How to Make Chocolate

Make mouthwatering milk or dark chocolate using just 4 ingredients

If you’ve got chocolate on your mind (who doesn’t?), why not skip the trip to the store and make your own at home instead? That’s right—you can easily make your own smooth, creamy chocolate in the comfort of your kitchen using just a few simple ingredients. Whether you’re craving classic milk chocolate or some luscious dark chocolate, we’ve got you covered with 2 easy recipes below. Let’s get mixing!

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• All you need to make chocolate is cocoa butter, cocoa powder, milk powder, and confectioners' sugar.
• Combine all of your ingredients in a makeshift double boiler until everything is melted together and smooth and creamy.
• Pour your chocolate into a candy mold or onto a nonstick surface and harden it in the fridge for 1 hour.

[Edit]Ingredients

[Edit]Milk Chocolate

• ¾ cup (140 g) of cocoa butter
• ¾ cup (80 g) of cocoa powder
• ¼ cup (30 g) of milk powder, soy milk powder, almond milk powder, or rice milk powder
• 1 cup (100 g) of confectioners' sugar, of agave syrup, or of liquid stevia
• Salt (optional—to taste)

Makes 12 oz (340 g) of chocolate

[Edit]Dark Chocolate

• 1/2 cup (50 g) of cocoa powder
• of coconut oil
• of honey
• of vanilla extract
• ¼ cup (25 g) of confectioners' sugar, of agave syrup, or 3-6 drops of liquid stevia (optional)

Makes 10 oz (283 g) of chocolate

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Milk Chocolate

1. Make a double boiler using a pot of water and a mixing bowl. Fill a pot halfway with water and place it on the stovetop over medium heat. Then, set a small, heat-safe mixing bowl over the opening of the pot. The water will heat the bowl from underneath so you can melt your ingredients in the bowl without burning them.^[1]
   
   • The water should be hot, but not boiling. If it’s boiling, it might scorch your chocolate as it cooks!
   • Think you’ll make your own chocolate regularly? Consider investing in a real double boiler so you don’t have to make one every time.
2. Melt ¾ cup (140 g) of cocoa butter in the heated mixing bowl. Keep the cocoa butter moving continuously at the bottom of the bowl so it melts faster. Cocoa butter melts at about the same speed as ordinary butter, and it looks pretty similar when it melts too.^[2]
   
   
   • Find cocoa butter in the baking aisle at any health food store, as well as some major supermarkets.
   • An equal amount of coconut oil works great as a substitute for cocoa butter.^[3]
3. Sift ¾ cup (80 g) of cocoa powder into the melted cocoa butter. Add the cocoa powder little by little using a sieve to break up any clumping. Use a whisk or metal spoon to stir the two ingredients together until the cocoa powder dissolves completely. Make sure there aren’t any clumps or dry pockets in the mixture.
   
   
4. Shake in ¼ cup of milk powder and 1 cup (100 g) of confectioners' sugar. Give the mixture another thorough stir to make sure the last of your dry ingredients are fully incorporated. The chocolate should be starting to take on a lighter, more delicate color after adding the milk powder.^[4]
   
   
   • Want to make vegan “milk” chocolate? Just use an equal amount of soy milk powder, almond milk powder, or rice milk powder instead.^[5]
   • If you’re trying to cut back on sugar, use of agave syrup or of liquid stevia instead of confectioners' sugar.
   • You might think you should use regular milk to make milk chocolate, but milk is actually too liquidy! All that excess liquid would leave your chocolate runny and prevent it from setting.^[6]
5. Remove the bowl from the heat and stir the chocolate until it thickens. Fold the chocolate over on itself repeatedly from the bottom of the bowl until it’s smooth, creamy, and free of lumps.^[7]
   
   • Your chocolate will still be somewhat thin at this point. Don’t worry—it will continue to thicken as it sets up.
   • For even more deliciousness, mix in nuts, mint, or dried fruit.
6. Pour the chocolate onto a nonstick surface or into a candy mold. If you want your chocolate to harden into a single large sheet, spread it out over a nonstick baking mat or sheet of parchment paper to a thickness of about edge-to-edge. To make individual chocolates, transfer the warm chocolate to a candy mold instead.^[8]
   
   
   • No candy mold? Use a well-greased ice cube tray!
   • If you’re using a mold, tap the bottom onto a hard surface a few times to get rid of any bubbles in the chocolate.
7. Let your chocolate harden in the refrigerator for 1 hour. Once your chocolate sets up, break it into pieces or pop individual chocolates out of their molds and dig in!
   
