Sticking to New Year’s resolutions can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be. Through understanding proper habit formation, knowing how to create a goal, surrounding yourself with the right people, having the right mindset, and celebrating small victories; anyone can achieve their New Year’s resolutions.
Many of us are ready to hit the ground running when January 1st arrives. We are in a new year, a new day, and are ready to tackle the goals we had put off in the previous year. A few days into the new year, we are consistent with our goal, but as the weeks progress, the goal we were just so ready to conquer is now a thing of the past. Why is this? One of the biggest reasons why people fail to achieve New Year’s resolutions is because they have a poor understanding of how habits form. These people believe in a sort of “magic switch”, that once turned on, they are able to do the things they set out to do. Habits are not formed in this way. It takes the average person 21 to 66 days to form a new habit. In a study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, the habits of 96 people were surveyed over a 12 week period. The study found that it took participants 66 days at most to form a new habit. If you pace yourself well and understand the amount of time it will take to develop your new routine into your daily life, you are set for success.
Smart goals are defined as:
S: Specific
M: Measurable
A: Achievable
R: Realistic
T: Timely
Specific
Your goal needs to be specific and straight to the point. Having a specific goal removes any ambiguity about what it is you want to achieve.
Measurable
Monitor the progress you are making. This will allow you to hold a standard for yourself as the weeks progress.
Achievable
Your goal should challenge you, but be something that you can achieve through hard work. Also, be sure that you can obtain all the resources you need.
Realistic
Don’t be discouraged by the word “realistic”. Achievable and realistic go hand in hand. If your goal is achievable (no matter how long it takes) it is realistic for you.
Timely
Know how long achieving this goal will take you. For example, if you are learning a new language and want to be conversationally fluent in 2 years, calculate how many hours you will need to study each day. This sets you up with schedule that is curated for your success.
Being around people with similar goals is extremely beneficial. This environment cultivates confidence and encourages you to continue working towards your goal.
For example, if you enjoy graphic design, hanging out with other digital artists could help you network and grow as a content creator. These people understand your world and can introduce you to new concepts and help build your skills set.
In a study from Stanford University, students with “fixed” and “growth” mindsets were evaluated. Students with a fixed mindset believe intelligence is static, while students with a growth mindset believe intelligence can be developed.
Those with growth mindsets excelled because they saw effort as a path to mastery, embraced challenges, persisted when faced with a set back, found inspiration from the success of others, and learned from criticism.
Those with a fixed mindset avoided challenges, gave up easily, found effort to be useless, ignored criticism, and felt threatened by the success of others. Having a growth mindset with all things is beneficial because it is conducive for development. When tackling those New Year’s resolutions, push for a growth mindset for motivation and overall success.
It’s important to reward yourself for your hard work, but it should be through a spaced rewards system. This allows you to spend most of your time working towards your goal and less time for leisure.
A famous study from Stanford in the 60s called “The Marshmallow Experiment” studied children’s ability to resist a large fluffy marshmallow for 15 mintues. The researcher placed one marshmallow on a table and explained to the children that if they didn’t eat the marshmallow for 15 minutes they would be rewarded with another one when the researcher returned.
Children who waited for the entire 15 minutes were willing to delay gratification and deemed to be more successful in the future. Delayed gratification can be beneficial with your New Year’s resolution. When you work hard, small rewards can feel just as sweet.
Winter is here and it’s time to prepare your home. Check out these 6 tips to help you cut back on your energy bill this winter in an easy and cost-efficient way.
Draft stoppers will block cold air from seeping through the cracks of your home that will ultimately lead to a higher heating bill. You can purchase a door draft stopper for as little as $3 on Amazon. You can also DIY a door draft stopper by cutting a pool noodle in half, stuffing it in a folded pillowcase, and fitting it underneath your door. For windows and fireplaces, purchasing a stopper with added weight is more efficient. A weighted window and fireplace draft stopper can run as little as $10. You can also opt for silicone self-adhesive sealing tape for windows (and possibly a fireplace), which can run as low as $5.99.
