Tag Archives: new year

Jan1

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year!

Hello everyone and a very Happy New Year to one and all! We are officially in 2019! Can you believe it?! It’s a brand new year for all of us and another year of fabulousness on lifewithlilred. As usual, I didn’t make any New Year’s Resolutions. And, sadly, my mouth is still wreaking havoc on me from my surgery, so celebrating isn’t in the cards for me, either. But, to continue on in the holiday season is exciting, all the same, and I hope that all of you enjoy yourselves no matter how you spend your day! Happy 2019!

How are you celebrating New Years? What are some of your New Year’s Resolutions? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan11

Blah, Meh, Whomp Whomp Whomp

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Blah, Meh, Whomp Whomp Whomp

Heyyy everyone. Is it just me, or is 2018 feeling totally lackluster? Recent single digit temps in good ol’ Akron, Ohio have given me a case of cabin fever to no end and, as the title of this post reads, I am definitely feeling Blah, Meh, Whomp Whomp Whomp. Is it a lack of Vitamin D? Maybe. Is therapy not helpful? No, I wouldn’t say that. Therapy has been going pretty well, actually.

SO WHAT IS IT?!

I don’t know!! The doldrums are so real, though. I just feel so stagnant at the moment, and it’s not a good feeling. Between multiple jobs, one would think that stagnant is the last word to describe my life. Not the case. I feel so bored. So indifferent. I wouldn’t go as far as to say depressed…but it definitely could escalate to that.

I feel stressed about wanting to move out. I feel stressed about feeling stressed. I feel stressed about feeling so below average. And we’re barely even into the new year!! So, what gives? Sometimes, I feel like the new year puts a lot of pressure on people. Pressure to instantly get happy or instantly turn their life around. Obviously, this is never the case. But, it sure does suck on ice when that’s the mindset around the holiday and you feel yourself going backwards instead of forward.

Oyyyy, sorry. I needed to throw myself a little pity party. But, now that the party hat is off, the cake has been binge ate, and I’m still feeling like shit, I guess that it’s time to get back on the horse and try again for a better day tomorrow.

How do you shake away the new year blahs? What do you think 2018 has in store for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jan2

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

Jan2

Positive Mindsets To Kick Start Your New Career

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Positive Mindsets To Kick Start Your New Career

You wake up each morning with a sinking, fearful feeling at the prospect of heading to work. When your alarm goes off, you aren’t filled with ambition and motivation; it seems you’re stuck in a rut and you can’t find your way out of it. With the New Year well and truly upon us, now is the time to shake it up and make a change for the better. Alter your mindset and become a happier, unwavering, career-driven person. Make some decisions and get yourself on track today:

Own Your Goals:

When was the last time that you sat down and thought about where you want to be in life? You have probably found yourself in a dead-end job, which you are constantly trying to escape. Your job may well pay the bills, but you can’t put a price on your own happiness so let’s start reassessing. Write down your career goals on a piece of paper and be proud to have big ambitions. Planning out a meaningful career path will boost your motivation and set you up to succeed.

Start small with your goals and plan out each stage that you can take in order to reach your ultimate dream. You might want to try out an internship on the weekends to get yourself networking with people you need to know. You may dream of starting a business from home, which will take time and energy outside of your current job. Plan out your time meticulously and use each moment to get where you need to be. It could take one year of really hard work to make a huge step in the right direction so get to grips with your goals today.

Love To Learn:

Once you have your goals and aims in order, you need to establish how you’re going to attain them. You may need to take on some additional courses or go back to college. There are tons of tools online which can help you to get the qualifications you need. You can even earn an mba online and kick-start a career in whatever your heart desires.

You should thrive in a learning environment and be motivated to grow your knowledge. Be prepared for some hard work, as getting a further education isn’t a walk in the park. You may need to keep earning money in your current job as you learn other skills part-time. It will all be a balancing act at first, but if you’re determined enough you will stick at it and feel proud when you achieve each step.

Take a Risk:

Now is the time to take the leap and conquer the unknown. If you’ve always dreamed of starting your business or creating a brand new company of your own, you can do it with the correct support and planning. Be meticulous in the process of finding staff, software, and the like so that the reward will outweigh a risk should you choose to take it. Consider services like online accounting or a sportsbook solution provider if this is something you can’t do on your own. Before taking a financial risk, make sure that you’ve got adequate savings to fall back on. Build your own brand from scratch and finally be happy in your career. If being your own boss appeals to you, then this might be the way forward.

