How to Set Goals for Life

Most people have a dream in life, a vision of who or what they'd like to be in the future. At a minimum, everyone has interests and values that determine what they want out of their lives. Even so, trying to set to achievable goals that you'll work for over the course of many years can be daunting. It can be hard to know where to even begin, and the things you hope to achieve may seem impossible. But, If you're well-prepared you may be able to set goals for your life that are just as fulfilling to work toward as to achieve.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Developing Life Goals

1. Think about what you want. Many people have only a vague sense of what they want from life. In this first step, your task is to starting converting ideas like "happiness" or "security" into things you would like to do.
   
   • Get a pen and some paper and start writing down things that are important to you in life. It's okay to be general at this stage, but try not to be vague.
   • For example, if the first thing that pops into your head is "happiness," that's fine. But try to define that term. What does "happiness" mean to you? What would you consider a happy life?^[1]
   • Think about how you wish to live and what it would take to make you feel like you'd made a difference in the world, if that's something you're interested in.^[2]
2. Write about yourself. One good way to start moving from general to specific is to do some free-writing about yourself. Think about your personality and your interests. This can help you define what is most important to you.^[3]
   
   • Try writing about how you enjoy spending your time. Begin your brainstorm by writing down what you enjoy doing and what excites you.^[4]
   • Don't limit yourself to activities or experiences that you think are productive or "worth doing." The point of a brainstorm is to get down as many ideas as possible, and this list will be useful later on in the process.
   • Write about things you are interested in and/or would like to learn more about. Are you interested in science? In literature? In music? Any of these could become lifelong pursuits.
   • Write about things about yourself you'd like to improve. Are you hoping to develop your skills as a public speaker? As a writer? As a photographer? Again, these can all become life-long pursuits.
3. Imagine your future. Think about your ideal future. What does it look like? Ask yourself questions that will help you get to a detailed picture.^[5] For example, imagine you are trying to decide on a long-term career. Here are some questions you might ask:
   
   • What time do you want to wake up every morning?
   • Where do you want to live? The city? A rural area? A foreign country?
   • Who will be there when you wake up? Is it important to you to have a family? If so, a job that requires a lot of long trips out of town might not be the best choice.
   • How much money do you want to make?
   • The answers to these questions may not be enough to point you toward a single dream job, by they can certainly help you rule some out.
4. Make your goals specific. After all this brainstorming, you should have some ideas about what you'd like to do with your life. In fact, you probably have several! Now is the time to make them as specific as possible.^[6]
   
   • For example, you may at this point have the idea that you might want to become a scientist. That's a good start. But now, think about what type of scientist you'd like to be. Do you want to be a chemist? A physicist? An astronomer?
   • Be as specific as you can. Imagine you've decided becoming a chemist might be the right path for you. Now, ask yourself what type of work you'd like to do within that field. Do you want to work for a private company, developing new products? Do you want to teach chemistry at a university?
5. Think about why. By now, you probably have a few strong contenders for life goals. Examine each one and ask yourself: "why do I want that?" Your answers may lead you to revise your goals.^[7] In general, setting goals that are meaningful to you because they relate to your personal values will make you more likely to succeed at reaching them.^[8]
   
   • For example, let's say you've decided to put "become a surgeon" on the list. You ask yourself why, and determine that it's because surgeons make a lot of money and are well respected. Those are valid reasons. But, if you discover that those are the only reasons, you might want to consider other careers that could provide the same benefits. Becoming a surgeon requires a lot of education. It can require keeping very unusual hours. If these things are less appealing, consider other goals that might achieve the same benefits of wealth and respect.

[Edit]Making a Plan for Achievement

1. Rank your goals. At the point that you have a few (or many) possible life goals, it's time to get serious about making a plan for achievement. A first step in this is prioritizing your goals. Be careful not to just set goals that you think will make you happy once you achieve them, but goals that also honor your values and reflect who you truly are and what you truly care about. These are easier to follow through on!^[9]
   
   • Deciding which goal or goals are most important can help you decide which ones to start working on first.
   • You also may need to start cutting goals from the list at this point. Some goals may not be achievable together. For example, you probably can't become a doctor who is also an astronaut and a famous rap music artist. Any one of these goals can take a lifetime to achieve. All of them together may be impossible.
   • Other goals might work well in tandem. For example, if you want to be a beer brewer and open a restaurant, you might combine these to create a new goal: open a brew pub.
   • Part of this ranking process will be a matter of assessing your personal commitment to each goal. You are not likely to achieve long-term goals that you are only moderately committed to, especially if there are other goals on your list that are much more important.^[10]
2. Do some research. Once you've narrowed the field to a single goal or a few that work well together, take some time to find out how to achieve these goals.^[11] You'll want to ask questions like:
   
   • What skills will you need to learn?
   • What educational qualifications are necessary?
   • What types of resources will you need to acquire?
   • How long should you expect the process to take?
3. Create subgoals. Achieving life goals is almost always a long and complicated process. Based on your knowledge of what it will take to achieve your goal, the next step is to break it down into smaller components.
   
