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5 Organizational Tips for Military Life

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If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a military spouse, it’s to be organized.

Military life is full of challenges and being prepared and organized can make things so much easier. It’s a new year and we are all making resolutions. If yours is to be more organized, here are 5 tips to get you on track.

5 Organizational Tips for Military Life

Being organized will help reduce the stresses of military life.

5 Organizational Tips for Military Life

Minimize

It’s much easier to stay organized when you have fewer things to organize. I don’t like having clutter, especially paper clutter. A great idea is to open mail and immediately dispose of what you don’t need and file what you do need to keep. Have a specific place to put bills. Once they’re paid, file or shred them. Don’t leave papers out.

Pro-tip: Go paperless whenever possible.

It isn’t just paper that needs to be minimized. I remember shopping with my grandmother when I was little. When I found something I liked she would say

“do you need it or do you want it?”

I still think about that question when shopping and that keeps me from buying things I don’t need. Military families move so often and packing and unpacking can be daunting. Do you really want to move with so many things?

Minimizing the amount of things you own can help you stay organized. I keep a box for donations in my room. When I come upon something I don’t use, I drop it in there and take the box to the donation center when it’s full. If you do this regularly, when it’s time to PCS you won’t have as many things to go through before the packers come to your house.

You’ll also have more room in your closet for clothes you actually wear and your kids will have space for toys they really play with.

File

There are plenty of things you can’t get rid of though, including documents. I have a file box for my husband and myself as well as one for the kids. Paperwork that needs to be saved goes in their proper place as soon as I’ve gone through them. This includes insurance information, school transcripts and tax paperwork.

I also recommend creating a file or folder with important documents. This could have your marriage license, birth certificates, Social Security cards, passports, military orders, power of attorney, a printout of a LES, car titles, insurance information, important contact information, a copy of your will and more in it. These items are in my go-to file. It is so much faster to have everything in one spot when you need things in a hurry.

Prep

Being in a hurry happens a lot in military life. Planning ahead makes things go smoothly. I feel much better when I am prepared for moves, deployments and everyday life.

Don’t let yourself get stressed out. Make the time to get your thoughts organized. Do you have a PCS coming up? Will your spouse be deploying soon? Is your week going to be busy?

Prepare yourself for these things by thinking about what you need to do for each. If your spouse is deploying list the things you need them to do before they go and don’t wait until the last minute to do them.

If you’re moving this year, you’ll want to prep for the move.  Do as much as you can ahead of time. Start thinning out things you don’t need, gather things that you will need for the move and look into the area that you’re moving to.

If you have a busy week, make sure you’re prepared for it. Plan your meals for the week. Use your slow cooker for easy dinners. Make sure backpacks, diaper bags and lunches are packed the night before.

Delegate

You might feel like you have to do everything, but you don’t have to do it all yourself. Share the responsibility with your children. Kids of all ages can help around the house. Our 4 year old is in charge of feeding the dog and setting the table. If you have older kids, they can do laundry, empty the dishwasher and walk the dog. Everyone can help make dinner too. Children can even pack their own lunches.

If you are moving, have the kids declutter their room. Let them organize their toys. Put them in charge of preparing their things to be packed. Make them feel part of the process.

Reset

When my husband says he’s going to bed, he goes to bed.

When I say I’m going to bed, it never happens that I just go to bed. I always see something that needs to be done. I started thinking of it as resetting the house. This is basically tidying up the house so that I come down to a nicely organized space in the morning. This includes picking up things in the living room, putting away the dishes that dried, setting out items for breakfast and putting bags by the door.

Resetting can also be for your mind. Don’t go to bed with a million things on your mind. Review what you need to do before you go to bed so that when your head hits the pillow you fall asleep.

If you do some of these things to get organized, you’ll find your military life is more enjoyable and less stressful.

What do you do to keep your family organized?

Why Your Family Should Make Family Goals for 2017

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“Don’t count the time, make the time count.”

As a military spouse, I often feel like I’m constantly counting time. I count down the months until we move to Hawaii. I count down the weeks until my husband comes home from deployment. I count down the minutes until bedtime.

When I’m counting down the time instead of making the time count, I miss the highlights of life. I’m stuck in the day-to-day task list. Did we make any memories as a family in the past year? Or were we so focused on homework, ballet recitals and work deadlines that we didn’t take the time to enjoy life?

Making a family goal for the new year helps me slow down and remember what’s most important in my life.