Leverage Tools That Support Your Growth:

As you move forward in your career journey, don’t overlook the power of structured digital environments to support your learning and productivity. If you’re working in a corporate or collaborative setting, tools like a site collection website can help you find relevant industry resources, stay informed on emerging trends, and connect with valuable content in your field. Whether you’re in marketing, content creation, or simply looking to expand your knowledge base, tapping into curated link directories can quietly enhance your efficiency and keep you ahead of the curve. Of course, you will want to keep all of your digital operations secure and efficient, especially if you are using the cloud. Cloud management like aws devops consulting services can be hugely beneficial to your company to streamline this process. With the right tools and services in place, you’ll be better equipped to take control of your workflow, adapt quickly, and deliver impactful results.

Make a plan, carry out the method, and take the leap. A happy, healthy and open mind will allow you to reach your career dreams in no time!

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Jan2

New Year, New Home

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New Year, New Home

The New Year is the perfect time to start thinking about revamping your home. Traditionally, a lot of people wait until the spring to spruce up their homes, but that just means that they don’t get to enjoy the change in the weather quite so much. No, the winter time when it’s cold, and we’ve just started a new calendar is the best time for fixing up the home and here are some tips to help you with that:

Clear Your Clutter:

Chances are that you’re entering the New Year with the aim of cleansing your body and keeping it as clear and clutter-free as possible. Why not do the same for your home? A house that is free from clutter is a house that looks great, allows you to live life exactly how you want to, and best of all, is easy to clean. So, pick a room and start decluttering. Do the same with another room tomorrow and keep going until you have no stuff in your home that you don’t expressly want to be there.

Ensure it’s Safe:

Your house is your home, your safe haven, and the one place you can retreat to and not have to worry about the outside world. So, it’s important that it is really safe. Now is the perfect time to go around your property checking that the security cameras work, ensuring that the fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are in great shape, and testing the locks on your doors and windows. That way, you’ll have a safe and snug 2018.

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Is your smoke alarm working?

Keep It Clean:

A clean house is an inviting house. When your home looks and smells god, it makes you and your guests happy to be there. So, make 2018 the year when you finally get serious about chores. To make it easy for yourself, invest in the basics like rubber gloves, brushes, cleaning fluids, and dusters and store them all in one central location. Then, draw up a schedule of when you’ll clean each room or when you’ll complete each cleaning task. By grouping tasks like cleaning the windows or vacuuming the carpets together, it’ll be easier to keep your home cleaner without missing anything or spending too much time on it.

Mend the Cracks:

January is an excellent time to call in the handyman and have him do all of those little jobs like patching up the holes in the basement floor or re-tiling the roof, that you haven’t got around to yet. Why? Because handymen are often less busy at this time of year, before the spring rush, so you can get things done more quickly, and sometimes even cheaper, than at other times of the year.

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Patch it up!

A Fresh Coat of Paint:

Last, but not least, if you want to seriously spruce your home up for the New Year, why not treat it to a lick of paint? It’s amazing how transformative a new color on the walls can be, and it needn’t cost you too much money or time (Get the handyman to do it.), either!

Here’s to a fabulous ‘new’ home this year!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan1

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

Dec28

Is It Time To Make More Room For Yourself In Your Life?

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Is It Time To Make More Room For Yourself In Your Life?

If you’re the kind of person that finds it hard to put themselves first, you’re not alone. So many of us tend to put others, especially our loved ones, before ourselves. It’s only natural. We want to make sure that they’re happy and healthy, content and comforted, and we’ll deal with our own needs after. But sometimes, when this is something that you do all of the time, you may find that you get taken advantage of.

You may also realize that you’re not really getting what you want out of life, because you’re not working on you, but others instead. So, there’s going to come a time where you need to put yourself first. While it will take work, you’ll be able to become your best self. So let’s take a look at how you can make more time for yourself in your life:

Allow Yourself To Relax: When this is something that you’re really not used to, you’re going to want to start off slow. And a great way to do that is to allow yourself to relax a bit. In a way, this is encouraging you to make time for your own needs and happiness. So get yourself a scent diffuser machine, find the best bath products, and create a cozy space at home just for you. Then, by slowly relaxing more and more, you’ll be able to ensure that you’re comforted and rested, and you start to see why putting yourself first counts.

Fill Your Time How You Choose: If you’re someone that tends to do what others want you to do, you’re going to get to a point where you realize that you’re not really living for you. So, you’re going to want to start being a bit more assertive on how you spend your time. Be sure to fill up your life with the things you love, and you’ll instantly feel like you’re living a whole lot more.

Make Time For A Social Life: Whether you’re someone that spends a lot of their time working or you just tend to focus on the needs of others too much, you may not have much of a social life. It’s time that you changed that. By making more time for a social life, not only will you be able to do more of the things that you love, but you should find a circle of friends who care about your well being as much as you do.