A ceiling fan running counterclockwise pulls air that seeps through windows throughout the home. By simplifying flipping the switch at the base of the fan, causing the direction to run clockwise, warm air from your home will be able to circulate throughout and help keep cold air at bay.
Air filters covered with build up block air flow. This can cause people to turn up the heat in believing there isn’t enough warm air circulating throughout their home, when in reality, that warm air is trapped due to build up on the filter. Replace them to allow heat to circulate throughout the home properly and avoid turning up the heat more than necessary. Another easy way to generate warm air in the home is to keep the oven door open after baking.
During the wintertime, we can expect to turn on our lights at an earlier time due to the ending of Daylight savings. According to the Department of Energy, lighting takes up about 5% of the energy bill in the average household. By switching to energy-efficient light bulbs, you can expect to save almost $50 dollars on the energy bill. A pack of 4 energy-efficient light bulbs can run for about $5 to replace the most used lights in your home.
Switching to low-flow showerheads and faucets can conserve almost 2 thousand gallons of water a year and lower water costs. Low-flow faucet aerator prices range from $5-$10 dollars. Low-flow showerhead prices range from $8-$50 dollars. Swap out showerheads and faucet aerators to help cut back on the water heating bill.
This last tip caters more to health in the home during the wintertime (which is equally as important as saving energy). With all the warm air circulating throughout the home, the overall climate is drier. This can cause residents to develop a cold. Help keep moisture the air by purchasing indoor plants such as a Chinese Evergreen. These plants are easy to maintain, requiring low light and water. If you have cats and/or dogs, opt for a Spider Plant, as the Chinese Evergreen is not safe for those animals. Spider Plants require bright, indirect light and limited watering. The best spots to place either plant include the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and living room. If you don’t have a green thumb, purchasing a humidifier might be the better option.
#1 By Jacob Sazz at 5/14/2020 5:42 AM
Really great tips! Concise and to the point. We have been following these lately after we got serious about how much electricity wastage happens at homes. Apart from this, to stay on top of our electricity usage, we also got a home energy monitoring device called Ohm Assistant. This device helps us monitor the power consumption of all our devices on our smartphone thereby enabling us to optimize our usage. An impressive addition to our home!
Plainfield Fire Territory Fire Prevention Officer, Wayne Long, sits down with RE/MAX Advanced Realty's and Indy Home Pros Team Broker, Rene Hauck, to discuss Hearing Impaired Smoke Alarms, and specifically how beneficial they can be to the senior citizen community.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
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Sarah's reaction to seeing Dennis' Unorganized Desk Drawer
NEAT Method Indianapolis Owner, Sarah Davis, (317) 372-4968
NEAT Method Indianapolis Owner, Sarah Davis, stopped by The RE/MAX Advanced Realty Office to help Owner-Broker, Dennis Nottingham, tackle the painful project of organizing his infamously disheveled top desk drawer.
WATCH: The video below to see how Sarah helped Dennis go from hot mess to great success!
NEAT Method is a transformational service that will take any space in your home and organize, declutter, and simplify it. And the impact that having a clean, tidy, and organized space and/or home will have on all other areas of your life will astound you! Being organized and clutter free allows your mind the opportunity to relax, free itself, and focus on all of the other areas of your life that you are meant to enjoy
But NEAT Method is unique in the fact that they are a lifestyle. How many times have you decluttered your space, only to have it look the exact same way the following week or month? NEAT Method's Team is not a one and done fix; rather, it is a lifestyle change that implements a strategy and plan to completely transform and change your life from your living space and beyond.
Sarah and her team will come in for an initial assessment, where they will then measure and go over the space, assess your wants and needs, and come up with a plan that is custom tailored and unique TO YOU. And that customization is what sets NEAT Method apart from other organizing type services--they customize YOUR space by what YOU and the space need. They treat no two clients the same, because your life is unique, and should be treated as such.
