Tag Archives: goals

How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

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How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

Getting motivated can be hard work, especially if something big has happened to demotivate you. This could include losing your job, not achieving a goal, or even just life in general. You have to remember that only you can get yourself out of the slump that you are in right now and, by putting the effort in, you can be sure to give yourself the boost you need:

Have One Goal:

If you are in a slump, then there is a high chance that this is because you have far too much going on in your life right now. You are probably trying too hard, and you may be trying to accomplish too many things at once. If you want to try and get around this, then you need to choose one single goal. You also need to focus on it completely and give it everything you have. This will help you to achieve it much more efficiently and it will also help you with your motivation, especially once you complete the task at hand.

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Find Inspiration:

Inspiration is quite possibly the best way for you to get motivated. Look at what you want to achieve, and then look at the people who have actually done it. You will soon see that they went through stages where they were demotivated, as well, but it didn’t stop them from going out there and making their dreams come true.

Get Excited:

If you want to get out of a slump, then you need to get yourself excited about a goal. Talk to other people about what you want to achieve and visualize what it would be like to be successful. When you do this, you can then get that additional drive and push yourself harder.

Get Some Support:

It is incredibly difficult to accomplish something on your own. If you want to run a marathon, for example, then you need to have your friends and family around you. You may want to join a running club and even go onto forums to find out what other people do in order to get motivated. If you have been in an accident that stops you from achieving what you want, then look for legal support, such as an injury lawyer. The support you get will largely depend on your own situation but, either way, you should never try and get by without it.

Commit:

If you have something that you want to achieve, then don’t be afraid to go public with your idea. When you do this, you give yourself more motivation than ever and you can also prove to those around you that you can do whatever you put your mind to. This can be a really big self-confidence booster too, so this is an important factor for you to take into consideration when planning your goals.

A slump around the holidays can be the worst, so use the tips above and get yourself back on track!

Featured Image By: Pexels

4 Fabulous Ways To Enjoy A Modern Health Kick

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4 Fabulous Ways To Enjoy A Modern Health Kick

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when it comes to improving your health and well being these days. The most essential thing to remember, is the fact that you need to keep on top of your health every day. It is easy to let things get away from you, and find yourself in situations where you are becoming more unhealthy. But, the goal is to make sure that you understand your health and fitness better and work on improving them.

This means that you have to think carefully about the different techniques you can use to boost your well being. Self-care is so important in 2018, and you can always do more to look after yourself. This is why it is so crucial to make sure that you have some ideas to fall back on that are going to help you get the best out of your mind and body this year:

Keep a Record of Your Progress:

Keeping a record of your health each week can be really useful. Filling in a chart or writing down what you’ve been able to achieve is so important for the future. In fact, using a ‘plot your health wellness planner’ might be the perfect way of doing this. It’s great to be able to chart your progress properly because this is something that gives you goals to work toward.

Quit Drinking:

If you are serious about taking your health to the next level and improving things in the best possible way, you should consider putting the kibosh on the booze! Sure, we all like a drink now and again, but alcohol can really adversely affect your health. It’s not even that you need to be an alcoholic for the negative sides of booze to take effect. It can make you put on weight and stall your productivity the following day. If you want to learn how to stop drinking, there are plenty of guides and ideas online that can help you, and it is important to look into this as much as possible.

Should you need more help when it comes to alcohol use, then there is no shame in that as we all have our struggles. You can explore different rehabs or therapy programs in your local area or there are even alcohol support lines you can call for guidance 24/7. These support lines are especially beneficial should you find yourself in a stressful situation or are feeling triggered as support is just a call away.

Change Your Diet:

Changing up your diet can have a profound effect on the way you improve your health. There are so many advantages to changing what you eat and what you put into your body. Try to make sure that you have a healthy and balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables. If possible, try to avoid fad diets because they can be less effective in a long-term capacity.