   • Creating subgoals will make the process manageable and will help you create a step-by-step plan for reaching your ultimate goal.^[12]
   • Make these subgoals as measurable and tangible as possible. In other words, there should be a clear definition of each subgoal that makes it easy to tell when you have achieved it.^[13]
   • For example, if your goal is to open a restaurant, your subgoals might include saving up a certain amount of money, finding a location, designing the interior, getting it furnished, obtaining insurance, getting various permits and licenses, hiring employees, and finally, having a grand opening.
   • When working on long term goals, it's easy to feel like you aren't getting anywhere. With list of manageable and clear subgoals, however, it is much easier for you to see your own progress. This reduce the temptation to give up.
   • Try divide and accomplish strategy with long term goals (years), short term goals (months), projects (weeks), and tasks (days). A good goal planning software can also help you to be accountable, list and organize your projects and extract your most important tasks and plans every day.
4. Create a timeline. Once you've got the steps to achieving your goal mapped out, set some deadlines. Think about how long each sub goal should reasonably take, and make a timeline for achieving them.
   
   • Having deadlines will keep you motivated by adding a sense of urgency. It will also make you accountable for meeting goals at certain times, rather than letting them slip down your priority list.^[14]
   • Using the restaurant example, if you want to have $10,000 saved within three years, you can break that down to about $278 a month.This will help you remember to actually set aside the money each month, rather than spending it on other things.
5. Plan for obstacles. Finally, try to imagine things that could interfere with your plan. Thinking in advance about obstacles you might encounter will help you develop ideas for how to deal with them, if they come up.^[15]
   
   • For example, imagine you have decided to become a research chemist. You decide to apply for a graduate program in the top school for chemistry. What happens if you aren't accepted? Will you apply elsewhere? If so, you'll probably need to do so before you even find out if your first-choice school accepted you. Or maybe you think it's a better idea to wait until the following year and apply again. If so, what will you do during that year to make your application more appealing?

[Edit]Working Toward Your Goals

1. Create the right environment. Whatever your goal, there are probably some environments that are better for achieving it than others. Do whatever you can to make sure that the people and physical spaces you spend time with don't create obstacles.^[16]
   
   • For example, if you are entering a medical program, you're going to need to study long hours and concentrate on your work. If you live with friends who party all the time and will encourage you to do the same, you might want to consider moving.
   • Surrounding yourself with other goal-oriented people can also help keep you accountable and motivated.
2. Get to work. Pick a date to begin work on the first subgoal on your list. Then, dive in!
   
   • If you aren't sure how to accomplish your first subgoal, it is too complicated to be your first subgoal. If you can't identify the first step toward that goal, you may need to to more research and/or break it down into smaller subgoals.
   • Set a start date at least a few days in the future. If it's a goal you're excited about, the anticipation will help get you motivated and enthusiastic for the first step.^[17]
   • You can also use the downtime before the start date to adjust your plan, get advice, or acquire any tools you need to achieve your goal.
3. Work on your goals consistently. Once you get started, the key to achieving life goals is work on them steadily and consistently. This is a step-by-step process that is going to take a long time. It is crucial, therefore, to keep making progress.
   
   • Many people set goals and then jump in with great enthusiasm, devoting a lot of time and energy to the goal in the early stages. Enthusiasm is great, but try not to burn yourself out in the first few weeks or months. You also don't want to set standards that you won't be able to live up to in the long run. Remember that you are in this for the long haul. This isn't a race, it's a journey.^[18]
   • A good way to ensure consistent progress is to build time into your daily routine for working on your goals.^[19] For example, if you are studying to become a chemist, set aside a specific portion of each day for homework from your classes, for example, 3pm to 7pm. Set aside a specific part of the day for developing your own research, say 7:30pm to 9pm. Try to always use these hours for these purposes, unless you absolutely must deviate from that schedule. But at 9pm, call it quits for the night and do something to relax.
   • Keep in mind that to achieve any goal, there is no away around investing a lot of time and effort. Putting in the hours and the sweat is how you will achieve your goal.^[20]
4. Stay motivated. Because consistency is so important, it is crucial that you stay motivated.
   