Sarah has given us these 3 Steps to Help Organize In General, And More Specifically, For Your Next Move! Moving is THE PERFECT time to declutter and then implement new organizational lifestyle habits and strategies; because what could be better than starting off in your new home happy, healthy, and ORGANIZED?!
Contact Sarah Today to set up a consultation for a space in your home, office, or any space in your life that needs a bit of TLC!
Learn More About NEAT Method Indianapolis here!
MORE TIPS: 3 Life-Changing Lessons from Home Organizational Expert, Marie Kondo
Does Your Smoke Alarm Work? Daylight savings week is the perfect time to remember to check your smoke alarm.
Indy Home Pros Team Broker Rene Hauck sat down with Plainfield Fire Territory Fire Chief Joel Thacker to discuss the importance of checking your fire alarm and much more!
Search All Current and Updated Home Listings in Plainfield
So, you’re ready to buy a home. You’re asking around and your family and friends have a lot of input, but you can’t help but to think...are they even remotely informed? And why are people who still rent apartments telling me how to buy a home? Shouldn’t I be talking to someone who does this for a living? Have no fear, your instincts are correct!
The Indy Home Pros Team has been ranked the #1 Real Estate Team in Indianapolis by The Indianapolis Business Journal for 4 years running, and we do not take this honor lightly. We specialize in ensuring your first time home buying process goes as smoothly and as magically as possible. Sure, there are hundreds of pieces of paper and documents that go into buying a home, and there should be; it’s the biggest purchase of your life! But we take care of that, that’s our job, not yours!
There can never be a complete guide to buying a home, because each home buying experience is unique to you. So below are some quality steps to take instead, and if followed, will get you through it!
1) Get Pre-Approved
All this means is that you call a mortgage broker (most likely your friend you see spamming your Facebook Feed that you have no idea what they do for a living, yes, that’s a mortgage broker) and give them some info about your life. i.e. how much money you make, how much debt you have, and they will come back to you, hopefully, with a money amount that you are able to safely spend on a home, say, $145,000.
2) Find and Hire a Realtor
Just because your Uncle Billy Bob is a realtor does not mean you have to use him. In fact, you likely shouldn’t. Didn’t he have one too many and fall off the porch last Christmas? Is that really who you want showing you houses? Plus how awkward will it be when you have to fire your own kin? Distance yourself slowly and pick an Indy Home Pro instead!
The market has changed since the 1990s and you need a realtor who is active and knows the current market and trends, knows all the relevant paperwork and how to execute it QUICKLY, has relationships in the industry with current title companies and so on and so forth, things you don’t need to think about because you are using a realtor!
That’s it! You’ve done your job, now let your Realtor do theirs! Just Kidding. Much more valuable info is below!
3) Don't eliminate homes that aren't up to par in your eyes as there are loans available to assist in renovating properties before you move in.
These are 203K loans that will allow for budgeting in renovations prior to close and can range from a simple bath or kitchen remodel to a full blown, top to bottom overhaul.
4) If financing is an issue, check with family to see if they can gift you funds for a down payment. This is allowed and can help new home buyers get things off the ground for your first time around.
5) Seek out lenders that can offer 0% down assistance to first time home buyers. Additionally, be aware that there are government loans that allow for the same type of financing as this in the form of a VA or USDA (rural) loan.
So, the coming months have notoriously been deemed the slow home selling season, but with low rates and a seller’s market in Indianapolis, this is no longer the case! Below are some of the Top Reasons that selling your home in the Fall or Winter is a strong choice in the current market.
1) Supply and Demand
Seeing as there will be fewer homes for sale, yours will get more eyeballs. In today’s hot market, the buyers are there, the homes are not, so you already have an upper hand. Many buyers have already been outbid or missed out on homes they liked in the summer and fall months, and are willing to pay top dollar for a home they like. With fewer homes for sale in the winter, yours will get more traffic, assuring you Sell Your Home For More!
