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See Dr Debi's advice on page 20 in October issue

  Also ~ Dr Debi is interviewed and cited in the new Doubleday book
House Lust by Daniel McGinn

Read the review in Wall Street Journal

Or, hear McGinn talk about Dr Debi's Renovation Psychology on NPR's Morning Edition

Dear Dr. Debi,
How do we get enough time for projects with days still so short? Any ideas?
Signed, Clock Watcher

 Dear Daylong Dreamer,
     Pretty soon the clocks will change back to their lovely summer schedule. While daylight is longer even now than it was in December, it will seem to take a nice bright jump when the clocks change. But as bright as this will look, some personal preparation can help you retain your energy when the big bump happens.

The Spring’s time change means you jump your clock forward one hour. This sacrifice of losing an hour on the clock will put us more in line with the evening sunlight that cheers us at the end of our busy day. Suddenly it will seem like baseball season – just because the sun is shining and birds sing.

But – that loss of an hour needs to be planned for yourself so that it does not just rob you of sleep on that first Monday morning. There are more hapless car accidents on that Monday than any other day of the year, excluding awful weather conditions. Robbing folks of an hour’s sleep hurts their coordination, attention, reaction times, and problem solving skills.

You don’t want to have your safety jeopardized on your projects, just as you are thrilled to have more access to them in the added sunlight. Without preparation, it can take a week to recover from the robbery of that hour’s sleep. So, deal with this on both ends – your sleep pattern and your project plans.

Sleep patterns are a delicate matter. Our bodies and brains get accustomed to our typical times for settling down and also for waking. Simply saying you will hop in bed an hour earlier on the night before the time change can actually cause sleep stress and prevent you from falling asleep as nicely as usual, and lead to poor rest all night.... Read more... 

And share with friends!

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Dr Debi's Renovation Psychology book takes Honorable Mention at London Book Festival
Be sure to read the book
that changes the way you renovate your home
and yourself! 
Great reading and sweet fun. 
A great gift and an inspiring read.
See book...

How about some resources for coping with Winter Light?

Visit www.cet.org for research info, a self-administered diagnostic tool, and links for recommended products

I searched and located a lamp for under $100 - not to guarantee it, but just passing the link along to you
www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/CTGY/VeriluxSAD

See the results in detail at the sandcastle project's pages here...

See what Dr Debi learned about how we develop our Inner Renovator!
It's fascinating!  Sandwork and Sand Play

Please email and tell your stories, send pictures of your children's sandcastles and sand play.   We will put some of them up on this website to share.

Enjoy the beach and enjoy the kids!

Happy Home Team,
Dr Debi

Enjoy your home and your Home Team fully with Dr Debi's unique and delightful book!
Find out more~

And - here are more links for related books to help you with your renovation attitudes and process:

Advice for the Home Team Toolbox 
Trouble Facing the Money?

Dear Dr. Debi,
You said to sit and talk money together, but all we do is fight. How can we talk money safely?
Signed, Screaming Checkbook

Dear Anxious Over Money,
Fighting is not always as it seems. It may be possible that each of you might be anxious and are acting noisy about it. Maybe you need to learn a new tool. Just like using a miter saw to learn complex cuts, facing money certainly is an important part of your successful project – so it bears some practice to get it right.
So, let’s figure out what the cuts are, and angle ourselves to get ready to approach it square on. First, we need to get agreement on the intention to face the money. We don’t jump in and do it yet, just begin with a statement by both Home Team grown-ups that you will do what you can to safely face it somehow together. This does not mean it is simple, it’s just a place you both wish to head.
So – what is your own issue about the money? Do you have some beliefs about how your partner spends or saves that grieve you? Do you feel bad about your paycheck?
...read more...

Read more columns...click here