A Day in the Life at The University of Arizona

A Day in the Life at The University of Arizona The tutors behind Varsity Tutors are not just here to teach theyre sharing their college experiences as well. Lynn is a Tucson tutor specializing in Calculus tutoring, Statistics tutoring, Spanish tutoring, and much more. She is a 2012 graduate of The University of Arizona with Bachelors degrees in both Mathematics and Economics. See what she had to say about her school: VT:Describe the campus setting and transportation options.How urban or safe is the campus?Are there buses or do you need a car/bike? Lynn: The campus is fairly large, but with a bike, you can get from one side to the other in 10-15 minutes. Tucson is a small city so the campus is not in a very urban area. I always felt safe, and the police department and programs like Safe Ride, make the campus even safer. On campus, we have the CatTran to get around, but most students prefer bikes. To get around the city, a bike or a car are best. VT: How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Lynn: Most professors and TAs are readily available, but you have to seek them out. Often, professors dont receive any visitors during office hours and will be happy to help you with homework or talk about your future plans. If you want to do research, some professors are much more welcoming and encouraging than others, so you may have to search for a bit. Personally, I found my advisers (except for the ones who were professors) to be generally unhelpful so I looked to other students and professors for advice. VT: How would you describe the dorm life rooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Lynn: I lived in the dorms for 4.5 years, so I loved it. Depending on your price range and preferences, you can get a room in a historic building with a lot of character or a large room in a new building with fancy features like 3D TVs and climate control. Residence life provides good resources and the halls are a great place to meet friends and study groups. Dining options are spread around campus, but most restaurants are in the main student union. The restaurants include a buffet, Mexican, Italian, salad, delis, pizza, bagels, and more. It gets old after a while, but that is motivation to learn to cook! VT: Which majors/programs are best represented and supported?What did you study and why? Did the university do a good job supporting your particular area of study? Lynn: Engineering, Optical Sciences, Biology, and other Sciences as well as Business are big here. There are many research opportunities for the Sciences, and the College of Engineering and the College of Business are known for preparing students for employment. I studied Mathematics and Economics because those are my two passions and they provide a good basis for future study. The Mathematics department is very supportive of their students and works hard to match students with professors who have similar interests and with research projects. The undergraduate coordinator would send me personalized lists of summer programs and suggestions for classes. Economics is a forgotten discipline at the school. While the professors were mostly very supportive, the college was not always. VT: How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Lynn: I quickly made friends in my residence hall and in the clubs I joined. Greek life is available and many people partake, but it is not necessary to be involved in Greek life to have a social life. VT: How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services?Do many reputable companies recruit on campus? Lynn: I didnt really use the Career Center. They hold a job fair every semester which attracts some large companies. A lot of tech/engineering companies like Microsoft, Google, Raytheon, Lockheed-Martin, etc. hold recruiting events and hold on-campus interviews. VT: How are the various study areas such aslibraries, student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Lynn: There are several libraries, study lounges in the union, and all the dorms have study lounges. There are also several coffee shops near campus. It can be hard to find a room around midterms and finals, but there is usually plenty of space in the library. VT: Describe the surrounding town. What kinds of outside establishments / things to do are there that make it fun, boring, or somewhere in between?To what extent do students go to the downtown area of the city versus staying near campus? Lynn: Tucson is a city that retained the heart of a college town. The area around the university is very student friendly. 4th Ave has local shops and restaurants and is a favourite hangout for students. Downtown is close (20 minute walk or 10 minute bike ride), and there are a lot of new restaurants and activities. There are a few annual evens that are mostly around the university or downtown, and UA sports events are big events. VT: How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Lynn: We have a large student body. I took mostly Math and Economics classes which had classes of 15-35 students. I always made sure my professor knew me so class size wasnt a problem. My large lecture classes usually also had a 20 person discussion section so I had a chance to express my ideas. VT: Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Lynn: My first semester I took a general education Science class called Intro to Global Change. We studied things like water and climate. To supplement our class, our professor took us on field trips to Mt. Lemmon, the Desert Museum, and his tree ring lab. Afterwards, we always got lunch and talked to him about the class and whatever came up. It was great to have a professor who taught in a unique way, was passionate about his subject, and who took the time to get to know us as individuals. Check out Lynns tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Couscous for Beginners

