How to Keep a new year's resolution - How to Reach your
Goals.
Only you can determine who you are and what you want to become.
Anyone can be successful. However, you cannot be successful if you don't have
goals and a plan. It doesn't matter who you are, you have to have a plan to
make it out of bed every day. I will give you an example: What makes you get
out of bed everyday and keeps you going? It's your plan to get something done
for yourself or for someone else; usually someone that you care about such
as brother, a friend, a son or daughter or even a mother or father. To help
us get out of bed everyday, our personal goals intervene. You should wake
up everyday and think about what you want to accomplish. Think about the dream
job you always wanted. Think about becoming a famous actor. Think about the
dream house you always wanted. But most importantly, fill in the gap…
Filling in the gap simply means that after you determine what you want, you
need to start thinking about how to get what you want. What it will take you
to get what you want.
You want to become a millionaire by the time you turn 50? (why not!). You
want to loose 10 lbs. by the end of the year? You want to become famous? Become
successful? Regardless of what your would like to have, do or be, it's just
a dream or a wish. When you write it down it's a real idea, it becomes a project.
When you plan it out, you are setting the first stone and taking the first
step to realizing it because you can see it and can act on making it happen!
Below are some good guidelines that you can use to help keep you motivated
and make your wishes and projects see the light of day. Anyone regardless
of age group, nationality or ethnic background can use these guidelines. I
hope they will be useful.
1. Assess you current level / situation in life / what you want to accomplish.
What is your current situation? (for financial improvement goals)
Are you healthy? (for health improvement goals)
What's your weight? (for health improvement goals)
Is your job satisfactory? Are you in school? (for career improvement goals)
Are you happy? (for self-improvement goals)
Assessing your current situation will help give you a "starting point" to
use as a reference and will help point out how much you have accomplished
and how much further you are from your goal(s). This is necessary if you want
to move forward or make progress based on the time frame that you set.
2. Set your goals and write them down.
When you think of a goal you want to accomplish, it is nothing but a thought
and therefore has no chance or being realized until you write it down. Create
a folder. It does not have to be fancy! Call it what you want. If you want
to own your first home by next year, call it "Project House". If you want
loose weight call it "Project Slim" or "Operation Weight Loss". If you want
to become a millionaire, call the folder "Big Bucks" or anything that would
remind you of that particular project. Personally, I had always thought that
writing things down makes you feel "old fashioned". Well, that was until I
actually decided to do something about all the ideas and projects that I kept
coming up with. Most of them did not see the day. One day, I was in the middle
of a project then had a fantastic idea. Because I had my hands full working,
I decided to write a few words as a reminder of later. I put the note on my
computer screen where I was sure not to miss it since I use my computer every
day for sure (in your case it could be the bathroom mirror, the microwave
door or the snack cabinet!). That idea was realized because, for the first
time, I wrote it down and could see it! Since then I write down or create
a folder for any goals or ideas that I come up with. You can always toss the
piece of paper later after researching the idea, if you think it's worthless.
In that note, don't give an idea up just because it sounds silly. There are
great projects today that that started out as "silly ideas". Take for instance
Bill Gates, the Billionaire, and founder of Microsoft. He started out in a
garage tweaking computers with friends. Another success story is Ebay, which
started out as a hobby for Pierre Omidyar who is now worth millions. On a
lighter note, take the Subway sandwich guy who dramatically lost weight thanks
to his persistence. You get the idea. The common link is planning and motivation.
3. Always have a plan
Why make a plan? Here is why. Compare your life to a long road to the other
side of the world. Having a plan is just like having a light to show you the
way and what's lurking around the next corner and what obstacles are on the
road. If you don't have a plan you are going down the road (life) by improvising
which means that you are not sure what to do and when to do it. You will eventually
crash. The bottom line is that if you have a plan, you are more likely to
reach your goal since you will know what to do next if things do not turn
out the way you hoped. You are ready to make adjustments to deal with the
situation, you are in control. Here is an example. You have some errands to
run. You know you need to buy a long sleeve shirt, pick up some glue (you
are not sure which kind, you will know when you see it). You also need to
return a friend's phone call, send a letter and pick up some stamps, do the
laundry and get a full tank of gas.