   • Having achievable subgoals is crucial to your motivation. It will be much easier to stay enthusiastic and committed if you feel that you are making progress.^[21]
   • Use reinforcement to create incentives. Positive reinforcement is adding something good to your life. Negative reinforcement is taking away something unwanted. Both can help you stay motivated. If you are trying to keep yourself focused on filling out a permit application for your restaurant, and notice you are getting distracted, offer yourself a reward. Maybe after you've finished the application, you can treat yourself to a professional massage. Or, maybe you'll be more motivated by allowing yourself to skip out on a weekly chore for once. Either way, reinforcement can keep you on task.^[22]
   • Punishing yourself for failing to achieve subgoals is not as effective as reinforcement good behavior. If you opt to create unpleasant consequences for yourself, make sure to use rewards, too.^[23]
5. Track your progress. One of the best ways to stay motivated is keep track of your progress and check it regularly. Depending on your goal and personal preferences, you can use an app, a journal, or a calendar.
   
   • Any of these will help remind you of subgoals you've already achieved. They can also keep you accountable to yourself for staying on schedule.^[24]
   • Writing in a journal regularly can also help ease stress and anxiety that might come with the process of striving for a long term goal.^[25]

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• Goals often change along with life experiences. Make a conscious effort to think about your goals regularly, instead of blindly following a path you decided on years before. It's ok to make revisions.

[Edit]Warnings

• Avoid creating "negative" goals, which focus on what you dislike instead of what excites you.^[26] For example, "stop getting into bad relationships" is less effective than "find a fulfilling relationship."

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Achieve Something in Life
• Figure out Your Life

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ Morisano, D., Hirsh, J. B., Peterson, J. B., Pihl, R. O., & Shore, B. M. (2010). Setting, elaborating, and reflecting on personal goals improves academic performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(2), 255.)
2. ↑ [v161308_b01]. 13 March 2020.
3. ↑ Morisano, D., Hirsh, J. B., Peterson, J. B., Pihl, R. O., & Shore, B. M. (2010). Setting, elaborating, and reflecting on personal goals improves academic performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 95(2), 255.)
4. ↑ http://www.fastcompany.com/3029765/work-smart/how-to-set-goals-for-the-life-you-actually-want
5. ↑ http://www.mindtools.com/page6.html
6. ↑ Austin, J. T., & Vancouver, J. B. (1996). Goal constructs in psychology: Structure, process, and content. Psychological Bulletin, 120, 338 –375.
7. ↑ Brunstein, J. C. (1993). Personal goals and subjective well-being: A longitudinal study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 65, 1061–1070.
8. ↑ [v161308_b01]. 13 March 2020.
9. ↑ [v161308_b01]. 13 March 2020.
10. ↑ Koestner, R., Lekes, N., Powers, T. A., & Chicoine, E. (2002). Attaining personal goals: Self-concordance plus implementation intentions equals success. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83, 231–244.
11. ↑ http://www.lifecoach-directory.org.uk/blog/2014/06/30/rediscover-your-motivation-and-set-achievable-goals-with-life-coach-directory/
12. ↑ http://us.reachout.com/facts/factsheet/putting-your-goals-into-action
13. ↑ http://www.goalsettingbasics.com/support-files/smart-instructions.pdf
14. ↑ http://www.connectionsacademy.com/blog/posts/2014-01-10/How-Students-Can-Achieve-Goals-by-Setting-Deadlines.aspx
15. ↑ http://theinvestingmindset.com/goal-setting-how-to-to-achieve-your-goals-in-7-steps
16. ↑ http://leavingworkbehind.com/how-to-set-goals/
17. ↑ http://zenhabits.net/the-ultimate-guide-to-motivation-how-to-achieve-any-goal/
18. ↑ http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/resolution.aspx
19. ↑ http://examinedexistence.com/why-having-a-daily-routine-is-important/
20. ↑ http://theinvestingmindset.com/goal-setting-how-to-to-achieve-your-goals-in-7-steps
21. ↑ Duckworth, A. L., Peterson, C., Matthews, M. D., & Kelly, D. R. (2007). Grit: perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Journal of personality and social psychology, 92(6), 1087.
22. ↑ http://www.appliedbehavioralstrategies.com/reinforcement-101.html
23. ↑ https://www.mdaap.org/pdf/Bi_Ped_Brief_Interv_Behav_Modification.pdf
24. ↑ http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/dec09/vol67/num04/When-Students-Track-Their-Progress.aspx
25. ↑ http://psychcentral.com/lib/the-health-benefits-of-journaling/
26. ↑ http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/notes-self/201308/how-set-goals

