Autumn Comfort
~ Saturday, September 21, 2024 ~ A special advertising publication of
Finding mental comfort this Fall
By Anthony DuvAl Special Sections Editor
The fall season brings beautiful foliage, exciting local events, and spooky festivities, but it can also be stressful as winter approaches — especially for those like me who experience anxiety and depressive symptoms as the days get shorter. Below are some effective tips for maintaining mental fitness.
STAY ORGANIZED
Tasks can quickly pile up, leading to burnout or last-minute panics. To avoid this, create a schedule and break large assignments into manageable tasks. Start planning as soon as you learn about an assignment. Some work better under pressure, but planning in advance helps avoid unnecessary stress — you never know what the future will throw at you!
SET REALISTIC GOALS
Know yourself and what you can achieve. Set smaller goals that move you closer to your dreams. You don’t need six pack abs today, but weekly ab exercises will help in the long run. Remember, when it comes to goals, doing nothing is still making a decision. This doesn’t mean bullying yourself if you don’t meet goals, but taking goals seriously and being committed is important and helps prepare you for future responsibilities and endeavors.
TAKE BREAKS AND RELAX
The mind is a powerful muscle that demands ample sleep and rest. Taking a break can help you reduce stress and leave you feeling more refreshed, productive and focused when you resume your work.
PHONES OFF DURING BEDTIME/EARLY MORNING
Phones can create a constant stream of notifications, distractions and worry. You don’t need this when you should be sleeping. According to the Mental Health Foundation, sleep helps repair, restore and maintain the brain to help you function during the day. The blue light from your phone screen tricks your brain into thinking it’s daytime and prevents your body from producing a sleep hormone called melatonin. Avoid looking at your phone first thing in the morning. There’s nothing like “doomscrolling” through negative stories or last night’s text argument to start you off on the wrong foot.
EXERCISE AND MEDITATE
Exercise and meditation are easier said than done. It takes time to establish good habits, and if you have a healthy collection of bad habits, it’s going to take a while. The key, as I said with setting goals, is knowing yourself and being realistic. Start small and work your way up. Try to
be consistent but don’t be too hard on yourself.
With constant noise and distractions, it can be hard to even consider meditation. Reading books, watching videos, downloading apps and taking classes that reinforce mindfulness are all great ways to embrace meditation. Turning off your phone and listening to white noise or humming to yourself can help you start meditating, or help you get to sleep.
SOCIALIZE AND SEEK SUPPORT FROM OTHERS
Talk with people you know and look for opportunities to meet new people. Networking, meetups, events and volunteering can be great ways to meet people with similar interests. Talk with people that don’t have
the exact same opinions or interests. In fact, this can help you learn something new and embrace new perspectives you would’ve never considered previously. Creativity, wisdom and better overall mental health don’t occur in echo chambers.
ADDRESS UNDERLYING PROBLEMS & SEEK HELP
If you have a real problem that you can’t manage yourself, seek help from professionals like a therapist or doctor. If you’re unsure who to talk to, start with people you trust like family, teachers, coaches, etc. They can point you in the right direction and provide an added layer of support; however, keep in mind they aren’t a substitute for professional help.
SPRAYFOAMINSULATION
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Building with excellence for over a century: Ed Herrington, Inc.
How does a small storefront grow into the leading lumber and building materials supplier across three states?
For over a century, Ed Herrington, Inc.’s answer has been constant innovation, an ever-expanding range of exceptional products and the best team to support it all.
Established in 1906, Herrington’s originally supplied coal, lumber and feed from a small wooden storefront in Hillsdale, NY, using horse wagons for deliveries. Over the years, it has evolved through several generations of Herrington family stewardship.
Today, Herrington’s remains a family owned and operated business that has consistently innovated to meet the needs of its customers. Herrington’s offers a comprehensive range of products, including windows, doors, roofing, decking, flooring, stone, paint and tile. It also has added numerous services, such as specialized delivery vehicles and boom trucks – a far cry from horse wagons! At the heart of everything is a strong team committed to excellence.
“Our people truly make the difference and are a go-to building solutions resource for builders and homeowners,” said Allison Neumann, Herrington’s part owner and Marketing Manager. “Whether it is
estimating structural floor systems and trusses, ordering custom windows, assisting homeowners achieve their vision for a new kitchen or bath or mixing the perfect paint color, Herrington’s estimators, sales staff and designers are a trusted resource and are here to help.”