Here are 12 goals that your family may want to embrace in the new year. These 12 ideas are a starting point for your family’s discussion about choosing a goal for 2017. Don’t try to do all 12 goals. Pick one that you can do together throughout the 12 months.

Note: Whatever goal your family makes, write down your goal in the present tense. This goal isn’t a hope or a wish. With a realistic action plan, your family can achieve your goal.  

In 2017 my family is an active family. Everyone in my house benefits from fresh air, sunshine and physical activity. We know that. Yet we are tempted to stay inside and watch a movie when our bodies really need a bike ride.

In this goal, schedule a weekly family outdoor activity.

In 2017 my family is a curious family. When we moved to Mississippi 2 years ago, I made a bucket list of the local attractions that I wanted to visit.

Can you guess how many we’ve crossed off the list?

Exactly 3.

I tend to return to familiar places instead of exploring new ones. I need to push myself to be curious and go outside my comfort zone.

In this goal, plan a weekly curious day where your family finds a new park, visits a local museum or eats dinner at a new restaurant.

In 2017 my family is a face-to-face family. Limiting screen time is like eating vegetables in my house. We know we should do it, but we don’t do it as much as we probably should.

In this goal, turn school nights into no-screens nights. You will be surprised how easy a blanket policy like this can work for small children.

In 2017 my family is an “outside the box” family. After a long day, making a homemade meal is the last thing I want to do.

I want to order pizza. For the second time this week.

But with proper meal planning, we can eat healthy and balanced meals nightly. And honestly eating healthy doesn’t have to be time consuming. Check out these quick and healthy recipes from DeCA’s dietitian.

In this goal, set aside an afternoon for meal planning. Depending on your child’s age, he or she may be able to help with meal prep.

In 2017 my family is a responsible family. I once had a deployment goal of teaching my kids to be responsible for their own belongings. This meant hanging up their backpacks when they came home from school, putting their shoes by the front door and clearing their dishes when they finished eating breakfast. Rocket science, right? Teaching responsibility for personal items is no easy task. But with constant and consistent reminders, my kids will do it.

In this goal, set a nightly 7-minute timer where every family member picks up and puts away their personal items that may be scattered throughout the house.

In 2017 my family is a green family. Making smart environmental choices isn’t difficult. For my family, it means bringing reusable grocery bags to the commissary, turning off the lights when we leave a room and purchasing food items with less packaging. Many habits that are good for the environment are also good for your bank account.

In this goal, pick one non-negotiable green policy that your family will embrace in 2017.

In 2017 my family is a patriotic family. My children know that their father serves in the military. But do they know that their grandpa and uncle were both in the Army? Probably not. I want my children to value military service and to be grateful to veterans for their service and sacrifice.

In this goal, volunteer with a veterans organization or simply teach your children to tell a veteran “thank you” when they meet one.

In 2017 my family is a less-is-more family. My house is crowded and it’s not with people. It stuffed with stuff.

In this goal, commit to making thoughtful purchases in the new year. For example, stick to your shopping list at the store and wait 24 hours before buying an item online. Those late-night impulsive purchases are the worst.

In 2017 my family is a giving family. We know that it’s better to give than to receive, but how often do we give? Giving is on my radar during the high-demand holiday season but I forget about it during the rest of year.

In this goal, your family volunteers regularly with a nonprofit organization.

Pro-tip: You can make a donation to your favorite charity through the Combined Federal Campaign.

In 2017 my family is a frugal family. Spending less and saving more money is a constant goal of mine. Do you feel the same way? Like all habits, spending less isn’t going to happen naturally. I need to put forth the effort to examine our spending habits and make a spending plan. It isn’t fun but it’s so important.

In this goal, sit down with your spouse to make a spending plan for the next year. Break it down into weekly spending plans to help you achieve your financial goals in the new year.

Pro-tip: Sign up for MilitaryShoppers newsletter to have tips on saving money, military discounts and commissary specials delivered to your inbox.

In 2017 my family is a reading family. It’s only 20 minutes. But sometimes prioritizing those 20 minutes of nightly reading is more like 17 minutes of nagging to read and 3 minutes of actual reading.

In this goal, set a reminder on your phone to “alert” you when it’s time to read together before bed.

In 2017 my family is a “no” family. Does anyone else feel overwhelmed and over-scheduled? Our weekends are filled with birthday parties and military social events. I like the weekends to be a time to recharge our batteries, not drain them completely.

I have the control to do that and the power is found in one small word: no. I plan to practice saying “no thank you” a lot more in 2017.

In this goal, thoughtfully consider one event or activity that you can decline to attend every month.