Try to Keep Active:

There are so many things that you can do to help you keep active. One of the most important being, having a routine. Make sure that you think about joining the gym so you can keep in shape, or, at the very least, you want to have some kind of workout schedule at home that you can use.

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If you use these ideas to help you, it is going to make things a lot easier when it comes to improving the way you feel. A modern health kick is something that is really important for helping you become a more well-rounded person, and for helping you stay as healthy as possible. Make sure this is a priority for you going forward, and you will really benefit as a result.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Blog Maintenance Tips & Tricks

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Blog Maintenance Tips & Tricks

Hiii everyone and TGIF! While I was sick AF a few weeks ago, I found myself worrying a lot about my blog, because I was not well enough to take care of daily maintenance. But, upon returning back to a healthy state of being, I found that I didn’t have anything to worry about, because I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Daily blog maintenance is so important, even when you can’t do it daily. How is that possible? I’m going to show you how:

Prewrite, Please:

You might notice on lifewithlilred that all of my posts are published at midnight every night. That’s compliments of prewriting. At one time, I normally have three to four posts scheduled so that I don’t have to worry about three to four days of writing. That’s why, when I was sick, I could breathe a sigh of relief because I had articles on backstock being published every day. This is the perfect solution for those who don’t have the time to write daily, but might have a free evening to knock out several posts in one sitting.

But, where do you get ideas for multiple posts at once? So glad you asked, because this leads me to my next tip:

Take Notes:

This sounds so basic, I know. But, damnit, if it isn’t the most valuable tip on here. How do I get so many things to prewrite about? Because I take notes on anything and everything for inspiration for future posts. Even if I just need a reminder to write about something the following day, I make note of it, because god knows how easy it is to forget an important memo in one days’ time. My notes range from writing about a new pair of shoes that I just bought to taking pictures next time I go on a hike in one of Ohio’s amazing Metro Parks. Reviewing my notes gives me ample inspo to create daily posts, which is something that is important to me for lifewithlilred.

Create Goals:

This ties into the last sentence of Taking Notes. Creating goals for yourself and things that are important to you for your page definitely can help keep you on track. What’s important to you for your page might be different than anyone else, but that’s part of what makes your blog unique. My goals for my page are to maintain daily posts and to log on at least once per day to interact with my readers in the comments. Once you identify what is important to you when it comes to blogging, every thing else just falls into place.

What are some of your goals for your page? What are some of your tips and tricks when it comes to blogging? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pacer Update (Finally!)

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Pacer Update (Finally!)

Hello everyone! It’s been a while since I updated you guys on my Pacer pedometer app progress and, honestly, that’s because there wasn’t much. This past month and a half has been a total doozy. I was so mentally and physically drained, and the last thing that I wanted to do was commit to walking 10,000 steps per day when I could have been laying on my sorry behind watching TV!!

But, that wasn’t really getting me anywhere and, as soon as the events that were taking place in my life that caused me a lot of anguish turned around, I was excited to pick up the Pacer again. This past week, I have been really dedicated to getting my 10K steps in at least four days of the week and I have blown that goal out of the water. It feels good to get myself moving again and although a lot of progress hasn’t been made, I’m back on the horse and I’m proud of that. Take a look at my stats:

  • Steps Taken: 1,364,282
  • Calories Burned: 33,311
  • Miles Walked: 445
  • Hours Active: 211
  • Days As A Pacer User: 177

I was also really pleased to see that I’ve been more active than sixty percent of the users on Pacer because, the last time I did an update, I was at a measly thirty percent. I doubled that! Things are looking up, and my exercise regimen is back in full swing, which makes things seem like they’re looking up even more! I feel really happy, and I can’t wait to get my 10,000 steps in today! 😀

Who else uses a pedometer app? How do you get back on the horse after a hiatus from working out? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Making New Friends As An Adult

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Making New Friends As An Adult

Hey everyone and happy Sunday! As I make my way deeper into my twenty somethings, I find that I have had an increasingly difficult time making new friends. I work for myself, I’m no longer forced to be around anyone because I’m not in school, and, sometimes, talking to new people can be down right scary! Although Lil Red might seem like a confident gal, I still have issues with social anxiety. And, racing thoughts of whether an attempt at small talk will be a hit or miss can leave even the most confident in a tizzy.