Couscous for Beginners Everything You Need to Know About Couscous ChaptersSo What is Couscous?A Couscous RecipeThe Different Types of Couscous“If you like couscous, eat it when it’s hot” - Ahmadou KouroumaMany Brits love food and cooking their meals. In fact, a lot of us would love to cook more. Many don’t cook as often as they like because they’re busy or they can’t cook.So why not try making some couscous?In this article, we’ll look at what couscous is, hortw you can make it, and the different types of couscous you can make. GiovanniCooking Teacher 4.83 (12) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HalimaCooking Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors VincenzoCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors GinellaCooking Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ArronCooking Teacher 5.00 (2) £9/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JoshuaCooking Teacher 5.00 (5) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutor s FlickCooking Teacher 5.00 (1) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsSo What is Couscous?Couscous is a great dish for aspiring chefs to learn how to cook. This North African dish is commonly eaten in Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Libya. Generally, in many of the countries where a wheatmeal or semolina is common. Couscous is often the name of the dish and the main ingredient. (Source: LAWJR)To discover where couscous came from, we need to go back to the 11th century to the region of Kabylie, Algeria. The nomadic Berbers in the region made couscous from wheat. The name “couscous” comes from the Berber word “k’seksu”. The term refers to the dish and the wheat meal used to prepare it.Couscous is now eaten all over the world, especially around the Mediterranean in Greece, Italy, and Turkey.In North Africa, couscous is an everyday meal that’s shared with the family. It’s also prepared for big occasions like marriages, births, and religious ceremonies. Couscous is often shared and eaten in groups. It can be eaten with family or friends.According to some historians, couscous made its way into France when the French colonised Algeria. Some believe that the recipe arrived in France before this. The French renaissance writer François Rabelais mentioned it as early as the 16th century.How ever, it wouldn’t become largely popular in France until the 20th century when people in France of Algerian descent started cooking the dish regularly. Nowadays, couscous has spread across Europe and become a very popular dish. In fact, in France, it’s one of the most popular dishes.There’s been a bid from African nations for couscous to be given world heritage status by UNESCO.Discover some simple recipes for beginners.A Couscous RecipeThe traditional couscous recipe varies greatly depending on where it’s being made and who’s making it. However, there’s a basic recipe that’s generally agreed upon. While there are many different couscous recipes, you have to use semolina! (Source: Pezibea)You can pick up couscous in most supermarkets. There’s precooked couscous that you can use. You just need to add water to the grains.  However, if you want to make your couscous from scratch, you might want to visit a specialist supermarket.Once you’ve got your meal, you need to spread out it on a large plate and add a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Use your fingers to separate the grains. Pour some cold water onto the grains. This will make things easier. Before cooking the grains, let them sit on a tea towel. Once they’ve dried a little bit, steam them. Let them cook for around 15 minutes.  After this, separate the grains again and steam them for another 15 minutes. Finally, add some butter to the meal and separate the grains one last time.  Now your couscous is ready!Of course, you can’t stop there. You need to prepare the other ingredients.Not fancy couscous?Learn how to make a las agna.Ingredients for six people:8 chicken drumsticks12 merguez sausages3 tomatoes10 turnips5 carrots2 courgettes400g of chickpeas or garbanzo beans2 cartons of tomato concentrate3 tablespoons of couscous spices1 teaspoon of harissa2 beef stock cubesOlive oilStart by washing and peeling the carrots, turnips, and tomatoes. Then dice them.  