Focus On Your Health: Making more time for yourself isn’t always about the things you do with your time, it’s also about how you treat yourself. You should definitely look to focus on your health a little more. When you improve your health, your mind and body will feel better and, in turn, you’ll be able to feel happier too.

Learn To Say No: And finally, you’re going to want to learn to say no more. Because when you’re stronger, you’ll be able to start making choices that will benefit your life, rather than make you unhappy. That always starts with the ability to say no to things and people when it could negatively effect your lifestyle.

2018 is all about loving yourself, which means taking the best care of you as much as possible. Try starting out with the above tips and seeing how you feel!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec27

Fitting Self-Improvement Into A Hectic Lifestyle

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Fitting Self-Improvement Into A Hectic Lifestyle

The new year provides us with the opportunity for a new start. This is perhaps why so many of us make vows and resolutions to change and become better people. Do you want to start going to therapy? Or you’re searching for Gyms in Wokingham, or nearby, to work on your fitness? Regardless of your resolution, you get to start a completely clean page. Moving on from the past events of the previous year and heading into a brighter future.

But if, like many of us, you have a relatively hectic and chaotic day to day routine, how are you supposed to fit grand ventures of self-improvement into the equation? Well, the good news is that with a little organization and forward thinking, the world is your oyster and endless opportunities abound! Here are just a few ways to become a more rounded being without throwing your already busy lifestyle into disarray:

Education:

Increasing numbers of people are returning to education at a later point in their lives. There are various reasons for this. Perhaps they want to boost their resume. Maybe they want to explore subject areas that they don’t have much previous experience in. They might even want to specialize their existing knowledge. Regardless of the reason, a return to education doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to commute to campuses, sit in extensive lectures, or attend group seminars. The increasing efficiency of the internet means that you can now engage in distance learning, AKA taking courses online. Take online msc in international accounting and finance, as an example. This course offers everything that a standard degree course would, but you can complete it from the comfort of your own home. This allows you to schedule your education around your existing responsibilities. Perfect!

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 Study up!

Exercise:

While it may seem like you’re run off your feet all day, chances are that you haven’t managed to schedule a proper workout for a little while. Though an exercise class at the gym or a quick circuit of the machines may only take half an hour or so, showering and changing afterwards and the commute back and forth to the gym itself can mean that you’re out of the house for hours at a time. Instead, why not try to exercise at home?

This means that you don’t have to spend time getting to the gym and you can work out before you’d usually shower in the morning or go to bed at night. While you may not have the same equipment or professional trainers at hand, there are several things you can do to ensure that you get your heart beating and energy flowing. Consider exercise apps with tutorials in yoga and Pilates, squats, planks, push ups, and sit ups. They will monitor your progress and give you a basic understanding of how to achieve certain positions or poses all straight from your phone.

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#werk

While education and exercise are just two methods of self-improvement, you can see that they can easily be incorporated into already busy lifestyles. Take the same reasoning and thinking to whatever it may be that you want to improve about yourself. You will see positive changes taking place in next to no time!

Dec8

Plan Your Dream Bathroom Interior For 2018

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Plan Your Dream Bathroom Interior For 2018

The festive season is here, and before long you’ll be opening Christmas gifts and enjoying quality time with those you love. The holidays are often a time where you receive presents from loved ones and friends, and bath products, fancy shower scrubs, and special toiletries are often a go-to gift for many. New toiletries that you wouldn’t usually buy for yourself can be a real treat, and many enjoy a relaxing soak in their tub or a refreshing cleanse in their shower space. However, if you flinch every time you walk into your bathroom environment; it could be time to focus on its renovation and ensure that 2018 is the year that you enjoy spending time in there.

Tired bathrooms with old broken tiles and dated sinks can leave you in a bad mood every morning, especially as you’ll have no other choice but to brush your teeth and wash your hair in there. Therefore, it’s time to open up your laptop, search for a Bathroom remodeler in Las Vegas, NV or your local area, and start planning what you’ll need to organize regarding how you want your fresh bathroom to look and function. The following are some ideas, inspiration, and advice for those who want to embark on creating their ideal space in the new year so that a long soak in their bath becomes a regular thing for 2018:

The Functional Side:

This might be the bit where you lose a little interest; however, it’s crucial that you invest in the functionality of your bathroom above all else. The building and plumbing work cannot be a last minute decision just because you’ve put so much emphasis into the style and design (that’s coming later). Therefore, you’ll need to start by hiring a reputable building company and a plumbing specialist who won’t overcharge you for the work that they carry out and who can ensure that your bath water is running smoothly for the foreseeable future. The plumbing and pipes in your bathroom space need to be secure and well maintained so that you don’t get any surprise leaks in the new year. Leaks or plumbing issues can lead to permanent damage; which will have wasted both your money and time. It’s essential that you find companies you trust to do the job, and are reassured that you’ll receive quality service and results.