But, then, I started utilizing the “what have I got to lose” mindset. The literal worst that can happen is that someone gives you the old “let’s get coffee sometime” and you never do. But, if you’re successful, you could have a brand new friend to get to know and spend time with.

I’ve began putting myself out there more and more lately and, I’ve got to say, it feels great! I’ve been attending different clubs of my interests at the local libraries and have even suggested a hang out with my favorite barista at Starbucks – and it worked! I have also been trying hard to maintain wonderful relationships with my old friends, because a phone works two ways.

I want to continue spending my free time in a meaningful way, and putting forth a better effort to make new friends has definitely helped me achieve this goal. Within just a few months, I feel like my anxiety in unfamiliar situations or speaking with a stranger while out and about has decreased significantly.

I started out small, by striking up a Facebook conversation with the people that I admired from afar and worked my way up from there. And, now, I have a plethora of both new and old friends that I would feel comfortable initiating a hang out with. I’m proud of myself for setting this goal and sticking to it, because meeting new people can be hard. But, once I got over the initial scare factor, it turned out to be an exciting adventure in my life and I’m looking forward to continuing to meet more new potential friends!

Making new friends as an adult can be challenging, but there are ways to make the process easier. One of the best things you can do is look for opportunities to meet new people. This could mean joining a club, taking a class, or even going to concerts like a Ravehub – anything that gets you out of your comfort zone and interacting with others. Another great tip is to be open and friendly when meeting new people. Smile, strike up conversations, and be yourself! People are more likely to want to be friends with someone confident and easy to talk to.

Does anyone else experience difficulty making new friends in adulthood? What are some of your tips for putting yourself out there? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Pacer Progress

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Pacer Progress

Hi everyone! Roughly fifty days ago, I downloaded the Pacer pedometer app on my iPod. Since then, I have been dedicated to reaching 10,000 steps or more every day. Of course, this hasn’t always been possible, but I’ve been trying my best and I’m happy to say that I’m still motivated even after close to two months.

On the app, you can see insights into your progress each day or over a span of time. I only just discovered the page where you can see your steps since downloading the app, and I was really happy with what I saw:

  • Total Steps: 382,550
  • Total Calories: 9,502
  • Total Active Hours: 58
  • Miles Traveled: 127

(I am also prewriting this so my stats are higher than this by four days!)

It’s easy to feel like 10,000 steps a day is nothing. But, when it was put into perspective of  just how many miles I walked or how long I was active for, it makes a big difference. I am hoping to reach at least one million steps by the end of summer and I know that with my motivation to keep making progress, my goal is more than achievable.

Who else uses a pedometer app on their smart devices? How do you fit more activity into your day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

lifewithlilred By The Numbers In 2017

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lifewithlilred By The Numbers In 2017

Hellloooooooo and happy Sunday! With a brand new year upon is, it’s time to explore lifewithlilred By The Numbers In 2017. My blog is my pride and joy, and I am so pleased with the progress that I have made this past year to keep my page running smoothly. As always, thank you to all of my readers and friends who stop by on my page – all of you have helped to make 2017 the best year yet on lifewithlilred! These stats and the progress made since 2016 would be simply impossible without each and every one of you!

2017 Stats:

  • Overall Views: 66,000
  • Followers: 6,730
  • Likes: 27,000
  • Comments: 4,300
  • Countries I’m Read In: 170+

Wow!!! I love how WordPress gives you your stats by the day, month, and year so that you can really track the strides that have been made on your page as time passes. It helps me so much in deciding feasible goals for each month and the entire year. Do I wish that I could get 100,000 views in 2018? Who doesn’t?! But, I would be SO pleased with 75,000 and am going to do everything in my power to make that happen this year. #GOALS

How do you create goals for your blog? What is something about your page that makes you proud? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Ensuring Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

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Ensuring Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

The New Year is upon us, and if you’re like the majority of people in the western world, chances are that you’ve made a resolution or two. Perhaps you’ve decided to make 2018 the year you get serious about exercising, giving up drugs and alcohol, or volunteering in your local community.

