I have asked my lovely twin sister Candi to do a weekly column on becoming a preventive thinker. She will be sharing tips and tools ranging from goal setting to preventing tooth decay (its the dental hygienist in her:) I know you will love Candi and all of her sweetness! Enjoy!
I think I might have been the most nervous mom-to-be EVER!!
Before I had Dallas I read/researched/ questioned anybody that would tell me "How" to be a mom. I hated when people would say it would just come natural and that would just "know" what to do.
What if I didn't know????
They were right, being a mom to this little boy is more natural than anybody could have convinced me it would be. However, I am grateful for the people that shared these pearls of wisdom...
1. Love 'Em More: A mother of nine shared the advice that when you are feeling extra frustrated to love 'em more. When a child is screaming that is the time they needs more love, not less. So when Dallas is screaming I think "love him more" in my mind. I speak softly to him; I give him extra cuddles and kisses. I remind myself what a privilege it is to be raising such a sweet little spirit. I remind myself that this is all I've ever wanted; to have a family, to be a wife and to be his mother.
2. Fold Socks Down One Time: I was walking one day when a mom called me over to visit. She off handily told me to fold the top of his socks down and they wouldn't fall off. I am very grateful for that mom.
3. Don't Give The Baby Attention at Night: I will be forever grateful for Dallas' pediatrician who gave us this advice!!! He told us to make sure that we kept everything dark and not to stimulate Dallas at night. He cautioned against getting on the computer, talking, making eye contact in the middle of the night. During the day he said to keep the house bright, talk, sing, and to make plenty of noise. He even suggested having him take naps in a bright room. Dallas began sleeping through the night at 7 weeks! Thank you Dr. Peterson!
4. Take Time For Yourself: Everyday I try to spend some time before Dallas wakes up reading scriptures, exercising, reviewing goals and inspirational quotes. These things recharge me. It makes me feel like I got something accomplished even if I have a day of bouncing and walking around my apartment!! I also try to spend a few minutes after he goes to sleep to make sure my house is spick and span.
5. Enjoy Your Baby: I am someone that thrives on to-do-lists. I get a natural high by crossing off my daily accomplishments. (Studies show this to be true haha). It was an adjustment for me not to accomplish all of the things I did before I became a mom.
My mom recently said to me "Candi enjoy these days of walking around your apartment bouncing Dallas. They will only last a few months and you will miss them. When he is in kindergarten or leaving on a mission you will think about these days."
So now I prioritize my day like this; Essential, Necessary and Nice-to-do. Now days a successful day looks like this: tend to/ cuddle Dallas, scriptures read, 20- 30 minutes of exercise, dishes done, shower and shine, make dinner....and anything else done is a bonus!!
via pinterest
I have asked my lovely twin sister Candi to do a weekly column on becoming a preventive thinker. She will be sharing tips and tools ranging from goal setting to preventing tooth decay (its the dental hygienist in her:) I know you will love Candi and all of her sweetness! Enjoy!
via google images
"Even a home cleaned imperfectly still blesses your family."
Flylady.netI LOVE having a clean tidy home. I honestly feel like I can think more clear and that I'm calmer when my house is clean. I come from a home that was always clean but I used to struggle. My mom said that when I left to college she walked by my room and cried because it was so clean and she missed my messy room!!
I have found a few sites that have been game changers for me. And I can say that for the most part I now enjoy a clean orderly home :) :)
Here are a few tricks of the trade I've picked up:
1. Never leave a room empyt handed. Even when I leave from my bathroom to my bedroom I can usually leave with an armful of stuff and put it away.
2. Clean up after yourself immediately!! My mom, no matter how long her day has been will NEVER go to bed with a dirty sink. I've been doing other things too like re-packing my diaper bags immediately after I get home and re-filling the soap dispensers right away and have noticed a BIG difference in my stress level.
3. Make sure everything has a spot in your home. Flylady.net has great cleaning/decluttering tips. There is a lot to the saying, "clutter attracts clutter". Simplify your life. Do things like pack away half your babies toys and rotate them. And GET RID of stuff. The less stuff you have the less you have to worrry about!!
4. CHUNK-IT-DOWN. If cleaning is too overwhelming start with one tiny thing. I've shared before that I've chunked down the dishes to the extent of ..get soap out...turn on hot water...put dish in.. Individually those things aren't too hard!
5. Do things that you don't feel like doing. Many times I don't feel like jumping up and cleaning. But I'm always grateful that I did. I think it's the differene between a peaceful home and a chaotic one!! Messes are like wild fires... put them out immediately and they aren't a big deal.
My day looks like this:
Get up, say prayers and make bed. Throw in a load of laundry (almost everday I do a load of laundry, on Monday's I do all the extra laundry.) Read scriptures, review goals and plan my day/eat breakfast. Switch loads. Exercise, Shower give the bathroom a swipe and wipe (wipe counter, swish toilet bowl). The rest of the day is cleaning up after myself/tending to my baby... and doing the following from this cleaning schedule:
This is THE plan I've been following from FunCheapFree.Com and it works GREAT!!!
MONDAY
(Monday is cheating because it is 3 chores...but they aren't as big as the other ones so you can squeeze more in.)
- Laundry day. Always keep your machines running. Start first thing in the morning and consciously keep loads going throughout the day. Set an alarm in your phone if you have to. Fold laundry at night watching TV with the hubby. Make sure all clothes are put away before you go to bed.
- Tidy house. Go through every room in your house and put everything away.
- Tip: Never leave a room empty-handed! As you walk throughout the house ALWAYS pick at least one thing up as you come/go. Your house will be picked up before you know it.
- Vacuum main rooms (not bedrooms or stairs). As you walk through the house picking things up, drag a vacuum behind you. **NOTE: I vacuum a lot because I have a dog that sheds. You may not need to vacuum as much as I choose to do.
TUESDAY
- Bathrooms. Everything: toilet, tub/shower, replace towels and wash clothes, sink, floors, wipe out drawers/cabinets, mirror, re-stock toilet paper/fresh towel supply. Spray some good smelling stuff in there when you are done. The satisfaction is amazing.
- Fast and easy way to clean your showers: On "bathroom day" simply take your cleaner in with you while you shower, and give it a good scrub while you're already in there! The walls will already be wet and soapy, so it will go much faster (See tips on this HERE). If you are wary about "bathing" with cleaners, find a good homemade shower cleaner like THIS ONE. Trust me, this will make your bathroom day muuuuuuch easier.
WEDNESDAY
- Surfaces. All surfaces: anything that can be dusted, mopped, swept, wiped, vacuumed, etc.
- For me this included counter tops, windows, banisters, floors, microwave, kitchen sink, wiping down kitchen chairs, dusting and wiping all mantles/shelves/dressers/night stands/etc., wiping the top of the fridge, and vacuuming my floors, couches and stairs.
THURSDAY
- Organize/clean out something. This can be a closet, your car, your child's toy box, your makeup drawer, pick one thing and don't stop until it's clean/organized. *Last Thursday I got home and did not feel like cleaning something out. I simply did one shelf in my bathroom and cleaned out my email inbox. Not a lot but its in the right direction.
FRIDAY
- Tidy the house (Go through every room in your house...and never leave a room empty-handed!)