Does your family make goals for the new year? What is your family goal for 2017?

11 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Kids

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Sparkly dresses, champagne toasts at midnight and partying until the ball drops might be a thing of the past for parents. Unless you are ready to pay a hefty babysitter fee.

Luckily, you can still party like it’s 1999 with your kids! Well, maybe not quite that much fun, but pretty close.

Here are 11 ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve with your children.

Host a Kid-Friendly Soiree

Call up your other parent friends and invite them over for a fancy dress party. Serve finger foods like chicken nuggets and mini hot dogs, with champagne for the grown-ups and apple juice for the little ones.

Make Mocktails All Night Long

Older kids, and many adults, want to celebrate with fancy drinks but not the day-after results. Create fun mocktails with seltzer water, soda, fruit juice and garnishes. Make a mocktail of the hour and bust it out every 60 minutes. Check out these suggestions!

Celebrate a Different Midnight Ball Drop

The new year arrives at different times around the globe, which means that you don’t need to wait for midnight EST. Pick another location that matches your kiddo’s bedtime and roll with it! Live stream their celebrations, set the clocks ahead to match their time zone and blow your horns when the clock strikes midnight, over there. Kids get the fun of celebrating 2017, without staying up all night long.

Launch Sky Lanterns

Recreate the classic scene from the Disney movie “Tangled.” Sky lanterns symbolize hope and good wishes. They are perfect to ring in a new year! Have your kids write down their resolutions, wishes or prayers for 2017 and include them with the lantern. Then launch your lanterns as the sky is growing dark or just before bedtime. Make sure you are in a safe location and away from fire hazards. Check with your local fire department just in case.

Roast Marshmallows at a Christmas Tree Bonfire

What better way to get rid of a very dry Christmas tree than to have a bonfire! Gather up sticks and branches from the last winter storm or buy a few cords of wood. Invite your friends over to cook hot dogs and roast marshmallows over the flames. As a bonus, you’ll be nice and toasty while you enjoy some fresh air as 2016 ticks away. Just make sure you are following fire safety guidelines for your area!

Have an Epic Game Night

Bring out ALL the board games for one night of endless playtime. Make it a family affair or invite friends and neighbors over to play with you. Start with the classics and end with modern favorites or play games that you loved as a child. It’s a great chance to share memories and practice winning (and losing) with grace.

Invite Friends to Eat Around the World

New Year’s Eve at home is a great opportunity to try out all those Pinterest recipes you’ve been saving all year! Start early, with fun appetizers, and end with dessert just before bed. In between, try out recipes, tapas style, from around the world. Sushi from Japan, hummus and pita bread from the Middle East, bangers and mash from England, or poutine from Quebec.

To keep your New Year’s Eve menu kid-friendly, try serving Candy “Sushi” Fruit Roll Ups.

Go where your taste buds take you! If you’re really ambitious, you could attempt to coordinate a new food with when midnight arrives in that country or region.

If you’re not ambitious, you could order take-out from a variety of restaurants.

Snuggle on the Couch with a Classic Movie Night

Go with classic movies from the golden age of cinema or your favorite Disney movies as a kid or really any combination of movies you love. Snuggle up on the couch with popcorn, candy and pizza, then push play.

Celebrate Hannukah

The Jewish festival of lights ends on January 1, 2017. Celebrate hope and faith by lighting your own candles, menorah or sparklers. Play dreidel and eat delicious latkes or sufganiyot, a deep-fried doughnut filled with jelly or custard. Then initiate your children to the glory that is the “Hannukah Song” by Adam Sandler. Maybe edit out some of the more risque bits though.

Organize a Living Room Slumber Party

Set up sleeping bags, or make a tent out of blankets. Watch movies, play games and eat junk food until the kids fall asleep! Then you and your spouse can keep the party going, quietly, or can join your children in dreamland.

Make a Fancy First Breakfast

After all the celebrating the night before, refuel with a delicious breakfast on New Year’s Day! Go all out with pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage, french toast and juice (or mimosas). While you eat, ask your family to talk about goals for the new year or remember their favorite parts of 2016.

How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve with your kids?

4 Positive New Year’s Resolutions for MilSpouses

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With the New Year less than a week away, resolutions are one of the first things that come to mind. It gives us a reason to start something new or get back on track with something that has been a project of ours for awhile.

The New Year is the perfect opportunity for us to reevaluate our lives. Resolutions aren’t for everyone and can be argued that military spouses should ditch it because our lifestyle is so fluid. It could be difficult to stick to a big commitment, especially if an unexpected PCS comes along or deployment.

