March 2023

Today’s Resolution: Be a Calendar Curator

Too many things to keep track of? Many people take advantage of electronic calendars and organizers (Blackberry Butlers) to sort out the day’s activities. Sometimes an old fashioned oversized blank desk calendar can provide universal access in a household to everyone’s appointments, meetings, and activities. Put it on the refrigerator or tack it to a convenient bulletin board. Even if you live alone, having everything in one place to view without relying on technology can help you sort things out with just a quick glance. No buttons required.

Today’s Resolution: Make a Paper Trail

Keeping track of expenses makes good sense, but managing the receipts for them is practical sense. Receipts are multi-faceted with what information they can yield when you need it. Many stores offer online survey information in receipts that can net you credits or discounts. Instead of jamming receipts into a wallet or some other convenient place, designate a large envelope for them.

Would you rather go paperless? If purchases are made on credit cards, many companies organized receipt information for you by the category of the purchases to track spending habits. Those small slips of paper can help a great deal in the long run when trying to stick to a budget or sort out tax information. 

Today’s Resolution: Build Brain Power

When was the last time you learned something new? Consider taking a course online through your local community college, library, or elsewhere. Take something for personal enrichment, for skill-building in your job, or to work toward a degree. There are many free and informational classes as close as the internet. Listen to a free lecture on a topic of interest through i-Tunes University or even watch an educational clip through YouTube. If you are seeking less formality, check out a “how to” video or article.

Today’s Resolution: Invest in a Dime a Dozen

There are many people who will swear by the “bulk” method of grocery shopping whether they are purchasing for an individual or a large family. With accessibility to so many bulk distributors, it does seem very appealing to shop this way. However, do not always assume you are automatically saving money here when you shop.

Check out locations near you and see if the prices add up to savings. Even though most require an annual membership, many do provide free “guest” visits. Take a calculator and calculate the price per item for your favorite products. Don’t forget to consider gas money if you have to travel some distance.  Then decide: To bulk or not to bulk?

Today’s Resolution: Exhume Your Resumé

Whether you are content in a job or are in the process of looking for work, now might be a good time to review your resumé. Update any skills you might have recently learned; add any experiences which might be pertinent; include any coursework you may have completed. Gather some honest and objective feedback from a friend or colleague. There are many templates for layouts and designs to be found on the internet or word processing programs to give your resumé a fresh face. You never know when that perfect job may show up on your doorstep; you’ll want to be ready when opportunity knocks.

Image Source: ProfessionalResumes on Etsy

Today’s Resolution: Hang It Out to Dry

The next time you do laundry (at home or at a laundromat), try hanging dry some of the wash instead of using the dryer. If you have a clothes line, use it! Create your own make shift laundry line if possible. Be careful of how you hang items; some may stretch or become misshaped. If you try this outside, be sure the climate is cooperative. Hanging clothes in the wrong season or place could land you with a shirt-cicle!

Image source: Richard_of_England on Flickr

Today’s Resolution: “Petal” Some Joy

Make a point to present someone with a flower. It need not be a major production; it can be more of a “just because” to thank someone or a gesture of appreciation. If you live where there are wild flowers or you have a flower garden, clip something in bloom. Most grocery stores have a florist department where you can get an inexpensive single stem carnation which can make an impact too. If these options are not possible, send an electronic image of a flower via email with a short note.. hey, why not?

Image source: Sarah Royce on Flickr

Today’s Resolution: Go Find Yourself

An internet presence is vital for many things such as marketing and social networking. Image and character are being evaluated more and more in cyberspace so it could be wise to “go find yourself” every so often. Use several search engines and enter your name to see what comes up. Friends, family and employers could be doing the same thing in seeking you out. Be able to defend posting choices you have made. See if there is someone else with the same name who might be confused with you. Be aware of the information that random net surfers can uncover about you.

Today’s Resolution: Pass it Along

Every time we watch the show Hoarders, we get a very uncomfortable feeling that implores us to clean. Mind you, we’re not a neat freaks either. Today’s resolution is not advising you to clean (hopefully you don’t need to be told to do that). However, it is a gentle coaxing to get you to choose an item that you have been clinging to over the years that really has no value (sentimental or otherwise) and get rid of it.

In other words, it’s just taking up space for no other reason than you cannot seem to part with it. Throw it away; donate it to a charity; give it to a friend. Today is the day to give it up. Good luck!