New Years Eve

 Happy New Years Eve.

Successful New Years Resolutions Continued.

 

So far, you've made your list of goals and you've analyzed what triggers you have for habits you want to get rid of and those you want to start.  What do you need to do next to make it possible for you to meet your New Years Goals.

In order to meet your goals, you have to make it personal.  When analyzing your goals you want to start, set an easy cue and an obvious reward.  If it is a brand new habit, you might consider working your way into it.  For instance, you might want to start walking every day so for the first week, you just get into your walking clothes with shoes but you don't leave the house.  During the second week, get dressed in your walking outfit and then walk around the block. The following week, add a bit of distance so you feel as if you are making progress towards your goal.  On the other hand, the reward needs to be an obvious reward to your body feels as if it wants to do this.  The goal might be a long leisurely shower, a small piece of chocolate, or just the pride you accomplished it.  To monitor this last one, write down how proud you are in a journal. 

Furthermore, the plan should take into account that for any hurdles that come up.  You might want to walk everyday but sometimes you can't due to things like blizzards, tornadoes, or your trip to town took longer than expected.  If you don't make it that day, don't berate yourself.  Instead, think about starting again the next day.  In other words, forgive yourself for messing up and know you can start on the path the next day.  In addition, have a plan in place for times such as this.  It is especially helpful because people get frustrated when they perceive a lack of progress.

So it is suggested, people use the small numbers game to help them reach their goal.  For instance, you are running five miles that day but you need a bit of a boost to make it.  Change the way you think.  Rather than thinking that you've done one mile and have four to do, think of it as having run one mile and if you do one more, you'll have doubled the distance traveled.  The first is considered a negative thought, the second positive. In other words, rather than looking at the whole distance you have to go, look at what you've already accomplished.

Another thing to know is that thinking positively may not help us meet our goals because when we think positively, we often picture our success and daydream about it but that can stop us from reaching our actual goals.  Instead, we need to think positively but realistically.  It is suggested we think about what we wish which is what we want, what is the outcome or what do we want our lives to look like when we get there, what will stop us from reaching the goal or what sidelines us, and how do we get around it.  

The best way is to set up a plan with built in flexibility.  So instead of saying I will go to the gym every morning at 5:30 am, you might change the last part of I will go to the gym every day so if you can't get there at 5:30, you and still go during the day and still be successful. Community support also helps keep you on track but it might be with friends, via social media friends or online support groups or give a relative money such as $100 to hold for you until you reach your goal. There are ways, especially during the time of COVID.  

Finally, if you get off track, don't give up for the year, instead, start reaching for the goal again.  After all, the goals do not have to be tied to New Years, they can be tied with the next Sunday or Monday.  There are no rules that say, you can't start again as needed. In addition be kind to yourself. Instead of calling yourself stupid names and designating yourself as a failure, tell yourself, you can.  Look at what happened, admit it, and then ask yourself what can you do to get back to it.  We are human so we will trip up.

Spin the negative into a positive and keep moving.  Never give up.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

It's That Time Again for New Years Resolutions.

 

It's that time of year again, when we sit down and create a list of goals for 2020.  It is so easy to go overboard on that list.  For instance, deciding to go to the gym but we decide on going everyday for 2 hours instead of looking at what we can easily accomplish.  I've seen people show up at the gym beginning January 2nd and they are there so much but by March, they've burned themselves out.  

I am one of those who always puts exercise on my resolution list because its the way to help me stay on course but this year I've been slack about exercising.  It has to do with both my parents passing four months apart.  That left me kind of depressed but I need to exercise to help me stay fit and in a better mind.  

So what types of resolutions are the best to choose so we are able to stick with things the whole year long because people are unable to keep over half their resolutions. The best resolutions are those that are doable and mean something to you.  For me these are exercising and trying for a healthier diet but others have resolutions that meet their desires and needs more. 

According to one study, most people manage to carry out their resolutions to the end of January before they give up. This is often because the resolution is based on what society or someone else thinks it should be rather than individual need. Another reason for failure is that the resolution is way too vague or there is no plan in place to make sure the resolution is carried out. 

The resolution needs to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time bound.  When you come up with a resolution, it has to be laid out.  If the resolution is that you want to lose weight, it is not specific enough but if you say you want to lose 10 pounds over the next three months, that is and you'll have a better chance of making it.  This type of resolution is measurable but not all are as easy to measure such as you want to eat healthier.  This is measurable but it requires a food journal where you list everything you eat so you know you are meeting the resolution.  Or if you want to stop biting your nails, you might want to take pictures over time to show that is happening.

