SMART Goal Setting



I encourage you to pick up a pen and a piece of paper and jot down the goals you want to reach. Look at each goal and evaluate it. Make any changes necessary to ensure it meets the criteria for a SMART goals:

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely
Specific
Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

Specific is the What, Why, and How of the SMART model.

WHAT are you going to do? Use action words such as direct, organize, coordinate, lead, develop, plan, build etc.

WHY is this important to do at this time? What do you want to ultimately accomplish?

HOW are you going to do it? (By...)

Ensure the goals you set is very specific, clear and easy. Instead of setting a goal to lose weight or be healthier, set a specific goal to lose 2cm off your waistline or to walk 5 miles at an aerobically challenging pace.

Measurable
If you can't measure it, you can't manage it. In the broadest sense, the whole goal statement is a measure for the project; if the goal is accomplished, the is a success. However, there are usually several short-term or small measurements that can be built into the goal.

Choose a goal with measurable progress, so you can see the change occur. How will you see when you reach your goal? Be specific! "I want to read 3 chapter books of 100 pages on my own before my birthday" shows the specific target to be measure. "I want to be a good reader" is not as measurable.

Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goals.

Attainable
When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop that attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. Your begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals.

Goals you set which are too far out of your reach, you probably won't commit to doing. Although you may start with the best of intentions, the knowledge that it's too much for you means your subconscious will keep reminding you of this fact and will stop you from even giving it your best.

A goal needs to stretch you slightly so you feel you can do it and it will need a real commitment from you. For instance, if you aim to lose 20lbs in one week, we all know that isn't achievable. But setting a goal to loose 1lb and when you've achieved that, aiming to lose a further 1lb, will keep it achievable for you.

The feeling of success which this brings helps you to remain motivated.

Realistic
This is not a synonym for "easy." Realistic, in this case, means "do-able." It means that the learning curve is not a vertical slope; that the skills needed to do the work are available; that the project fits with the overall strategy and goals of the organization. A realistic project may push the skills and knowledge of the people working on it but it shouldn't break them.

Devise a plan or a way of getting there which makes the goal realistic. The goal needs to be realistic for you and where you are at the moment. A goal of never again eating sweets, cakes, crisps and chocolate may not be realistic for someone who really enjoys these foods.

For instance, it may be more realistic to set a goal of eating a piece of fruit each day instead of one sweet item. You can then choose to work towards reducing the amount of sweet products gradually as and when this feels realistic for you.

Be sure to set goals that you can attain with some effort! Too difficult and you set the stage for failure, but too low sends the message that you aren't very capable. Set the bar high enough for a satisfying achievement!

Timely
Set a timeframe for the goal: for next week, in three months, by fifth grade. Putting an end point on your goal gives you a clear target to work towards.

If you don't set a time, the commitment is too vague. It tends not to happen because you feel you can start at any time. Without a time limit, there's no urgency to start taking action now.

Time must be measurable, attainable and realistic.




Everyone will benefit from goals and objectives if they are SMART. SMART, is the instrument to apply in setting your goals and objectives.

5 Facts About Goal Setting

These practical tips on goal setting can help make it easier to set and reach goals:
1. Specific, realistic goals work best. When it comes to making a change, the people who succeed are those who set realistic, specific goals. "I'm going to recycle all my plastic bottles, soda cans, and magazines" is a much more doable goal than "I'm going to do more for the environment." And that makes it easier to stick with.
2. It takes time for a change to become an established habit. It will probably take a couple of months before any changes — like getting up half an hour early to exercise — become a routine part of your life. That's because your brain needs time to get used to the idea that this new thing you're doing is part of your regular routine.
3. Repeating a goal makes it stick. Say your goal out loud each morning to remind yourself of what you want and what you're working for. (Writing it down works too.) Every time you remind yourself of your goal, you're training your brain to make it happen.
4. Pleasing other people doesn't work. The key to making any change is to find the desire within yourself — you have to do it because you want it, not because a girlfriend, boyfriend, coach, parent, or someone else wants you to. It will be harder to stay on track and motivated if you're doing something out of obligation to another person.
5. Roadblocks don't mean failure. Slip-ups are actually part of the learning process as you retrain your brain into a new way of thinking. It may take a few tries to reach a goal. But that's OK — it's normal to mess up or give up a few times when trying to make a change. So remember that everyone slips up and don't beat yourself up about it. Just remind yourself to get back on track.

