you prove to yourself that you can meet expectations. Setting a goal and achieving it can help build your confidence. Write down your goal and then write down steps you can actually take to achieve it. Your goals and the steps you take should be realistic. Setting a goal that you are unable to reach may backfire and make you feel worse. For example, if you want to start running, running a 5k is a better goal than running a half-marathon. Trying to go from not running very often to running a half marathon is a huge jump, and you are setting yourself up for failure. A 5k is very realistic, and you can find a couch to 5k running program to help you set your daily and weekly goals.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Write down your talents, skills, and good qualities. Challenge yourself to do more. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Set goals for yourself.