Herrington’s is continuing to seek exceptional items to enrich to its inventory. Notably, Herrington’s has recently unveiled a series of stateof-the-art Marvin door installations with expanded design options that leverage innovative materials and engineering. Among the latest additions is the Marvin Ultimate Sliding Door, which boasts slim stiles and rails tailored for contemporary home designs.
Additionally, the Marvin Modern Multi-Slide Door, showcases sleek modern design and strong thermal efficiency. Similarly, Marvin Elevate Bifold Door, installed at Herrington’s Chatham, NY location, highlights its smooth operation and practical functionality, providing a stylish and flexible access solution.
Marvin Elevate Bi-Fold Doors and Marvin Multi-Slide Doors offer impressive sizes, with the former spanning up to 22 feet wide by 8 feet high, and the latter up to 50 feet wide by 12 feet high. These large openings allow designs that
blur the lines between indoors and out, pairing the benefits of natural light and air flow with comfort and protection from the elements.
Lastly, the Marvin Signature Inswing French Door has made its debut at Herrington’s Hillsdale, NY showroom. This elegant door combines traditional aesthetics with modern durability, creating an ideal solution for classic home styles.
While Herrington’s range of building solutions is extensive, certain situations still require a personalized touch. That’s where Herrington’s special-order options come in. From unique deck colors and custom countertops to doors and tiles that match your home’s style, Herrington’s can work with you to find the right solution.
Even if you have no idea what products to use or where to begin your project, you can trust Herrington’s to help. “Searching online for materials can provide a helpful start, but it can also quickly become overwhelming,” said Neumann. “At Herrington’s, you’ll speak with a building materials specialist to find trusted solutions for your building, remodeling and renovation questions.”
Other innovative products available at Herrington’s that are quickly gaining popularity include TimberBatt by TimberHP, a sustainable
wood fiber batt insulation that has sound-absorbing properties, and a tree-free exterior composite trim product, ACRE, that is made from rice hulls but has the look of wood while resisting breakage, water, rot and pests.
Herrington’s also offers topnotch delivery services, including drywall, bulk stone, and lumber, as well as boom truck service with third-story reach.
As Herrington’s approaches its 119th anniversary this January, its team aims to continue being the best provider of quality lumber and building materials in the tri-state region.
“For years, we’ve proudly supplied top-notch lumber and building materials to everyone from skilled home builders and renovators to passionate DIYers and homeowners. We look forward to many more years of helping you bring your projects to life!” said Neumann.
For help with your building supply needs, visit herringtons.com or call 518-325-3131.
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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY ED HERRINGTON, INC.
Since 1906, Ed Herrington, Inc. has been innovating and expanding its exceptional lumber and building products, backed by the best team.
Marvin Elevate Bifold Door (left) and Marvin Ultimate Sliding Door (right). Examples of Herrington’s state-of-the-art Marvin door installations with expanded design options that leverage innovative materials and engineering.
Designing a sunroom that shines through the seasons
As fall nears winter, many lament the loss of outdoor opportunities. Though winter might compel the masses to huddle up inside, there’s still a way to take in the great outdoors on cold winter days and nights. It might not prove an exact substitute for summer nights around the firepit, but a sunroom affords homeowners a chance to marvel at snowy winter landscapes without venturing out into the cold. Sometimes referred to as all-season rooms, sunrooms can make for a great retreat on quiet summer mornings or crisp autumn afternoons. Sunrooms can be treated as blank canvasses, which makes decorating them more fun.
A few tricks of the trade can help homeowners turn their blank canvasses into welcoming spaces to take in all that nature has to offer throughout the year.
Define the purpose. When the weather gets too chilly to dine outside, will the sunroom serve as an alternative dining space in the same way
patios and decks do during the warm weather? Or do homeowners want to turn their sunrooms into reading rooms? Though it’s possible to make sunrooms multipurpose spaces, it may be hard to create a relaxing vibe in rooms that are too crowded with furnishings or too busy. Defining how the space will be used also makes it easier when shopping for furnishings.