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How to Open a Champagne Bottle

Opening a champagne bottle is a powerful celebration ritual. The effect is grand, but the act of opening the bottle can be tricky if you haven't done it before. You'll need to twist the bottle, hold the cork, and gently push the cork out of the bottle. Make sure to keep a firm grip on the cork unless you want a champagne shower! Aim for a "sigh," not a "pop."^[1]

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Opening the Bottle

1. Remove the foil and the metal cage. First, tear off the foil wrap that covers the cork. Then, untwist the wire loop to loosen the wire cage that protects the cork. Be gentle and take your time. Keep a thumb on the cork to head off an accidental pop.^[2]
   
   • Do not remove the wire cage until you are about to open the bottle! Otherwise, you may risk the bottle uncorking before you are ready. The cage is there to protect the cork.
2. Hold the bottle properly. Grip the body of the bottle in your dominant hand. Wedge the bulbous end of the cork deep into the palm of your non-dominant hand.^[3]
   
   • Support the base of the bottle against your hip. If you're holding the bottle in your right hand, use your right hip or the right side of your torso.^[4]
   • Consider holding the cork with a kitchen towel. This can help you apply friction, making it easier to catch and contain the cork as it pops out of the bottle. The towel may also protect against a spill.^[5]
3. Twist the bottle and hold the cork. Slowly rotate the bottle back and forth with your dominant hand. Keep holding the cork steady with your non-dominant hand. As the cork turns, gradually increase the distance between your hands until your dominant hand is midway down the bottle.
   
   
4. Pop the bottle. Decide what effect you're trying to achieve. If you're indoors or around a lot of people, make sure to take out the cork gently to avoid damage. If you want the dramatic effect of a champagne shower, then you can open the bottle with a mighty pop and send the cork flying high through the air. If you are opening champagne for a classy occasion: aim for a "sigh," not a "pop."
   
   
   • Opening gently: Slow down your twisting toward the end, once the cork is almost out. Grasp the cork firmly. Press your thumb up from beneath the lip of the cork until it slides smoothly out of the bottle. Keep your grip on the cork, and "catch it" so that it doesn't fly away. Try to do it so gently that the cork doesn't make a popping sound.^[6]
   • Popping dramatically: Use your thumb to push the cork out from beneath the lip. Shake the bottle to stir up the carbonation, if you want a bit of a mess and a lot of added effect. Aim the bottle away from yourself, your friends, and any breakable items in the near vicinity. Avoid trying this method until you're comfortable opening a champagne bottle gently!

[Edit]Following Champagne Etiquette

1. Chill the bottle before opening. Store in the refrigerator, a cooler, or an ice bucket. Give it at least a few hours to ensure that the contents are completely chilled. Not only will this improve the taste, but it will make the bottle less likely to spray champagne everywhere.^[7]
   
2. Open carefully in formal settings. Keep a firm grip on the cork so that it doesn't fly away unexpectedly. Slowly twist the bottle—not the cork—until the cork is almost out of the bottle. Listen for the almost inaudible "sigh" of the cork coming loose.^[8] Then, pull it out delicately using entire palm of your hand. Hold the cork over the opened bottle for a few seconds to make sure that the foam doesn't bubble over.^[9]
   
   
   • If you are serving champagne as a waiter or a caterer, it is usually considered proper etiquette to open the bottle as unobtrusively as possible. Do not spray, and do not let the cork fly. Practice until you can do it without so much as a "pop."
3. Avoid shaking the bottle. Champagne is a carbonated beverage stored under pressure. When you shake the bottle, you build up that pressure to dangerous levels. Opening a highly-pressurized champagne bottle will unleash a mighty spout of champagne and send the cork flying forward at high velocity.^[10]
   
   
   • If you do accidentally shake the bottle, let it sit still for an hour or two so that the contents have time to settle. The CO₂ will absorb back into the drink more quickly if the champagne is cold.^[11]
4. Pour slowly. Champagne is carbonated, and the bubbly liquid rises quickly when poured into a glass. Don't spill and waste champagne – especially if you are serving someone else!^[12]
   
   
   • Hold the glass upright. Do not slant it to pour.
   • Fill a third of each glass with champagne. Then, top up the servings once you've poured a bit for everybody.^[13]
   • Do not touch the spout onto the rim of anyone's glass. Champagne is often stored in cellars, and in some circles it is considered poor etiquette to risk dirtying someone's glass.

[Edit]Video

[Edit]Tips

• The less sound the better. Ideally, a small hiss is all you'll hear. This means your wine was adequately chilled, and that you are not risking your precious beverage overflowing all over the ground!