Each successful resolution needs to be achievable so rather than making it too large such as wanting to pay off your house in 10 years instead of 30, you might change it to paying an extra $150 per month so you shorten the length of your loan.  So when you look at your resolutions, you need to determine if it is something you can do or if you are setting yourself up for failure.

In addition, the resolution must be relevant to you because it matters to you.  If you decide you want to go to Florida next summer because all your friends have made that goal and you don't like Florida, you are less likely to reach the goal. On the other hand, if you would rather see a show in New York City, then that should be your goal.  It is understood that some goals are harder to accomplish during the time of COVID but you can still have your goals and you never know.  Things are changing all the time.

Finally, all resolutions need to have a time scale to go with them.  This means rather than focusing on one final goal of say losing 30 pounds next year, you might decide concentrate on losing 2.5 pounds every month as this is more achievable and easier to make because the goal is set up in timed increments.  

Once you've written your list of resolutions, you need to have determined the ways you can use to get there. If you are trying to begin a new habit or get rid of old habits, you need to break the habit into three parts: the cue, the routine, and the reward.  The cue is what signals you to do it such as you get bored so you want to eat.  The routine is what you do such as going to the refrigerator, the reward is no longer feeling bored.  This is a bad habit you want to change so when you get bored, you know you want to eat so rather than going to the fridge you might change the routine to taking a nice walk outside so you feel better.

Check back Wednesday for the second half of learning what it takes to be successful with your New Years resolutions.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.

The Day After

The day after. 

Merry Christmas

 

Christmas Eve

 

Don’t forget to put the cookies out tonight.

The Different Types Of Mascara

The other day, I needed to pick up some mascara.  I usually buy one type because I like it to add a bit of color and thickness but not too much.  As I stood there, I looked at so many different types and decided I would check out the different types.  

Before we look at the different types of mascara, we'll look at how they come.  It is possible to find a powder mascara which is dry and you add a few drops of water to it so you can use a wand to apply it to your lashes.  There is creme mascara which can smudge thus requires a special applicator. Finally is the liquid mascara which is the most common form and easily found.  I'm looking at six different types of liquid mascara today.

First is the lash lengthening mascara which is designed to extend your natural lashes.  This type of mascara contains polymers made up of nylon and rayon which bind to the tips of a persons eyelashes.  The wand has dense bristles so that the mascara covers the lashes thickly. To get the best results one should use two coats so your lashes look their best.

Second is the thickening or volumizing mascara which adds volume to your lashes, especially thin or sparse lashes, so you don't look like you are wearing fake eyelashes. This type of mascara contains waxes, silicone polymers, and pigments designed to make lashes look darker and fuller. A good way to apply this type of mascara is to move the wand side to side at the base of the lashes before sweeping upwards if you want fullness all the way up.  Otherwise, just apply it to the base.

Third is the curling mascara which helps curl your eyelashes so your eyes look bigger.  The mascara has a thicker consistency and contains filming polymers that tend to contract after they are applied to the lashes. This mascara allows the eyelashes shrink and curl. The curved line of the mascara wand helps the polymers curl the lashes.

Fourth is the waterproof and smudgeproof mascara. One important thing about waterproof mascara is that it does not be reapplied throughout the day because it is designed to be used once.  Waterproof mascara contains wax-oil, mineral oils, and waxes which keep the mascara from interacting with liquid so it doesn't run and stays on the lashes. Unfortunately, waterproof mascara can dry out your lashes so don't use it all the time. When you are ready to remove the mascara, you need to take a cotton pad and add a good makeup remover that is safe to use around the eyes.  Hold the pad on your eyes to give the liquid a chance to breakdown the ingredients of the mascara before gently wiping it away.

Fifth is the non-clumping mascara which is the one that gives the most natural look while adding definition to the lashes. This mascara contains glycerin and silk extracts to keep it from clumping. The wand has long bristles that help apply the mascara evenly across your lashes but do not provide as much volume or length as the other types.  This is the type to wear if you want a more natural look.

Sixth is the lash defining mascara which provides both volume and thickness to your lashes because it spreads evenly across the lashes. This type of mascara has strong pigments for color, filmifying polymers for thickness, and rayon or nylon fibers for added length. 

So with this knowledge, one can find the mascara that is best suited to make your eyelashes look their best.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.