Obedience

Obedience to our Lord in every facet of our lives is the key to inner security and experiencing the presence of Christ.
I recall one wealthy and influential businessman in California who sacrificed everything he had to care for his dying wife. Eventually he spent his fortune seeking to find a cure for her disease.
By the time I learned of their situation, they had lost their entire fortune including their palatial home. They were living in modest circumstances in a little trailer on a parking lot in Hollywood.
I went to see them with fear and trembling. How in the world could I, a healthy, young Christian businessman, identify with this poverty-stricken husband? He had already lost his large fortune and was about to lose his most precious friend and mate of nearly forty years.
The trailer was neat as a pin. When I stepped into their humble home, it was as though I were entering a corner of heaven. There, sitting beside his dying wife, was this man holding her hand. Both of them had radiant faces. The joy of the Lord filled the place.
I had come to minister to them, but they ministered to me instead. They were trusting God with their lives. Like Job, they were saying of their Lord, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope (trust) in him..." (Job 13:15).
I will always remember the peace of heart and mind that this couple enjoyed because they had learned to trust and obey the will and ways of God even in the midst of tragedy.
Many people hope to find security in their possessions when only a right relationship with God can bring abundant life. Through the years, I have become increasingly convinced that there are no unhappy obedient Christians. Furthermore, I have never met a person living a disobedient life who can honestly say that he is happy. I have observed many Christians like the businessman and his dying wife, however, who have found peace and blessing in tough times because they were walking with God in faith and obedience.
We can find no lasting security in a life apart from God as the Lord of our lives. God alone is the owner of all that we possess and the total source of our supply. Are you experiencing the joy of Christ in your life? His love? His peace? The sense of His direction? If not, could it be that you are not obeying His commands? When you withhold the resources that God has entrusted to you for His work, He has little with which to bless you, and your life becomes unfruitful and unhappy.
We are not our own anymore; we have been bought with a price, the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:18-20). Giving Him control of our time, talents, and treasure is our way of expressing gratitude to our great and glorious God and Father for all that He has done to fill us with His presence.

Children, Obey Your Parents

God's Word, the Bible, teaches children to respect, honor, and obey their parents.
COLOSSIANS 3:20 says Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.
EPHESIANS 6:1-3 says Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."

Submit To Parents

1 TIMOTHY 3:4 ....... having his children in submission with all reverence
Children should submit to their parents and show them respect.
Even if your parents do not serve God, you still must respect and obey them. However, God does not expect you to obey them when they tell you to sin by doing wrong things. (see Acts 5:29)

Rebellious Children Were Killed

From the Old Testament we learn how serious it is for children not to submit to their parents. The punishment was very severe. In those days children who refused to submit to their parents were killed!
We are not living under the Old Testament law, but it was written to teach us. It shows us what God thinks of rebellious children.

DEUTERONOMY 21:18-21 NKJ 18 "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them,

19 "then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city.

20 "And they shall say to the elders of his city, `This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.'

21 "Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones; so you shall put away the evil person from among you, and all Israel shall hear and fear.

Here's today's proven step to success!

Step 4. Integrity

Not doing what's wrong is a given, most people understand this. Ifyou're not doing this already, it's probably a good idea to start.

Integrity is more than that though. It is also doing what youconsider to be right.Keeping your word is an important part of integrity.

To be asuccess you will need the help of people. Who would you rather wantto help? Someone who is unreliable? Makes excuses? Goes back ontheir word? Or, someone who reliable and trustworthy? Being knownas a person of your word will get you farther than almost anythingelse on the path to success.

Take responsibility. If you make a mistake, the right thing to do isadmit it. A person of integrity does even more; they try to fix it.Taking responsibility does not mean making excuses. Just saying you are wrong may not be enough either.

Take charge and do your best tomake it right.Act with integrity and you will attract those with a similarmindset to your own!

Just to recap, we've discussed the following proven steps to leadyou to never-ending success:

Step1. Honesty

Step2. Seek Proper Advice

Step3. Enthusiasm

Step4. Integrity

Step5. ...check your Email tomorrow!