- Vacuum (all rooms including stairs.)
Next Monday: HOW to get rid of BAD BREATH!
eI have asked my lovely twin sister Candi to do a weekly column on becoming a preventive thinker. She will be sharing tips and tools ranging from goal setting to preventing tooth decay (its the dental hygienist in her:) I know you will love Candi and all of her sweetness! Enjoy!
The Key to Living a Successful Life
"Effective people are not problem minded they are opportunity-minded. They feed opportunities and starve problems. They think preventively." - Peter DruckerI have observed/read books on many successful people. I've found that a lot of them aren't caught up in a crisis all of the time. It seems successful people are the ones that have time to study his/her scriptures, exercise, eat right, spend time with family etc. How do they do that??
I have many good examples of successful people. One is my mom. My mom isn't always caught up in a crisis because she prevents a lot of problems. She has adopted habits over the years that have allowed her to be successful. She eats healthy, incorporates exercise (even if its small things like parking further away), studies her scriptures, keeps her house up daily, nurtures relationships, keeps her finaces in order etc. etc. etc. (This women is amazing). My mom lives a very balanced life. She gives attention to the important areas in her life and she is blessed to fill the rest.
The question that always gets me is HOW? How do I give attention to all these important areas (ex: eating healthy) when I have pressing matters of necessary things to take care of..like a crying baby on my hip or dinner that needs to be made :)
In the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Stepen Covey discusses EM Gray searching his whole life to find the ONE factor that all successful people share. Are you guys ready for it??!!
He found it wasn’t hard work, good luck or astute human relations, though those were all important. The one factor that seemed to transcend all the rest was PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST.
“The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don’t like to do,” he observed. “They don’t like doing them either necessarily. But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose.: That subordination requires a purpose, a mission, a sense of direction and value, a burning “yes!” inside that makes it possible to say “no” to other things. It also requires independent will power to do something when you don’t want to do it, to be a function of your values rather than a function of the impulse or desire of any given moment. It’s the power to act with integrity to your proactive first creation.
Have you ever heard the analogy of the jar of rocks and sand? The rocks are the important things in life and the sand is the other things that make life interesting. If you put the sand in the jar first you CANNOT fit the rocks in. But if you put the rocks in the jar first the sand nicely fills in around the rocks.
Knowing all of these things I still had the HOW Question??. How do I put FIRST THINGS FIRST?! Especially when I still have a baby bouncing on my hip, dinner etc. etc. etc. Things that need immediate attention. I felt out of sorts, out of balance and like I was always in a crisis state.
I was led by my older sister to an interview with Sister Julie B. Beck. She is the Relief Society President for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. This interview was on on balance. And I can honestly say its was life changing. Sister Beck discusses three areas in our life as follows: Essential, necessary and nice- to-do.
Often times in life we let the necessary and even the nice to do trump the essential. The essential would be things that are going to bring us back to God. These things are studying your scriptures, serving, praying and so forth. Through the atonement we will be blessed and our efforts to use our time better will be magnified. By putting first things first (like the rocks) we will find time to do the necessary and the nice-to-do things.
Since listening to this interview. I have been starting the day before my little boy wakes up and spending time on the essential things, I then do the necessary. I've found I even have a little time to do the nice-to-do with out feeling like everything in my life is complete chaos!!
I've considered what EM Gray said in the above quote. Its not always easy to do things that are important, but that is the difference between those that are successful and those that aren't. I know that my mom doesn't always feel like reading her scriptures, nurturing her relationships or even doing her dishes. Honestly, who feels like doing his/her dishes? But I also know that my mom has a strong sense of putting first things first. She knows that things that are left neglected will move to disorder. Not everything gets equal amount of attention but she puts first things first in her life and the important things get some attention. She doesn't let unimportant things come before things that really matter. She puts her rocks in and the sand fills in the gaps.
Next Monday: Setting Goals that Make You Happy
I have asked my lovely twin sister Candi to do a weekly column on becoming a preventive thinker. She will be sharing tips and tools ranging from goal setting to preventing tooth decay (its the dental hygienist in her:) I know you will love Candi and all of her sweetness! Enjoy!
This year things are different! I set goals that Made Me Happy and I've stuck to them. Crazy thing is I started two of them in September (on a Wednesday none the less.) Please watch the following video:
I set three goals. It is suggested to set 1-3 goals that you can accomplish with laser focus. I thought/prayed to come up with goals that would have a big impact on me and my family.
My 3 goals are:
1. Stick to Weight Watchers
2. Exercise
3. Study Scriptures
I made a list of reasons why me sticking to each goal would make me happy. A list of reasons of what about me sticking to each goal would bless my family and others. I also made a list of obstacles and solutions.
I have not always felt like sticking to my goals but with the greater purpose I have done it. For example: One of my goals is to exercise daily (with the exception of Sundays). I've been doing the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. One day I REALLY did not feel like doing it. I had no desire to exercise. I was tired and the thought of moving for 20 minutes was more than I could take!! I then remembered why exercise make me happy. It gives me energy, I feel stronger aftwerards, I'm being a good example to my baby. I rememberd why me exercising blesses my family, I have the energy to take care of Dallas. Someday I will be the mom that chases him instead of sitting on the bench watching him play. If I exercise I can go hiking with Mike without wanting to die. There is less of a chance I will injure myself in dental hygiene if I'm in shape.... Guess what I did.... I exercised. The whole time I turned to my little boy (he was in a swing watching me) and said "look at your momma being healthy." When I was done I picked my baby up and said "mommy did something that she didn't feel like doing, but she did it anyway!"
For the first time in my life I've stuck to my goals with laser focus and it feels good to be someone that does what she says she is going to do.
Here are my goals: (I feel embarassed putting them on here, but I know examples help!)
WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY ABOUT EXERCISING?
• feeling Strong
• the feeling of accomplishment that follows working out
• energy
• stamina
• the satisfaction of persevering even when i want to quit
• feeling like i am taking charge of my life
WHAT ABOUT ME EXERCISING BLESSES MY FAMILY AND OTHERS?
• Have the energy to take care of Dallas
• Have the energy to fulfill my responsibilities as a wife
• Can play with Dallas when he is older
• Example of being healthy to Dallas
• Not afraid to do activities that Mike wants to do (hiking.. etc)
• Have the stamina to work in hygiene with out injuring myself (bless my family with much needed $)
• Be able to do a good job cleaning teeth and bless others (wont slack because my body hurts)
GOAL: I will exercise six days a week in the morning
OBSTACLES
• Weather: Exercise inside until it gets warmer. When it gets warmer ask Kristina if she wants to exercise with me so I have a partner
• Down Stairs Neighbors: Ask them if it is okay that I work out at 6:00 in the morning
• Time: Do it everyday at the same time and it wont be a problem
• Work: On days that I have to be at work before 7 do it after work
• No motivation: Just get up and do it!!! repeat 3x FOLLOW THROUGH, FOLLOW THROUGH, FOLLOW THROUGH!!
• Negative thinking: Immediately REFUTE negative talk and tell myself that I can exercise, People more out of shape than me have gotten strong and so can I.
WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY ABOUT STICKING TO WEIGHT WATCHERS?
