Office Plants to Up Your Productivity This Winter


@domenicoloia

Winter is officially here, but it's only getting started. With these short days, long nights, and frosty temperatures can come some seasonal sadness. A great way to fight that is to bring some nature indoors! Even if you have a home full of plants, spending hours in your office everyday can leave you missing mother nature. There's no good reason to keep plants out of the office! They improve your mood, productivity, and air quality. Here are some of the best plants to try out in your office or at your desk!

Spider Plant

Kremp

A versatile plant that is hardy enough to survive varied light, water, and temperature conditions. They thrive in partial sun and shade so windowless or not you can have a green companion. Just pop it in a pot with sufficient drainage and give it a little water once you see it's soil is dry. These do look best in hanging pots but they can sit on a desk. They come in a lot of different sizes so no matter your office's size you'll find the right fit.

Snake Plant

SydneyPlants

A nice sturdy plant, if you can find a small one it can work for any desk. It stands straight upright so it won't be growing all over your papers but will still provide plenty of beautiful greenery. This can handle some drought as well so it is a great fit for people who aren't the best at remembering to keep things watered.

Pothos

plantscape

A great plant for office, home, bathroom, anywhere! It's very forgiving with light conditions and won't get upset if you forget to water it once in awhile. It will grow full and long but don't worry too much about the roots because it likes to be a little rootbound. These are a great plant because of the variety of verigations and because they are great air cleaners.

Peace Lily

Conversational

A tropical plant that has gotten used to tree's stealing all of the sunlight, this plant is perfectly adapted to the shade. They like water so keep them moist, especially if you want to keep them flowering! The flowers bring cheer in the heart of winter and they are one of the best plants for cleaning toxins from the air.

Bamboo

smallofficeideas

Low and medium light works just fine for some bamboo, but the best part is that it can happily grow in water. No soil to check, just make sure you swap out the water every once in awhile and keep it filled up.

ZZ Plant

mycityplants

You know at the mall when you are wondering if that plant inside is real or fake? A lot of the time it's a happily growing ZZ plant. Great for people who can't seem to keep anything alive the ZZ plant can thrive on low light and water, in face they prefer it.

Ferns

Getty Images

Ferns are great for low light but they do like to be kept nice and moist! These guys can't be forgotten about or they'll turn all brown and dry up. They can come in many different sizes and features a wide range or variations.

Cactus

lomets

If you have an office or cubicle with some sunlight then consider a cactus! They are famously low maintenance for anyone who wants some greenery but doesn't want to be constantly worried about them. There are plenty of varieties and sizes to choose from and all of them can work as long as you have the sunlight they need.

Succulents

Just Maggie

Another sunny option is a succulent. If you have the sun they need they will hardly ever bother you. They need minimal water but can provide a lot of color and comfort. With a ton of varieties you can mix and match to create stunning pieces of living art.

So brighten up your office this winter with any of these great options! Give your productivity a boost, clean up some stale winter office air, and make your mood a litter brighter this winter season.
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Where to Donate to Support Afghanistan and Haiti

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NBC

Over the past month, both Haiti and Afghanistan have been pummeled by tragic disasters that left devastation in their wake.

In Haiti, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake erupted, leading over to 2,189 deaths and counting. A few hours later, in Afghanistan, Kabul fell to the Taliban just after U.S. troops had pulled out after 20 years of war.

In many ways, these disasters are both chillingly connected to US interference. The United States invaded Haiti in 1915, ostensibly promising to restore order after a presidential assassination but really intending to preserve the route to the Panama Canal and to defend US creditors, among other reasons.

But the US forces soon realized that they were not able to control the country alone, and so formed an army of Haitian enlistees, powered by US air power and intended to quell Haitian insurrection against US controls. Then, in 1934, the US pulled out on its own, disappointed with how slow progress was going. Haiti's institutions were never really able to rebuild themselves, leaving them immensely vulnerable to natural disasters.

Something similar happened in Afghanistan, where the US sent troops and supported an insurgent Afghan army – only to pull out, abandoning the country they left in ruins, with many Afghans supporting the Taliban.

In both cases, defense contractors benefited by far the most from the conflict, making billions in profits while civilians faced fallout and devastation. While the conflicts and circumstances are extremely different and while the US is obviously not solely to blame for either crisis, it's hard not to see the US-based roots of these disasters.

Today, in Haiti and Afghanistan, civilians are facing unimaginable tragedy.

