I think many of us can answer this question honestly and openly with an obvious yes. It is very easy to say we are going to shoot for something life changing in the New Year but how many of us actually follow through with it? Stick-to-it-tive-ness, this is what we need to successfully triumph with a New Year’s resolution but how can we do this?
Tips for helping you keep New Year’s resolutions
- Make sure your resolution is easy to attain, don’t make unrealistic goals this can definitely cause you to break your New Year’s resolution.
- Try to set your New Year’s resolution a head of time so that you can write it down and make it plain in your heart. When you get it set in your mind, it will make the goal easier to shoot for. If you make a resolution the day before, most likely you will not follow through with it as your mind hasn’t had enough time to process it completely.
- Make some sort of list and post it where you can see it everyday, like someone to call or some sort of mind exercise to get you in the habit of achieving your New Year’s resolution.
- Make only one New Year’s resolution, one that is most important to you. If you make too many resolutions, they will become easy to forget and most likely they will become broken resolutions.
- Give yourself a break. Once in a while we just need to do something for ourselves to keep keep us going strong especially with New Year’s resolutions. For example, for me this past year’s resolution was to do physical workouts everyday with a healthy diet. I have achieved this but I also allowed myself a yummy treat once in a while to keep me motivated.
- Be sure to examine where you are at in the New Year with your resolution. Has your progress improved or regressed?
- Remember, you are only human. You are most likely going to take a little step backwards but just get yourself back up on that saddle and try again.
- Making your resolution a habit will help you achieve your goals. They say it takes 21 days to make a habit so if you can get those 21 days under your belt your New Years resolution is ringing true.
- Do not give up even if you feel like you haven’t made any progress. It’s like climbing a mountain you just have to keep pushing and enduring until you reach the very top.
How about you? Do you find it easy to stick with a resolution or do you struggle like many of us to keep pushing forward to achieve your goals? Please share any tips or advice that helped you keep your New Year’s resolution.
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It’s that time of year again when we all start making those New Year’s resolutions: lose weight, get more exercise, set aside some “me” time, read more, have more family time.
What about those of you who are headed toward college? What should you resolve in 2011?
Here are 10 resolutions for 2011:
1. I will pay attention to deadlines.
There are so many tasks and deadlines related to the college admissions process. Get yourself a large wall calendar and a red marker. Post the calendar in a place that you see every day (i.e. kitchen, bedroom, office) and stay on top of those deadlines.
2. I will file the FAFSA early.
Make it a point to file the FAFSA early. Don’t wait until you file your taxes on April 15th. File the FAFSA as soon as you have all the information necessary, preferably by February 15th. This will assure that your application is in the hands of the financial aid office when they disperse their aid (grants, loans and scholarships).
3. I will visit colleges BEFORE applying to them.
Take the time to visit those colleges that you’re interested in attending. There is no replacement for setting foot on the actual campus to get a feel for the setting, the students and the faculty.
4. I will do the research and look at a college’s statistics.
Use College Navigator and do your research. Look at the enrollment statistics, retention rates, amount of financial aid dispersed, and the estimated tuition and fees. Compare colleges to determine the best bang for your buck!
5. I will spend time preparing for the SAT and/or ACT .
Use the free SAT prep available online and complete the free practice tests. There are multiple SAT vocabulary sites that help you boost your vocabulary knowledge. If you feel paying for test prep is necessary, do the research and locate a company with a good record for success, not one that gives veiled promises of perfect scores.
6. I will not procrastinate.
Procrastination will land you in the reject pile. Send your applications in early. Complete all your forms on time. Don’t wait until the last minute to write your essay.
7. I will make wise decisions regarding student loans.
Borrow as little money as possible and don’t choose a college that requires you to go into debt for the entire amount of the tuition. Be a wise consumer and investigate the types of loans available, the interest rates, and use a repayment calculator to determine your monthly payments after graduation.
8. I will make connections with the colleges I’m interested in attending.
Make connections with admissions counselors at the colleges you are interested in attending by scheduling interviews. Get their business card and email address and stay in touch. Let them know you are serious about their college and when application time roles around, they will remember you.
9. I will attend college fairs (in person and online).
College fairs are good places to network and make those personal connections. If you don’t have a college fair in your area, CollegeWeekLive has two fairs each year where you can connect with college representatives and students.
10. I will find that “perfect fit” college.
Don’t settle for the college down the road or your parents’ alma mater if that’s not where you want to attend. Find the college that fits your academic interests, your social interests and the setting you prefer. Look for a college that wants you as much as you want them—this will be your perfect fit!
I wish you a blessed and productive 2011! It is my hope that you not only survive the college admissions process, but find it a fulfilling time in your life.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
Most likely you are considering returning to school in the New Year but one major thing is holding you back. How much is it going to cost?
I know that for me, I would love to return to school but can my wallet truly survive such a transition? At the time when I was a college mom I only had 1 child. Now that I have three the idea seems far fetched. Fortunately moms, financial aid is available for us to achieve our goals this New Year.
At this point you may be thinking to yourself, “What exactly is financial aid and do I qualify?”
Financial aid comes in a variety of forms. According to How Stuff Works, and I like the way they put this; “Financial aid includes scholarships, need based awards, work-study employment, and student loans.” And that is it in a nutshell. No mumbo jumbo but straight to the point so that you know what exactly you are eligible to apply for. Let’s first look at need-based financial aid.
FAFSA
This one is one I have used in the past and one that I am considering for the future. FAFSA. This is, Free Application for Financial Aid. Before filling out the free application it’s important to gather important documents ahead of time for example:
Determining your dependency status
FAFSA on the web worksheet
School codes
Students and parents apply for a PIN
Check application deadline dates
After these are achieved, you can then begin filling out the application. The FAFSA also allows you to follow up and check the status of your submitted application along with your student aid report.
The other form of need-based financial aid is the College scholarship Service’s Profile. This application is viewed as the application for institutional or private funds and is usually required by many colleges.
If you prove that you are in definite need of financial aid, you are eligible for need-based financial aid.
Loans and Grants
I know the thought of a loan sounds intimidating and maybe even overwhelms you to say the least. I mean who wants to pay for college after graduation anyways, right? Well, I have learned that if you really want to return to school and a loan is what you are eligible for, I say go for it. There are fortunately student loans and parent loans available. They are becoming more popular as it can become a strain just to pay the rising costs of a college education.
The nice thing about student loans is that they offer hassle-free low interest payments. Parent loans are even available. They are designed to bridge the gap between student financial aid rewards and cost of attendance.
Grants are the best type of financial aid available. Why? Well get this. With grants you do not have to repay. That’s right, never. You can’t beat that. A grant is determined on an individual’s financial need and are usually give by federal and state. An example of a grant, and you may have heard of this type, is a Pell Grant. This is the most common. It is determined by your FAFSA application.
Stay tuned for part 2 of “Financial aid for moms returning to school” on Thursday where I will discuss Federal Work-Study and Non-Work-Study jobs.
I would like to hear from you as far as what was discussed thus far. What is your experience with need-based financial aid? Do you have any tips to share concerning those experiences? Please share.
Source: How Stuff Works: Financial Aid, Dave Roos and Jim Belvin
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