It’s understandable to want to DIY as much as you can when renovating a space. However, tasks like plumbing should always be left to a professional like those at Rosenberg Plumbing in Pacifica, CA (or a similar business in your local area). Leaving plumbing to your DIY skills could cause lasting damage and money going down the drain. Save the DIY for the design aspect which will require your own personal touch.

The Decorative Side:

This is the part that you’re probably thinking about the most. If you’ve invested wisely in the building and plumbing side of things, you can focus on the style, layout, and design of the environment (Yay!). You can be thrifty and creative with your choices, so don’t just run towards the nearest bathroom showroom and buy the whole suite from one place; this can be a costly mistake. Take your time to source items, even if that means waiting a little longer for your dream bathroom to happen. Check out online auction sites, reclamation yards, and vintage warehouses for vintage bathtubs, secondhand sinks, and spare boxes of tiles. You’d be surprised at how well you can clean up a tub so that they look brand new, but retain all the charm and character of their era, without the ridiculous price tag. The same goes for showerheads and taps; these are so much more affordable second hand and will polish up nicely so that you end up with a bespoke and unique space to soak up the bubbles.

Mixing and matching your tiles will create a style statement in any space, so consider an array of prints, sizes, and shapes for your bathroom. You’ll be able to save money by purchasing boxes, or even individual tiles from those who have bought too many for their own interior. It won’t matter if they are all different if you go with the flow and decide to enjoy an eclectic space in which to shower.

Bathroom accessories will be next on your shopping list, so make sure that you take the same approach as with your tiles; source them from an array of places and mix it up for ultimate bathroom charm and character. Mirrors, vases, toothbrush holders, and soap dishes can all make an interior statement, so don’t stick to the usual store-bought items that everyone has; go vintage instead.

The more creative you are with your choices, the more money you can save on your bathroom renovation project; you can utilize this and put it towards the right team of people to fit your appliances and ensure that it’s functional for a long time ahead.

Featured Image Found At: lifewithlilred

Nov20

Tips For Your Healthiest New Year Yet

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Tips For Your Healthiest New Year Yet

It’s usually around this time of the year that we realize that the months have flown by. Christmas is right around the corner and the end of the year is fast approaching. And with that, we tend to think ahead to what the new year will bring. Some of us will do this in good faith, hoping for a vast improvement on the current year, while others will be a little more pessimistic, thinking that most years are the same. Regardless of which camp you fall into, you may be thinking about making a commitment to be healthier next year. If that’s the case, then good for you – but be sure to read the do’s and don’ts of how to do it first:

Don’t Go Cold Turkey:

For most people, when they think about making healthy changes to their diet and lifestyle, they tend to think that going cold turkey is the answer. From cutting out sugar, coffee, and fatty foods to trying to take up an intense exercise regime, they tend to go from a somewhat unhealthy lifestyle to one that’s super strict. And guess what? It doesn’t last! Mainly because it’s too much of a change and it’s not realistic. When you make unrealistic changes like this, you’re going to find them too hard to stick to. When you want to commit to a healthy change, you need to know that it’s going to last. So, in this case, gradual changes are often best.

Do Read Reviews:

Whatever it is that you’re thinking of doing, be sure that you read up on it first. When you find detailed information like the AlgaeCal reviews, you’re going to find that you get all of the background information that you need. Then, you can make a call on whether that change or product, in particular, is good for you.

Do Talk To Your Doctor:

It’s also always a smart idea to talk to your doctor about any changes that you’re thinking of making. Firstly, this is so that they can be aware of what you’re doing. But it’s also so that they can be sure that you’re not making any rapid changes that could damage your health. At the same time, they will advise you on what’s best to do, as well as carry out key health checks to make sure that you start off on the right track.

Don’t Do Anything Drastic:

Even though it can be tempting, you really do have to make sure that you don’t do anything drastic. Anything dangerous or unhealthy, like over-exercising or restricting yourself with food, can seriously damage your health, and this will counteract what your initial commitment is trying to achieve. So be sure to relax, enjoy it, and be patient for your health to improve.

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Smoothies are a great in between meals snack!

Do Focus On The Change:

Above all else, be sure to focus on the change that you’ve committed to make. It’s easy to convince yourself that you need to cut back, but remember that this is a lifestyle change and not a diet. You need to focus on the change of being healthier, and nothing else!

Start out your new year with a bang, and be sure to follow these tips for your healthiest year yet!

Featured Image By: Pexels