Whatever your resolutions are, if you want to stick to them, you’re going to have to get serious because approximately 80 percent of all resolutions are broken by February! If you want to buck that trend, here are a few things that you can do:

Small Steps:

In January, it makes sense to start small. Instead of resolving to spend six days in the gym every week, start with two or three. That way, your resolutions will be much easier to stick to, and you can build upon them as time goes by instead of doing too much too soon, burning out and failing!

One Thing at a Time:

You might want to quit smoking, take up lifting, and eliminate any and all junk from your diet, but numerous studies have shown that the more you try to do, the less likely you are to succeed at changing any of your habits. So, instead of doing the traditional thing of writing down multiple resolutions and trying to work on them all at once, try working on one at a time. Once you’ve got the exercising habit down, then start working on your diet, and so on. Chances are you’ll be much more successful.

Share Them:

Whatever your New Year’s resolutions are, it’s always worth sharing them with others, whether that be friends, family, or even a dedicated support group. Why? Because once you let people know what your intentions are, you’ll be more motivated to stick to your goals and see results, so that you don’t let them down. Not only that but having the support of a group can make the whole process simpler.

Track It:

Whether you’re using an app to track how many pounds you’ve lost, a calendar to mark off every day you’ve gone without a drink/smoke/etc., or something like My Fitness Pal to log the nutritional value of your food, keeping track of your progress is a great way to keep your head in the game. Try it!

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Log that progress!

Seek Help:

Whether it’s a personal trainer, an intervention specialist, or your spouse, asking for help from someone who understands your issues and wants to help you overcome them can be a very effective way of not only sticking to your resolutions but of achieving your goals, too.

Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself:

Remind yourself that there isn’t such a thing as perfection. Just because you caved and ate a piece of cake a week after you vowed to give up sugar doesn’t mean that you’re a failure. The only thing that will make you a failure is throwing in the towel. Most people slip when they’re trying to make positive changes to their lives. But it is the ones who don’t beat themselves up, who stand back up, and keep fighting, who get to where they want to be eventually!

Good Luck!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Happy New Year!!

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Happy New Year!!

Hellooooo everyone and welcome to 2018! Here’s to hoping that this is your best year yet, that you keep up with your resolutions, and that you accomplish great things in the new year. Enjoy your celebrations and thanks for sticking around with lifewithlilred! Much love. -Sarah

Is There Such A Thing As The Ideal Career?

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Is There Such A Thing As The Ideal Career?

Many people dream about having an ideal career. However, lots of people don’t even know what that would be – they just assume that the job they have now is not it. How can you find your ideal career? Is there such a thing? Read on…

Surprise! There Is No Such Thing!

First of all, there’s no one ideal career for you. There will be multiple. This is actually much better than there being only one. You have more choices and less pressure to find that one dream job in all of the world to rule them all.

Finding An Ideal Career (There Are Multiple!)

Finding your ideal career is all about considering your skills and qualifications, as well as the things that you have an interest in. You should be passionate about what you do, considering that you’re going to be doing it most days. If your job doesn’t challenge you and interest you, what’s the point? Start brainstorming things that you enjoy and then write down anything you can think of that comes to mind.

Find Out As Much About The Career As Possible

If you think that you have an idea for one of your ideal careers, find out as much as possible. Is there anybody you can speak to who could give you insider information? Make sure you consider the lifestyle that will come with the career, too. What hours will you be working? How much time will you have off every year? What are the benefits included in having that job?

Figuring out what one of your ideal careers may be can be tough. It’ll help to know the differences between the following sectors:

University of Southern California Online

With the advice above from this amazing infographic, your dream job is only an application away!

Featured Image By: Flickr