Tag Archives: new year’s resolutions

Uncomplicating Home Organization

21 Thursday Jan 2021

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Over the course of the past nine months, many of us have spent more time in our homes than ever before. Due to the increased time at home, many of us have probably realized that we aren’t as organized as we’d like to be.

If your New Year’s Resolution includes home organization, but you are apprehensive to get started, know you’re certainly not alone. The idea of organizing an entire home can be both daunting and overwhelming, so we’ve compiled a few ideas to uncomplicate the process:

  1. Pace yourself

Don’t make the same mistake that many aspiring organizers make by believing everything needs to be done immediately. Yes, you may start out strong, but burnout can happen quickly if you don’t have a plan in place to keep your momentum high.

Set realistic expectations by assuming the job is not going to take an hour or even an afternoon. Consider starting with one area or room, dedicating 15 to 20 minutes to organizing the space. After taking the allotted time, you will either start seeing progress and want to keep going or feel accomplished enough to wait before starting the next area.

  1. Develop an exit strategy

It’s not enough just to sort through your possessions. You also need to have an action plan for the applicable items. Use boxes you collected over the holiday season to sort through all of your possessions. Box examples may include Toss, Store Elsewhere, Sell or Donate.

The next question you will likely ask is where you can donate items that you no longer want or need. You may be surprised to learn that you can support Wisconsin Lions with items taking up valuable space in your home.


Eyeglasses – Did you know that many developing countries lack the resources to manufacture quality lenses? The Eyeglass Recycling Center is working to help those who need eyeglasses to see clearly. At any particular time, the inventory available is about 125,000 pairs of glasses, which are then provided without cost to sponsors of Vision Mission projects. If you’d like to donate used eyeglasses, send them to 3834 County Road A, Rosholt, Wi 54473.
Hearing aids – the WLF Hearing Project works to promote awareness of hearing loss, knowledge about prevention, recognition and treatment. Wisconsin Lions collect and recycle used hearing aids for salvage credits then using them to reduce costs for purchase of new hearing aids for the project. Consider working with your club to organize a collection drive.  
Used cell phones – Next Tuesday, January 26, is International Mobile Phone Recycling Day. You can free up space in your junk drawer by donating your old mobile device. Contact the Wisconsin Lions Foundation for more information.

Who would have thought that by decluttering your home, you can also help an organization that is close to your heart – talk about a win-win!

  1. Ensure all items have a home

Is there anything more frustrating than not being able to find an item because you don’t know the last place you left it? The best way to resolve this issue is to make sure all of the items in your home have a place of their own. Of course, that’s easier said than done.

Come up with a plan by envisioning all of the activities that will take place in each room and find a storage solution that will work for all of the necessary items. This task will be one of the biggest challenges but will likely yield the most long-term results.

  1. Stick to a routine

After dedicating time to home organization, you will want your results to last. Whether you decide to spend the first part of your weekend decluttering the common areas or take 10 minutes each evening putting miscellaneous items away, find a routine that fits your lifestyle.

Home organization is a marathon, not a sprint! Do you plan on making organizing a top priority in 2021? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy organizing from Lions Pride!

Start of Women’s Heart Week

30 Thursday Jan 2020

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We are 30 days into the New Year, are you still working toward your resolution? Don’t worry; we’re not here to shame you into staying committed unless, of course, your goal is related to good heart health because Saturday is the start of Women’s Heart Week.

The Women’s Heart Foundation has dedicated the next seven days to promoting prevention, education, symptoms awareness and early intervention of heart disease. You might be surprised to learn that heart disease is the number one threat to women over the age of 34. According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the United States. In 2017, heart disease killed approximately 299,578 women – amounting to about 1 in every 5 female deaths. Most women are unaware of their high risk and fail to recognize symptoms.