As military spouses, I encourage exploring unique New Year’s resolutions that are perfectly tailored for the military lifestyle. Instead of focusing on what to “fix” with our lives, let’s create resolutions that bring out the best of military life.

4 Positive New Year’s Resolutions that Military Spouses Should Make in 2016

4 Positive New Year's Resolutions for Military Spouses

What’s your New Year’s resolution for 2016?

Revisit or create your duty station bucket list.

My husband and I made a huge Washington, D.C., bucket list when we first arrived. We were excited for the opportunity to go around and see all the history in our nation’s capital. Flash-forward almost 2 years now, we’ve only scraped the surface. It was just a month ago that my husband was able to visit the National Mall as a tourist, instead of quickly passing it by.

We’ve also gotten comfortable with our favorite places and would continue to go to them when we had free time (i.e. Shenandoah National Park) but there are so many other wonderful parks nearby too! Really, we should take our free time to cross off more points on our duty station bucket list.

In 2016, we’re going to revisit this list and make sure we’re on track to finish it completely before orders come our way. With that said, military spouses should take a look at their duty station bucket lists too.

Try a new activity.

I’ve met lots of truly amazing military spouses in my journey that have opened my eyes to some new activities. I recently participated in a painting party that was arranged by a local military spouse. It sounds silly, but I was nervous going into it at first because I don’t have much artistic ability. I had so much fun painting though!

Whether it’s a painting party or playing a new sport, a new activity is a wonderful way to engage with your local friends and maybe add another hobby to your list. Next time a military spouse invites you to a new activity, say yes and give it a shot!

Volunteer for something you are passionate about.

Military spouses love to give back to the community. I’ve witnessed that as a military kid and now as a military spouse. There are so many wonderful organizations out there that benefit our community.

It’s a natural addition to a military spouses’ resolution list.

I spend my free time volunteering at the local spouses’ club fundraising for dependent scholarships. It really gives me fulfillment to dedicate my time to help military spouses and children achieve higher education.

Travel to someplace new or unexpected.

I advocate for traveling. I blame my parents for giving me wanderlust as a military kid. It’s really opened my eyes to the world and has given me an appreciation for other cultures, even within the United States.

Yes, the military helps your wanderlust by stationing you at new locations every handful of years. Another great opportunity for military spouses to travel is tagging along for a TDY for at least part of the time (that’s how we saw the Grand Canyon).

But, don’t take your spouse’s leave time for granted either! Plan time to visit family and friends and take time off for a much needed vacation too.

My husband and I have been planning at least a week away at a new location every year we’ve known each other. This past year we went to Alaska, the year before that the Caribbean and we’re planning to go to New Zealand in 2016.

What’s your New Year’s resolution for 2016?

6 Healthy Heart Practices

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As a military wife, I spend a lot of time worrying about my husband. I’m concerned for his safety and well-being when he’s at a FOB. I worry about attacks, but also about tragic accidents that take the lives of service members during training exercises.

At home, I worry about my small children. Are they eating a well-balanced diet? Do they need more physical activity during the day? How much is too much screen time?

But when it comes to my health, I don’t worry. My health, including daily exercise and eating leafy greens, tends to get pushed to the back burner. “I’m fine,” I tell myself. I’ll stop eating fast food and find time for yoga someday. Like I said, my mental back burner.

6 Healthy Heart Practices to Reduce Your Chances of a Heart Attack

Which healthy heart habits do you practice?

Then I read Angie Ricketts’ memoir “No Man’s War: Irreverent Confessions of an Infantry Wife.” This book opens with Ricketts driving herself to the emergency room because she was suffering an out-of-the-blue heart attack. Ricketts wasn’t a smoker, didn’t have a family history of heart problems and ran regularly.

I put down the book and thought to myself, if this Army wife suffered a heart attack, what’s preventing me from having one?

February is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease—including heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure—is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States. I always thought it was breast cancer. Turns out I was wrong. I was also wrong when I thought that there was nothing I could do to prevent heart disease. Turns out, those healthy habits I’m pushing on my daughters– I should be pushing on myself.

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that researchers determined that three-quarters of heart attacks in young women could be prevented if women closely followed 6 healthy lifestyle practices. Women who adhered to all 6 healthy lifestyle practices had a 92 percent lower risk of heart attack and a 66 percent lower risk of developing a risk factor for heart disease.

Here are the 6 healthy habits to help prevent heart disease.