   • Store your homemade milk chocolate in a covered container on your countertop, or inside a pantry or another cool, dry place. It should keep for up to 1 year.^[9]

[Edit]Dark Chocolate

1. Melt of coconut oil in a small pot over low heat. Coconut oil has a low melting point, so this should only take a few seconds. Keep the coconut oil moving continuously at the bottom of the pot to help it melt faster.^[10]
   
   
2. Add of honey and of vanilla extract. Use a whisk or metal spoon to scrape the sticky honey into the pot. Then, drizzle in the vanilla. Stir the ingredients into the melted oil until they dissolve and form a thin, syrupy mixture.^[11]
   
   
   • Be sure to keep your cooktop on a low heat setting. If the oil gets too hot, it could scorch the sugars in the honey and spoil the flavor of the finished chocolate.
   • For sweeter dark chocolate, add 1/4 cup (25 g) of confectioners' sugar, of agave syrup, or 3-6 drops of liquid stevia at the same time that you add the honey and vanilla.
3. Sift in 1/2 cup (50 g) of cocoa powder gradually. Rather than dumping all of the cocoa powder in at once, add it a little at a time using a sieve over the pot to break up any clumps. As you do, keep your whisk or spoon moving to help distribute the cocoa powder evenly throughout the mixture.^[12]
   
   
4. Take the chocolate off the heat and continue stirring it as it thickens. You’ll know your chocolate is done when it takes on a smooth, dark color and the surface becomes slightly glossy. At this point, it just needs to be left to harden!^[13]
   
5. Transfer the warm chocolate to a nonstick surface or candy mold to cool. Carefully pour the chocolate out of the pot and onto a flexible nonstick baking mat or cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Use a spatula to spread the chocolate about thick. For cute, bite-sized pieces of chocolate, pour your chocolate into a candy mold instead.^[14]
   
   
6. Refrigerate your chocolate for 1 hour. Once it’s fully set, it’s ready to break into pieces or remove from the mold. Enjoy!^[15]
   
   • Store your finished chocolate in the refrigerator, or keep it in a covered container on your countertop. Dark chocolate will last for up to 2 years.^[16]
   • If your chocolate begins to melt or soften at room temperature, place it back in the refrigerator at any point to harden it back up.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Reader Videos

[Edit]Tips

• Homemade chocolate makes a wonderful gift, especially around the holidays.
• You can decorate your homemade chocolates in various ways, including using patterned transfer sheets and piping white chocolate details onto molded chocolates.
• Enjoy your chocolate by itself, or add it to your favorite dessert recipes.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Small pot (and a heat-safe mixing bowl if you're making milk chocolate)
• Whisk or metal spoon
• Sieve
• Flexible nonstick baking mat or a decorative candy mold
• Spatula

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Make Homemade Chocolate
• Make Hot Cocoa
• Make Molded Chocolates

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://bakingbites.com/2009/09/how-to-make-a-double-boiler/
2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5wt7-NO4AM&t=48s
3. ↑ https://poormansgourmetkitchen.com/homemade-milk-chocolate.html
4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5wt7-NO4AM&t=86s
5. ↑ https://www.myfrugalhome.com/powdered-milk-substitute-non-fat-dry-milk/
6. ↑ https://damecacao.com/chocolate-making-milk-powder/
7. ↑ https://www.namscorner.com/homemade-milk-chocolate-how-to-make-chocolate-in-home/
8. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5wt7-NO4AM&t=139s
9. ↑ https://sweets.seriouseats.com/2011/08/best-way-to-store-chocolate-how-to-store-bonbons.html
10. ↑ https://thecoconutmama.com/coconut-oil-chocolate-bars/
11. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/236212/homemade-melt-in-your-mouth-dark-chocolate-paleo/
12. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/236212/homemade-melt-in-your-mouth-dark-chocolate-paleo/
13. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkVi_1GflZc&t=152s
14. ↑ https://www.precisionnutrition.com/chocolate-making
15. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/236212/homemade-melt-in-your-mouth-dark-chocolate-paleo/
16. ↑ https://sweets.seriouseats.com/2011/08/best-way-to-store-chocolate-how-to-store-bonbons.html