To your success,

Gary EvansGood To Feel Goodhttp://www.goodtofeelgood.com

SECOND STEP TO SUCCESS

The second proven step to success is knowing where to seek GOODadvice... Everyone's got an opinion these days, but why should youlisten to their opinion?

Step 2. Seek Proper Advice

Most people feel advice is worth what it costs - nothing. This is probably true in most cases. Do you want to know the ultimate secret about seeking advice?
It is very simple, but often overlooked. Here it is. Ask the right person for the right advice. Don't let the sheer simplicity of this statement trick you.

It is very powerful, but also easy to overlook. This technique works in any field - studies, exams, health, spiritual matters, business, finances,relationships, and so on.Let's say you are having some small problem with maths. Would it make sense to complain to a language teacher and then ask for his advice? Or, would it make more sense to seek the advice of a Maths teacher who has been teaching for 30 years?
Obviously, if youwant to have success, the latter choice makes a lot more sense, yet people tend to be care free in asking for and giving advice. Here is some advice that may actually be worth something. Starting now, try to ask yourself this question before seeking advice.

"What makes this person qualified to give me advice".To be fair, when someone asks you for advice that you are less than qualified to give, let them know and try to steer them in the rightdirection to someone who is well experienced with the subject.Be warned though! If you are asking someone who has "been there and done that", then you have to be willing to follow their advice.
After all they've already mapped out a route that successfully worked for them. Should you seek a second opinion? Yes! Take advice from the professionals in that field and take advice from many of them. If the response is congruent with the majority of them then you know you've just found some good advice.
It is easier to be carefree in seeking advice, but it is alwaysmore productive when you seek it from experts.
wish you all the Success.

FIRST STEP TO SUCCESS

Success is something you have to practice and so these 7 importantproven steps will provide the perfect foundation for you to build upon. So, to get you started immediately, here's your first success principle.

Step 1. Honesty

Lying for personal gain always ends up being counter-productive inthe long run. Why? Because truth is the foundation upon which ourdealings with others are built. Being a person of your word is a vital element to success. In thewords of William Shakespeare: "The good I stand on is my truth and honesty".

Success is not achieved entirely by yourself. On your way tosuccess you will undoubtedly be aided by other people. If you arenot honest with them you will only create feelings of bitterness.If you are not honest with yourself you will wonder why you arewhere you are. Any success you achieve using dishonesty will beartificial. What is really surprising is that sometimes the truth is just aseasy to tell.

For whatever reason, people still choose to lie. Thefirst step to shifting to a more honesty centered self isrecognizing the lie and correcting it right away. Ask yourself, "How does this impact my life?" If you are beinghonest with yourself, you will see that you probably have a lot ofwork to do. I feel it is easier to be objective than it is to behonest. You should consider adopting the approach that your words are gold.As a deliberate creator you must realise that in order to createyour world just as you want it, your words and thoughts will play ahuge roll in that.

If you are using your words without any realmeaning behind them, then why should the universe take your wordsas serious requests?Statements such as:- I'll call you back tomorrow- I'm too busy to chat right now- I can't see you tonight, I have too much onAll of these can cause the power of your word to weaken, if you saythem without attaching any truth to them. When you give your wordand don't mean or honour it, you detract from your power to deliberately create your own experiences.

The concept of being truthful with others is promoted from a veryyoung age; sometimes successfully, sometimes less so.What about white lies? What about lies of omission? What about truth that is delivered without tact? What about truth that is intended to harm? These questions are all valid and point to the apparent difficultyof what real truth is. The answer can be summed up with thisintentionally thought provoking and vague statement: "It is always best to tell the truth, sometimes".

So, your first proven step to success is to be more careful withyour words and only ever make statements that you truly believe tobe true.

How to prepare for exams

The most important thing any student can do to prepare for exam is to start early. The days of studying for an exam on the bus going to school are over. Even if you got A's this way, it's not going to work very often with college material. College courses require far more effort.
Start preparing for the next test the day after you take the prior one. Daily preparation is crucial. At a minimum, review material once every week between exams.
How much time is needed? The classic question. Some recommend 2-3 hours outside of class for every hour of class time. In some cases homework problems will require this much effort. For a straightforward lecture course try the following:
Every day before class, preview the material for 15-20 minutes.
Attend every lecture. Seems simple but it's the biggest misteak students make.
Take good notes. Learn how.
Spend another 20-30 minutes after class going over the notes.
Use this time to get any confusing points cleared up in your head; much better now than later. This will make later exam prep. MUCH easier.
Once a week, review the material to get a more complete overview of the information.