  1. No smoking. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do smoke, now is the time to quit. Tobacco-cessation products are covered under Tricare.
  2. Maintain a normal body mass index. Is your body mass index normal? Or do you need to lose 10 pounds this year? Schedule an appointment with your PCM and ask those questions. Maybe 2015 is the year that you lose the extra weight you’ve been carrying.
  3. Exercise. The study found that a minimum of 2.5 hours of physical activity per week is the workout that your heart needs to keep beating properly. My PCM recommended that I walk at least 30 minutes daily to reduce stress, anxiety and reduce fatigue. When I do it, I always feel energized. When I don’t, I find myself binge watching on Netflix.
  4. Watch 7 or fewer hours of television per week. One hour per day. It’s the same restrictations that I apply to my children. It turns out the same applies to me.
  5. Drink one alcoholic beverage per day. As we know a glass of red wine is good for our hearts. A bottle of red wine, not so much.
  6. Eat a healthy diet. This month, I’m working to incorporate 1 vegetable and 1 fruit into all 3 meals. This means less time in the snack aisle of the commissary and more time selecting fresh produce. Again, it’s something I do for my children. Now I know that these healthy heart habits that I push on my children, I need to push on myself.

What is one healthy heart habit you can start this month?

5 Things Not to Do if You Want to Lose Weight

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I was overweight.

During a doctor’s visit years ago, I stepped onto a scale to discover shocking numbers. It was my first time seeing my then doctor, so after we recorded my vital signs we talked about my health and goals. She was trying to be kind, but when you tell someone that they’re overweight, it’s not something to take lightly.

I was a very active child and enjoyed sports and different outdoor activities. I would say my struggle really started after high school and left home. My weight would fluctuate a lot, but I noticed my clothing size get bigger and bigger. Honestly, I must have been in denial and dismissed everything entirely.

6 Tips to Lose Weight and Feel Healthy

That doctor’s visit gave me the push I needed because someone was brave enough to tell me the truth. My health habits haven’t been the best.

I left the office determined to be healthy and took it on myself to change my lifestyle. Finally, I had the means and drive to map out a plan.

Here are my 5 major “don’t’s” that helped me lose 60 pounds in 2 years:

  1. Don’t weigh yourself. I know I probably sound nuts, but I didn’t weigh myself once in the two years I lost weight. Well, besides the two times I visited my doctor for an annual visit and that’s when I actually learned how much weight I lost. My goal wasn’t to lose weight…it was to be and FEEL healthy. At least for myself, if I start fixating on a number, I might drive myself crazy. So, losing weight is the result of being healthy, I quickly found that out.
  2. Don’t stay inside. I would say this is the most important step I took in my journey. Instead of going straight home after work, I would go to the gym four days out of the week for 30 minutes. I utilized a New Year’s discounted gym membership plan, but there are lots of different ways to make the gym affordable for you. I also used groupon, livingsocial and lifebooker deals on cardio dance classes to add variety to my workouts. Check out your installation’s gym facility, they might even have that available like mine does here at Fort Belvoir. If you live near or on an installation, there are also gym facilities that you can use for free. The elliptical was my go-to machine and I would listen to my favorite music to pump me up. It really was hard for me not to go straight home after ten hours of working and commuting every day. No excuses became my motto.
  3. Don’t diet. I would never stop eating the foods I loved. Are you kidding me? My favorite dessert is cake and I don’t think punishment is the way to go. Instead, reward yourself after a good workout. Motivate and encourage yourself that at the end of an hour of Zumba, there is a delicious cupcake waiting for you. It doesn’t go without saying though that I changed my eating habits overall. I made sure I stopped eating when I was full and actually stopped drinking soda regularly. Water became me source of hydration and it made me feel better, so I naturally stopped craving soda. Eat what makes you happy, but be mindful of moderation and nutrition. I never counted calories either, only practice recipes that were “more healthy.”
  4. Don’t expect a change overnight. It really took a lot of self motivating to get through each year, but a lifestyle change doesn’t come quickly. That’s why I never did so well with dieting because if I did, I would see immediate results, but then, it would be twice as easy to gain it all back and then some. I had to constantly keep telling myself that as long as I maintain my goals, it will pay off eventually.
  5. Don’t do this alone. It’s a rough journey and having a good support system is key. Before my husband came along, my roommates and friends helped keep me on track and went to workouts with me. There were still there even after my husband and when he’s away! I wouldn’t be where I’m at now without them all. Now, my husband and I keep active by hiking, biking and going to the gym together. We keep each other in check and I’m happy to say enjoy exploring new places, while working out.6 Tips to Lose Weight and Feel Healthy

After lots of practice, it starts to become second nature. I’ve maintained my weight and activity level for two years after I lost it. Remember the goal is to be and feel healthy!