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How to Know if Your Friend Is Really a Friend

If you're unsure whether your friend is really a true friend or not, it generally means things have happened to cause you some doubt. The fact that you cannot be certain means that the friendship is under question and your gut feelings need to be addressed before you can continue to trust this friendship is worth the effort. So, is this friend true to you or not?

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Does Your Friend Want to Be With You?

1. Spend some time with your friend. Spending time together is a normal and expected part of friendship.^[1] Begin here as it is the best clue as to whether or not your friend is willing to make an effort in the friendship. Here are things to consider about how your friend reacts to you wanting to spend time together:
   
   • If your friend makes the time, that's a good sign. True friends make time for each other and don't act squeamish or as if they'd rather be somewhere else. Sometimes your friend may be genuinely busy and that's fine, just as long as your friend makes time to be together, when it's appropriate, such as during breaks or lunch, perhaps on a weekend, during vacation time, etc.
   • If your friend doesn't want to make the time or comes up with a lot of excuses every time you try, then you have a warning sign that they are not keen to be around you much. If you have arranged going somewhere together and your friend keeps pulling out on such arrangements, that's a telling sign too. Realize that nobody is "always busy" -- that is just an excuse showing they don't wish to prioritize you.
   • If your friend ditches you almost all the time, and it doesn't seem like a joke, that means they aren't really a good friend.
2. See what happens if you try to hang around a friend who is giving you signals of not wanting to be near you. Tag along with them. This may seem hard but you can say, "Hey, how are things going today?" And walk with your friend. Notice their reaction and comfort levels. If they are truly your friend, they'll be thrilled to have you around. If they are not, they may grunt, fail to talk to you, shrug a lot and try to walk faster to get away from you.
   
3. Invite your friend to a party or special occasion at your place. Invite your friend over and see whether or not they accept the invitation. If your friend does come, are they being friendly with you or are they ignoring you and just stuffing down the cake and soda and grabbing the goodie bag while leaving early? Since you are the host or the main center of attention when it's at your place, a true friend should be spending time interacting with you and being friendly. A fake friend will use the occasion to get what they want out of it, then hightail it out of there with nary a goodbye.
   

[Edit]How Supportive is Your Friend?

1. Remember that friendship is not about the people who are true to your face. It's about the people who are also true behind your back. This section features some "tests" that you can make use of to observe and note how your friend behaves when you're not there to defend yourself. These tests are all optional, and you can try one, two or all of them, or just skip this section -- do whatever you feel most comfortable with. Ultimately, your feelings will matter most, so if needed, just jump to Part 3.
   
   • You should try to evaluate the relationship dynamic and make sure that there is balance in your friendship. It shouldn't be one-sided, with you giving all of your time consistently and feeling like energy is being sucked up.^[2]
2. Observe how your friend is when they don't notice you're about. This provides you with the opportunity to find out what type of people your friend hangs out with or if they say anything bad about you or one of your closer friends. Be around where they hang out and just be quietly in the background, saying nothing and not drawing attention to yourself, keeping a nice distance away. Don't give away any clues you're watching them, and if they're not being such a great friend, they probably won't even notice you. They might say uncomplimentary things about you, or about someone else who is really close to you.
   