• Feeling like I'm being proactive in my health
• The feeling of integrity of following through with my goals and commitments (doing something that I said I would)
• The feeling of being free from food controlling me (I don't have to have fifths... I have a choice!! yeah!!)
• Losing weight
• Feeling healthy
• NOT feeling guilty after binging all day
• Feeling strong
• Feeling confident with how I look
WHAT ABOUT ME STAYING COMMITTED WILL BLESS MY FAMILY AND OTHERS?
• Good example to Dallas of portion control
• Show Dallas that he can find healthy outlets to emotions besides binging or any other unhealthy outlet
• Energy to participate in activities
• Healthy eating will help me not get sick (I can better serve if I'm not sick)
• Example to others of staying committed to something that is hard
• Example to Dallas of following through with goals
• Not worrying about how I feel so much (feeling fat) and being able to look outside myself
GOAL: I will measure and record my food and stay within my points
OBSTACLES:
• Tired: Go to bed earlier
• Want more food: Put food away before I eat
• Sweet tooth: Go for some fruit first
• Long day/feel like I don't care: Tell myself that the hardest part is sticking to it even when I don't feel like it. And that each day DOES make a difference. Remember why I'm doing this!! No matter what I think if I am eating healthy and exercising, I will get results. Don’t quit until I’m done.
• Feeling like I missed out: Remember with WW I can eat whatever I want with some planning. Worst-case scenario... I have to make more the next day (Big deal!)
• Not sure how many points something is: LOOK IT UP!! Don't be lazy measure/look on internet/ or get books out
WHAT ABOUT DAILY SCRIPTURE STUDY MAKES ME HAPPY?
• Feeling closer to my Heavenly Father
• Feeling like I know what I believe
• Insights into different gospel topics
• Inspiration for myself and family
• Influence of the spirit
• Peaceful feeling
• Hope for the future
• The resolution to do better, and to be better
• Inviting the Spirit to help me make better choices
WHAT ABOUT ME DOING DAILY SCRIPTURE STUDY BLESSES MY FAMILY?
• Example to Dallas of putting the Lord first in my life
• Be able to answer questions that Dallas or others might have
• Be an instrument in the Lords hands, have the spirit with me to direct me to others needs
• Being in-tune with the Spirit to get inspiration to bless my family
• Inviting the Spirit in my home
GOAL: I am committed to putting the Lord first in my life. I will do this by sincerely studying my scriptures daily
OBSTACLES:
• Time: Set time daily (first thing in the morning)
- Going through the motions w/out paying attention: Each day pray for focus. Try recalling what I read and apply it to my life.
NEXT Monday: The Law of 3%
I have asked my lovely twin sister Candi to do a weekly column on becoming a preventive thinker. She will be sharing tips and tools ranging from goal setting to preventing tooth decay (its the dental hygienist in her:) I know you will love Candi and all of her sweetness! Enjoy! How To Save Money at The Dentist for Your Child
via google images
I have a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. I am passionate about prevention. I love learning about dentistry. I spend time reading to my baby about different dental topics almost everyday. I just can't get enough!! Its exciting to think that if you do your part that your children can have a healthy mouth. Healthy mouth = a healthy body.
I have seen a lot of moms discouraged because their child has a mouth full of cavities. The mom is faced with a huge expense of getting the decay taken care of. Not to mention, a child that is terrified of the dentist now probably will be for life. The mother doesn't know what she could have done different. I don't think its the mom fault at all. I think there is a huge gap of knowledge between dental professionals and parents.
I must say that when I first started in the dental field I was under the impression (that most parents are) that cavities were caused because the child ate too much sugar. Or that some people just had weak teeth. I thought that probably everyone was going to experience having a cavity at some point...and if he/she didn't..it was because he/she got lucky. I no longer think that way. Most parents think that its not if but when their child gets a cavity.....
ATTENTION Parents: CAVITIES ARE PREVENTABLE!!!
Some parents might think that it doesn't matter if their kids teeth get cavities if they're not in the childs permanent teeth. The truth is the baby teeth can affect the permanet teeth coming in, so it does matter. Also if you are proactive in taking care of your babies mouth he/she will avoid alot of dental pain. And you will save a lot of money. Not to mention, a healthy mouth is directly related to a healthy body. Give your baby/child the best start you can.
Here are some things I like to tell my patients. If you guys have any questions please write a comment and I will write back. (also let me know if you want to see any of the journals I got my info from)
For those that aren't familiar with how cavities work its not about how much sugar but how often. I learned in school that it would be better for you to give your kids ALL of their Halloween candy at once than to have them take a bite of a candy bar every hour (probably not the best thing for their health to have it all at once ;) but its just an example.
Its about FREQUENCY not QUANTITY. Everytime sugar or other carbs are consumed the bacteria feeds off the sugar and produces acid. The acid drops the PH of the mouth and demineralization of the teeth takes place. It takes time for the mouth to get back to a normal PH where it can start remineralizing again.
What can you do? I made a list of things you as a parent can do.
I included cariostatic foods. Which are foods that actually help prevent tooth decay. These foods make great snacks and are great foods to end sugary meals or beverages with. There was a study done where they ended school aged childrens meals with a cube of swiss cheese and the caries rates dropped significantly. I encourage you to add some of these foods to your kids diets. Or atleast rinse with some water after your child eats a sugar or carb food.
I also included xylitol. For those that are not familiar with xylitol it is a natural sugar. (The stuff is amazing). It comes from birch bark, fruits (including strawberries), corn cobs and even your body makes small amouts. Xylitol acts like a fiber in the body so it doesn't give you sugar spikes (also has less calories than sugar). Xylitol has been studied for over 100 years. It has been studied in dentistry for over 40 years. The bacteria in the mouth cannot process xylitol (it has 5 carbon units instead of 6) and therefore cannot produce acid. They have found 80% reduction in cavities in children that are exposed to xyltiol 5x daily. (Brush kids teeth with xylitol and then give them gum, candy or mints after meals that are 100 % xylitol). In some countries xylitol is given to kids at school as a way to prevent cavities.
Probably the MOST important thing you can do is Brush your kids teeth after them!!!! They are not old enough to even attempt to brush alone until they can tie their own shoe laces. And DON'T let them sip on sugary juices or beverages throughout the day and especially not in bed. (this includes putting the baby down with milk)
BRUSHING
- Wipe infants teeth off with a damp cloth or xylitol wipes (Spiffles)
- Always brush your child’s teeth after they do (at least until age 7)
- Set timer or play/sing a fun song for two minutes
• “smear” of toothpaste for children less than two years of age.
• “pea-size” amount of toothpaste for children two to five years.
FLOSSING
FLOSSING
- Floss teeth that are in contact with one another
FLUORIDE
- Fluoride drops starting at 6 months of age (in non-fluoridated areas)
- ACT Fluoride mouth rinse for children 6 and older. (Dip toothbrush in act fluoride if your child cannot spit.)