[Edit]Warnings

• Do not pry the cork or use a corkscrew to open the bottle.
• Do not let go of the cork as you pull it out. It can shoot out at high velocity. If the cork is aimed in the wrong direction, it might break a valuable object or seriously hurt somebody. Do not point the bottle at yourself or others while opening.
• Do not let go of the body of the bottle as the cork is coming out. The bottle can shoot off towards the ground and break.
• Do NOT attempt to open a bottle which is not completely chilled. A warm or room-temperature bottle is more likely to pop and spray all over the place. Make sure you chill your champagne bottle before opening it.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Chilled champagne
• Kitchen towel
• Champagne glasses

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Chill Champagne
• Make Homemade Brandy

[Edit]References

[Edit]Quick Summary

1. ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-champagne-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-215827
2. ↑ http://www.wineintro.com/champagne/open/
3. ↑ http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/beverages/open-bottle-sparkling-wine
4. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/photos/how-to-open-a-champagne-bottle.html
5. ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-open-a-bottle-of-champagne-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-215827
6. ↑ http://www.refinery29.com/how-to-open-champagne
7. ↑ http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2014/01/cocktail-science-what-is-carbonation-how-to-carbonate-soda-better-carbon-dioxide-facts.html
8. ↑ http://blog.vinfolio.com/2014/12/11/pro-tips-for-drinking-champagne/
9. ↑ http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/gourmet_guide/drink/champagne.html
10. ↑ http://drinks.seriouseats.com/2014/01/cocktail-science-what-is-carbonation-how-to-carbonate-soda-better-carbon-dioxide-facts.html
11. ↑ http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/1302/why-cant-co-2-mix-back-with-the-liquid-after-a-soda-bottle-has-been-shaken
12. ↑ http://www.etiquettescholar.com/dining_etiquette/gourmet_guide/drink/champagne.html
13. ↑ http://www.refinery29.com/champagne-facts-etiquette#slide-2

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How to Enjoy New Year's Eve at Home With Your Family

Spending New Year's Eve with at home with your family can be a fantastic opportunity to bond, have fun together, and bring in the New Year with your loved ones. With all the possibilities for fun food, drinks, games and activities, spending New Year’s Eve at home can be a real treat.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Planning Food and Drinks For the Night

1. Make a homemade meal. Considering that ordering out on New Year's Eve often costs more (since prices are usually increased for the holiday), this is a good excuse to splurge a little and make a family meal at home. Pick out dinner food that everyone enjoys but you don’t get a chance to have very often, like steak, chili, or lobster. This family meal can turn into a New Year’s Eve tradition.
   
   • You could also consider making a meal out of appetizers. This could lead to a more casual dinner setup, and the kids will like having the ability to pick and choose different kinds of food.
   • Cheese fondue is another fun dinner idea for New Year’s Eve.^[1] Eating cheese fondue with bits of bread and meats will require everyone to sit and eat together. You can take turns dipping your food into the cheese and tell stories from the past year as you eat.
2. Make fun snacks and desserts. Consider making cookies, toffee, or other desserts that you can make together as a family and eat throughout New Year’s Eve night. You can get even more in the New Year’s spirit by making New Year’s specific desserts. Lots of cultures have New Year’s Eve desserts like Vasilopita, a Greek New Year’s Eve cake baked with a coin hidden in the dough.^[2] Whoever gets the piece of cake with the coin will have good luck for the upcoming year.
   
   • Marshmallow countdown skewers are another fun dessert idea. Each marshmallow has two or three numbers drawn on with edible ink, and you can eat the marshmallows as you count down to midnight.^[3]
   • A fun idea for New Year’s Eve kid friendly drinks are milk and cookie toasts. The kids can join in on the New Year’s toasts by clinking their milk glasses together and eating their cookies as they toast.^[4]
3. Make some holiday drinks and mocktails. Kids will love having hot cocoa, fruity soda pop, and sparkling grape juice on New Year’s Eve. You can even make other mocktails like strawberry-kiwi spritzers, cranberry sparklers, and peppermint drinks.^[5] Be sure to use plastic champagne flutes or other plastic “adult” like glasses to make the kids feel really special.^[6] Adults can make their own specialty drinks, or stick with classic champagne.
   
   • If you or family members are starting to feel tired, consider making some fun coffee drinks with and without alcohol.

[Edit]Having Fun Throughout The Night

1. Have a family game night. Bring out board games, card games, and electronic games, and even group video games to play as you wait for the clock to strike midnight.^[7] You could make up game tournaments, or try to play all the games at least once during the night.
   