   • Listen for verbal clues, and watch for physical and emotional clues as well.
3. Consider how your friend handles your secrets. A good and trustworthy friend won't gossip about you and won't spread rumors or, even worse, lies. Does your friend keep all of your secrets? Do you ever hear of anything you only told this friend being spoken of by someone else you didn't tell?^[3]
   
   • Test your friend. Tell them a fake secret you have, and see if your friend makes rumors about the matter or not. Make sure that your fake secret is scandalous enough but does not involve anyone but you.
4. Set up the trolling test. This is entirely optional and if it feels icky, weird or undesirable, just skip it. If you think it might help and you have someone willing to help out, it can be one more thing to add to the mix for your decision-making. So, the test is: Have a classmate or coworker talk about you in an unflattering way to your friend, and have the classmate or coworker record or tell you whatever they said. If your classmate or coworker can't record the response, be the one to observe your friend while the unflattering scene unfolds. If your friend defends you, that's a great sign of loyalty but if they agree and start dissing you back, then you know this person isn't being a true friend.
   

[Edit]How Does Your Friend Treat You?

1. Be wary of a friend who forces you to do things their way or when they want. If they want you to fall in line regardless of how you feel or what you'd prefer to do, then it means they don't care about you, and only want you as a henchman/henchwoman. This is a case of being used, not liked, and it is a classic sign of a controlling personality. That kind of person is near impossible to be good friends with, because you never know when they like you for what you can do for them or like you for you.
   
2. Think about how you feel when you talk around this person. Can you be yourself or do you feel as if you have to "be a certain way" or be really careful about what you say? A true friend is someone you can be yourself around and who won't judge you for the funny quirks, the odd blurts and the weird ways you perceive the world. A true friend will accept you as the package you are and won't expect you to walk on eggshells or censor the way you talk. When you don't have to be careful about what you say, that's when you're around the right person.
   
   • A friend is someone who gives you the liberty to be yourself. Anything less is not true friendship.
3. Pull away from your friend temporarily. Does your friend wonder why you are doing this and ask after you? Or, does this friend seem relieved that you're not around? This can be an extremely telling factor when trying to determine how much this person cares about you, for only a person who hears your silence and sees your absence truly cares for you.
   
4. Consider what happens when you're in need. Real friends stay by your side through thick and thin. Hardship is actually a good barometer for the true friends in your life. You only lose the friends who were masquerading as friends when you experience hardships and difficulties. Those fair-weather friends are not worth your time or effort, as they are the sort of people to flit from one relationship to another, always seeking what is in it for them. A true friend stays, supports and keeps loving you regardless of what happens. A good friend is someone willing to share in both your happiness and your sadness, to notice and to be there for both.^[4]
   
   • A good friendship is one in which each friend needs only what the person has to give of themselves, not their material wealth, their connections or their power. It's about the intangible of "I get you. And you get me."

[Edit]Reaching Your Decision

1. Weigh up what you have learned by assessing your friendship using the above suggestions. Does your friend seem true or false to you? Do you feel comfortable and happy around this person or do you feel awkward, controlled and/or unhappy around them? Does your friend inspire and motivate you or send shivers of angst and worry down your spine? Do you have evidence that this person supports you or badmouths you? Remind yourself that no friend is better than a fake friend, and that you will find a new friend if this one proves to be false. Also, sometimes your friendship circle as a whole may decrease in size but will increase in value, so let that be your guide.^[5]
   
   • When making your decision, keep in mind that the fact you have had to question this friend's loyalty is a red flag. Generally, the only people you owe loyalty to are those who don't cause you to question theirs.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Reader Videos

[Edit]Tips

• A true friend is someone who appreciates you as a person even when you're not around, so if your friend is the type to talk behind your back or other people's backs, this person is probably not a true friend.
• If you think your friend is lying, always get proof of what they said or did, so that you can confront them with the evidence.
• If you feel like your friend wasn't really there during your hard times, then chances are they aren't a true friend.^[6]

[Edit]Warnings

• If you ask other friends to talk to that friend, they might out you for snooping.
• Reading your friend's diary is risky. People work out who they are and what they think in a diary and often this changes from day to day, mood to mood, and isn't necessarily a true reflection of their general, overall feelings toward another person. It is complicated and really, it isn't a good thing for you to do or to decide a relationship's status on.
• If your friend finds out you've been plotting, they might accuse you of being untrustworthy and say that they "always liked you until now". If you don't trust them, then don't be friends with them.