CARIOSTATIC FOODS
- End snacks or meals with the following foods that help prevent tooth decay:
hard cheeses (like swiss)
yogurt
milk
nuts
popcorn
dark chocolate (80 % coco)
licorice (from health food stores)
fibrous fruits (including apples, not apple juice)
vegetables (including celery)
XYLITOL
- Expose teeth to 5-10 grams of xylitol (= 2 tsp of xylitol) 5x daily- Studies show it reduces tooth decay up to 80% and ear infections by 40%
- Brush morning and night with xylitol toothpaste. 3x daily let your child end meals with a xylitol product.
- Xylitol gum (Spry)
- 8 ounces water with 1/4 tsp of Xylitol dissolved
- Xylitol mints or candy
- Xylitol lollypops
AVOID The Following
- Sippy cups or bottles at sleep time
- Juice or sugary beverages in-between meals
- Frequent snacking on sugary foods ( foods not listed above)
- Sharing toothbrushes
Limit The Following:
- Sticky, Starchy or Sugary foods that can stay on the teeth for extended periods of time
- Examples: Fruit Roll-Ups, potato chips, candy or sugary mouth lozenges or gum
Products To Be Purchased:
- Xylitol products can be found at your local health food store or on the Internet
- ACT mouthwash and children’s toothpaste can be found in the dental isle of most drug stores or super markets
Next Week: Starting Goals Right Now
I think most of us have things that we absolutely know if we started doing would dramatically improve our lives for the better. Most of us can talk quite a bit about what we should be doing. We can think about it and even make plans/goals. Why don't we just do what we know we're supposed to? Well, for one, its overwhelming... and things that are overwhelming are easy to put off... until we magically feel disciplined on January 1st or Monday or when our lives are different.
"An ounce of ACTION is worth a ton of theory." - Freidrich Engels
I learned from this video that when you noticing that you are waiting for the perfect time to start-
JUST TAKE ACTION.
Its not about completing things perfectly but getting started in the first place. The video talks about when you're overwhelmed you procrastinate. OVERWHELMED = PROCRASTINATION. The solution is to Chunk-it-Down.
Just get started working for fifteen minutes at a time. Fifteen minute increments feel alot different than one hour blocks. This concept has really helped with household chores. A couple of times I have looked at my dishes and then had the overwhelming desire to: call someone/get on facebook/eat/ or do anything but dishes. I recognized that I was procrastinating and that it was because I felt ovewhelmed.
My solution has been to take ACTION and to just get started. Even one dish getting put away is one less then I have to do later. The kitchen even the tiniest bit cleaner blesses my family. On days I feel very overwhelmed I REALLY chunk-it-down. For example: get out soap, turn on water, pour soap in sink. Nothing individually is too hard. But sometimes when I look at the whole picture its overwhelming and I feel like avoiding the whole situation.
It takes discipline to ACT. Discipline is not good in the past or future. No, its only good in the present. Matt Townsend asks what it means when someone says, "Ah man, come January 1st I'm going to be disCIPLined. I'm going to lose 40 pounds!!" Or if someone says "In high school I used to run 20 miles a week." Neither of them mean a whole lot. Whats important is to have discipline now in the present. That is the only time discpline really matters.
I love what Katie from RunsForCookies has to say about the January 1st mentality. Katie has lost/maintained 1/2 her body weight. I included her post below.
Whenever I hear people say something like this ("I'm going to start on Monday" or "I'm going to start Jan. 1st" etc), I cringe inside. I never offer my advice unless someone specifically asks me, because I hate it when people give me unwanted advice. But here is what I would say to that person...
I always preach about ONLY making changes that you're willing to do for the rest of your life. A lot of people hear that, and think it makes sense, but they don'treally let it sink in.
The only reason that someone should dread making changes to his or her lifestyle is if the changes are TOO difficult and miserable to do.
There is no reason to dread starting your dietary changes RIGHT NOW. If you're going to make changes that you're willing to do forever, there is no reason whatsoever to wait until Jan.1st.
There is also a big difference between the phrases "can do" and "willing to do". Anybody CAN make changes; but not everybody is WILLING TO make those changes. When deciding what changes you want to make to your lifestyle, you have to ask yourself (and really think about it before you give an answer), "What am I WILLING to do or change?"
I would suggest making a list like the example I made below. On the left column, write down things you are not willing to change forever; and on the right, write down some changes that are only a small sacrifice and you honestly don't mind doing them (something you're not going to dread!)
Remember, these are just examples. Only you know your personal battles and changes you should make--so try coming up with your own list and then start RIGHT NOW. It's not like you're heading to be slaughtered; they are just a few small changes that you're willing to do right now.
For a moment yesterday, I actually thought to myself, "I'm only 1.5 pounds from my goal weight right now. If I cut back on calories this week, I'll for sure reach goal at my next weigh in!" But that is the exact mindset that I try to discourage from others. I'm not willing to eat less than I am right now FOREVER, so I decided that I'm not going to change a thing--I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing recently, and if it takes me 2 or 3 more weeks to reach goal, so be it. At least when I get there, I'll know that I'm already doing what I need to be doing in order to maintain.
Even if you're only willing to make one change right now, that's better than nothing. I didn't make all kinds of changes at once when I started losing weight. I wasn't even willing to exercise at first. But eventually, as you get used to your new habits, you just might be inspired to make more changes--because you wantto, not because you have to.
I understand the "waiting until Jan.1st" mindset, I really do--I've said that phrase who-knows-how-many times in my life. But now that I've actually lost the weight and lived this lifestyle for 2 1/2 years, I know much more than I did before. And "starting Jan. 1st" is almost guaranteed to fail. There is a reason people make that New Year's Resolution EVERY YEAR--it's because the last year's resolution failed.
NEXT MONDAY: BRUSHING YOUR TEETH THE CORRECT WAY
by candi
People love hearing their names. People love seeing their names. AND people LOVE having their names remembered.
There is a reason that we spend $ on having our names embroidered on pillows, inscribed on pens or spend time trying to sift through key chains to find our name. History has countless examples of people that moved up the ladders of success primarly because of their uncanning ability to make others feel important by remembering names.
A person is more interested in his or her name than all of ther other names on earth put together......We should be aware of the magic contained in a name and realize that this single item is wholly and completely owned by the person with whom we are dealing..and nobody else. The name sets the individual apart; it makes him or her unique among all of the others - How to Win Friends and Influence People
At BYU-Idaho I had a professor that I passed on campus a year after taking his class, I walked by him and he said"Hi Candi!" and kept walking. I just about died! You better believe that made me feel important. I couldn't believe that out of all of the students he remembered my name. And all of a sudden I thought of this professor as one of the best I'd ever had. The truth is I had a lot of great professors. But this one.. remembered my name!!
I recently took a course at the UDA convention entitiled "I'm No Good With Names...But I Never Forget a Face". The course was taught to help dental proffesionals remember names. Bob Gray who taught the course holds a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records for his memory. He said all memory is based on association. The reason children learn so well is that they use their left and right brain. The crazier, louder and more ridiculous something is... the easier it is to remember. He gave the following tips on remembering names:
1. ACTUALLY hear the name (slow down)-Don't worry so much about what you are going to say next, actually listen and hear the name.
