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Labor Day Is the New New Year’s Day

By U.S. News & World Report

I can still remember Labor Day as a child. The faded smell of chlorine in my hair from a weekend of swimming, playing outside on the front lawn with my friends, neighbors gathered together in the backyard and the distinct feeling of change in the air. I relished the bittersweet feeling of summer passing. The season’s slow tempo was suddenly outdated by the anticipation and busyness of a new school year.

I still love Labor Day for all of those reasons. If anything, my enthusiasm for what some call a “meaningless” holiday has grown since I’ve had children of my own. Not because my kids are now experiencing the same things I did … no. Although that’s nice, let’s be honest: Now I just want them to go back to school so I can find my groove again.

By the way, Labor Day is not just a meaningless holiday. It celebrates the courage of the labor movement and the ways in which the work of the people have contributed to the health and prosperity of our nation. I’d also like to suggest that Labor Day is the new New Year’s Day.

That’s right. A do-over. A time to start fresh.

I might argue that Labor Day is even better for resolutions and goals than New Year’s because you only have to change a habit for less than one-third of the year. That’s a more reasonable time frame than an entire year, plus you have an incentive to end the year right. It’s perfect for those of us who procrastinate.

If you’re ready to take action in your life, put your stake in the ground and make your mark in (the latter part of) 2015, here are the steps you need to take:

1. Identify what’s achievable.

Don’t think back to the dreams and desires you had at the beginning of the year. Focus on the here and now. What is one thing, that when accomplished, would make you happy with how you progressed in 2015?

Focus on that. Maybe it’s hitting the gym regularly. Maybe it’s improving your diet to eat more vegetables and less packaged food. Maybe it’s having a glass of wine every other day versus every day. Whatever you do, avoid the temptation to do it all. Pick one thing.

2. Focus on the process — not the outcome.

Notice all of my examples are processes — not outcomes — that will help you achieve whatever outcomes you pick. I call these “process goals” versus “outcome goals.”

Maybe the outcome is fitting into a pair of jeans you haven’t worn in months or years. Maybe it’s is signing up and finishing a 5K or 10K in your city. Simply identify what’s achievable and work on the processes that will get you there.

3. Create a plan around your sticking point.

Now, take a good hard look at the resolution you chose. What’s the one thing that will most likely keep you from achieving your goal? Ask yourself if that will be the same or different in the fall. For me, the summer is more challenging with eating well and exercising consistently since our girls are out of school. Eating well can take a back burner to spontaneous get-togethers with friends; exercising regularly depends on child care.

Make a plan for overcoming the barriers. Write down that plan. Make a back-up plan. And another. Life happens. You need to be prepared for your plan to fail from time to time. Your backup plan will fail too. Stay flexible, and keep working on making your new habit part of the new schedule and lifestyle.

4. Use the season as an opportunity.

I once had a mentor tell me that every moment is an opportunity to start again and make the better choice. I believe that to be true, but there is also something to be said for a hard start and end date. Take advantage of the momentum that’s provided when elements such as the temperature and school schedules are naturally shifting in your life. Life will be different anyway, so why not commit to that morning run?

Ask a friend, spouse or neighbor to join you for your walk or run — like you, they’ll also appreciate and benefit from the accountability. Already do that? Consider preparing your lunch the night before when you’re packing the kids’ lunches anyway.

I can tell you from personal experience that part of our new routine is combining clean up from dinner with packing lunch for our first-grader. This way, when the kitchen is “closed,” all related tasks are truly done. Trust me when I say it makes a world of difference in the morning, when we’re all getting ready to go our separate directions, get out the door and make sure we’re on time.

This Labor Day, consider a labor of love for yourself. Choose to work on something that will contribute to your health and prosperity. Finish the year strong by reframing New Year’s resolutions into a concentrated focus of effort in one area. After all, don’t you deserve to benefit from your labor?

More from U.S. News

13 Tips for Getting Kids Health-Ready for Back to School

10 Ways to Live Healthier and Save Money Doing It

8 Resolutions Health Experts Want You to Make

Labor Day Is the New New Year’s Day originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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