Cook the drumsticks in a frying pan with a few tablespoons of olive oil. Once cooked, add the stock and tomato concentrate to a litre of water of boiling water. Add the diced vegetables to the water before adding the spices and harissa. Cover and cook on a low heat for around 25 to 30 minutes.While this cooks, dice your courgettes. After half an hour, add the courgettes and chickpeas to the frying pan. You’ll have plenty of time to wash and dice your courgettes and strain your chickpeas while the rest is cooking. Cook for another 10 minutes.Cook the merguez separately from the vegetables.You now have the choice of serving your couscous mixed in wi th the other ingredients or serving it all separately so that you can your guests can mix and match as you please. Everyone has different tastes, after all.Just like with dishes like ratatouille or poulet basquaise, it’s a good idea to prepare your couscous the day before you want to eat it. This will allow the spices to soak into the mix.Prepare your couscous in a tagine for a bit of authenticity. Just like a casserole is cooked in a casserole, you need a tagine for tagine. (Source: TheUjulala)Initially, there weren’t that many different types of couscous and there was only one type of meat served with it. This would generally be lamb, chicken, or fish.  However, over time, different ingredients started showing up in recipes. You can freely add what you want.Squashes, gourds, leeks, onions, etc. You can add it all. The same is true for the spices. You don’t need to have spicy couscous. You can add ginger, peppers, quinoa, pine nuts, cloves, fresh parsley, butternut squash, pistachios, etc. to taste.Learn how to make poulet basquaise.The Different Types of CouscousNot all couscous is the same. Each chef will make it according to their skills, tastes, and available ingredients. Couscous varies according to the region its served in.  In coastal regions, you’re more likely to find fish in your couscous, whereas in dessert regions you’ll find dried meats or vegetables. Poor er regions tend to make them with less meat. There are plenty of different recipes so you're bound to find something you like. (Source: photo-graphe)Each type of couscous is cooked differently and often has different names. Here are a few common types:Couscous Bidaoui: This is a Moroccan couscous made with 7 different vegetables.Couscous Khoumassi/Awerkis: Another Moroccan couscous that’s made with 4 different kinds of cereal.Couscous T’Faya: this is a sweet and savoury couscous with cinnamon. There’s chicken, raisins, and caramelised onions.Thiéré Couscous: This is cooked in Senegal and made from meal.You can also serve cold couscous as part of a salad. This is often known as taboulé or tabbouleh.You can make couscous almost however you want. Start with the basic recipe and let your imagination run wild. Garlic, peppers, pepper, spice, cumin, paprika, saffron, there are no rules!  Meal, bulgur, barley, no matter what grains you opt for, remember that couscous is to be shared! Unsurprisingly, couscous goes great with d ishes like Moroccan chicken, kalamata olives, and Middle Eastern cuisine, too.Learn how to make ratatouille.If you'd like to learn more about cooking or learn how to cook, consider learning with a private tutor on Superprof. No matter where you are, you can find a private tutor to help you. On the platform, there are three types of tutorial on offer: face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials.Face-to-face private tutorials involve just the student and the tutor, ensuring that the student has the tutor's undivided attention. Additionally, the tutor will tailor their lessons and course to the student. Of course, the tutor's time comes at a price and while these types of tutorials are the most cost-effective, they also tend to be the most costly per hour.If you're looking for something cheaper, there are online private tutorials. These tutorials are provided remotely via webcam and as long as both you and the tutor have a decent internet connection, a webcam, and a m icrophone, you can get tutorials from tutors all over the world. Since the tutor doesn't need to travel to you, they have fewer overheads and can schedule more tutorials each week, allowing them to charge less per hour. Of course, these tutorials are great for academic subjects but not so great for hands-on subjects.Finally, you can also get group tutorials. Since each student pays their share of the tutor's time, these tend to work out cheaper than any other type of tutorials. Of course, you won't get the tutor's undivided attention like you would with the other types of tutorial. That said, if you and a group of friends all would like to learn how to cook, this is a great way to do it.Before you choose a private tutor, define your objects, your budget, and how you like to learn. This will help you work out the best type of tutorial and, most importantly, the best tutor. Keep in mind that many tutors offer the first hour for free so you can use this time to get to know your potenti al tutor.