2. Spell the name in your mind (or have them spell it)
3. If it is unique make a remark
4. Use their name in the intial conversation
5. Say their name at the end of the conversation
2. Spell the name in your mind (or have them spell it)
3. If it is unique make a remark
4. Use their name in the intial conversation
5. Say their name at the end of the conversation
It is also helpful to assocaite the name with a prominant feature or an accesory (even though accesories change..it will still work!). For example the man below is named Cory Jones.
Via Google Images
What is the feature you notice about Mr. Jones?? I also noticed his nose... :) When you meet Cory imagine shoving an apple core up his nose. Imagine what it would sound like and what it would look like. (This is NOT my example but an example from the course... extremes help with memory!!!)
Via Google Images
This is Barbra Freeze.
Via Google Images
I noticed her braces first... I would imagine barbed wire for her wires and icicles hanging from her brackets.
Associating people with other people is also helpful. The other day I filled in for another dental hygienist at an office I'd never been to. The front office ladies name was the same name as an EFY counselor I had as a youth. I imagined my counselor sitting at her desk. The whole day her name was easy to remember!!
1st review: 1 hour (most critical)
2nd review: 24 hrs
3rd reveiw: 1 week
4 reveiw 1 month
and then every 3 months
I try to atleast recall a name an hour later. Research shows the one hour review is the most important
NEXT WEEK: Brushing Your Teeth the Correct Way
I have asked my lovely twin sister Candi to do a weekly column on becoming a preventive thinker. She will be sharing tips and tools ranging from goal setting to preventing tooth decay (its the dental hygienist in her:) I know you will love Candi and all of her sweetness! Enjoy!
Toothbrushing is something that most of us have been doing our whole lives. Unfortunately, most people haven't been taught the correct way to brush his/her teeth. NOT brushing the right way can actually damage your gums and/or make you not very effective at removing the bacteria in your mouth!! I say if your going to be brushing anyway you might as well take a minute to learn to do it the right way :) :) "Scrub Brushing" (which most people do) can result in the gums getting brushed away (called recession), or people frustrated that they brush and floss 2x a day and still have severe gum disease. A slight adjustment in your technique could make you more effective and save you the big $ at the dentist!!
DRY BRUSHING
via google images
The average american spends 37 seconds brushing his/her teeth (Its supposed to be 2 minutes!!)
Studies show that people who brush withOUT toothpaste first brush longer and more effectively.
Try brushing without toothpaste and then feel around your mouth with your tongue. (Pay special attention to where your gums meet your teeth especially on the bottom tongue side of your teeth). When your mouth feels clean and fresh add tootpaste!! The problem with adding toothpaste first is that you think your mouth is clean because of the bubbles and foaming...and its not. By dry brushing you will brush longer and more effectively
45 DEGREE ANGLE
via google images
The most common mistake with toothbrushing is vigorously scrubbing back and forth. SCRUBBING IS A VERY, VERY BAD IDEA. I realize that some people feel like they are getting their teeth really clean but there is a more effective way to brush. I frequently see patients that have scrubbed away their gums and now have their roots exposed. (This can cause the teeth to look too long, it can cause sensitivity and the root exposure puts the patient at a higher risk for cavities). The correct way to brush is to angle the toothbrush towards your gum line (45 degrees) and do small circles. Let the bristles gently sweep under where the tooth meets the gum! :) My friend Megan Ham tells her patients that the gums are like tissue paper so you don't want to brush too hard.
P.S. Remember to also clean the chewing surface of your teeth!!
START ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT -TONGUE SIDE
via google images
Start on the bottom right on the tongue side of the tooth. Studies show that is where the most plaque is (and from my observation I agree). REALLY work on getting the tongue out of the way and still maintain the 45 degree angle at the gum line.
BRUSHING WITH AN ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH
via google images
I love electric toothbrushes!! People often brush longer and are more effective. The nice ones have sensors so heavy handed brushers can't brush too hard!! However, alot of people don't know that you brush differently with an electric toothbrush than you do with a manuel. With an electric toothbrush do the normal 45 degree angle and lightly move around your gum lines (spend 30 seconds in each of the 4 quadrants). Do not brush back and forth just angle it up into your gums and let it do the work. Electric toothbrushes work better with less pressure. I tell my patients just to hold it between their pointer finger and thumb and gently go around their mouth. No scrubbing or circle motion.
If anybody is interested in which journals I got my information from please leave a comment! A majority of this information came from the article The New Standard of Prevention by Trisha O'Hehir, RDH
NEXT WEEK: THE LAW OF 1 %
I'm embarrassed to admit that my breath has not always been very fresh. Even during dental hygiene school I had horrible breath. It was frustrating and embarrassing. I mean who wants to educate on oral hygiene with bad breath!? I blamed it on the medication I was on that caused me to have a dry mouth (dry mouth can contribute to bad breath), but I didn't know what to do about it.
I started the xylitol system to give my baby the best start for his oral health. (Babies mostly have their moms oral bacteria, xylitol can change the bad bacteria before cavities are spread!!) The xylitol system is 5 exposures to xylitol daily. This simply includes me brushing 2x a day with xylitol toothpaste (w/fluoride!) and popping a piece of xylitol gum or mint in after meals (3 pieces total). After a few weeks of doing this my sister and husband both commented on how fresh my breath had gotten.
I researched bad breath (halitosis) and began to implement a few more things. I am so relieved to have finally BEAT BAD BREATH.
Step 1: Brush Teeth With Xylitol Toothpaste: To learn the right way to brush your teeth click here
Step 2: Clean in Between: Floss your teeth. One of my friends has her teenage patients smell their floss!! It gets the point across that there is a lot of bacteria that can't be brushed away. If you are not a flosser consider flossing with water, use a waterpik. I promise you do not want food and bacteria trapped in-between your teeth.
Step 3: Clean Tongue: 90% of the bad breath causing bacteria is on your tongue. If you only implement one new thing to freshen your breath it should be to clean your tongue better. You can use your toothbrush, a spoon, wash cloth or a tongue scraper. I like the Orabrush best (you can purchase one at Walmart). Remember to clean your tongue and then to tip the handle up at a 45 degree angle and scrape down.
Step 4: Rinse With CloSYS Mouth Wash: CloSYS is heaven sent!! It is a patented formula that contains cloralstan. The difference between CloSYS and other mouth washes according to CloSYS website is "its ability to eliminate the Volatile Sulfer Compounds that cause bad breath and the harmful bacteria that create them, without any burning or irritation." I love the stuff. It's not like anything I've ever used and it really works. You can purchase it online or at Walgreens.
Step 5: Pop Xylitol Gum or Candy in After Meals: Xylitol is delicious and and does not affect your blood sugar (great for diabetics)! The bad bacteria in your mouth cannot proccess the xylitol sugar (it's 5 carbon units instead of 6). You can purchase xylitol at your local health food store or the Internet.
Step 6: Eat BACTERIA: You read that right. Lately for 2 of my exposures to xylitol I use an oral probiotic mint that contains xylitol while introducing good bacteria into my mouth.
* If you do all of these things and are still experiencing bad breath please consider seeing your MD. It could be a sign of an underlying condition like sinus problems or acid reflux. In addition have your dentist check for any infections in your mouth or tonsils.
by candi1. Did I Turn off My Curling Iron??- Memory Tip
I've done this with locking my home, taking my medication and countless other things....