Preparing to take an exam:
If you've been keeping up on everything on a daily and weekly basis you're in good shape when it comes time to get serious about preparing for an exam.
The first thing you need is a plan. You need to answer some questions:
What is my schedule like during the week of the exam?
Do I have other exams or papers due?
Will I have all week to prepare or will I have to study over the weekend?
How many pages of notes are there?
How many chapters do I have to read?
All of these questions will help you answer one basic one: How much time will I need? The answer will depend on how much work you have done so far. It's a crucial question because the next step will be to come up with a plan.
Start with with the day one week before the exam. That's the first day to start studying in earnest. Literally plan out how many hours you will spend each day studying until the exam. Make a schedule and stick with it. Be sure to leave time for group study or review sessions. Also break up the material in to parts and cover a little each day. Consider these questions:
How much material will I cover each night?
How much time will I spend studying with a friend?
When are the review sessions?
Will the Prof. or TA be available to answer any questions that come up?
Once you have a game plan it's time to get to work. There is no one way to go about this. Remember is important to come up with a system that works for YOU. Here's a suggested plan of action:
Step 1
Get a blank piece of paper and outline the material you need to study. This helps develop a "big picture" overview of the material. Start with big topics and leave room for subtopics. Fill in the information as best as you can. Get another sheet of paper and start over if necessary. Once you see all the units of information in front of you it will be easier to organize your studying. This will help you with the next step.
Step 2
Break the material into smaller chunks and study each one. Only once you understand each one should you move on to the next. Do this part alone in your quiet study place. This is when you start to memorize the information you'll need later. Write down any questions that you may have.
Step 3
The next step is to work with someone else to clarify anything that's confusing. Work with others, go to review sessions, see a tutor, or work with the professor or a TA. At this point it's important to make sure that everything is clearly understood. This is crucial. If this step is skipped then you're left with trying to memorize hundreds of useless factoids. It will never mean anything to you later.
Step 4
Now it's time to put the information into your brain for retrieval. If you've been working all along you will already remember much of it. Make sure nothing is left out. Review the tips on memory. Many students focus on this step exclusively. It's called cramming. Just say no.
Some thoughts on cramming (or why cramming bites)
Step 5
This next step is not needed by everyone but it's useful if you are having trouble with the course. You've been studying for hours and hours but, do you really know anything? Try working with someone else who will ask you questions about the material. If you can answer and explain concepts without too much effort then you're in good shape. Usually this help to expose areas that require more attention and study.
Step 6
If the previous step went well then all you have left is to work on weak areas and a general overview the material. If you didn't do well explaining the material you'll need another round of steps 4 and 5. Hopefully you left time for this in your study schedule.

If you planned well and kept up with the work there should be little anxiety the night before an exam. If you started late or waited to get questions answered then you'll be busy the night before. This will add extra stress and you'll likely make stupid errors on the exam. At the very least you'll be more susceptible to getting sick which will worsen your situation.
The only thing that should be going through your mind the night before is a sense of confidence. It's ok to be a little afraid or anxious but not panicky.

Below are listed some other specific suggestions.
Other tips:
Flashcards - help to memorize facts NOT understanding
Groups - good to work through difficult material, quiz each other for understanding
Review sessions - only go to early ones, last minute reviews sometimes cause needless confusion
Tutors - get help early, waiting till the last minute only fosters aggravation and panic
Professors/TA's - same as above, don't email about material the night before, do it early

Indian food pyramid

10 Ways to Honor Your Mother Throughout the Year

by Rob Flood

Our appreciation for our mothers often experiences both ebbs and flows. When you were 5, your mother knew everything. When you were 9, you had your doubts. As a 13-year-old, you were certain—she knew nothing. In your senior year of high school, you thought you didn't need her anymore. And then all of that changed as you grew older. When you planned your wedding, you didn't want to make a single decision without her. (Well, perhaps one or two.) And then you had children. Whether your appreciation for your mother is currently in ebb or in flow, you certainly have a deeper appreciation for what your mother went through and what she had to endure as a parent. And, as Mother's Day approaches, pangs of "What should I do for my mother this year?" echo through the minds of adult children everywhere. Rather than settling for just an arrangement of flowers or a new pair of earrings, how about a gift that will keep giving throughout the whole year? How about giving the gift of honor? Cultivating a relationship of honor with your mother will be a priceless gift. But that's not all. God promises blessing to those that honor their parents: "...so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth." (Ephesians 6:3).Here are ten ideas to both give and receive a blessing.