[Edit]References

• 13 Essential Traits of Good Friends

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/406517/4-ways-to-spend-quality-time-with-your-friends
2. ↑ [v161848_b01]. 16 July 2021.
3. ↑ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-5-qualities-of-real-friends_b_7310144
4. ↑ https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/11-differences-between-real-friends-and-fake-friends.html
5. ↑ https://www.powerofpositivity.com/11-ways-to-spot-an-authentic-friendship/
6. ↑ [v161848_b01]. 16 July 2021.

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How to Teach Your Dog to Speak

Your dog won’t be reciting Shakespeare anytime soon, but teaching a dog to bark on command is actually one of the easiest tricks to teach. Barking is a natural behavior for a dog, so they should pick up on this one in no time. Teaching a dog to “speak” is a fun little trick, but it’s also useful if you want to show your dog when it’s appropriate to make noise, or get your dog to bark when they want something. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about teaching your pup to talk on command.

[Edit]Things You Should Know

• Begin training with high value treats or a clicker handy.
• Make use of situations in which you already know your dog will bark. Reward them with a treat or the clicker immediately after they make a noise.
• Introduce the 'Speak' command once your dog associates barking with a reward.
• Reinforce training over time to tie together the word and the behavior. Make use of short, repeated training sessions to prevent fatigue.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Hold a high-value treat.

1. Grab some training treats that your dog enjoys. If you have a normal, prepackaged treats that your dog enjoys, use those. You can also use their normal kibble if they’re a hungry little puppy and you’ve been wary of using unhealthy treats yet. Whatever it is, pick something your dog really loves; the better the reward, the easier it will be to teach your dog.^[1]
   
   • If your dog loves to play, you can try using their favorite toy and playing with them when they bark. Most people, however, will find that treats are the most effective way to teach a dog.
   • Try to avoid using processed human food as treats. A little organic turkey meat or carrot is fine every now and then, but relying entirely on human food can mess with their diet and reinforce their love of human grub.
   • As you practice over time, mix it up every now and then. Use a variety of treats to keep your dog from getting bored by the same reward.

[Edit]Grab your clicker if you're clicker training.

1. If you are clicker training, use the clicker instead of a treat. Clicker training is entirely optional, but if you’ve been using a clicker to train your dog, use it here. Instead of the treat, use the sound of the clicker to reward your dog. If you’re still in the early stages of clicker training where you’re using treats and the clicker, continue to use both as your reward.^[2]
   
   • Clicker training is just as efficient as non-clicker training—it’s just a matter of personal preference.^[3]
   • If you’re new to clicker training, stick with it and start by using the clicker and the treat. Your dog will slowly start to associate the clicker sound with the treat and they’ll eventually mean the same thing to your pup.

[Edit]Get your dog’s attention.

1. Show them the treat and bring them to you. Your dog needs to see the treat and be intrigued by it. Once they come over and realize you’ve got a treat, hold the treat away from them and give them a second to relax in front of the reward.^[4]
   
   • If your dog isn’t interested enough by the treat that they wander off after a few seconds of you not giving them a treat, your reward isn’t high-value enough.
   • If you’re building on other skills, get them into a “sit” position for this so that you reinforce two behaviors at once.

[Edit]Wait for them to bark.

1. Tantalize them with the treat until they finally make some noise. Keep the treat visible and easy to see. Your dog may be confused for a minute, or whimper a little. They may even try to sit, lie down, or roll over to get the treat. Just hold out and keep the treat visible until they bark.^[5]
   
   • Don’t tease or mess with your dog; just hold the treat up. If you induce an anxiety-related bark and then reward your dog, you may accidentally reinforce the idea that barking when they’re scared is a good thing.
   • If your dog doesn’t bark at all here, you have two options. One is to simply put the treat away (at least for a minute) and try again once your dog stops paying attention. The other option is to do something that makes your dog bark (ring the doorbell, make an abrupt noise).

[Edit]Reward your dog with the treat.

1. As soon as your dog barks, give them the treat and praise them. After one bark, give them the reward, pet them repeatedly, and say, “Good dog!” or, “That’s so good!” Really make a show of it to get your dog excited about what they’ve just done.^[6]
   
   • If you wait too long to give them the treat, they may not immediately associate the bark with the treat.
   • If you’re clicker training, press the clicker as soon as they bark. If you’re still using edible treats, give the treat and press the clicker at the same time.