Until, I received a tip in a class I took on memory in college. Are you ready for it?
BE AWARE; Tell yourself OUT LOUD that you are turning off the curling iron, blowing out the candle, locking the door, grabbing your purse, taking your medication
2. I Can't Forget to Call My Baby Sister For Her Birthday!! - Memory Tip
We were seven and I remember one of the things was to do 15 stretches like we did in PE. Time passed and I learned a little more about dieting and that "touch toes 10 times" and "5 butterfly stretches" weren’t going to cut it. . Here are some of the diets I've been on:
- Weight Watchers (2x officially & a million times on my own)
- Body For Life
- Medifast
- Slimfast
- Jillian Michaels Online
- MyFitnessPal (many times)
- Listen To My Body Diet (that one lasted 2.5 seconds)
- Food Journals
- Lean & Green Diet
- Naturally Thin Diet
- 50 % RAW Food Diet
- Mayoclinic Diet
- Special K Cereal Diet
- Carb Points Diet (found it on a blog)
- Beachbody
I can tell you ANY diet secret. I can tell you how much h2o to drink a day. The best time to start & stop eating. How many hours of sleep you need. I can tell you the calories or points of most foods..When the best time to exercise is &on&on&on&on..
I've lived my life depriving or indulging. It's always been the same cycle, for a while I would eat whatever, whenever, however much I wanted and then I would get fed up with my weight gain and start dieting. I was always chasing this number and dream of what life would be like if I were thin. I think I was mostly chasing what life would be like if food wasn't always of my mind; if I were free from thinking about food....from the guilt it brought.
When I was pregnant with Dallas I gained a LOT of weight. I had some healthy habits. I walked 45 minutes everyday (exercise helps me mentally, its a must for me), I drank a gallon of water daily, never drank soda, avoided any processed meats and got plenty of rest each night.
I however, ate whenever, however, whatever I wanted. At 8 months pregnant I weighed 202 lbs (I started at 147 ). The doctor was concerned about my weight gain and wanted me to watch my calories. I figured out the calories in WW points and did that instead. Just by eating the recommended amount of calories daily I lost 8-9 lbs by the time I delivered.
I however, ate whenever, however, whatever I wanted. At 8 months pregnant I weighed 202 lbs (I started at 147 ). The doctor was concerned about my weight gain and wanted me to watch my calories. I figured out the calories in WW points and did that instead. Just by eating the recommended amount of calories daily I lost 8-9 lbs by the time I delivered.
When Dallas was 5 months old I started the Jillian Michaels 90 Day Body Revolution. I started the program with the mindset that I wanted to be skinny....and wanted to get the "gross fat" off my body, And at first that was the motivation. I even taped my progress at the beginning. In the first month I could see remarkable results but still could only focus on being "skinny" and getting the “love handles” off. Here are my videos:
By the end of the program I noticed I was more focused on having energy, being strong and feeling good. ....AND I still couldn't shake the anxiety I felt around food. I could not get over this ALL OR NOTHING mindset. I would exercise, feel great and then binge, feel horrible and promise myself that I would start counting points the next day.
I wasn't sure what/how I was supposed to eat. I was tired of counting points (although, that did help me learn portions in the beginning). Out of pure desperation one night I googled "moderation in eating". I came upon a link that discussed the 80/20 rule from this book. It talked about 80% of the time making healthy choices and the other 20% is life. I LOVED that it was so different than what I've always thought. I've never thought about eating in a ratio form it is so different that ALL OR NOTHING thinking.
I checked out the book from the library and learned more about this concept. From the book I begin to identify other victories that accompany a healthy lifestyle besides just being "skinny". These Victories are what I am chasing now by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep and movement everyday. I'll be honest they are a lot more exciting to chase than getting rid of "love handles".
• Having a Sharp Mind
• Concentration
• Steady Flow of Energy
• Curing my Hypothyroidism (I've read where whole-food diets have cured certain auto-immune diseases)
• Engaging in Physical Activities With my Family
• Energy/Motivation to Complete Projects
• Confidence in My Apperance
• Physically Strong
• Cheerful, Steady Moods
• Successfully Learning to Plan/Shop/Prepare healthy Meals for My Family.
I've done a lot of reflection on apperances and dieting. I was thinking of the women I admire the most and realized it had nothing to do with their appearance. Yes, all of these women are well-groomed but its not the source of their happiness. They feel good about themselves so they take care of themselves (not the other way around). These women are beautiful because they are happy, confident and they realize they are born of nobility as Daughters of God.
I do not have "after" pictures in the goal outfit because that was no longer my goal. I've maintained a healthy weight between 141-145lbs for going on 5 months. I feel good about my appearance and decided that it was better for me to start chasing my "Healthy Victories" rather than a number on the scale.
The biggest success has been not being on a "diet" but seeing my health as a lifestyle with no Stop&Start date. Knowing that I will be eating the same way next week, next year and in 50 years is a whole lot different than getting through x amount of days until I can binge again..
I can't tell you how freeing it is not to feel guilty all of the time or to not be constantly thinking about food. I believe that WW did help me learn appropriate portion sizes, which is key for me now. And, I also believe that I needed a shift in thinking to gain peace with food. Everyday my goal is to bring energy to my day, to be the happiest/best version of myself.. not the skinniest version.
"You can't NOT communicate"- Matt Townsend
We communicate from the day we are born, yet no one really teaches us how to communicate.
I married up. My husband is one of the most patient, caring, kind people that I know.
I got married honestly believing that if you Loved someone you would automatically know how to communicate and you would automatically meet all of their needs. I believed "talking" was the only way to communicate. I now know that there are many ways to communicate and not to get so caught up with the means as the outcome. For example Mike and I can come to a Mutual Understanding (outcome) by serving eachother, writing a letter, texting etc. "Talking" isn't the only way!
Every morning I quietly think of one way to let Mike know I love him. Somedays it might be to encourage him when he comes home from a long day, or to send him a text. Other days its simply scratching his back (he LOVES back scratches) and thanking him for working so hard. I write this down on a notecard along with my to-do list.
I realize that communication is something that I can improve on so for the last 4-5 months I've been taking these courses online (I love the smartlife series, It has changed my way of thinking). One concept that I like is the concept of Smoke and Fire. Most of the time we argue about the same silly issues over and over (smoke). We get suffocated by the smoke. It isn't until we can get to the base of the problem that we can get a solution. The fire (base of the problem, called STARVED issues) usually can fall under one of 7 principals.
- Safety
- Trust
- Appreciation
- Respect
- Validation
- Encouragment
- Dedication
I recently read that the 2 leading causes for divorce are money and sex. Perhaps all of the arguing about money could be traced to not feeling safe. Or the argumetns about sex could be traced to dedication or trust. It is interesting to think about.
Recently I started feeling REALLY tired, nauseated and dizzy.. I was not feeling like I was able to be the kind of mom I needed to be. I went to the doctors and was diagnosed with hypothyroidism (I'm only 23 years old!!). Its amazing how just getting this straightened out (with medication) has allowed me to bring my "A" game to life each day.
What tune-up do you need to do to be a WELL-OILED machine
that can outlast your kids?!
By Candi.