1. Seek to understand her as a mom. Motherhood is not turned on and off like a light switch or a kitchen faucet. It is a calling that lasts a lifetime. You never cease to be her child; she never ceases to be your mother. When you scraped your knee on the playground, she was deeply concerned. When you were hurt by your friends in high school, she was deeply concerned. Now, as an adult, when things happen to you or around you, she will still be deeply concerned. Learn to appreciate it. Share prayer requests when appropriate. Keep her plugged in. Be willing to embrace the reality that Mom is still Mom, regardless of your age. Doing this will bring her honor.

2. Seek to understand her as a woman. God made your mom a mother. However, He also made her a woman. She feels the feelings other women feel. She has the strengths other women have. She has the needs found in other women. When communicating with her, don't relegate her to something less than she is. Treat her with the honor due to women. Think of her as a woman. If you are her daughter, speak to her in the same way you want to be spoken to: with consideration, with patience, with understanding. If you are her son, treat her with respect; do not raise your voice at her; give her room to process her feelings as you would the other important women in your life (your wife or daughters). Doing this will bring her honor.

3. Seek to understand her as a person. I remember well in elementary school any time I'd see a teacher in the grocery store or the mall. They just didn't seem to belong there. They belonged in school. In my view, I suppose I thought that teachers powered off when I left and powered up when I got there. I never realized that they were real people.Your mother is a person, too, with parents, siblings, friends, interests, hobbies, etc. Being your mother is important to her, but it is not all she is. She is a whole person who is just as multi-faceted as you are.Acknowledge and embrace your mother's personhood. She came from a home and a time period of history. She has been shaped by the events of her life. Encourage her individuality. Ask her to tell you about her parents. Ask her to share some of her youth with you. Give her room to express who she is and how she got where she is. Offer to join her in something that is important to her. Doing this will bring her honor.

4. Seek to understand her as less than perfect. We often have storehouses of grace for people in our lives. We extend it numerous times each day. At the same time, we often have a standard of perfection for our mothers that would intimidate Mother Teresa. When your mother falls short of that standard, many of us have developed the habit of harping on it and magnifying it. She, like you, is less than perfect. She has quirks in her personality and tendencies toward certain types of sin—just like we do. Lower your standard for her. Give her room to be less than perfect. And, when she is, consider taking a trip to your storehouse of grace and tossing some in her direction. Doing so will bring her honor.

5. Speak well of her. This does not mean excusing issues that need to be discussed. This just means when you speak of her, speak well of her. Do not slander her to friends, siblings, or your spouse. You do everyone a disservice when you slander your mother. You disobey God; you harm her character; you taint how others perceive her; and you further ingrain a rejection of her—all because of speaking negatively about her.Choose to speak well of her to others. Speak words of encouragement when they come to mind—don't let the opportunity pass. If no words of blessing come to mind, pray in silence until the Lord brings them to mind. Do not feign affection if there is none there; however, resist the temptation to slander her. Doing so will bring her honor.

6. Remember her. When we leave our parents and cleave to our spouses, a great union is created. However, we often fail to recognize that a great void is left behind. When you left home, you left a person somewhere behind you who poured her whole life into developing you and caring for you. Now you're gone. Don't forget to turn around regularly and share your love, your concern, and your gratitude. Call her. Be sure that you initiate some of the calls, not waiting for the times she calls you. Switch it up as well. Send a card or an e-mail (flowers never hurt, either.) Doing so will bring her honor.

7. Help her understand her role in your family. Many mothers need help in this area. Help her understand the importance of time alone with your spouse. Help her understand areas where her input is valued and welcome. Help her understand areas where it is not. Be sure to discuss this with your spouse, whose insight into your mother and your relationship with her can be invaluable. Sharing your desires for her role in your family may expand her involvement; it may reduce her involvement. This may produce short-term tensions and discomfort. In the long run, though, doing so will bring her honor.