3 Easy Ways to Spend Less Money in 2015

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I don’t know about you but when a new year starts I always think a lot about our money situation: how we are spending our income, which debts we are going to pay off and how much money we are going to save. It only make sense to do this when you are starting a new year.

It is always a good idea to figure out how to spend your money wisely. It shouldn’t matter how much you make. It is a good thing to work to make every dollar go a little further.

3 Easy Ways to Spend Less Money in 2015

Here is a list of 3 ways to help you spend less money in 2015.

They have worked for many people and they can help you get on the road to a better relationship with your income.

  1. Use Cash. This is as simple as making a budget and going to the ATM to get your money out. A lot of people like to use envelopes for different categories such as groceries, entertainment and gas. By using cash you can get a very visual idea of where your money is actually going. It is also harder for a lot of people to spend cash. Using a card is easier and requires less thought. Once you run out of cash for a particular category for the month, you can’t spend any more money.
  2. Use Coupons. Couponing can seem a little overwhelming but once you know what you are doing, clipping coupons becomes a habit. All you need to do is start buying your local newspaper on Sundays, find coupons online and go to the right websites to help you match them with your local stores. It will take you about an hour to get ready for your shopping trip but the savings will be worth it. When you match coupons to sales you are able to save more money than you would think. There are also a lot of great resources out there for those wanting to learn about couponing. Don’t forget to add digital coupons to your commissary rewards card app every week.
  3. Save Your Spare Change. Find an extra plastic tub of some kind. You can also buy a piggy bank. Put all your spare change in it. When it is filled, go and cash it in. You would be surprised to find out how much money you can save this way. You could use the money for a family event or put it in savings. Tell your kids about it and have them contribute to the jar. You will have even more change if you use the cash system to help save money.

Even by making a few changes, you can see a big difference. You can make room in your budget to pay down more debt, save a little bit more or vacation a little bit more with your family. Take baby steps to achieve your financial goals and take the time to sit down with your spouse to discuss what you want in the next few years. It is very helpful to have a goal and be able to work together to get to where you want to be financially.

How are you planning to spend less in 2015?

Why You Should Ditch Your New Year’s Resolutions

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With New Year’s Eve comes making new goals and resolutions. This is why the fitness centers are packed and our social media feeds are filled with encouraging ideas on how to save money, eat healthier or keep an organized household. Goals can be a good thing but they can also appear irrational or absurd.

Why You Shouldn't Keep Your New Year's Resolution

It might not be the best idea to stick to a New Year’s resolution.

Life changes, month by month. You never know what June will be like in January. Sometimes New Year’s resolutions can cause more stress than satisfaction. It would be better to think about the things in your life that you would like to change and figure out how you can make those adjustment in simple steps.

If your goal is to lose weight, you should figure out the best way to do so. Going gluten free might sound like a great idea but it isn’t that realistic for everyone. For most people, whole grains are a part of a healthy and balanced diet. Figure out what is holding you back from your goal weight and make changes that include both diet and exercise.

If you want to be a better mom, work toward that but don’t worry about having to become a perfect mom. A perfect parent simply doesn’t exist. If you want to go back to school, it is probably best to not jump in full-time if you are not totally sure that is what you want to do. Signing up for a few classes might be a much better choice.

It is great to work on your marriage but don’t complicate things or put too much pressure on yourselves. If you can only go out once a month or even two times a year, that is OK. Weekly date nights might sound like a great idea but not everyone is able to do them, especially with a busy military schedule.

One idea is to sit down at the start of every month or even every week and figure Why You Shouldn't Keep Your New Year's Resolutionsout what you need to change and make better in your life. Don’t worry about changing everything by the end of January. It isn’t possible to become a new person that quickly. By taking things month by month, you are more likely to see the changes you want to see, even if it takes longer to get there.

Find friends to share your ideas with, they could be working on the same types of goals you are. If you want to exercise more, find a workout buddy. If you want to learn a new skill, find a friend and sign up for a class. There are a million ways to make your life better but you don’t have to use January 1 as the reason to do so. Our lives are always changing and there is always some growing to do.

You can also focus on a word for the year. Some popular choices seem to be contentment, faith, inspired, brave or authentic.

What about you? Do you make New Year’s resolutions or do you tend to stay away from those? What are your goals for 2015? Share your thoughts in the comments section.