On The Biggest Loser a few weeks ago I watched a lady struggle on the treadmill. She was out of shape, over weight and clearly hadn't ran for a while. In one word she looked uncomfortable.... Jillian Michaels, her personal trainer, turned and said something very profound to her, "you have to get uncomfortable to get comfortable." This woman has to go through many uncomfortable sessions on the treadmill before she can just hop on and run comfortably.
I reflected on my life and thought about a few areas where I wanted to feel more comfortable. One was my chosen career- dental hygiene.
I have a bachelors in dental hygiene and have nearly been graduated for 2 years yet, until recently, I didn't feel comfortable with taking x-rays (unless the office had a ring system, which makes it super easy.) If the office didn't have a ring system they either got horrible x-rays or I would have to ask an assistant to take them. This issue has been a source of much stress, frustration and many embarrassing x-rays. Not to mention it really was hard on my confidence. I felt like I was a good hygienist that just couldn't take an x-ray to save my life. (FYI: on an average day I have to take at least 8 sets of x-rays...That = a lot of frustration)
Then I got a job at a wonderful dental office and I voiced my x-ray concern. It was embarrassing....It's one of the first things you learn in hygiene school and I still stunk at them. The office had me practice for an entire hour on other staff members until my x-rays improved. My wonderful office also had girls stand by me and help me for a few days as I took radiographs on patients. The whole process was not comfortable to say the least, and it was something that I should have already been good at. It was very hard and embarrassing to put myself out there and have everyone so aware of a weak area. It was embarrassing to keep having to take re-takes.. But guess what? After a lot of help I dont have a sick feeling in my stomach each x-ray, I'm faster and they are turning out pretty darn good. I'm finally feeling comfortable...and it was worth going through a very uncomfortable process for..
Most areas that you feel comfortable in you didn't always feel that way. Think of driving..at first it was scary. So what areas in your life do you need to get through the uncomfortable to get comfortable?
Do you need to have an uncomfortable conversation to make a relationship more comfortable? Have a few uncomfortable exercise sessions at the gym?
Or go through a week of uncomfortable nights to get your kids on a sleeping schedule?
By Candi.
When I think of All-Or-Nothing thinking I think of Oreo cookies. In the past I would be "good" and not have even one cookie OR I would eat a whole sleeve of cookies. I figured if I had one then I already "ruined" it and might as well keep going until I could "start again the next day".
In my post about my weight loss I shared about ratio thinking instead of all-or-nothing thinking. Now if I have 1 or 2 cookies instead of 20 I consider that an 80% improvement. Occasionaly I will make homemade pizza. Having 1 or 2 small pieces instead of my normal "well I guess I already ruined it and I might as well polish off the whole pizza attitude" ratio wise this is a HUGE improvement. I've also noticed that I don't have the guilt like I used to.
I recently watched this short video entitled "Why Can't I Commit to Change" on Studio 5. Life Coach, Tiffany Peterson, shared that 60 % of change is mindset, 30 % is environment and 10% is skills. Often times we only want to change the environment and not our minds.
To change your mindset you have to really dig deep to find your inner why? What are the principals behind this change? Why is it necessary to change?
Example:
Why Is It Important For Me to Eat Appropriate Portions? I REALLY pondered this question, to me appropriate portions are more than just eating healthy. I've eaten thousands of calories of healthy foods. I thought about the principals behind why we are encouraged to eat proper portions besides just being skinny.
- I need to learn live the principal of moderation
- I need to learn to be proactive not reactive (reactive is just eating because I'm stressed/tired/happy/sad etc.)
- I need to learn other healthy outlets besides food.
- I need to be a good example to Dallas of respecting food.
- I need to be active for my family, the more weight I carry around the harder it is for me to be active.
- I need to use my energy worrying about other things instead of my weight
- To have energy
- I need to be a well-oiled-machine, I need fuel not sludge
- To help with my hypothyroidism
- To have a clear mind.
- To prevent health problems related to unhealthy eating
- To teach Dallas to enjoy nutritious foods
Example:
Ratio MTO for exercise this week:
Minimum: Some Movement Everyday this week (walking, movement time)
Target: 15-30 minutes of Jillian 3 times this week, walk 3 times this week
Target: 15-30 minutes of Jillian 3 times this week, walk 3 times this week
Outrageous: 30 minutes of Jillian 6 days this week, walks with Dallas & movement time
Ratio MTO for eating in moderation
Minimum: Not binging (eating over 2 servings of anything)
Minimum: Not binging (eating over 2 servings of anything)
Target: Eat six small meals in appropriate servings, treats 2 x this week
Outrageous: Six small high protein meals- one serving. 1 treat this week
Outrageous: Six small high protein meals- one serving. 1 treat this week
Ratio MTO for eating for health:
Minimum: 1 piece of fruit, 1 veggie per day, 64 oz of water.
Target: Drink 1 gallon of water* 2 veggies and 2 fruits. Bed by 10:30
Outrageous: 50 % of plate are fruit and/or veggies, 1 gallon of water, six small meals. Bed by 10:00
Outrageous: 50 % of plate are fruit and/or veggies, 1 gallon of water, six small meals. Bed by 10:00
*Water is really easy for me to drink, 1 gallon of h2o might be too steap of a goal for someone else
Lets take a look. A person has breakfast and the PH of their mouth has dropped from a neutural state (7 ph) to an acidic state (4.5 ph). (Anything under 5.5 ph minerals are being taken from you teeth.)
If the person has orange juice (3.5 ph) their mouth is even more acidic. They grab their toothbrush and brush acid into their teeth! NOT GOOD!!!
Often times we do things out of habit with no real thought of the research behind our habits.
Research shows that we should brush before we eat.
Research shows that we should brush before we eat.
Following eating CLEAN IN BETWEEN your teeth with floss (that's where all of the food is trapped anyway ). I've also observed that most people get cavities in between their teeth. Clean your tongue, rinse and you're done!
Here is a break down:
- Wake up and Brush Teeth (before mouth is acidic from breakfast)
- Eat Breakfast
- Clean Inbetween with Floss, Clean Tongue, Rinse with Closys Mouth Wash or Fluoride
- Enjoy a Wonderful Day!
*doing something productive right when you get up in the morning like making your bed (and I assume brushing your teeth would count) has been linked to more productivity through out the day!
By Candi.
I have struggled with confidence for years.. In dental hygiene school I regularly had instructors keep me behind to talk about my confidence. The first place I worked a dentist said I came off unconfident because I was constantly apologizing. I am pleased to say that I am now a confident dental hygienist.
Here are 4 things that have helped me become confident:
Via Pinterest
1. BE A CONTRIBUTION:
The first couple months of being a dental hygienist were rough. I was a nervous wreck. I worried what the doctor thought about me. I worried about what the patients thought about me. Was I gentle enough? Thorough enough? Did I make sense when I was explaining things? What did the dentist think about my cleaning?
I made mistakes left and right and then I stewed about them and made more mistakes!!! It wasn’t until I watched a segment on studio five that I was able to shift my thinking. The contributor said to stop worrying about what others think and to be a contribution.
Now days when I start feeling my confidence shake I repeat out loud (usually in my car on my way to work!) “Candi Be a Contribution, This is Not About YOU This is About Helping Patients Live a Healthier, Fuller, Life. This is About Helping This Dental Office and Helping Your Family Financially.”
