Q: When you're dealing with depression, sometimes it can be hard just to take care of yourself. However, in order to feel better, you'll have to practice healthy habits even when you don't feel like it. Tracking your sleep habits can help you make sure that you're getting the right amount of rest. The right amount of sleep can help ease symptoms of depression. Try to make a point of going to bed at the same time each night and waking up at roughly the same time each morning. Write down the time you go to sleep and wake up each day. If you find yourself sleeping in or feeling like you can't get out of bed, take a look at what happened the day before. You might see a pattern of certain activities causing you to feel drained. It's not a given that changing your eating habits will help your depression. However, certain foods can help ease some of your symptoms. And eating healthy foods can help you feel better overall. Certain carbs can help calm you down. Go for "smart" carbs such as whole grains and sweet potatoes. Avoid foods such as cakes and fruit juices. Look for healthy proteins. Good proteins can actually increase alertness, which can make you feel better. Try lean meats such as chicken, fish, and Greek yogurt. When you're dealing with depression, it can be difficult to handle household chores. Write down what needs to be done, and then write down when you will do it. Sticking to your schedule can help you feel more productive and less overwhelmed. For example, you might write: "Monday--dust living room" or "Tuesday--do laundry". Even though it might feel like a challenge, take the time to keep up your hygiene. Take a shower and brush your teeth everyday. Make sure to keep your hair clean, your nails clipped, and use deodorant.
A: Monitor your sleep schedule. Eat a healthy diet. Create a cleaning schedule. Practice good personal hygiene.

Q: People who stutter often feel shame and embarrassment about their condition, and sometimes try to hide it. But trying to conceal this increases your anxiety, which can ultimately make your stutter worse. Overcome this fear by confidently informing people that you have a stutter. This removes the anxiety of people finding out and puts you in control of the situation. Simply saying, "Please excuse me if I speak slowly, I have a stutter" is all you have to do. You'll find most people are completely accepting of your condition. While you're working on overcoming your stutter, plan out your social interactions. This can remove the anxiety of speaking in public and allow you to practice words and phrases before speaking. For example, if you have a work meeting tomorrow, study the agenda carefully. Anticipate what you will be asked and plan your responses. Study these responses ahead of time. Having a prepared list of responses and talking topics will reduce your anxiety. Understand that social interactions can't always be planned out, and you might end up stuttering when the conversation goes in a different direction. In this case, slow down and visualize your words before speaking to maintain your composure. Remember, if you do run into a block and start stuttering, simply acknowledge that you stutter and ask for a moment to gather your thoughts. During your practice sessions, you've probably identified the specific triggers and blocks that cause your stutter. In time, with practice, you'll be able to use your trigger words without a stutter. Until that time, however, try avoiding them in public situations to prevent your stutter. Make a list of synonyms for your trigger words. If a specific word triggers your stutter, there are probably several different words you could use that mean the same thing. Use a thesaurus and look up synonyms for your trigger words. This helps you avoid them in conversation while still saying the same thing. When people stutter, they often break eye contact with the person they're speaking to. This stems from the anxiety associated with stuttering in public. Even if you start stuttering, force yourself to maintain eye contact. This action makes you look more confident, and building up your own confidence will help reduce your stutter over time. If you do end up breaking eye contact, just regain it as you try to stop stuttering. Stuttering is sometimes the result of nervous energy that your body doesn't know what to do with. Making hand motions channels this energy elsewhere. This can distract your brain from the stutter and help you speak smoothly. This technique is especially useful if you give a public presentation. When planning your speech, also plan out some hand motions that help reduce your stutter. Note down on your script where you'll use these hand motions. This is a great test for seeing how well your exercises have worked. Random conversations can't be planned out, so use all your exercises and speak as smoothly as you can. Begin a conversation by introducing yourself and saying, "I stutter and I'm working to improve my speech." You will probably find many people who are eager to help you. Asking people for directions is a good, fast exercise. Even if you know the way, this allows you to interact with people without asking them to engage in a full conversation.
A: Acknowledge your stutter when talking to people. Visualize and plan social interactions. Avoid your blocks and trigger words. Maintain eye contact with everyone you speak to. Make hand motions. Start conversations with random people.

Q: Before you darken the leather, you need to remove dust and dirt or it will get trapped in the leather during the darkening process. Use a vacuum attachment or a brush to remove any excess dust on the leather. Put the dish soap into the rag and run it under the faucet. Agitate the rag so that suds start to form, then wring the rag out. You want the rag to be damp, not wet. Wipe over the leather in small, circular motions. Continue working over the leather until you've wiped down the entire thing.This should remove any dirt buildup. Wipe away any traces of the dish soap from the leather with a damp cloth or rag. Let the leather air dry before applying any oils, polishes, or dyes. To prevent cracking, dry the leather out of direct sunlight. When your leather dries, it's ready to be darkened.
A:
Vacuum or dust the leather. Put a drop of mild dish soap into a damp rag. Wipe the leather down with a mild dish soap and water. Wipe the leather down with a damp rag. Let the leather air dry.