Everything has to be done today because you will be out of town for the rest
of the week. If you don't have a plan, you will get in your car and "go with
the flow" to try to get everything done. Because you don't have things planned
out, if something goes wrong you will loose valuable time trying to figure
out what to do next. What if you can't find the glue at the local hardware
store? You run around for a while to finally find it but now the Post office
is closed! You failed to accomplish your set goals for that day. Now it's
going to be on your mind for the rest of your trip! If you sit down for 5
minutes and plan your actions (write your plan down) you will find that you
are much more efficient.
4. Set a timeline.
Set a timeline during which you will accomplish these goals. A timeline will
put you on a schedule and encourage you to progress in a timely manner. Be
reasonable and patient. In the example above, the person wants to have a first
major role in a movie ten years after graduating from college. That's a reasonable
amount of time.
5. Persistence pays off.
Don't expect things to happen overnight or to be easy. They won't! Be aware
of the fact that you will run into some obstacles and dead ends. Some projects
will take longer than others to realize. Don't give up, just work around them.
A dead end can stop you for a day, a month, even a year. An obstacle can be
financial, social or emotional. Don't let it get to you, adjust to the situation
and move on. Focus on what you are trying to accomplish. Certainly you don't
want to stop when you already are making progress.
6. Maintain your goals.
Don't put your hands down once you have reached you goal instead be humble
and know that there is always more you can do. Setting high goals will allow
you to always do well.
Practical Examples
1. Get a full tank of gas. (takes 5 minutes)
2. Go to Post office, send the letter and buy some stamps (takes less than
30 minutes).
3. Buy the shirt: shopping can take a while but you know what you are looking
for ( under 1 hour ).
4. Call a couple of hardware stores ahead. Find which is closest to the place
where you will buy the shirt.
5. Pick up some glue. You didn't know what you wanted but you called ahead
and know where to find it now (under 1hour).
6. Do the laundry. Doing the laundry can take hours! So do it last especially
if you have a laundry room. Because the laundry can be left unattended (in
most cases), you have time now to do something else.
7. Return your friend's phone call. Unless it's an emergency, you can focus
on your other goals first as they are limited in time. You can call when doing
the laundry for example. Usually you know how late you can call someone.
This is an example that applies to a day's schedule but you can apply the
same principle to any aspect of your life whether it's long term or not. Below
are a couple of examples of setting a longer-term goal and planning it out
(see practical examples).
1. Goal: Loose weight (because you wrote it down, it's now a real project).
2. Research my healthy weight.
3. Weigh myself. Current weight is 200 lbs.
4. Need to loose 25 to 30 lbs.
5. Find out what I should eat.
6. Eat 5 smaller meals instead of 2 or 3 big ones (start 1-15-04)
7. Eat more vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, zucchini, squash, tomatoes,
etc. (1-15-04)
8. Eat more fruit (1-16-04)
9. Cut down on Soda and juices. (1-16-04)
10. Drink more water (1-16-04)
11. Cut down on snacks or eat healthier snacks.
12. Exercise for 30 minutes 4 times per week. (start 1-15-04).
13. Weight myself again (one month afterwards on 02-15-04).
14. Keep up good eating habits and exercise.
15. Weight myself once a month (03-15-04)
Check final weight on 01-15-05 (1 year afterwards)
Following is another example.