2. Have a movie night. Pop in a movie you already have at home or rent a movie that you all have been wanting to see. Watching a movie can be just one aspect of your New Year’s Eve plans, or you can turn it into a movie marathon. During this time you can eat and drink different snacks that you have prepared for the night.
   
   • You can also use this time to watch old home videos and reminisce on good times.^[8] Depending on how many home videos you have, you can make it a dinner time activity, or have them playing throughout the night.
3. Create a New Year’s Eve photo booth. Arrange an area of your home to be the photo booth stage. Find a wall or background that you can use as a backdrop, and decorate it with some holiday decorations or your written resolutions.^[9] You could even print out some masquerade type costume pieces, and have your very own photo props.^[10]
   
4. Play dress up.^[11] Bring out everyone’s best clothes and make everyone in the family feel like they are a part of a fancy New Year’s Eve party or ball. You could play music, dance, and everyone’s fancy outfits can make for some great photos.^[12]
   
5. Make countdown bags to open every hour. Fill small bags with different snacks and goodies to open up at every hour leading up to midnight.^[13] You can make as many bags as you want depending on how early you want to start opening the bags. Some ideas for bag fillers include:
   
   • Disposable cameras^[14]
   • Activity tags: watch a movie, eat ice cream, play a game, etc.^[15]
   • Craft kits^[16]
   • Candy
6. Make your own New Year’s Eve decorations. Make your own party hats with some construction paper, string and decorating supplies.^[17] You can also make your own New Year’s Eve noisemakers by putting rice, confetti, and glitter inside empty water bottles. Simply twist on the cap and shake to loudly bring in the New Year.^[18] Consider making a balloon drop for when the clock strikes midnight:^[19]
   
   • Simply blow up balloons, and create netting around an overhead fan with some tape and wrapping paper or fabric.
   • Place all the balloons inside the netting, and release the balloons whenever you plan to ring in the New Year.^[20]

[Edit]Celebrating The New Year

1. Reflect on the past year and make resolutions together. Around midnight or throughout the night in general, you and your family can gather together and reminisce over where the past year has taken each of you individually, and as whole family. After, make and share resolutions for the New Year and what you hope to achieve. You can even try to make a resolution as a family and be each other’s accountability partners.^[21][22]
   
2. Celebrate the New Year in a different time zone. If there are younger children, it may be hard for them to stay awake all the way until midnight. Consider celebrating the New Year with a different country’s midnight. For example, depending on where you are in the world, try ringing in the New Year with New York, Paris or Greenland.^[23] That way, the kids can still celebrate the festivities, but also get to sleep at an earlier hour.
   
   • To take it a step further, you can make whatever country's New Year you're celebrating the theme for the night.^[24] If you want to celebrate Paris’ New Year, have crepes, fondue, quiche, wine, and cheeses.
3. Sing, make toasts and celebrate. When the clock strikes midnight, everyone should have their drinks prepared to toast, embrace, and wish each other a Happy New Year and make sure you count down the final ten seconds before you make a toast. After midnight, you can all sing the song, “Auld Lang Syne” which is typically associated with ringing in the New Year.^[25] This is the time to bring out the homemade noisemakers and bang on some pots and pans.^[26]
   
   • If the weather permits, go outside and light sparklers and watch fireworks as you hoop and holler celebrating the new year.^[27]

[Edit]Tips

• Forgo the parties you really don't want to attend, and don't take on too many responsibilities. Instead, leave ample time for you and your family to have fun together.
• If you're ordering in, make sure you do so early to avoid the rush of many people choosing to do the same thing!
• Take care of anyone who seems bored or upset by spending the evening with the family. Teens and young adults especially can feel that they're missing out on all the fun if they feel stuck at home. Listen to them and ask them about their past year and what they're looking forward to – this can be a good chance for some family bonding.
• Some people like to have the TV countdown on in the background with the sound turned down; this helps everyone to keep an eye on the time. A radio show is also a good choice.
• There is no obligation to stay up until midnight. No doubt there will be some family members who don't hang around all night! If you feel tired and want to nod off earlier, feel free to; it'll be next year when you wake up and you can hold your own morning ritual to greet the New Year.
• Consider setting off fireworks if its permitted within an area.

[Edit]Warnings

• If you spend the entire evening regretting being with the family and thinking that you ought to be doing something more exciting, then you'll have a hard time living in the moment and appreciating its value. It's going to be a lot easier and more fun if you accept that staying at home is just another fun way to spend New Year's Eve. Remember all that you won't have to put up with, things like long lines for taxis, drunken brawls, crowds acting crazy, and being slobbered all over by people who insist on kissing everyone as the New Year rings in!
• Ensure responsible drinking in the household.
• If you play loud music, be considerate of the neighbors. Even if it's New Year's Eve, some people still have babies and illnesses to contend with.