2) Buying Before Year End
Many Buyers have been looking all year and are ready to close on a home before the year ends due to tax reasons. In comes your home. They love it, it’s just before year end, sold!
3) Companies Hire In The New Year
Many companies begin hiring new employees in January and February, making this a popular time for families to relocate. With people needing homes quick and available, anything in these months becomes a hot property!
4) Serious and Strong Buyers
Anyone willing to house hunt in the winter months is definitely a serious buyer. People who are out looking at homes in the cold are not going to waste your time, and you can expect their offers to reflect that. They're likely out searching because they need that house, and might have missed out on some in the past, they won't want the same to happen with yours!
We've made graphs, we've gathered public opinion, and we've monitored the dark web for mentions of these Instagram accounts. Then, we put all of the information into a highly advanced algorithm specifically designed for the creation of Top 10 Lists and it has now constructed THE OFFICIAL LIST of the TOP 10 INDIANAPOLIS INTERIOR DESIGN INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS. So, without further ado...we give you the Top 10 Indianapolis Interior Design Accounts on Instagram...
10) @wedgewoodbc
Our #10 spot barely squeaking on the list is @wedgewoodbc! Their account is great, but they get the #10 spot because their relatively new to the IG game it looks like. We've got them down as "One to Watch", and we could not love their bio more, "Our goal is to create the right home for your changing lifestyle and have a better relationship at the end of the project than we did at the start." Give them a follow!
9) @julie_obrien_design
Solid account here, Julie..solid account! Give her a follow, we need say no more!
8) @paralell_dg
So this one could've easily been in the Top 3, but like The Dude, we abide to the algorithm. Check out this slick company and give them a follow!
7) @remaxadvancedrealty
This account is THE BEST for all things Interior Design and Fun related, if you live in Central Indiana and don't follow them, you're defintely missing out!
Simply stunning, give them a follow!
This collection of Lantzs is one of the most prestigious Lantz Collections this side of the Mississippi! Give them a follow!
3) @polishinteriorandartdesign
Sleek, Modern, other hip adjectives! We love them and you've gotta give them that follow!
1) @kathrynpackard !!!!!!!!
Bravo Kathryn, Bravo!! Kathryn wins #1 for her authenticity and personal touches! She often posts about her very own living spaces and when you find out they aren't from a magazine and are from her actual home, your mind is blown! Congrats Kathryn and keep that #1 content coming!
Errors or Edits Email Cole@indyhomepros.com
You’re setting out to buy a home and it’s likely one of the most exciting, and stressful, times of your life. And while it can be tempting to jump on a home search site that rhymes with pillow and go for it, you can now avoid the common pitfalls of first time homebuyers by naking sure you don’t commit any of these 5 mistakes that others have already made for you!
Like we said above, it can be tempting to get online and GO FOR IT! But then, you find it, the house of your dreams! BUT! By the time you find a realtor and try to set up a showing, someone else submitted an offer and it was accepted. But how? How were they so quick? They were Pre-Approved!
Getting Pre-Approved is the first, and arguably most important, step in the home buying process. Getting Pre-Approved is as simple as contacting a Mortgage Lender, filling out a form, and then seeing how much house you can afford based on things like your income, debt, savings, etc.!
Depending on where you are buying your home, your personal background, and various loan options; you could qualify for a first time home buyer program! This could mean a significantly lower down payment than the once standard 20%, lower monthly payments, and other saved costs!
Most new home buyers start their home search by looking at existing homes, and don’t ever consider building a new home because they think it’s too expensive. This is no longer the case these days! Companies like M/I homes offer SMART Options, meaning a brand new home in a community like Fisher’s can be yours for less than you think!
Checking your credit report to make sure it’s accurate. Lenders will go over your credit report with a fine tuned comb, so making sure everything on your report is correct is essential in getting the best loan rate and option for you. Pull your report from one of the major 3 companies, or use another credible site. Take it up with one of the 3 major companies if there is something on there you find incorrect.
