When the sun goes down, turn on the lights in just one central room in your house, and encourage your family to spend the evening hours there instead of scattering around the house and lighting up every room. Lighting just one room will save a lot of energy and money over time. Conserving energy means taking a new approach to everyday conveniences we take for granted, like the ability to flip on all the lights and keep them burning all night long. You don't have to completely stop using electric lights, but using candles instead a few nights per week is a great way to save energy and provide inspiration for reevaluating your approach to energy. In addition to these practical reasons for turning out the lights, breaking out the candles provides an instant atmosphere of either romance or spooky fun, depending upon who else is around to enjoy it. Start by choosing just one night a week to use candles instead of electric lights. Stock up on sturdy, slow-burning candles that will cast a fair amount of light for several hours. On "candle night," try to do activities that don't require electricity, such as telling stories or reading by candlelight. Be sure to store your candles and matches in a safe place when they are not in use. During the day, think of the sun as your primary light source, and rearrange your home or workplace to take advantage of its rays. Open the shades or blinds and let the light pour in instead of automatically flipping on the overhead switch. If you work in an office, try to arrange your desk so that it's lit by natural light, so you won't have to use a desk lamp or overhead lighting. In your home, set up your family's main daytime activity area in the brightest room that gets the best sunlight. Drawing, reading, using the computer, and other activities that require good lighting can take place in this room without the need for electric lights. These old-fashioned light bulbs burn off most of their energy as heat instead of producing light. Replace them with compact fluorescent bulbs or LED bulbs, both of which are much more energy efficient. Compact fluorescent bulbs use about 1/4 the energy of incandescent bulbs. They're made with a small amount of mercury, though, so be sure you dispose of them properly when they burn out. LED bulbs are more expensive than the other types, but they last longer and they don't contain mercury. A lot of people don't think about how much energy is being used by porch lights or path lights that stay on all night long. Decide whether it's really necessary to leave the lights on past your bedtime. If you want outside lights for security purposes, consider buying an automatic light that operates using a motion detector, rather than one that burns constantly. Turn off decorative holiday lights before you go to bed, rather than waiting until morning. Replace path and garden lights that charge during the day and glow warmly at night.
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One-sentence summary -- Create a "bright room" in your household. Replace electric lights with candles. Embrace natural light. Replace your incandescent light bulbs. Minimize your use of outside lights.

You will need to put together a resume with your professional or academic qualifications. A good resume can help land you an interview for a research assistant position. If you don't have relevant professional experience, don't worry, an academic resume will suffice for most research assistant positions. You will need to put together a professional looking resume. It may help to adjust your resume slightly to better suit the requirements laid out in the opening you want to apply for. Most schools have research assistant positions that they fill internally with students pursuing a degree in that field. Each school will have slightly different procedures for how to apply and interview for said positions. Speak to your professor about what you need to do in order to apply for a research assistant position in accordance with the school's guidelines. Adjust your resume to match the requirements laid out by your school, then submit it with your application in the way they dictate. Your school may not require an interview process in order to secure a position as a research assistant if it is part of your degree plan. That doesn't mean you should skip the step entirely. You may want to meet with the professor you would be working with in order to ensure it's something you want to do. Meet with the professor to make sure they are someone that you can work with and that it's an environment you will be comfortable in. The professor can give you a better idea of what to expect while working as a research assistant. If you are applying for a research assistant position in the private sector, you will likely be required to conduct an interview. Many schools require the same for academic positions as well. Make sure you arrive on time and be prepared to make a great first impression. Make sure that you are dressed appropriately for a job interview. Remember that your first impression is important at job interviews, so try hard to make a good one. Brush up on how have a great interview before you go to get yourself in the right mindset.
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One-sentence summary -- Create a resume. Identify your school's application procedures. Speak to the professor you would work for. Conduct the interview.

Look for whole flaxseed if you have access to a coffee grinder or small powerful blender, like a Ninja or Bullet, as whole flaxseed will pass through your body without being digested and you will not get the healthy benefits of this superfood. Buying ground flaxseed is also a good option as you will not have to grind the flaxseed yourself. You can also use a mortar and pestle to grind up the flaxseed. Don't worry about making the flaxseed very fine or ground, simple break up the seeds so they form smaller pieces that your body can digest. You can put the ground flaxseed in a liquid or consume it with a liquid on the side. Your intestines may be obstructed if you consume flaxseed without enough water or liquid. Soaking the ground seeds will give them a soft, chewy texture that blends well in your smoothie or juice. Put one heaping spoonful of ground flaxseed in a bowl. Pour enough water to submerge the seeds and cover the bowl. Leave the flaxseed to soak overnight. Add the swollen seeds to your morning smoothie or juice. Blend or stir them into the smoothie or juice. Flaxseed has a nutty flavor that pairs well with fruit and vegetable smoothies. Ground flaxseed also pairs well with low fat yogurt or sugar free cereal. You can also add ground flaxseed to hot oatmeal for a nutty and healthy kick. Toast the ground flaxseed in the oven on a sheet pan or in a small toaster oven. Be sure not to burn the flaxseed. Sprinkle them on your salads and soups for a crunchy, nutty taste. Ground flaxseed is a great option for a low carb, high fiber diet. Using flaxseed in muffins, cookies, and cakes gives your baked goods a nice moist texture that is also good for you. Try this one minute flax muffin recipe. Mix ground flaxseed with teaspoon baking powder, teaspoon Stevia (or other sugar supplement), 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 egg, and 1 teaspoon coconut oil in a mug or small, microwave safe bowl. Microwave the mug or bowl for one minute on high. You also add frozen fruit like frozen blueberries or strawberries to the mixture. If you include frozen fruit, microwave the mug or bowl for one and a half minutes on high. Put a small amount of butter on the muffin and enjoy a low carb, high fiber snack. The ground flaxseed will keep for several months in an airtight container. Keeping whole seeds in the refrigerator will keep them fresh and ready for grinding.
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One-sentence summary --
Buy ground flaxseed in bulk. Grind whole flaxseed in a coffee grinder before use. Consume ground flaxseed with other liquids. Soak the seeds before you put them in smoothies or juices. Sprinkle flaxseeds on your yogurt or cereal. Add toasted flaxseed to salads and soups. Bake flaxseeds in muffins, cookies, and cakes. Keep ground flaxseed in an airtight container. Refrigerate whole seeds.