[Edit]Related wikiHows

• Transform Yourself for the New Year
• Cope With Post Holiday Syndrome

[Edit]References

1. ↑ http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/holiday-parties/59733.html?page=3
2. ↑ http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/holiday-parties/59733.html?page=7
3. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/12/creative-ideas-for-celebrating-new-years-eve-at-home.html
4. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/12/creative-ideas-for-celebrating-new-years-eve-at-home.html
5. ↑ http://www.parents.com/videos/v/66831058/how-to-make-mocktails-and-stirrers.htm
6. ↑ http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2013/12/top-10-ways-for-families-to-celebrate-new-years-eve.html
7. ↑ http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-frugal-shopper/articles/2015-12-15/6-ideas-for-a-fun-and-frugal-new-years-eve
8. ↑ http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/holiday-parties/59733.html?page=2
9. ↑ http://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/7-ways-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-with-kids/image/7/
10. ↑ http://www.theidearoom.net/2013/12/new-years-eve-photo-booth-props.html
11. ↑ http://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/7-ways-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-with-kids/image/2/
12. ↑ http://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/7-ways-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-with-kids/image/2/
13. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/12/creative-ideas-for-celebrating-new-years-eve-at-home.html
14. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/12/creative-ideas-for-celebrating-new-years-eve-at-home.html
15. ↑ http://www.theidearoom.net/2011/12/new-years-eve-countdown-bags.html
16. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/12/creative-ideas-for-celebrating-new-years-eve-at-home.html
17. ↑ http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2013/12/top-10-ways-for-families-to-celebrate-new-years-eve.html
18. ↑ https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/family-friendly-ideas-new-years-eve
19. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/12/creative-ideas-for-celebrating-new-years-eve-at-home.html
20. ↑ http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2015/12/creative-ideas-for-celebrating-new-years-eve-at-home.html
21. ↑ http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2013/12/top-10-ways-for-families-to-celebrate-new-years-eve.html
22. ↑ http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-frugal-shopper/articles/2015-12-15/6-ideas-for-a-fun-and-frugal-new-years-eve
23. ↑ http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/holiday-parties/59733.html?page=8
24. ↑ https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/family-friendly-ideas-new-years-eve
25. ↑ http://fun.familyeducation.com/slideshow/holiday-parties/59733.html?page=10
26. ↑ https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/family-friendly-ideas-new-years-eve
27. ↑ http://www.todaysparent.com/family/activities/7-ways-to-celebrate-new-years-eve-with-kids/image/8/

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/2MHRe90

How to Stay Awake Until Midnight on New Year's Eve

If you’re used to going to bed early, it can be tough to stay awake until midnight on New Year’s Day. No one wants to fall asleep too early to see the ball drop. This year, keep your eyes open long enough to countdown to the New Year!

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Staying Active

1. Talk to people. If you’re around friends or family for New Year’s, make conversation with them to stay awake. Keep your mind entertained by being social.
   
   • Listen to their stories.
   • Laugh at their jokes.
   • Talk to them about their interests.
2. Stay on your feet. Dance, walk around the house or even challenge your friends to a push up contest. Whatever you do, just make sure not to sit or lay down. You don’t want to get too comfortable or you might end up drifting off to sleep.
   
3. Do fun things. Play games with your friends and family. Play pranks on people. Take turns making New Year’s resolutions with everyone. Do anything that entertains your mind and keeps you up.^[1]
   
   • If it's legal in your city, shooting off fireworks can be really exciting. Just be very careful around fire and supervise little kids.
   • Taking pictures of everyone in funny poses can make for a really great time.
4. Help out. If you’re at a party, you can help the cook prepare food for everyone. You can even play bartender and make cocktails for everyone. Volunteer to clean up a bit as well. Not only will helping out ingratiate you with the host, it will keep your mind focused and awake.
   

[Edit]Fighting the Sleepiness

1. Use caffeine. Caffeine blocks sleep inducing neurotransmitters in your brain to keep you awake.^[2] When you start to feel yourself getting sleepy, drink a cup of coffee or something else with caffeine. Avoid caffeine in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve as it becomes less effective with overuse.
   
   • Most sodas have caffeine.
   • Energy drinks like Redbull and Monster have a lot of caffeine.
   • Some dark chocolates contain caffeine.
   • Keep in mind that while this is a very effective method, it's not healthy. Don't drink caffeine at night often, as disrupting your sleep cycle can be bad for your health.
2. Change your body temperature. Vary your body temperature from hot to cold to jolt yourself into alertness. The shock will give your body and mind an instant burst of energy.
   