Here are charities offering support in Afghanistan:

1. The International Rescue Committee is looking to raise $10 million to deliver aid directly to Afghanistan

2. CARE is matching donations for an Afghanistan relief fund. They are providing food, shelter, and water to families in need; a donation of $89.50 covers 1 family's emergency needs for a month.

3. Women for Women International is matching donations up to 500,000 for Afghan women, who will be facing unimaginable horrors under Taliban control.


4. AfghanAid offers support for people living in remote regions of Afghanistan.

5. VitalVoices supports female leaders and changemakers and survivors of gender-based violence around the world.

Here are charities offering support in Haiti:

1. Partners in Health has been working with Haiti for a long time, and they work with the Department of Health rather than around them, which is extremely important in a charity.

2. Health Equity International helps run Saint Boniface Hospital, a hospital in Haiti close to the earthquake's epicenter.

3. SOIL is an organization based Haiti, "a local organization with a track record of supporting after natural disasters." They are distributing hygiene kits and provisions on the ground to hospitals and to victims of the earthquake.

4. Hope for Haiti has been working in emergency response in Haiti for three decades, and their team is comprised of people who live and work in Haiti. They focus on supporting children and people in need across Haiti.

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How the Beyoncé and Jay Z Controversy Shows Gen Z's Money Priorities

via Tiffany & Co.

When the new Tiffany's campaign was unveiled, reactions were mixed.

Tiffany's, the iconic jewelry brand which does not (despite what some might be misled to believe) in fact serve breakfast, featured Jay Z, Beyoncé, and a rare Basquiat painting in their recent campaign.

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How to Save Money on a Road Trip

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Stacker.com

Road trips can be a lot of fun — but they can also drain your wallet quickly if you aren't careful.

From high gas costs and park admission fares to lodging and the price of eating out every night, the expenses can add up quickly. But at the same time, it's very possible to do road trips cheaply and efficiently. Without the headache of worrying about how much money you're leaking, you can enjoy the open road a whole lot more. Here's how to save money on a road trip.

1. Prepare Your Budget, Route, and Packing List in Advance

If you want to save money on a road trip, be sure you're ready to go. Try to count up all your expenses before you hit the road and create a budget. It's also a good idea to plan your route in advance so you don't end up taking unnecessary, gas-guzzling detours. And finally, be sure to pack in advance so you don't find yourself having to buy tons of things you forgot along the way.

2. Book Cheap Accommodations — Or Try Camping

All those motel rooms can add up surprisingly quick, but camping is often cheap or free, and it's a great way to get intimate with the place you're visiting. You can check the Bureau of Land Management's website for free campsites. Freecampsite.com also provides great information on If you don't have a tent or don't want to camp every night, try booking cheap Airbnbs or booking hotels in advance, making sure to compare prices.

Camping camping road tripConde Nast Traveler

If you're planning on sleeping in your car, a few tips: WalMart allows all-night parking, as do many 24-hour gyms. (Buying a membership to Planet Fitness or something like it also gives you a great place to stop, shower, and recharge while on the road).

3. Bring Food From Home

Don't go on a road trip expecting to subsist on fast food alone. You'll wind up feeling like shit, and it'll drain your pocketbook stunningly quickly. Instead, be sure to bring food from home. Consider buying a gas stove and a coffee pot for easy on-the-go meals, and make sure you bring substantial snacks to satiate midday or late night cravings so you can avoid getting those late night Mickey D's expeditions.

Try bringing your own cooler, filling it with easy stuff for breakfast and lunch — some bread and peanut butter and jelly will go a long way. Bring your own utensils, plates, and napkins, and avoid buying bottled water by packing some big water jugs and a reusable water bottle. Alternatively, try staying at hotels or Airbnbs with kitchens so you can cook there.

4. Avoid Tolls

Apps like Google Maps and Waze point out toll locations, so be sure to avoid those to save those pennies. (If it takes you too far off route, you might have to bite the bullet and drive across that expensive bridge).

You can also save on parking fees by using sites like Parkopedia.

Road Trip Road TripThe Orange Backpack


5. Save on Gas

Gas can get pricy incredibly fast, so be sure that you're stopping at cheap gas stations. Free apps like GasBuddy help you find the most affordable gas prices in the area. Also, try going the speed limit on the highways — anything faster will burn through your tank. Be sure that you don't wait till you arrive at touristy locations or big cities to fill up.

6. Get a National Park Pass

All those parks can get really expensive really fast. If you're planning on visiting three or more parks, it's a great idea to get an America the Beautiful National Parks Pass. For $80 you can get into every National Park for one year.

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