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Tag: Human Development

New Year’s Resolutions

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

Happy New Year! Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? Were they personal, professional, simple, complicated, silly, fun, etc.? It is best to have a mixture of all, because in the end you want to become a better person right? Right!

Will you be able to accomplish it all? It is okay to fail at it! Forming a new habit is hard! They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit. That feels like a long time, but it will fly by!

By now some people reading this are thinking I did not make any resolutions and I have no idea where to start! Well my friends, you start by making SMART goals.

Specific: Goals should be simplistically written and clearly define what you are going to do.

Measurable: Goals should be measurable so that you have tangible evidence that you have accomplished the goal. Usually, the entire goal statement is a measure for the project, but there are usually several short-term or smaller measurements built into the goal.

Achievable: Goals should be achievable; they should stretch you slightly so you feel challenged, but defined well enough so that you can achieve them. You must possess the appropriate knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to achieve the goal.

Results-focused: Goals should measure outcomes, not activities.

Time-bound: Goals should be linked to a timeframe that creates a practical sense of urgency, or results in tension between the current reality and the vision of the goal. Without such tension, the goal is unlikely to produce a relevant outcome.

Now that you know how to make great goals, it is never too late to make some resolutions for the New Year! Good Luck!

Conflict

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

I hope your parents told you that one of the toughest challenges you might face is maintaining a long-term relationship. With that information you might better realize that the pathway of a relationship may have well-paved sections, but it may be littered with potholes and obstacles, as well. I borrow and adapt a portion of the opening line of Charles Dickens’ (1867) A Tale of Two Cities to complete the phrase, What I know about a long-term relationship… “It [is] the best of times, it [is] the worst of times.” My intention is neither to discourage nor scare you from committing to such a relationship, but I hope to encourage you to be ready for the work it takes to make such a relationship work.

 

Conflict is one thing that may be occurring during some of those worst of times. The American Heritage Dictionary defines conflict: “A state of disagreement or disharmony between persons or ideas.” Put two people in a room, even BFFs, and there is likely to be disagreement or disharmony, i.e., conflict. Continue reading “Conflict” →

How to Store Documents

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

Most households accumulate papers and records that are important to them but many people do not know the best way to store them. There are two common types of household record storage: at home and a safe deposit box.

At Home:

Most of your records will be kept at home. Paper documentation remains the comfortable choice for many people. If you store information electronically, it is important to ensure that your laptop or external hard drive is secure.  The Federal Trade Commission has additional information on security.

Many people receive bank and billing statements via email. The email will provide a link to your password protected online account. If you chose to go paperless in this way, be certain you download the documents to your computer or to a flash drive so you have a copy of them. Continue reading “How to Store Documents” →

Mindfulness Tips during the Holidays 

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

The holiday season can be stressful for many people.  There are several activities people try to manage.  There are several mindfulness strategies that can help reduce stress and allow you to experience a calmer holiday season.

  • Practice active listening
    • It can be easy to tune out during all the holiday hustle and bustle. By minimizing distractions, you may be surprised how much more you observe and hear which can be very rewarding.
  • Be open to the emotions of others
    • Consider the feelings of others around you during the holiday season. You can increase your ability to connect by being observant and receptive to them.
  • Be open to a range of emotions in yourself
    • Unfortunately, the holiday season can trigger a mixture of emotions that are not always joyful.  Consider allowing yourself space and recognize these feelings you may experience instead of seeking to lose them.
  • Let go of old habits or patterns that might be hold you back
    • There are many traditions and memories that the holidays bring; however, sometimes, old patterns can disseminate negativity. Be mindful of patterns that are bothersome. Allow yourself to be open to new experiences.
  • Expand how you communicate care
    • Many cultures practice gift-giving during the holidays; however, there are many additional ways to show you care. Before making a purchase, consider asking yourself what you are trying to communicate through the gift. There may be alternative ways to express your feelings or care like spending quality time or doing something nice for them.
  • Let go of judgment – both for yourself and others
    • Try to avoid conflict with others during the holiday season. This can lead to judgment and self-esteem issues. Take a step back and enjoy even the little things.
  • Balance the “should’s” with awareness of your own needs and practice self-compassion
    • Although, the holidays can bring many obligations, try to make time for yourself to avoid burnout and bitterness. Engage in fun and relaxing activities. When you do this, you may discover you will be more giving to others.

(information from www.psychologytoday.com)

Your Health This Holiday Season

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

Sharing is caring. This is a mantra you probably first heard at a young age, and it tends to come up often during the holiday season. Is sharing always caring, though? In the case of food gifts, I’m not so sure that it is.

While there are many things I love about the holiday season, one thing I dread is the omnipresence of sweet treats. Baked goods, candies and other homemade sweets seem to be everywhere, and avoiding them can take significant planning and effort! Continue reading “Your Health This Holiday Season” →

Domestic Violence and Males

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

With all this talk of domestic violence in the news and media these days, I wanted to make sure we talked about victims. Typically, we assume that all victims are female and that is not the case. 1 in 4 men have been physically abused and 1 in 7 men have been severely abused in a relationship. That is a high percentage that we tend to brush off and not focus on.

Reasons why we might not know men being abused by their dating partner is the stigma we put on men to be macho or manly, they tend to be stereotyped as the person who should not show emotion, when it is discussed it is treated as a joke and for those who have told someone the reply is, “Be a man,” or something that discourages them to speak up about it again. Continue reading “Domestic Violence and Males” →

#MeToo

Posted on by Harvey County K-State Research and Extension

#MeToo has been all over social media lately. It started from the Harvey Weinstein case. The campaign is about women using the hashtag along with Me Too to tell about their stories of domestic violence. Some of the stories I have read range all over the place. There are about abusive relationships, rape, crazy nights they cannot remember due to a drug slipped into their drink and just plan rude comments that women sometimes experience growing up.

Continue reading “#MeToo” →