Women today are, arguably, busier than ever before. They are continually juggling careers, community service, family life as well as many other caregiving responsibilities. Sadly, because of the lack of downtime, women’s symptoms go unnoticed, especially if they are mild. Next week is the perfect opportunity for women to take time for themselves and learn more about the disease.

The first line of defense is to schedule a doctor’s appointment. When meeting with your doctor, discuss getting your cholesterol checked and determining or not a diabetes check would be beneficial. The following tips can also help you reduce your risks:

  • Know your blood pressure – there are no symptoms associated with high blood pressure, so it’s essential to have it checked regularly. Uncontrolled blood pressure is more likely to lead to heart disease.
  • Quit smoking
  • Limit your alcohol intake
  • Make healthy food choices
  • Effectively manage stress levels

We were also shocked to learn about the prevalence of heart disease among women in our society. Whether you are a woman or care deeply for a woman, we encourage you to take some time next week to learn more about the disease. As one of the hardest-working muscles in the human body, the heart is too important to ignore.

Lions Pride continues to be grateful for the giving hearts of our donors.

4 Tips for Organizing Your Home

10 Thursday Jan 2019

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Do you ever feel like your junk drawer contains too much junk? Do you put something away, only to forget where you left it? You’re not alone. In fact, according to Go Skills, becoming more organized is the third most common New Year’s Resolutions. Unfortunately, the idea of organizing your entire home can be an overwhelming and daunting task. Here are four ways to get you started:

  1. Start out small

    rectangular brown wooden table

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    One common mistake that aspiring organizers make is believing everything needs to be done immediately. They start the job with high enthusiasm, but quickly burn out after realizing that the task is more extensive than they initially expected. Unless you live in a 300 square foot tiny house, you likely won’t get everything organized in an hour’s time. Rather than setting yourself up with outrageous expectations. Instead consider starting with one area or room, dedicating 15 to 20 minutes of time. Once you get started, you will either start seeing progress and want to keep going or feel accomplished enough to wait until the following day.

  2. Purge

    Use all of the boxes you collected over the holiday season to sort through all of your possessions. Necessary boxes may include: keep, toss, store elsewhere, sell or donate.

    All of the box names may be self-explanatory, but you may be wondering where you can donate all of the items that you no longer want or need. You may be surprised to learn that several charities depend on your donated items to carry out their missions. We’ve compiled a list of the following items and corresponding organizations, with some help from The Spruce:

    Clothing – Goodwill Charities, Salvation Army International or St. Vincent’s
    Cell phones – Cell Phones for Soldiers
    Eyeglasses – Your local Lions club or directly to the Eyeglass Recycling Center
    Books – Your local library or Operation Paperback
    Tools – Habitat for Humanity or other construction-focused charity

    By cleaning out and decluttering your home, you can also help an organization that is close to your heart – talk about a win-win!

  3. Give everything a home

    “A place for everything and everything in its place.” -Benjamin Franklin

    The best way to find everything you’ve been looking for is to ensure all of the items in your home have a place of their own. Of course, that’s easier said than done. Come up with a strategy where you envision all of the activities that will take place in each room and find a storage solution that will work for all of the necessary items. This task will be one of the biggest challenges, but again, start with one room at a time. See more tips for finding a place for everything.

  4. Commit to a routine

    Finally, if you plan to dedicate time to organizing your home, then you probably want your results to last. Whether you decide to spend 10 minutes each evening putting miscellaneous items away or to spend the first part of your weekend decluttering, find a routine that fits your lifestyle. Wouldn’t it be exciting to pick a different New Year’s Resolution in 2020 because you already accomplished this one?

Remember, home organization is a marathon, not a sprint! Do you plan on making organization a priority in 2019? We’d love to hear in the comments below.

Happy organizing from Lions Pride!

Healthy Weight Week

19 Thursday Jan 2017

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salad-with-croutonsWe have officially entered the third week of the New Year! As any long-time Wisconsinite can attest, January can be tough. We may have started out the year with optimism, but with all of the recent ice storms, it can be difficult to keep that positivity rolling. It just so happens that this is about the time, people start to abandon their resolutions.

