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How & Why To Make New Year’s Resolutions

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s past the first of the year, so why are we talking about New Year’s Resolutions?  We’re talking about them because you didn’t make them.  Whether you put them off, or weren’t in the mood, or felt they weren’t worth the time, it’s no surprise that a lot of people just skip the entire making New Year’s Resolutions process.  While I understand the sentiment, having made far too many failed resolutions myself, I still believe in the process.  I believe in making resolutions because they force you to sit down and reflect on the previous year in light of the coming year.  However, I do advocate making reasonable resolutions since lofty goals are frequently unattainable and therefore quite demotivating.  Starting the year off negatively doesn’t exactly spell success.

So, if you’re going to make some resolutions, what should you resolve to do?  Rather than setting crazy-high goals, like tripling your profits or traveling the world on a tight budget, try to think of reasonable, achievable goals.  Some good examples that are fairly common are working out more, spending more time with family, quitting smoking, etc.  They’re all great goals and worth the time and effort.  Here are some guidelines for making achievable resolutions.

1.  Be honest about last year

Before you try to hammer out some resolutions, it may help to sit back and reflect on the past year and what you liked and didn’t like about it.

  • Maybe work was too stressful, or maybe it was just right.
  • Possibly you didn’t sleep as well as you would have liked due to tossing and turning caused by stress or even street noise (you definitely need a sound machine for that one ;) ).
  • You probably didn’t feel like you got enough time with family and friends.
  • It’s possible you didn’t eat as well as you should have or didn’t follow a healthy exercise routine.
  • Conversely, it’s possible you were too rigid in your routine which the led to lack of a social life.

Whatever the situation is, it’s good to reflect on the year as a whole and to be honest with yourself about it.

2.  Focus on a Few Goals at a Time

Next, write down 2 or 3 areas you’d like to see change in.  Don’t try to tackle every problem area at once.  More than likely, that will only frustrate you more, thus derailing the purpose of the list.

3.  Follow Through

Since you’ve taken the time to write down a few goals, be specific about how you’re going to follow through.  It might be helpful to leave some space between each resolution so you can fill in specific ways that goal will be accomplished.

In sum, honestly reflect on the last year, zoom in on a couple goals as resolutions,such as better sleep, and finally, be specific so you can follow through.  If you follow these easy steps, chances are you’ll be less overwhelmed next year when it’s time to make new resolutions!

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Where’s My Sound Machine?! {Hotel Woes}

May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Free Babysitting

My mom came to visit us a few weeks ago, so my husband and I decided to take advantage of free, familial babysitting and take off for a few days to a nearby city.  So we booked a train ticket to Edinburgh, booked an inexpensive hotel room, and planned some great sight-seeing and dining without kids.  It’s not that I don’t absolutely adore my children, it’s just that traveling with them is a totally different experience than with them.  I was excited to not have to think in terms of mid-morning snacks, nap times, and bed times, much less kid-friendly food.  We got to go where we wanted, when we wanted, and relish in the thought that our children were far from miserable without us.

Where’s My Sound Machine?!

Unfortunately, the “inexpensive” hotel room was well-priced for a reason: possibly the thinnest walls known to mankind.  Now I understand that my pregnant need for a nap at 3pm after jet-setting all day is not a normal thing- thus, when I kept waking up to children running up and down the halls from 3 to 5pm.  Fair enough.  {Though I did wonder where their parents were?!}

However, when people were still slamming doors and chatting in the hallways at 11 pm, I did not feel as gracious.  I had brought ear plugs, thinking that I would not need a sound machine since my own elephant herd would not be stomping up and down our two flights of stairs.  How wrong I was!  When you get down to it, all hotel patrons have the right to come and go as they please.  That’s why I made a mental note to always bring my portable sound machine with me.  Always.  It’s tiny, lightweight, and so effective against external noises like doors and footsteps.  Being able to sleep at a hotel is crucial- whether you’re on vacation or business, a good night of sleep is a non-negotiable.

Sleeping in an unfamiliar place can be challenging, especially if it’s a noisy hotel.  Be prepared and pack a portable sound machine- you won’t regret it.

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Better Sleep with a Sound Machine

April 22, 2011 By 1 Comment

It’s Fun to Stay at the Y-M-C-A!