8. Anticipate her concerns. For as long as I can remember, my mother has always been concerned about my security. Am I safe? Am I alright? To her defense, I was always the pitcher on the baseball team, the goaltender on the soccer team, and the quarterback on the football team. I liked the risk and responsibility, but she hated it.As an adult, I can expect her to have these same concerns for me. There are times she'll ask me about my well-being. There are other times when I anticipate her concerns and inform her of my well-being. Each time, she has appreciated my speaking directly to her concern, even before she asked about it. Your mom may have vastly different concerns from mine. But this much is sure; if your mother has children, she has concern for them. Anticipate them. Let her know that you understand her. Initiating conversation on her concerns will help validate her feelings and calm her heart as well. The little bit of effort can go a long way in expressing love for her. Doing so will bring her honor.

9. Help her be a grandmother. If you live close to your parents, this may not be as much of an issue. However, if you live away, there is little doubt that your mother wishes she could see your children more. Of course, make an effort to visit when possible. When it is not possible, there are still other ways to honor her as a grandmother. Send pictures (especially candid shots through e-mails.) Have the children create cards and send them. Train your children to speak to their grandmother—even the teenagers. Talk about her with your children often. Help them to think of her each week. These are little things that go a long way to bridge the gap that the distance has created. Your effort will be appreciated. It will help her connect to your children. Doing so will bring her honor.

10. Desire to honor her. The suggestions listed above will not be very helpful unless your heart desires to honor your mother. The tone of your voice will give you away. If you struggle with desiring this, then begin praying to God. Ask Him to place that desire in your heart. Ask Him to reveal His heart as it relates to honor. Confess the sin He brings up in your mind. Change your actions and attitudes to better align with His directions and intentions for you. Do not give up on this. Every step you take, no matter how small, better honors God Himself. Your walk with God will benefit. Your marriage will benefit. Your children will benefit. In the end and through the process, your mother will benefit. God will smile on the change in you. Doing so will bring Him honor.

7 good habbits

1) CleaningI wouldn't call myself a cleaning fanatic or anything, but ever since I got married my standards of cleaning skyrocketed. Maybe it was because I could finally control my environment without three roommates...I dunno. However, I also found cleaning keeps me very happy. I can be in the worst mood and I know if I go scrub my bathroom, that frown will be turned upside-down. As for the habitual part of it, I clean my house everyday; pick-up clutter, empty garbage, kitchen and bedrooms. I also have Saturday-morning chores every week (on Fridays if we're busy on Saturday). This includes deeper cleaning, scrubbing the bathroom, mopping floors, vacuuming, dusting and any other needed chores. The opposite also applies--if my house is dirty--I get VERY grumpy.

2) Eating an Apple a DayThis is something I have picked up recently. If there is an apple in the house, I will eat one, usually as part of my lunch or for a snack,when I really want left-over Halloween candy (usually I just end up eating both). However, it helps me get my needed fruit servings and the fiber doesn't hurt anything either.

3) Bedtime RoutineI also have a very detailed bedtime routine, that if not followed leads to severe consequences. It goes as follows: Remove contacts, wash my face with my Neutrogena soap bar, brush my teeth, put in my retainer, blow my nose, put on my glasses (which can be rather difficult if they weren't previously located before taking out my contacts) and prayers.

4) Smelly Good HouseAnyone who knows me well knows I have a thing with smells. Poor Phil, not only can he not smell (well, he can, but I have like this super-capacity smelling shnoz that usually leaves his smelling abilities by the wayside) but there has been more than one occasion I have called him at work because I couldn't pinpoint a weird/new smell. Basically it comes down to I LOVE good smells and completely disgust bad ones. What I find good and bad...well that sometimes surprises people...but having a smelly good house can be more difficult than it sounds. Every day it is my mission to make sure my house smells normal and clean and hopefully on most days, absolutely scrumptious. I put high-quality candles on our "Needs" list and can hunt down a bad smell like a dog.