Summer at AJ Test Prep Tutoring

Summer at AJ Test Prep Tutoring Whether you are a rising 8th grader looking ahead to a fall or winter ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT; or you are a rising junior looking ahead to a first go-around at the PSAT, SAT, and ACT, the summer is an excellent time to get a head start on test prep. At AJ Tutoring, we’ve worked with thousands of students in the summer to instill key test-taking strategies, cover crucial content areas, and review proctored practice exams. These days, students are super busy during the school year with school, sports, and other extracurriculars, so summer studying can be a nice way to hone in on exam prep without the pressures of the academic year. With that in mind, please read on to learn more about how we can help this summer.What are the options for summer test prep at AJ?As a team of professional tutors who specialize in 1-on-1 tutoring, we do a lot of such customized prep over the summer. You can learn more about our approach to middle school, high school or college admissions tests here. We also o ffer small group classes for the SAT.Keep in mind, we’re also highly knowledgeable about tough classes like algebra, US History, and chemistry, and summer is a great time to dive into these curricula to review, enrich, or get ahead. You can learn more about our academic tutoring here.Read on for a more in-depth breakdown of our primary summer test prep plans!How can we help prepare students for the ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT?We want every student who is taking an ISEE, SSAT, or HSPT and is perhaps new to standardized tests to feel confident and capable on test day. By introducing important test-taking skills that will help students throughout their academic career, we strive to set students up for long-term success.Not sure which exam your student should take? Click here for a short quiz to identify the right fit.Generally, students aim to complete ten 1-hour sessions over the summer and also take two or three full-length proctored exams in preparation for a middle or high school entranc e exam. If you plan to schedule an exam for late fall or early winter, it can still be wise to start preparing in the summer and continue into the fall or simply do a few refresher sessions as the exam approaches.If you’d like to discuss your student’s options and put together a customized plan, give us a call.How does SAT or ACT tutoring fit into your summer schedule?The SAT and ACT are rites of passage for American high schoolers. At AJ, we don’t believe these exams have to be stressful and mysterious. Our professional tutors know the tests back and forth and delight in working with students to familiarize them with the exams and build confidence.For context, we estimate that a student’s chances for admission to a college depend on high school courses and grades (60%), SAT and SAT subject test scores (30%), and essays, recommendations, and extracurricular activities (10%). Because grades are a multi-year effort, the exams offer a great opportunity to showcase your skills o n a shorter timeline.How does SAT or ACT tutoring fit into your summer schedule?If you choose to prepare for the SAT or ACT with an AJ tutor (and we hope you do!), you can expect to complete ten 1.5-hour sessions leading up to the August 24 SAT test date or September 14 ACT test date . If you start tutoring after school is out, this generally means meeting about once per week throughout June, July and August. We also ask our SAT or ACT prep students to complete at least 3 full-length practice SATs or ACTs, preferably proctored at our office on Saturday mornings. You can find our complete schedule of proctored practice SATs and ACTs on our website.If you’ve a rising senior who has already worked with us for SAT or ACT prep, we can usually shorten your prep for a retake. Students will often complete four 1.5-hour sessions in preparation for retaking an exam. You should also plan on taking 2 full-length practice tests on the weekends. During the retake prep, your tutor will focus mor e closely on your areas of difficulty from the last exam and work on fine-tuning your approach to the test.In general, we think that the late summer exams are great moves by The College Board and ACT to give students more options. Most rising seniors should at least consider taking the SAT in August and/or ACT in September.What about the PSAT?The PSAT is a practice run for the SAT which students take in their junior year and often in their sophomore year. The PSAT gives students a baseline for SAT scores and qualifies the top percentage of test-takers for the National Merit Scholarship.While the vast majority of students won’t qualify for the National Merit Scholarship, it can still be valuable to prepare for the PSAT. Because it is so similar to the SAT, preparing for the PSAT can give students a great head start on SAT preparation and an indication of where they can improve.You can learn about timelines and options for PSAT prep here. Most students who prepare for the PSAT over the summer go on to do preparation for the SAT and/or ACT in the spring of their junior year.Because each student has a different starting point, learning style, and summer schedule, we’ll help you find the right match for a tutor and for a test prep plan. Give us a call and speak with one of our directors today!