[Edit]Continue reinforcing the behavior.

1. Practice in short bursts and keep giving your pup love for barking. You don’t need to engage in giant training sessions to reinforce this one. Barking is a natural behavior for a dog, so little 5- to 10- minute training lessons are just fine.^[7] Show the treat, wait for your pup to bark, and then give them the treat as the reward.
   
   • If you had to make a noise or do something to get them to bark, slowly transition to simply showing the treat without the other stimulus.
   • If you’re working on other commands and tricks at the same time as you’re teaching “speak,” go ahead and start incorporating “speak” once your dog understands that you want them to bark when you just show them the treat.

[Edit]Introduce the command word.

1. Use “speak” or “talk” to start tying the behavior to the command. Now that your dog knows barking will get them treats, name the behavior. Say "speak" or "talk" just before they bark. You might also consider adding a hand signal (like pointing up, or making a fist), since dogs can learn visual cues just as easily as sound-based cues. Practice several times saying "speak" or "talk" just before your dog barks.^[8]
   

[Edit]Reinforce the command word with practice.

1. Keep using the treat and the command word to train your pup. Now that your dog is starting to associate a word with barking, say "speak" or "talk" and wait for her to bark. Be sure to say the command only once to avoid changing the command. When your dog barks, offer the reward. Do this over and over again until your dog seems to be catching on.^[9]
   
   • You never want to repeat the command because it can trick your dog into thinking the command word is “speak speak speak” instead of just “speak,” for example. If your dog doesn’t get it the first time, pause, look away, lower the treat, and try again in a few minutes.

[Edit]Fade the treat out over time.

1. Swap the treat out for the command word as they master the move. Whenever your dog fluidly interprets “speak” to mean “now is the time to bark,” you know it’s time to remove the treat. Continue to verbally praise your dog, but remove the food-based treat. As your dog gets better at the maneuver, you can fade the praise out, too.^[10]
   
   • If you’re clicker training, now is the time to slowly stop using the clicker.

[Edit]Practice in increasingly more distracting environments.

1. This will reinforce the command so your dog really internalizes it. Take your dog to the front porch or sidewalk and practice “speak” out there where there are birds and other ambient noises. Once they master the move out front, take them to the park where they’ll be tempted to run around. Then, you can practice the move in front of other dogs or toys. Once your dog knows “speak” everywhere, they’ve 100% mastered the command!^[11]
   
   • Now, you can start teaching your dog to bark at specific threats or whenever they want to go outside. Use the “speak” command whenever a stranger approaches, or whenever you’re about to let them out to use the bathroom to teach them how to let you know they need to go.

[Edit]Move on to other commands, like “quiet.”

1. Once your pup masters “speak,” you can move on to something else. Return to “speak” periodically to ensure that your dog doesn’t forget about it. Now is the perfect time to teach the “quiet” command! This works basically in reverse—present a stimulus that’ll make your dog bark and then wait for them to be quiet. Then, reward them!
   

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Avoid teaching your dog new commands or tricks if you’re in a hurry. Giving them your undivided attention can help them stay focused.^[12]
• Teach “speak” after you teach other commands like “sit” or “lay down.” If you teach “speak” first, your dog may start barking up a storm every time you try to teach them to a new trick.

[Edit]Warnings

• If you’ve already got a dog who is prone to barking, teaching them “speak” before you’ve got the problematic barking under control is potentially a bad idea. Your dog may start barking expecting you to give them a reward.^[13]

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Walk a Dog
• Teach Your Dog to Drop It
• Teach Your Dog to Sit
• Teach Your Dog Tricks