5) ExerciseI don't know how long you have to be doing something for it to actually become a habit (I heard once it was like 21 times or maybe 11...I dunno) but I have gone running--scratch that-- jogging, every other day for almost three weeks. The first week was a little scattered, but I found a couple of gals in my ward who also just had babies and they're training for 200 mile run (between 12 people) next August and they're gracious enough to let me tag along. It's nice because they aren't totally in shape yet, but still ahead of me by quite a ways, so it's a great way to push myself. If you only knew how much I hate running and how bad of shape I'm in, you too would also consider this quite a feat for me, even if it's only been three weeks.

6) ScripturesI have this goal by like age 50 to be this awesome scriptorian. I say age 50, because if I start now and work hard, I'll be lucky to make that goal. I really try hard to be in my scriptures at least once every day. Sometimes that does mean staring at the same scripture for 10 minutes while my brain processes every thought not relating to what I just read, but I do try hard to spend quality time with my scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon, on a daily basis. On a side note, I'm taking a Preach My Gospel class where we are color-coating certain scriptures in application to PMG...really fun.

7) FinancesI somewhere along the lines assigned myself with managing our finances. Anyhow, now that I'm able to stay at home I check and record our financial transactions daily along with adhering to a dedicated bill-paying schedule. Great habit? Yes. Whether I like it or not...all depends on the amount left when I'm done.

IMPROVING STUDY HABITS

Unfortunately, children are not born with the study habits needed for them to succeed in school. They must learn them. Very often children begin school without the skills they need to do well. Here are some things that parents can do to prepare their children for school as well as to improve their study habits.
*Start early. Although it is not recommended to begin formally teaching children before they start school, parents can begin to set a good example for their children long before they start school. This can be done by encouraging learning. Parents should try to read to their children daily. Reading skills are very important for success in school. Reading to children helps them develop a love for reading. Parents should provide plenty of interesting books for their children, too. Finally, parents can set a good example by reading often themselves.
Parents should try to encourage their children's natural curiosity about the world. Parents can do this by talking to their children, by listening to their children, and by answering their questions. Parents should also try to expose their children to as many exciting, stimulating things as possible.
*Get involved. Parents should take an interest in their children's education by joining the PTA or by becoming involved in other school activities. If parents believe their children's education is important enough for their involvement and attention, their children will take an interest, too. It is a good idea for parents to get to know and communicate with their children's teachers. Parents should give their children lots of encouragement, too. They should talk to their children about what they're doing in school. This will help to reinforce what they're learning.
Once the Homework Begins...
Once children reach the grades where homework and tests are part of the curriculum, there are many things parents can do to encourage good study habits.
*Set a schedule. Parents should decide with their children what time each day homework is to be done. While children are in the lower grades, one hour a day will probably be enough. As homework and responsibilities increase, more time will be needed. It is important that children take part in these decisions. Children need to know that they are able to make decisions about their studying. Once children and parents have decided on a schedule, they should stick to it. If there is no homework to be done on a given day, parents can have their children use this time as quiet time to read or work on long term projects. It's important for children to get used to studying every day.
*Provide a study area. Parents should provide a quiet, comfortable area for their children to study in. It's a good idea that studying be done in the same place every day. Parents should make sure their children have the supplies they need (for example, paper, pencils, a pencil sharpener). Sometimes children's bedrooms are not the best place to study. There are often lots of distractions in children's rooms.
*Help your children get organized. Parents should give their children a calendar on which to record assignments and to check them off when they're completed. Parents can also show their children how to keep their work and materials organized and how to prioritize assignments.
*Provide reinforcement. Parents should praise their children for working hard and completing assignments. Parents should keep in mind, though, that homework is not always fun. Don't expect perfection.
*Offer help. Parents should be available to answer any questions that might come up. They should try to provide information without actually doing the homework for their children.
*Give children the responsibility for their own homework. Parents cannot force their children to study. Nagging and threatening don't work. Children need to know that they are responsible for doing their homework and for studying. Parents should give their children the responsibility, and let them suffer the consequences if they, for example, fail to turn in an assignment. The parents' role is to provide support.
*If the schedule is not working, try a different one. If the plan parents and their children have come up with is not working, they should change it. Perhaps two shorter study periods per day will be easier to take than one long one. Perhaps an early evening study time will work better than one immediately after school. Parents and their children should work with the routine until they come up with one that works.
Remember, children must learn that they are responsible for their own learning. Parents can make the difference by giving their children the tools to do so.