5 tips to simplify your workday this fall

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Family Features - Optimizing your workday through careful preparation and effective time management can create a more harmonious balance between your professional and personal life. Finding ways to simplify the day, both at home and on the job, can help you make the most of every minute, so you feel less rushed and better prepared to manage whatever the day throws your way. Make your workdays more manageable with these tips and find more time-saving ideas at BensOriginal.com.

Wake Up on Time
Starting the day with a bang, setting an alarm and sticking to it can be the secret ingredient to a super productive day. Hitting snooze not only makes you groggy, but it cuts into valuable time you need to start your morning routine. Plan to get up late enough to feel rested but early enough to accomplish important tasks, such as breakfast, which gives your body and mind the energy they need for a busy day. Consistent bed and wakeup times can improve the quality of your sleep, giving you the extra boost you need.

Grocery Shop at the Start of the Week
Use your weekends wisely with a smart strategy and foresight to plan ahead so you can save time when workdays get away from you. Planning and prepping meals and keeping your pantry stocked with easy-prep items ensures you’re fueling your body, keeping burnout at bay. For example, Ben’s Original Ready Rice products can be your go-to lifesavers as a delightful lunch that’s ready to serve in 90 seconds. Even when time’s ticking away, you can still enjoy a satisfying dish and keep your energy soaring high.

Keep Your Calendar Organized
Juggling deadlines, meetings and ongoing tasks can be an organizational hassle, but effectively mastering your calendar can make all the difference. Make it a habit to answer meeting requests and ensure they get logged into your calendar promptly. Then, like a pro, schedule other commitments around the meetings, blocking off time as necessary to ensure you leave adequate time at your desk to get your work done. Use your calendar’s labeling and organization tools to help keep you on track. For example, you might color code priority items differently than tasks or meetings that could be moved if necessary.

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Photo: Markus Winkler/Unsplash

Simplify Workday Lunches
Bringing your lunch to work can be an ultimate time-saving hack. Enjoying a tasty dish in the breakroom gives you a change of scenery and lets you reset your brain without losing travel time by heading to the nearest drive thru. An option like Ben’s Original Street Food delivers convenience and is a perfect solution for those days when you’re short on time but craving a tasty lunch. It delivers convenience wrapped in a flavor-packed dish, ready to tantalize your taste buds. Look for flavors like Jamaican Jerk-Style Red Beans and Rice with Chicken, Gumbo with Chicken and Andouille Sausage, Fried Rice with Vegetables or a Bean and Rice Burrito Bowl to transport your taste buds around the world, right from the comfort of your office.

Condense Meetings
Whether scheduled or impromptu, meetings can quickly feel like they’re consuming your entire day. If possible, set your calendar availability so you’re only able to take meetings in the late morning or early afternoon. This nifty trick ensures you have ample time to kickstart and wrap up your day with top-priority tasks. Host standing meetings so participants are focused on the topic at hand and less likely to engage in distracting chatter. Prepare agendas for meetings so you can stay on track and handle off-topic discussions outside of meeting times.


Guest Commentary |
Living in peace and being good Americans

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator


Millions of Democrats went to the polls in state primaries to cast their votes for President Joe Biden. He was elected to represent the Democrat party once again. He didn’t have the official votes of the delegates from the convention but it was a given that he would receive them.

On June 27, Biden debated former President Trump and it didn’t go so well for Biden. He wasn’t his best during that debate and a ground swell of other Democrat leaders forced Biden to withdraw from the race.

How does this make you feel if you voted for him? What happened to the will of the people? What good did it do you to take time off from work to vote? Your vote didn’t mean a thing. It was totally wasted time if you voted for President Joe Biden. A handful of rich celebrities along with Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Robert Schiff, and a few others made the decision.

Suddenly all we are hearing is that Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democrat challenger to Donald Trump. She hasn’t been elected by the delegates which doesn’t even come until the August convention which begins August 19th. A reported hundred million dollars has already been raised and she will likely be nominated. At this point, who does this party have to nominate? We have only a little over three months until the November election.

The brevity of time that Harris has to run as the Democrat nominee is unfair to everybody. It’s unfair to her. She can run as the assumed nominee but she’ s not the nominee yet. It wouldn’t make sense for Trump to debate her at this point because Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer might change their minds and ask someone else to run and pressure Harris to drop out.

Of course, a similar scenario could happen to the Republicans. Trump could have been assassinated and the Republican party would have had to make another choice.

Harris’s major theme that she has going for her in the eyes of millions of Americans is abortion. As many if not more Americans are for abortion than are against abortion. Harris is beating this drum every day wherever she speaks and it could be the single issue that elects her as President. Trump and the Republicans must come up with a plan that resonates with the majority of America’s women and young people or it could be the single issue that brings about his defeat.

There is a lot at stake in the November election. We hope our votes count. We hope that whoever we elect is the one who serves as President. Unlike what just happened with the recent Democrat primaries. Most of us hope that we can get through this election and still be at peace in our country. A house divided cannot stand. Regardless of who is elected it doesn’t do any of us any good to be fighting among ourselves. I hope that we all can resolve to live in peace, talk civil to each other and be good Americans.


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He is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.


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Crystal Lake Park Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday

URBANA - Over 40 artists are expected to display their artwork and wares at the 6th Annual Crystal Lake Park Art Fair this Saturday and Sunday. The two-day event held at Crystal Lake Park is a collaborative organizational effort between 40 North and the Urbana Park District.

The art fair will be open from 10 am to 4 pm on both days. Vendor booths will be located along the park road adjacent to the Lake House and the large pavilion. Local and regional artists will be offering paintings, textiles, ceramics, photography, jewelry, glass, mixed media, and more for sale.

Featured artists include Champaign native Megan Hinds, an alumna of Illinois State University, where she specialized in printmaking. She graduated with magna cum laude honors in 2016, and her work has been exhibited at the Jan Brandt Gallery, Joe McCauley Gallery, Heartland Community College, 40North Gallery, Spudnik Press Cooperative's Annex Gallery, The Art Center, and Lincoln Land Community College. Recently, her artwork was awarded the Best-Emerging Artist award at the Ann Arbor Art Festival in 2019, the Best 2-D Artist award at the Naperville Fine Art Festival, and the Best Printmaker award at the Deer Park Art Festival.

If you're someone who loves the romantic side of life and is looking for artwork that reflects that passion, you might be interested in the work of Melanie Sartori. She is a self-taught artist and muralist based in Madison, WI, drawing inspiration from vintage items, travel, and adventure. Melanie often uses locally collected vintage and antique frames to create one-of-a-kind paintings, using the frames as a starting point for her creativity and to infuse her work with a sense of history and sustainability. Additionally, she creates unique jewelry collections as part of her commissioned work.

Cammie Meerdink, the artist known for her visionary work at Piper Pottery & Crafts in Mahomet, has been creating stunning and practical clay pieces for more than two decades. Her process involves incorporating natural elements, vintage artifacts, and contemporary influences to produce singular stoneware pieces. Meerdink has gained recognition in artistic communities for her imaginative and utilitarian pottery designed for both home and garden use.


2024 Crystal Lake Park Art Fair Artists



Photos this week


The St. Joseph-Ogden soccer team hosted Oakwood-Salt Fork in their home season opener on Monday. After a strong start, the Spartans fell after a strong second-half rally by the Comets, falling 5-1. Here are 33 photos from the game.


Photos from the St. Joseph-Ogden volleyball team's home opener against Maroa-Forsyth from iphotonews.com.