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/positive-reinforcement-training
2. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/clicker-training-your-dog-mark-and-reward/
3. ↑ https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/about.illinoisstate.edu/dist/6/45/files/2019/10/Chiandetti-Avella-Fongero-Cerri-2016-Can-Clicker-training-facilitate-cond-in-dogs.pdf
4. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/training/evr_dg_how-to-make-a-dog-bark
5. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/train-your-dog-to-speak/
6. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/train-your-dog-to-speak/
7. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/teach-your-puppy-these-5-basic-commands/
8. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/train-your-dog-to-speak/
9. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/training/evr_dg_how-to-make-a-dog-bark
10. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/training/evr_dg_how-to-make-a-dog-bark
11. ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/training/reliable-recall-train-dogs-to-come-when-called/
12. ↑ [v161987_b01]. 5 October 2021.
13. ↑ https://www.thrivingcanine.com/should_i_teach_speak_to_eliminate_dog_barking_problems

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How to Maintain a Work Life Balance

Want a fulfilling career and a happy and healthy family life? If you want both, you need to find a balance. This means getting your priorities in order, making strategic decisions ahead of time, and making efficient use of your time.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Having the Proper Mindset

1. Decide what is important to you. Both work and family are important, so you’ll need to make conscious choices as to how you balance your time and commitments. Make a list of your work and family goals, and prioritize the ones that feel most critical and meaningful to you.
   
   • For example, maybe you’ve always been passionate about becoming a successful engineer, and also feel like you might want to have kids someday. If reaching a certain point in your career feels more critical to you right now than starting a family, consider waiting until you’ve settled into a job you love before having kids.
2. Develop work goals. You don’t want to feel smothered by a dead-end job, do you? Think of realistic goals for yourself to achieve at work. When you succeed at work, the rewards will spill over into your family life. Work goals range from short-term to long-term.^[1]
   
   • For example, a short-term goal might be something like completing a work project within a particular timeframe, or making a small change to your office environment.
   • Having a long-term goal or several will help motivate you to make the most of your time at work. Think about where you’d like to be in 5 years. If your answer is “Not in this job,” then you probably need to start thinking of strategies to help realize your long-term career goals.
3. Have goals for life, too. If you have goals at home too, they can positively affect your work life. Strive for personal growth. Learn something new, whether or not it relates to your job. When you learn, your brain constantly applies new knowledge to old tasks. Most likely, you’ll begin to think of better ways of doing your job, too.^[2]
   
   • Think about long-term personal goals. Do you want to have children, get married, or move to a new area? Consider what is important to you at home and then make career decisions that will help you get there.
   • It’s also important to set short-term personal goals for yourself. This could be something as simple as planning to take your kids to a movie over the weekend, or something more involved, like planning a spring cleaning week with your family.

[Edit]Planning Carefully

1. Choose a line of work that will help you achieve your goals. If the work that you do is what you love, it will be much easier for you to find a good work-life balance. Pick a profession that fits well with your interests and gives you a sense of fulfillment.
   
   • Every job comes with its set of difficulties and deadlines. If you are satisfied with what you’ve accomplished and proud of a job well done, you’ll be able to focus all of your energy on work while you are there.
   • You may need to switch jobs. If your job is too demanding, not helping you meet your career goals, or paying too little to be worth your time, it may be time for a change.^[3]
2. Think about work-life balance when planning your family. Just as you should consider how your job or career affects your family, you should also think about how your family affects your ability to meet your career goals.
   
   • Ask questions about who should work in your family. For example, if you’re married, should you and your spouse both work? What effect, both financial and personal, will this have? How many children can we take care of, while both of you are working? Are there any other family members that you can rely on to shoulder the load?
3. Assess how your job affects your other commitments. Sometimes, finding a work-life balance means more than just balancing family time with work. Consider some of the following questions:
   
   • Does your job give you enough time to do other things that you are passionate about, like volunteering or taking classes?
   • What about hobbies? Does your current job allow you to do things that make you happy outside of work?
   • How far is your commute? If you choose to live further away from work, then you’ll spend that much more time every day commuting in between. Then there are the costs of maintaining a car. Consider finding a place to live that is closer to work.^[4]

[Edit]Making the Most of Your Time

1. Get organized. Use to-do lists at work and at home. Sometimes, it can be difficult to juggle all the tasks you need to finish. Create lists in order of importance. Get the most difficult or most important tasks done early in the morning, so you’ll have progressively easier tasks throughout the day.
   
