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How to Reduce Stress Part 7: Finding the Time To Do Everything

How is it that other people seem to fit so much into their day, while I struggle with getting the necessary things done?  I make a list of all of the things I have to do – but it never seems that I get anything done on it, or not nearly enough!  I have too much to do! 

We all know the feeling of “having too much to do”.  Sometimes it is because we have over-scheduled ourselves or because we have procrastinated on a project and now it is just overwhelming and stressful.  Finding the time to do everything is really about sitting down and deciding what needs to be done and what are the most important items on this list.

Many use a ‘to do’ list to help them organize themselves.  Once we have that to-do list though we need to take some additional steps that will help to reduce our stress. Continue reading “How to Reduce Stress Part 7: Finding the Time To Do Everything”

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Life Skills: Meeting the Challenges of Perseverance, Getting Through the Roadblocks

Teaching character and life skills to students

New Years is a time of the year when many individuals set out on goal setting, yet only 8% of them say that they always keep their resolution, while 75 percent say that they never complete their goal or resolution.  So what happens?  What is it that stops people from persevering until they reach their goals?

Four major challenges or potential roadblocks are:

  1. Fear of failure
  2. Lack of determination
  3. Peer pressure
  4. Excuses, excuses.

 

The fear of failure is one of the largest one’s that affect young and older individuals. Continue reading “Life Skills: Meeting the Challenges of Perseverance, Getting Through the Roadblocks”

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Life Skills: Meeting the Challenges of Perseverance, Getting Through the Roadblocks

Teaching character and life skills to students

New Years is a time of the year when many individuals set out on goal setting, yet only 8% of them say that they always keep their resolution, while 75 percent say that they never complete their goal or resolution.  So what happens?  What is it that stops people from reaching their goals?

Four major challenges or potential roadblocks are:

  1. Fear of failure
  2. Lack of determination
  3. Peer pressure
  4. Excuses, excuses.

 

The fear of failure is one of the largest one’s that affect young and older individuals.  But here is an idea the next time you start to give up on a goal because you are concerned about what might happen if it does not work out for you.  Make a list of what the worst outcome would be if you failed and beside it a list of what the best outcomes would be. Now weigh it out and see if the worst is so bad that you are willing to give up the idea of trying and the possibility of success. Continue reading “Life Skills: Meeting the Challenges of Perseverance, Getting Through the Roadblocks”

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How to Reduce Stress Part 6: Set and Reach YOUR Goals

Stephen Covey calls it, “Begin With The End In Mind”.   We are going to call it, Know and Like Where You Are Headed.  One of the largest contributors to confidence and feeling good about yourself,  is feeling like you are in control of your destiny.  Much of the anger and stress felt by both teens and adults is the lack of direction and commitment to an end result.  Unfortunately we get so busy with the day to day that we can forget to take a few moments on a regular basis to think about where we are headed.  So we we may be going full steam – but on a path that is not ultimately where we really wanted to be. That results in STRESS! 

You will want to ask yourself some questions so you can establish what it is that you truly want to work towards.  Take your time with this, and don’t be surprised that when you review your goals as time goes on, that you refine them.

 

  • What is it that you really love doing?
  • What makes you get up in the morning, excited and ready to get the day started?
  • Who are your heroes in life and what is their influence on you?
  • If you could do anything in the world, with money not being an object, what would it be?
  • What steps will I need to take to get there?  What can I do right now?

 

Goal setting and creating a step by step plan to reach your goals is a huge subject that you can investigate and we will write about in the future, but just know that research has shown that those who define their goals are more successful than those who just dream.  In fact one study done with Harvard graduates showed that those that wrote their goals down were 3 times better off than those who did not.

 

This process is not just for the career paths and big decisions.  Even the smaller everyday stuff that needs to get done can be set out as short term goals and will help you get the important things done – reducing stress in your life.  One more thought on this process, do not forget to be willing to ask for help or to get a coach or mentor to help you sort through your thoughts.  We do not have to do this by ourselves.  If we need some unbiased help, ask someone who is already doing what you think you would like to be able to do for guidance on how they got there.

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Life Skills: Perseverance Starts With S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Teaching character and life skills to students
When we are trying to reach a goal there can be many things that get in the way of accomplishing our goal.  Some of them can be self inflicted while others are obstacles that simply get in the way like a roadblock.  Either way if we have perseverance we can find a way to reach our goals if we are willing to put forth the effort. 

In the beginning though setting our goals and our frame of mind for reaching them is the first hurdle that can make all the difference in the world.  Maybe you have heard of the S.M.A.R.T. way of goal setting but this would be a good time to review this goal setting technique and how to use it with our children of any age. Continue reading “Life Skills: Perseverance Starts With S.M.A.R.T. Goals”

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Life Skills: 5 ways Parents Can Teach Perseverance

Teaching character and life skills to students

Now we have learned that the inner drive the child has to stick with something until they have learned it, whether it is riding a bike, swimming, math, reading, or how to be a good friend, is the key to achievement, the question is “How Can I as A Parent Teach My Child To Stick With Their Goals?” Here are 5 ways to help build the quality of perseverance in your child:

  1. Praise their efforts when they stick with something they are trying to do.
  2. Emphasize effort over grades when they bring their papers home from school
  3. Point out the example of others who have overcome obstacles and stuck with a project
  4. Set the example and talk about your own efforts to keep working on something you are trying to accomplish.
  5. Praise the hard work they put into a project more than the results and the end product.

    If we reinforce that success is built on effort and hard work, doing the best that we can consistently and over time, our children will develop the quality of perseverance.