Things began to change once my mission wasn’t to look good but to help patients be healthier, live pain free and save money at the dentist. Once I was more concerned about helping the dental office out and relieving financial stress for my family I stopped thinking so much about myself.
2. BECOME AN EXPERT:
I felt unconfident discussing dental products so I began to research&research&research..Now I can confidently recommend products based on my patients needs. I can feel my confidence grow each time I discuss the pros and cons of a different dental product or oral hygiene method. (I read somewhere that suggested becoming an expert to be confident.)
3. CAPTALIZE ON YOUR STRENTHGS:
In this short video Matt Townsend says, “It’s better to be 3 inches wide and a million miles deep than to be a million miles wide and 3 inches deep.” The video discusses a group that researched 80,000 managers; the group found that the managers who were most effective were the ones that weren’t trying to have well-rounded employees but the ones capitalizing on their employees strengths.
One of my talents as a dental hygienist is to truly care about my patients. Instead of focusing on my weak areas in dental hygiene I began to build my strong areas. I took my talent of caring about patients to the next level by asking more sincere questions, giving more compliments and by being a better listener. By focusing on building my strengths my weak areas have began to resolve themselves.
4: CHALK IT UP AS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE:
I am the QUEEN of focusing and stewing on mistakes. Just last week I made a mistake that caused a patient to wait in the waiting room for too long. I couldn’t sleep that night I felt so bad. I ran over the scenario a million times in my head. It wasn’t until I decided that it was a learning experience and that in the future I will be an even better hygienist, because now I know what to do if the situation should ever arise again, that I was able to get over my mistake.
check out this video I just stumbled upon: Carrying Yourself With Confidence
I stumbled across an article on food allergies and wished that I would have earlier. I recently polished a patients teeth that had celiacs disease, I would have not done that had I received this information earlier.
- MILK: Recaldent (MI paste) has milk along with some forms of Trident gum,
- GLUTEN: Polishing paste, Fluorides
- NUTS: Fluorides have nut oils
- FRUIT: Topical anesthesia- fruit flavorings
- EGGS: Propofol (general anesthesia) contains eggs, Nitrous Oxide-does not specifically contain egg but is has a molecule that resembles eggs.
- CLOVES: This allergy is not as common but dental cements contains eugenol which is derived from oil of cloves
Here are 5 of my favorite tips from Marie:
1. STREAM LINE GIFTS:
This is not for the spontaneous person... but for everyone else Marie suggests having a standard gift you give people. Her husband wished they would have received a garden hose for their wedding...so every wedding they go to they give a garden hose. She picks them up on sale, wraps them and puts a bow on them and when she gets an announcement she already has a gift ready. She gives each grandchild the same book for their first birthday etc. I've been streamlining my baby shower gifts. The other day I was invited to a shower and couldn't make it to the store I was grateful that I had a gift, tissue paper and a bag all ready to go. Have cookie dough in your freezer if you suddenly need to bring a treat to your neighbor. One of my frineds makes calzones for anyone that needs a meal after having a baby or surgery. Standard gifts and meals will save you money, time and an uneeded trip to the store!!
2. IF YOU CARE, KEEP A SPARE:
I don't know why I've never thought of this..Marie suggest if you need to buy a watch battery buy two. Buy two sets of the special Spiderman Band-Aids that your son will only wear. I recently went and bought four pairs of nylons. Usually I only buy one set, they get a run and I'm in a pickle. Marie also suggests rubber banding items when you're on your last one. She said to have the kids get involved in putting a rubber band on the last bottle of ketchup etc. This way you can add it to your grocery list before you're completely out.
3. MASS PRODUCE:
When you are making cookies double the batch and put some in the freezer. (Comes in handy if you have to bring some cookies to someone.) Do the same with meals. Marie said that she was making her oldest son a book of all of her recipes for when he left on his mission. She has 4 boys so she laminated each recipe 4 times and had it ready for when her other boys left home.
4. MAKE IT PERMANENT
If its important make it permanent. Marie suggests laminating important papers (recipes, contact info for kids school, etc). She puts her grocery list in sheet protectors with tape. I've done this and its made the difference between getting lost or not!
5. FINISH
This is by far the most important tip, and it happens to be the hardest to apply. I'm still working on it In Marie's book (pg. 71) she discusses how we have a bad habit of "purchase,use and push," meaning we push aside things we are done with instead of putting them away. Marie says the solutions is to finish.
"Finish putting candy wrappers in the trash when you are done with your treat. Finish putting the grocereis and shopping bags away when they are brought in the house. Finish throwing away the packaging when a large item is purchased, the newspaer is read , or a soda pop enjoyed. The family that finishes-completely-whatever they are doing is the family that lives in an orderly house."
By candi
I’m what we call a dental hygiene temp. I fill in at many offices when the hygienist can’t make it to work. Some offices have sharp tools and the day goes smoothly. I can stay on time, the patient is comfortable and I can effectively remove what I need to remove. On the other hand, when my tools are dull I have to work twice as hard, my hands are fatigued and it’s more uncomfortable for the patient. Before my last move I checked out THIS book on de-cluttering from the library. The book armed me with a couple of questions that I asked myself that allowed me to easily get rid of things that I otherwise would have held onto.
I also researched Pinterest to find cleaning solutions. I was able to clean my place in a quarter of the time. (Cleaning tubs, Cleaning Window Tracks, Cleaning Stoves)
What Tools in YOUR Life Do You Need to Sharpen? Would a Parenting Class Help, A Relationship Coach or Just Simply Learning Tools to Manage Your Time?
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"You Are The Most Powerful In The Present" I once heard that out of all the tools and books and classes that we could take to be happier, more effective members of society, the biggest change would take place if we could just be present 20 % more a day.
I believe whole heartedly the saying that "we are the most powerful in the present". We can not change the past.. and the future can only be changed in the present.
Someone that used to be in shape..or plans to get into shape come January 1st, Monday, Next month or Tomorrow.. doesn't have as much power as someone at this moment making healthy choices. As Matt Townsend said no one cares if you say 'man back in high school I used to run 5 miles a day' or 'Come January 1st i'm going to get into the best shape of my life"... your power is not in the past or future.
I am someone that lives in constant fear of the future. When things are going well I'm just waiting for something to happen. I recently read this article entitled "What if The Shoe Drops Syndrome" (seriously read it!)
A quote in the article really stuck with me, especially with the recent tragedy that took place this last month.
According to Susan Jeffers, author of “Feel the Fear & Do It Anyway” she claims that under all fear is really the question, “What if I can’t handle it?” What if something bad happens (aka shoe drops!) and I can’t handle the loss, feelings, fear, humiliation, etc.? Here’s the TRUTH – you will handle it. You always have. You are worthy and deserving of having great stuff in your life. And if you’re not used to the great stuff so it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar, make a conscious decision to become comfortable. Repeat after me, “I allow myself to receive. I trust myself. I am worthy and deserving. I am capable to handle it
Its true I've always handled things and when things come up I will just get through them like I always have.
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Tis the season for me to be present at work, church and my home. After all... memories are made when we are present...