   • Don’t erase completed tasks on your to-do list. Some people scratch out or completely erase finished tasks. Many psychologists agree that you should also have a list of things you’ve completed. Doing so reminds you that you’ve been productive.
2. Keep a work diary. At the end of each day at work, write down what you need to do the next day and thoughts you have about accomplishing those goals efficiently. This way, you’ll know you can resume work easily the next morning. You’ll also feel better about leaving tasks unaccomplished.
   
3. Draw a line between professional and personal life. This is a very important rule that we tend to overlook or break. Sometimes, your boss or even your family may hinder your ability to strictly demarcate work time and home time. Sometimes, you will face deadlines that force you to work at home.
   
   • Communicate your work-life boundaries clearly with your supervisors and coworkers. For example, you might let them know that you will not answer work related messages after 6 PM, and will respond to any calls or emails the next working day.
   • Likewise, let your family know when you are working and establish ground rules. For example, if you work at home, ask your family members not to disturb you during a certain period of time every day, or designate a special work space where you won’t be interrupted.^[5]
   • If you must take work home with you, limit your at-home work to specific hours of the day or to particular days.^[6]
4. Prioritize your family when you’re at home. Don’t go home and immediately start working. The first thing you should do when you get home is tend to your family. Ask your significant other about their day. If you have children, sit down with them, play with them, and help them with their homework. Only after you’ve filled the needs of your family should your mind turn back to work.
   
5. Get your email habits in check. Email is a double edge sword. It speeds up communication around a company, but the amount of time you spend checking it might cripple your productivity. Consider only checking your email during designated time periods. Check it once in the morning, once after lunch, and once before you leave for the day. This will allow you to answer critical emails and reply in a timely manner. ^[7]
   

[Edit]Taking Care of Yourself

1. Rely on your friends and family. You don’t have to shoulder the burden of work and life by yourself. Talk to your family members. Tell them when you are stressed or when you have a problem at work. They probably won’t mind listening to your issues, and you’ll feel better afterwards. Everyone needs support networks.
   
   • If you feel overwhelmed with responsibilities and obligations, your family or friends may be able to help take on some of the burden. For example, you might ask your parents to watch the kids some evenings so you can have time with just your spouse.
2. Take time for yourself. It can be exhausting having to play the role of employee and family member. You need to decompress. Play golf, go shopping, or see a movie. Blow off some steam before it builds up and you explode. Take some time where all you have to worry about is yourself. This is key. Have some “me” time.
   
3. Nurture your relationships with family. Whenever you can, set aside a little time to spend with the people who are most important to you. For example, if you are married, you might make it a goal to have a date night with your spouse once a week.
   
   • Try to spend time with family members individually and as a group. For example, if you have kids, do things together as a family, but also try to spend one-on-one time with each child.
4. Get enough sleep. Prioritize it. You may be up against deadlines or have dozens of time-sensitive tasks to complete. Without sleep, your brain won’t be able to function on a level needed to take care of all of those problems. Get a solid 7-9 hours of sleep a night, every night.^[8]
   
5. Eat healthy. It is tempting to grab fast food while you rush from the office to your home. Take time to eat healthy. Healthy nutrition translates to more energy, which you’ll need to maintain a balance.
   
6. Exercise. Working out, walking, going for a jog, or swimming at a pool can be great on a number of levels. You get some time to yourself. While you are working out, your brain will continue to examine problems from work or at home. Eventually, you’ll discover answers. The most obvious result is that you’ll feel better about yourself and feel better too. Those “gains” will make balancing work and life easier.^[9]
   

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Balance Work and Going to the Gym
• Balance Homework and Chores
• Balance School and Work as an Adult

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://www.career-success-for-newbies.com/goal-setting-in-the-workplace.html
2. ↑ http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html
3. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/sites/louisefron/2014/11/14/three-steps-for-finding-your-perfect-job-career-and-life/
4. ↑ http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/10/06/the-true-cost-of-commuting/
5. ↑ http://www.workflexibility.org/separate-work-life-when-you-work-at-home/
6. ↑ http://www.careerealism.com/healthy-work-life-balance-tips/
7. ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/martin-bjergegaard/work-life-balance_b_4815493.html?
8. ↑ http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/work-life-balance
9. ↑ http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/work-life-balance

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