Define when the room will be used. In addition to defining how the room will be used, homeowners should consider when the room will be used. A year-round sunroom will need to be heated, while a threeseason sunroom likely won’t require heating. Cooling might be a concern on hot summer afternoons, but many homeowners will likely spend such days outside anyway, so cooling the room may be as simple as installing a ceiling fan and ensuring windows can be opened to let fresh air in. Homeowners who want a year-round sunroom should install insulated glass to keep the room even warmer when the mercury dips.
Opt for bright colors. Bright colors can make sunrooms feel all the more inviting and make for a perfect match with all the natural light already in the room. The renovation experts at HGTV note that white walls and ceilings can maximize the warm illumination of the natural light that will be pouring in from the floor-toceiling windows. Brightly colored cushions, pillows and area rugs with similarly hued colors and patterns can add visual interest to a sunroom.
Make use of a view. Homeowners don’t need to direct too much of their focus on decor if their sunrooms come with a view. Art on the walls and other decorative items around the room are less important if a sunroom affords a spectacular view of the ocean or a lake or dense woods that attract local wildlife. In rooms with a view, arrange furniture so residents and guests can comfortably look outward and take in all the surrounding landscape has to offer.
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The freedom of Fall: Discovering new traditions and adventures
By Anthony DuvAl Special Sections Editor
As an October baby, autumn has always been special to me. This September, though, marks a new chapter: for the first time in 19 years, I’m not returning to school. While I’m busy with work, I finally have the chance to enjoy autumn without the usual schoolwork.
So, what can I do? Adult fall activities often revolve around drinking, but I’m craving something more imaginative and playful. Here are some ideas to reignite the creative spirit of autumns past.
RETRACE THE STEPS OF GIANTS
I love hiking and am always seeking new ways to enhance the experience. While geocaching and hiking with groups are great, I’ve done them all. What if you explored “literary trails” where authors found inspiration? You’ve probably already heard of Herman Melville envisioning a massive white whale as he looked at a snowcapped Mount Greylock. But a swath of other writers, including Nathaniel Hawthorne, William Cullen Bryant and Henry David Thoreau have also been inspired by Greylock.
Thoreau’s transformative trip up the mountain is celebrated annually by Lauren R. Stevens, who organizes a hike following Thoreau’s route. This is just one of many historically rich hiking paths in the state.
EXPERIENCE ART AND MUSIC WHERE IT’S BEING CREATED
Listening to music on your phone or visiting an art museum is different from experiencing a live concert, music workshop or watching an artist create art in their studio. Sometimes people feel a bit out of the loop with the art world and worry about
looking clueless, which can make talking to artists and musicians seem a little intimidating. Don’t let this hold you back. We are all learning — don’t be afraid get out your comfort zone and be wrong. Go out and experience creativity in its raw form at open art studios, small music venues or begin your own artistic journey with a class or workshop.
DISCOVER MYSTERIES NEAR YOU
There’s plenty of spooky tales and odd mysteries right in your area. For example, do you know the origin story behind the expression, “Saved by the bell?” There are few origin stories, including boxing, but one of the origin stories involves, taphephobia, the fear of being buried alive. You can see signs of taphephobia right in New England. In New Haven, VT you can find the grave of Timothy Clark Smith, a 19th century doctor who was so afraid of being buried alive, that he had a widow installed on his grave. Look for stories like this and share them with your friends. If you can, explore the places behind the stories.
CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS CULTURE AND TRADITIONS
Whether you know it or not, you are currently standing on native land. This is a significant part of American history that has always intrigued me, as it often seems overlooked and misunderstood. Books, museum and documentaries are a good place to start, but the best way to experience and learn about indigenous peoples and cultures is to attend an upcoming pow-wow or special event. At pow-wows, art, music, dance and storytelling come together in an immersive experience
to celebrate and preserve Native American cultures and traditions.
CREATE YOUR OWN AUTUMN TRADITIONS
You don’t have to get ideas from people like me. Make your own traditions. Whether it’s finding a brilliant excuse to wear a costume with others or hosting a contest to make fresh alternatives to the pumpkin spice latte, craft traditions that are unique to you and people you are close to. These will be memories with fun and plenty of inside jokes worth sharing for years to come.
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