1. Goal: Becoming a famous actor (just a wish until you right it down).
2. Get a double major in Acting and Hospitality management - 1996
3. Get internship / Job in entertainment field. - 1996- 2000
4. Save money in the meantime. - 1996 - 2004
5. Research moving to L.A. or New York. - 1996
6. Move to L.A. (Use money saved until job is found) - 2002
7. Take evening dancing classes. 2002
8. Get job in Management career as back up job. 2002
9. Build ties with Movie Production Firms. 2002 - ongoing
10. Build Acting résumé by taking small acting jobs. 2002 ongoing
11. Get a Promotion Agent. 2003
12. Find main acting role in a major movie. 2005
What you Should Remember
1. Assess your situation.
2. Write your goals down.
4. Make a plan.
5. Set a timeline.
6. Persist on getting things done.
7. Maintain your goals.
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Flu
Awareness Tips
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Influenza (commonly called "the flu") is a contagious respiratory illness
caused by influenza viruses. Infection with influenza viruses can result in
severe illness and life-threatening complications. An estimated 10% to 20%
of U.S. residents get the flu each year. On average 114,000 people are hospitalized
for flu-related complications and 36,000 Americans die each year from complications
of flu.
What are the Symptoms of the Flu
Symptoms of flu include fever (usually high), headache, extreme tiredness,
dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches. Gastro-intestinal
symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, are much more common among
children than adults.
How Does the Flu Spread?
Influenza viruses are spread when a person who has the flu coughs, sneezes,
or speaks and spreads virus into the air, and other people inhale the virus.
When these viruses enter the nose, throat, or lungs of a person, they begin
to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu. The viruses can also be spread when
a person touches a surface with flu viruses on it (for example, a door handle)
and then touches his or her nose or mouth.
A person who is sick with the flu can spread viruses - that means they are
contagious. Adults may be contagious from 1 day before developing symptoms
to up to 7 days after getting sick. Children can be contagious for longer
than 7 days.
How to Prevent the Flu
Vaccination: The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated each
fall. In the absence of vaccine, however, there are other ways to protect
against flu. Antiviral Medications: Three antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine,
and oseltamivir) are approved and commercially available for use in preventing
flu. All of these medications are prescription drugs, and a doctor should
be consulted before the drugs are used for preventing the flu.
Suggested Steps on Avoiding the Flu
The following steps may help prevent the spread of the flu:
· Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your
distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
· Stay home when you are sick.
· If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick.
You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may
prevent those around you from getting sick.
· Wash your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person
touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or
her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Diagnosing the Flu
Tests are available to determine if you have the flu as long as you are tested
within the first 2 or 3 days after your symptoms begin. In addition, a doctor's
examination may be needed to determine whether a person has another infection
that is a complication of the flu.
Some people are at higher for serious complications from the flu than others.
This group includes people age 65 years and older and people with chronic
medical conditions. Pregnant women and children between 6 months and 23 months
of age also are at higher risk from flu complications. Some of the complications
caused by the flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening
of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or
diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections.
Treating the Flu
Antiviral Medications: Four antiviral drugs (amantadine, rimantadine, zanamavir
and oseltamivir) have been approved for treatment of the flu. Antiviral treatment
lasts for 5 days and must be started within the first 2 days of illness.
If you develop the flu, it is advisable to get plenty of rest, drink a lot
of liquids, and avoid using alcohol and tobacco. You can also take medications
to relieve the symptoms of flu (but never give aspirin to children or teenagers
who have flu-like symptoms - and particularly fever - without first speaking
to your doctor.)
If, however, your flu symptoms are unusually severe (for example, if you are
having trouble breathing), you should consult your health-care provider right
away. If you are at special risk from complications of flu, you should consult
your health-care provider when your flu symptoms begin. The flu can particularly
be dangerous for the elderly and young children.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/flu, or call the National Immunization
Hotline at (800) 232-2522 (English), (800) 232-0233 (español), or (800) 243-7889
(TTY).
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Did you know:
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The
World Health Organization considers iron deficiency to be the number one nutritional
disorder in the world. It affects more than 30% of the world’s population.
(source: www.nih.gov).
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Quote
of the Month:
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"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."
-- Marie Curie (Physicist)
Universal
Boutique Women's Issues Newsletter Team
UBWIN@universalboutique.com
- January - February 2004.