Enter Healthy Weight Week – an opportunity for all of us to find hope once more.

Rather than starting another unhealthy diet or outrageous exercise routine, Healthy Weight Week allows individuals to rethink their New Year’s Resolutions, and start adopting a healthy lifestyle.

The primary goal behind Healthy Weight Week is to uncover a new meaning behind the term, “healthy weight.” It’s important that we all understand that a healthy weight differs from person to person, and is dependent on several different factors including height, bone density, body type and body composition. Now is the perfect time for all of us to determine an individual weight goal. Here’s how you can celebrate throughout the week from UC Irvine:

  • Be active in your own way

Find an activity that you enjoy partaking in so you can include it in your daily routine. It should come as no surprise, but when you like what you are doing, you are more likely to form a habit. Learn to focus on the pleasure of the activity and all of the health benefits involved.

  • Add all five food group in your daily diet

When meal planning, choose balance, variety and moderation. Include all five food groups every day: bread and grains, fruits, vegetables and meat. Although, it may be tough, just remember that all foods can fit into your lifestyle! (Remember, the sole purpose of this week is to adopt a healthy way of life, if including all five food groups sounds overwhelming, start with two to three, and make your way up.)

  • Relax and learn how to remove stress from your life

We don’t need to tell you that high levels of stress can have dangerous repercussions on your life so now is always a great time to take control. Make time for daily 15-minute relaxation sessions or simply empty your mind and let your body go limp for 30-second relaxation breaks throughout the day. By adopting a philosophy of flexibility, relaxing and going with the flow, you’ll be able to tackle the burdens of everyday stress.

  • Rediscover normal eating

Due to the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life, many of us are left overindulging and eating at irregular times. Break that habit by eating the three recommended meals of the day, snacking when hungry and then subsequently stopping when full.

Although none of these mentioned habits might not seem like large commitments, they are just enough to help us start living a healthier lifestyle. Remember, that small changes create big results.

Happy Healthy Weight Week from Lions Pride!

Give the Gift of Blood This January

05 Thursday Jan 2017

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When you think about the month of January, american-red-cross-lions-clubyou likely think about one or more of the following topics: staying warm on cold winter days, making (and possibly breaking!) New Year’s Resolutions or celebrating the life of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr., on the anniversary of his birth. While these are all common themes, you may have missed another important occasion – National Blood Donor Month.

Since 1970, the first month of the year has been designated as National Volunteer Blood Donor Month, and for a good reason. As you know, January is a bit of an unusual month, it is a time for getting back into normal routines after holiday celebrations and hibernating in our warm, cozy homes, which is why blood donors are typically in short supply. The American Red Cross has taken advantage of this opportunity by encouraging adults of all ages to consider becoming blood donors.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States is in need of blood. Just imagine in the time you have taken to read this post, 15 people will have needed the gift of blood. Unfortunately, although an estimated 38 percent of the country’s population is eligible to give blood at any given time, less than 10 percent actually donate. Who’s ready to change that number?

If you’ve never donated blood before you might think the process for getting started may be difficult, but becoming a donor is quite simple. Just follow this easy 5-step process:

  1. Find a blood drive.
    Blood drives are happening all over the state, but you can find one nearest to you by visiting the American Red Cross Blood Drive Locator.
  2. Register
    On the day of your blood donation, you will register with staff and volunteers to review your eligibility and donation information. Be sure to bring a government-issued ID. Other photo IDs are also accepted.
  3. Review medical history
    After checking in, you will receive a mini physical from a registered technician who will take your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level. He or she will also ask you about travel and medical history in a private setting.
  4. Donate
    Next, it’s time for the blood donation. Estimated time is between 8 and 10 minutes.
  5. Enjoy refreshments
    After donating, you will have the chance to raise your blood sugar back up to normal settings with a snack or beverage. (Who isn’t always looking for a valid excuse to enjoy a cookie?)