Before your mortgage is final, do not mess with your credit! This means no applying for a new credit card, no booking that European vacation via credit, or anything else credit related. Applying for or adding new credit has the potential to lower your credit score, and this could in turn have an impact on your loan.
Author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and star of Netflix's successful series “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo”, this organizational guru has made her mark on the world. Her trailblazing tidying and organizational method is becoming increasingly popular in households around the world.
Labeled the KonMari Method, Kondo has developed effective ways to help others sort and properly arrange all spaces of the home. The method is designed to allow people to assimilate the relationship they have with items scattered about their living space, and decide whether it is time to find the proper place for it or dispose of the item.
Below are 3 quotes from the expert’s book that highlight essential points to keep in mind when diving into the tidying process. Each excerpt assists the reader in understanding the importance of what aspects are involved in creating a home, the deeper meaning behind creating one’s ideal living space, and the impact a tidy living space has on a person’s overall well-being.
1) “At their core, the things we really like do not change over time. Putting your house in order is a great way to discover what they are.”
The home serves as a source of self-identity. It is the space in which one spends the most time and creates everlasting memories. Many are able to recall fragments from time spent in their childhood home. The sound of coffee brewing may spark the feeling that Mom is awake and on her way to work, or the scent of a burning candle may give off a familiar aroma that once roamed the halls of that home. These seemingly insignificant “events” experienced in that household hold value, and they allow one to manifest memories associated with that home that will travel with them for a lifetime.
According to an article written by the Journal of Environmental Psychology, “Personal possessions strengthen the interconnectedness between self and home, unless they threaten to overwhelm living spaces”. Sort through these personal possessions and as Kondo states, see if they “spark joy”. If these items are things you use on a daily basis and/or bring you immense happiness, find a place for them, if not, properly dispose of them. It is with this that we are able to identify items that are of use to us and will help guide us down a path of well-being and happiness.
2) “Not having a space you can call your own is dangerous. Everyone needs a sanctuary.”
Sanctuary is defined as a place of refuge or safety. With our home, we are able to create a sanctuary of our own. In this space, we are welcomed to feel a sense of comfort and happiness. Take Buddhist monasteries for example. In the early years of Buddhism, monastic complexes were created as a place to assist wandering monks. In modern times, monasteries serve as a place where monks practice inner peace to achieve nirvana, in other words, liberation. (Khan Academy). This place serves as a form of sanctuary where monks are able to experience peace and well-being. As Kondo stated, not having a space (sanctuary) of your own is dangerous. Without this, we are unable to experience peace in the place we call home.
3) “It’s a very strange phenomenon, but when we reduce what we own and essentially “detox” our house, it has a detox effect on our bodies as well.”
Through detoxification of the body, we are able to rid our forms of toxins. Through detoxification of the house, we are able to rid our home of clutter that can have a negative impact on our well-being and even our health in extreme cases such as hoarding. Ways to detox a home can include sorting through a collection of clothes and donating items that are not of value, the discarding of countless bottles of toxic cleaning supplies and rather opting for more 3 or 4 mutli-purpose eco-friendly products, and/or caring for your lawn by finding the proper care and maintenance routine.
Through ridding a home of these nuances and treating it with delicate care, the owner of that home will feel more at peace by having the proper sanctuary for themselves and/or their family. Kondo states, “From the moment you start tidying, you will be compelled to reset your life. As a result, your life will start to change. That’s why the task of putting your house in order should be done quickly. It allows you to confront the issues that are really important. Tidying is just a tool, not the final destination. The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order”.
Works Cited:
-“Buddhist Monasteries.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy,
-Roster, Catherine A., et al. “The Dark Side of Home: Assessing Possession ‘Clutter’ on Subjective Well-Being.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, vol. 46, 2016, pp. 32–41., doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2016.03.003.
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