I know I keep posting about funny Facebook statuses involving annoying and sleep-depriving noise…but I just can’t help it when I see them every day!  However, I’ll curtsy past social media today and just share a funny story I heard last night- we live in Scotland as ex-pats right now, and we’re not the only ones.  Besides tons of other Americans, there is a whole host of other international students, including our friend, Stephan.  Stephan found a job with the local YMCA, where he loves helping children and he also enjoys accommodation.  Unfortunately, though, Stephan has found that he has to wear ear plugs every night because at least once {every night!} a drunk passer-by looks up, sees the YMCA song, and starts to serenade him with, “It’s fun to stay at the Y-M-C-A!”  Poor Stephan can appreciate the humor, but he also doesn’t like to miss out on sleep.

Trying to Get a Better Night’s Sleep

Stephan is not the only one who has to resort to blocking night-time noise- from street noise to screeching owls to passing by party-goers to barking dogs to howling wind, night time sleep is becoming more and more of a privilege and less of a right.  That’s such a shame because so many issues arise from poor or just not enough sleep, including fatigue (obviously), stress, poor work performance, lack of focus, short attention span, and irritability.

While ear plugs are an option, from much experience, I have found that they irritate my ears with prolonged use.  {If they work for you, great!}  Instead, my family uses sound machines.  We appreciate the uniform sound and the portability of our machines.  Plus, you can even set timers so that if you’re just looking for half and hour or even an hour of rest, you can have it turn off as a veritable alarm clock.  I can also use my sound machine and still use a baby monitor to keep track of my small kids if they need me.  Plus, if I want to sleep in {which I’m prone to do in the first trimester of my third pregnancy}, my husband can get up with the kids, and I can turn on my trusty sound machine and tune out all the breakfast and other noise they are bound to make.

Sound machines are a great resource for improved night time sleep.

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Decluttering Your Bedroom for Better Sleep

March 29, 2010 By 5 Comments

Tossing & Turning

Do you lie awake at night, tossing and turning, trying to fall asleep, only to watch the seconds and minutes slowly tick by, knowing that you’ll feel like a truck hit you the next morning?  There are so many reasons you could be sleeping poorly- from stress and anxiety to actual insomnia, not sleeping is a fairly common problem.   Even knowing that, though, doesn’t mean you’ll magically talk your mind into relaxing for sleep.  Sadly, you just keep thinking about sleeping (or not sleeping) and your level of frustration will only escalate.

This is not exactly beckoning you to sleep.

Have you ever had one of those Hollywood–esque ideas that is so crazy it just might work?  Well, here is one of them, except it’s really not that crazy.  Since stress and anxiety are leading causes of sleep disorders, it’s not a far jump to suggest that less clutter and better organization might aide in better sleep.

For example, when I sit on the floor with my kids, my eye naturally travels under the couch and on top of tables and in nook and crannies.  So, instead of spending quality, in-the-moment time with my children, I am mentally cleaning and that’s all I can think about (OCD, I know- it comes with your first child).

How much more, then, when you’re bored out of your mind and should be sleeping but can’t, are you focusing on the clutter and disorganization around you instead of allowing your mind to turn off?

Some decluttering tips for better sleep

Before it’s time to sleep, take the hour or two (tell me it’s not more than that) to clean your room.  I don’t want to sound like your mom, but you need one right now.

  • Hang up your clothes or throw them in the laundry basket (then make a mental note to actually do the laundry tomorrow)- the floor is not made for clothes.
  • Dust.  Use a spray or wet cloth or whatever you need and rid yourself of its pesky presence.
  • Simplify.  More is sometimes more.  An over-decorated or even over-furnitured room can be mentally overwhelming.
  • Spring for a relaxing paint color, such as pale green or a warm cream, instead of stark white or distracting, bold colors.
  • Use white noise to block distraction.  Here is a free white noise generator you can try out.  However, a portable sound machine is your best bet so you don’t run your computer all night- plus there are tons of options.  Alternatively, some people use sleep assistants to help clam their minds and bodies.  Go with what works for you.

With minimal effort, you can be more relaxed and sleeping better in your peaceful bedroom.  You’ve got nothing to lose and many hours of sleep to gain.  And, as an added bonus, you’ll get an organized room again.

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