   • Splash some cold water on your face.^[3]
   • Take a quick shower. Switch the water from cold to hot and then back again to wake your body up and improve your circulation.
   • You can get a similar effect by chewing ice or drinking a cold beverage.
3. Flip on the light switch. It will be harder for you to fall asleep with all the lights on. Make your environment is as bright as possible.
   
   • You may want to move to a different room and turn the lights on there to avoid bothering other people.
4. Listen to music. Put on your favorite upbeat tune and let it energize your spirit. Turn up the volume as loud as you can.^[4]
   
   • Use headphones if there’s other people around.
   • Avoid slow songs that could relax you to sleep.
5. Get some fresh air. If you’re with a lot of people on New Year’s Eve, the atmosphere may be very crowded. This can make the air very hot and humid which can make you very sleepy.^[5] Go outside to get some fresh oxygen to rejuvenate yourself.
   
6. Enjoy a film. Watch a really fun film to engage your senses. A good action film will wipe away your sleepiness and keep you on the edge of your seat.
   
   • Avoid films that are too long or slow. Keeping up with a long, complicated plot can leave you feeling drained.
7. Use peppermint oil. The smell of peppermint can wake up your senses. Rub some oil on your hands, temples and upper lip. The smell may be very strong, so you might have to keep your distance from people for a while.^[6]
   
   • Strong citrus scents can also do the trick.
   • Don’t use lavender, it can be too relaxing.

[Edit]Preparing to Stay Awake

1. Eat nutritious foods throughout the day. Eat vitamin rich foods that will give you energy. You’ll need plenty of Vitamin C and B and omega-3 fatty acids to give yourself the energy to stay awake. Avoid foods with tryptophan like turkey that can make you feel tired and sluggish.^[7]
   
   • Salmon and walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and will boost your metabolism.
   • Oranges and other citrus fruits are a great source of Vitamin C.
   • Eggs and beans are very B vitamin rich.
   • Eat small meals often to keep your metabolism running. Larger meals can make you sluggish.
2. Get a full eight hours of sleep the night before. Make sure your body has enough sleep to operate. It will be really hard to have enough energy to stay awake on New Year’s Eve if you’re sleep deprived from the night before.
   
   • Don’t over do it. Sleeping too much can make you feel groggy.
3. Take a walk. Low-impact exercise can give you extra energy. Take a thirty minute walk on New Year’s Eve to get your blood pumping and help you stay awake.^[8] The sunlight you get from outside will also help your body absorb Vitamin D.
   
   • Keep it light. Heavy exercise can burn you out and make you feel tired.
4. Take a nap. If you’re worried you still won’t be able to make it to midnight, take a nap in the middle of the day. Set an alarm to make sure you don’t oversleep. A short nap of forty-five minutes or less will leave you feeling energized. If you go longer, it could make you more tired.
   
   • If you have time, a ninety minute nap will allow your body to get through a rem sleep cycle which can make up for some sleep you’ll be losing on New Year’s.

[Edit]Tips

• Always keep your mind occupied to stay awake.
• Ask a friend to wake you up in advance just in case you do fall asleep.
• Chew gum or put a mint in your mouth to engage your senses and wake your body up.
• Get up and move around. Try not to sit or lay down because you might get too comfortable and accidentally fall asleep.

[Edit]Warnings

• Don’t start drinking caffeine too early, or your energy level will crash.
• Try not to eat turkey, there is a chemical which will make you drowsy.
• Don’t drink too much alcohol. It will make you extremely drowsy.

[Edit]References

1. ↑ http://lifeasmom.com/10-fun-things-new-years-eve-kids/
2. ↑ https://www.sharecare.com/health/coffee-drink-health/how-caffeine-keep-me-awake
3. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/5803845/how-to-manipulate-your-body-to-wake-the-hell-up
4. ↑ https://www.huffingtonpost.com/us/entry/wake-up-without-coffee-its-possible_n_6096518.html?slideshow=true#gallery/379572/9
5. ↑ http://www.sitepoint.com/top-5-tips-for-staying-awake/
6. ↑ http://www.inc.com/kevin-daum/12-non-caffeinated-ways-to-wake-up-at-work.html
7. ↑ http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/best-foods-all-day-energy
8. ↑ http://www.livecareer.com/career-tips/career-advice/professionalism/stay-awake-at-work-without-caffeine

source How to of the Day https://ift.tt/2F3E02l