Simple Solutions: Ways to Deal with Life's Little Challenges

By Teresa M. Mosteller

Simple Solutions: Ways to Deal with Life's Little Challenges offers straightforward solutions to everyday problems and suggests ways to turn frustrating dilemmas into positive and lasting successes.

From this book, you will learn:
- simple grooming tips
- party planning and entertaining
- packing shortcuts
- gift-giving ideas
- preparing for the job interview
- money managing suggestions
- parenting tips
- staying organized
- being creative with healthy cooking

and more!

Simple Solutions contains a variety of instructional narratives and anecdotes from the author and her family that have become lifelong learning experiences. We now wish to share the vast wealth of our experiences with you! We also hasten to admit that trial and error have been our best teachers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jun 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781489717085

Teresa M. Mosteller

Teresa M. Mosteller is a published writer, playwright and freelance poet. Her first book, There Used to Be a Fish Called Salmon, is a collection of her original poems and short stories. She has written or co-written several published plays including The Opulent and Tragic Baby Doe Tabor, Sing Me a Story, A Musical Excursion and Mr. Luckys. Ms. Mosteller is also a Human Resources professional for a social services agency. She and her immediate family live and work in the Seattle area.

Book preview

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Don’t Complicate (This Thing Called) Simplicity or Make It Harder, Longer, and More Drawn-Out Than It Has to Be!

Whatever the job is, keep it simple. Break it into manageable tasks. Give yourself a time limit so you don’t experience burnout. If you’re a visual person, make a short list of tasks and check them off as you complete them. This will do wonders for your sense of accomplishment.

One trick that works is to approach the job as if you were explaining it to a child. Do one small step at a time and keep your temper in check.

Here’s an example of a homework guide that I gave my kids when they were in school:

1. Get your grading rubric out.

2. Take your homework out of your folder.

3. Do you have your rubric? Get it out.

4. Grab a pen or pencil.

5. Do you have your textbook handy? No? Do you need it? Yes?

6. So, why don’t you have it?

7. Where’s your rubric? It was here just a minute ago.

8. Answer each question. Why did you skip some homework questions?

9. On your rubric, the last question has three parts. You only answered Part 1. What about the other two?

10. WHERE IS YOUR RUBRIC?

11. Turn in your homework! This step cannot be overemphasized.³

Whether for yourself or your children, set rules that will be easy to follow and that will produce results. Creativity helps!

SPECIAL SECTION: Homework Ground Rules for Zombies!

If not sure, approach homework the same way you would approach your prey – with a vengeance. No holds barred. What would the smartest kid in the class do? Do that.

If an opportunity for homework presents itself, you MUST pursue it. Zombies don’t think. They act. Ignore all opportunities to complete homework AT YOUR PERIL!

Make it fun. If you don’t know how, ask me how. We’ll find a way.

TIME

• During study hall at school, or as soon as you get home from school.

• Try to complete all homework the night before. Don’t leave it unfinished for Zombie Moms & Dads to attack it the next day. Zombie Moms & Dads can be mean in the morning, because they are tired and hungry – just like you. And they are in a hurry, just like you. NOTE: Homework includes items needing your parents’ signature.

• For multiple or longer assignments, you are allowed to take a 15-minute break after completing a whole section or after you complete one homework assignment.

• Choose a weekend day to complete all weekend homework, including parts of larger assignments. The other weekend day can be your day off (even zombies need breaks). Choose your time wisely. You must complete weekend homework on the weekend.

PLACE

• Zombies work best within their own environments. Keep it consistent.

• Remove distractions like TV.

• Do your homework right after you get home, maybe with time for a quick (15-minute) snack. (Zombies do need snacks, even beyond mealtimes.)

• Remove the cellphone, laptop, and other distracting devices that you’re not using for homework.

• Then: Treat homework like it’s your last meal – with reverence!

PEOPLE

• We understand that sometimes, zombies prefer to travel in herds. We don’t mind study buddies on occasion. Always ask for permission in advance.

PROBLEMS

• Keep your zombie parents informed. We are your allies – not your enemies. We’ll do our best not to bite your head off. It’s better to deal with scary but loving zombie parents than with the dreaded failing grade.

FOLLOW-UP

• Rewards for excellent grades (for example, driving school).

• Consequences for mediocre-to-poor grades (for example, no TV, cellphone use or weekend hangouts with friends, except by special permission and for special reasons).

Agreed?

Student Comments:

The Small Print ~ Rules for Parents

1. Ground Rules must be short, simple, reasonable, and clearly understood by every member of the household and any regular visitors such as babysitters and Grandma. To avoid disputes, see the next point.

2. Ground Rules should be posted. Get creative and fancy or keep it simple but post the Homework Ground Rules so that everybody can see them. I recommend putting a copy on the refrigerator, in your child’s homework binder, and in the homework area if you have one. Turn the rules into a contract to make sure the child understands and will comply.

3. Ground Rules must be enforceable. There is no point in setting rules if nobody is going to follow them! If your child does not do his homework or follow an agreed-upon rule, the consequence must follow. Children are masters at making us feel guilty but enforcing rules that benefit them is part of our job. We deserve to have peaceful evenings and weekends, don’t we?

The Simple Solution: Life is only as complicated as we choose to make it. However, it’s never too complicated to make it fun.

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Remind Yourself: Laziness May Be Environmentally Friendly

Sometimes we beat our heads against the wall (figuratively speaking) trying to find a happy medium between doing work that needs to be done and doing what’s environmentally prudent. These goals are not mutually exclusive. Sometimes, little effort is needed to make an adjustment. At other times, no adjustment is needed at all!

Here are just a few everyday examples of this:

• When you wash your clothes, use only cold water.

• Never run anything but a full load of clothes or dishes.

• Don’t water the lawn.

• Combine errands when you need to drive to get there.

• Limit the amount and quantity of items that you pack for trips.

• Shower every other day.

• When you’re tired at home, leave the dishes (this once) and take a nap. The dishes aren’t going anywhere.

• Drink instant coffee.

• Order online. Shop online. Get your toilet paper and cat litter/dog food online. Save yourself a frantic trip to the store when it’s an item you know you’ll need to replenish and don’t want to be caught without. (See Chapter 27, Research It Online – It’s Free.)

The Simple Solution: When you reduce your efforts, you may very likely reduce your carbon footprint.

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Complete One Task at a Time

Start one task and finish it before starting another. Take the word of a simplicity skeptic – this approach works. Am I going to give you that garbage about sense of accomplishment in having completed a task? Well, yes! Once you have successfully finished a single task, the next one becomes easier. Start with making your bed.

When you tackle a big or lengthy job, break it into small components. Set a timer for 15-20 minutes to avoid burnout. I believe in looking at the Big Picture, but the Big Picture can be paralyzing for particularly demanding tasks. If you have to climb a 76-story staircase, don’t think about making it to the top. Think about making it to the next level and work your way from