And that’s all there is to it! Most donors will be in and out in under an hour, and their donation can help up to 3 people. How often can you make a difference like that?

This January, think about taking some time out of your busy schedule to become a blood donor. Although it may be a simple task, it’s one that definitely should never be discounted. Thank you so much for your consideration, and for the gift of blood.

Happy National Blood Donor Month from Lions Pride!

 

 

New Year, New Resolutions

29 Thursday Dec 2016

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Wow! Can you believe it? We’ve reached the final days of the year. 2016 is coming to an end, and by this time next week, we will only have written 3 out of 365 pages of our new chapter.

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If you’re like many of us, you’ve likely already been thinking about all of the good memories that the last year holds and ideas for changes or improvements in the New Year. According to the University of Scranton, Journal of Clinical Psychology, approximately 45 percent of Americans usually make New Year’s Resolutions. And this year’s top resolution is to enjoy life to the fullest. (GO Banking Rates)

Although we love the idea of more Americans trying to make the most out of life, we think the resolution itself may be a little too generic to be attainable. If you recall, the best way to achieve any goal is to break it down into smaller manageable chunks, so we think it might be best to divvy up this particular resolution into smaller goals such as the following:

  • Exercising on a more regular basis

By adopting a healthy exercise routine, you have the opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest by extending it! We’re sure we don’t have to tell you all of the benefits, but the highlights include controlling your weight, preventing several health conditions and improving your mood.

  • Start a new hobby

“Having a hobby is not just a way to pass the time; it can also improve the quality of your life.” Although hobbies can sometimes be known as luxuries, they are actually a fantastic way to keep your mind active while giving you a break. (A break with purpose!) If you’re searching for a new hobby, browse through these 16 options that will improve your quality of life.

  • Give back to an organization that you care about

As you know, charitable giving can help reduce your tax burden, but there is also a slew of other benefits including more feelings of happiness, reducing stress and protecting local community programs. In our opinion, one of the greatest reasons for giving back is improved life satisfaction, which would also fit right into the New Year’s resolution to enjoy life to the fullest.

Although we’re sad to see 2016, we’re excited to see what the next year holds. What do you hope to accomplish in the New Year?

Whether you set a New Year’s resolution, or prefer to take unofficial steps to self-improvement, Lions Pride wishes you much success in 2017. Remember that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Happy New Year!

New Year’s Resolutions

26 Thursday Dec 2013

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It’s hard to believe, but this time next week, it will be 2014. And we all know what that means: New Year’s Resolutions.

Surprisingly, New Year’s Resolutions have a long history:

  • In ancient times, the Babylonians made pledges to their gods at the start of every New Year. They would promise to return borrowed items and re-pay their debts.
  • In Roman times, individuals started making promises to the god Janus.
  • In medieval times, knights of the realm were required to take the “peacock vow.” They placed their hands on a peacock and promise to continue living up to their pledge of chivalry.

Today, the New Year is the chance for us to reflect on the past year, wipe the slate clean and start out fresh. The most common New Year’s Resolutions include weight loss, better money management and living each day to the fullest.

At Lions Pride, we have a New Year’s Resolution, too. Our goal is to send even more deserving children to the Wisconsin Lions Camp in the summer of 2014 than ever before.

In 2012, we were able to bring 38 kids to Rosholt to have the adventure of a lifetime.  This past summer year we provided the opportunity for 45 campers to enjoy a summer week filled with outdoor activities, nighttime campfires and fun in the sun.   Our 2014 resolution is to increase the number of campers we are able to fund.  But we need your help!

You can help by making a year end donation to the Lions Pride Endowment Fund.

Thank you to all our donors for their support in 2013.  We are lucky to have such kind-hearted donors with your continued support 2014 will abound with blessings.

Have a safe and enjoyable New Year celebration. See you in 2014!

Source: http://www.43things.com/resolutions/history