Should I retake my A Levels

Should I retake my A Levels The A Levels can be a make or break you thing for many students. They can determine whether you gain admission to the university of your dreams or any university for that matter. Also, A Level scores can hold you back from receiving the degree you want. If you don’t obtain high enough scores in the subjects you need for your degree, then you cannot pursue that career path. Call and check, it never hurts to ask! If you did not receive the scores you were hoping, don’t panic. Take a deep breath and consider some options you may have available to you. First, you should contact the university/universities that you were seeking admission to and ask if they have had many applicants to your field of study. If they have openings, you may be able to get in with your current scores. It never hurts to check! Retaking the A Levels Check to see if your school or college will allow you to resit your A Levels. If they don’t allow retakes, then look into other schools or college that may let you resit them. If you are considering retaking your A levels, you should talk to your teacher to see if they think you will do any better on your second attempt. Many students achieve better scores the second time around, however, everyone differs. Referring to your GCSE scores can also help in determining whether or not it’s worth it for you to retake the exams. Many schools and colleges use GCSE scores to predict how pupils will perform on A Levels. If you are planning to retake the exams, then you will need to officially decline your offers from universities in order to start the retaking process. A Levels can only be taken again during the summer, usually in June. You can talk to your Head of Sixth Form or class tutors to receive more information about retaking A Levels for individual subjects. What is the best decision for me? You should really think hard about if you want to retake the A Levels. If you truly gave it your best shot the first time and don’t think you’ll improve, why take it again and waste that time? Also, if you put forth your best effort on a subject you need for your degree and didn’t do as well as you were hoping, you should determine whether this career is the one for you or if you should pursue another path. Provide an explanation Don’t worry about universities judging you based on the fact that you took your A Levels again because declined A Level grades are not displayed anywhere. Although when you re-apply for the university/universities, you can explain why it has taken longer for you to  complete your A Levels in your personal statement. When applying for subjects such as medicine and veterinary science, most universities will not accept pupils who have taken 3 years to complete their A Levels unless there have been extenuating circumstances. Achieving the best possible scores can be difficult and very trying at times. Tutorfair has many tutors who are willing to help you as much as you need to help improve your scores and achieve your dreams. Didn't get at least a C in Maths or English GCSE? Read our blog  post on what you could do to help.

San Diego Academic Tutor 5 ways to Improve Concentration

San Diego Academic Tutor 5 ways to Improve Concentration San Diego Academic Tutor Tips: 5 Ways to Improve Concentration Students have so many things to concentrate on these days, and they’re encouraged to multitask at every turn. Unfortunately, so many difficult academic tasks can often lead to a serious amount of fatigue. When students are tired, they lose their concentration almost straight away, and that can make focusing on homework a major challenge. Once students develop this unhelpful cycle, the entire semester could be at risk. However, there are some great ways students can improve their concentration so they can get their work done efficiently and still have time left over to rest, relax, or just have some fun our private San Diego academic tutors are here to help you concentrate on your studies. 1.   Block out the world Although its important for students to be able to work as a team and socialize, sometimes its better to block out the world when a student needs to do some serious studying. Finding a quiet study space is important, but students can also listen to ambient noises or relaxing music in their headphones to help block out noise in a coffee shop or school library. Students are also encouraged to shut down social media and put their cell phones in another room, so theyre not tempted to take a quick peek at what their friends are doing online â€" which usually leads to several hours of social media surfing. 2. Meet with an organizational consultant Organizational and educational consultants have been working with students for years to help them make the study more efficient. In many cases, high school students are spending two hours completing an assignment worth two points and but spending 45 minutes trying to finish a three-page paper. Elementary and middle school students might not even understand what the percentage and points system means and dedicate equal time to every assignment regardless of what its worth. Organizational consultants can help students prioritize their time and manage different assignments by importance, often leaving them with more free time and increased concentration. 3. Boost self-esteem If students are worried about the grade they got on their last assignment or what their friends at school think about their contribution to the study group, theyre less likely to be able to maintain their focus. Its very normal for teens to have lots of different worries but those worries take away from mental focus. Its essential for students, at this age, to feel that their teachers and parents are proud of their work and receive compliments when they do something correctly. Students may also get a self-esteem boost from participating in sports or working on a creative activity. Its important they get to participate in something they excel in so that they can feel good about themselves and put that extra effort and focus on more difficult assignments (READ: San Diego Admissions Consulting: How Many Schools Should I Apply to?). 4. Limit time with electronics When students spend too much time on a tablet or laptop when not working on assignments, their eyes and brains can become overly fatigued. Students can spend some time in nature or just get a little bit of exercise to help counterbalance their lack of movement while studying or can download an app that cuts the amount of blue light they’re exposed to during extended study sessions. 5. Sleep One of the simplest and most effective ways students can improve their focus is to get eight or more hours of sleep every night. Of course, this is easier said than done, especially for college prep students who are trying to fit in SAT or ACT study along with their regular academic courses. Regardless, students who are running on empty during the day will have a difficult time focusing and find that relatively easy tasks become difficult. Adequate sleep is the key to maintaining concentration throughout a student’s academic career. Learn how to concentrate on your studies from our experienced San Diego academic tutors. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

Tutorz.com Newsletter November

Tutorz.com Newsletter November Pay-per-Job Tutorz.com is transitioning from a subscription based service to a pay-per-job system.   Setting up tutoring profiles, marketing your services and receiving messages from parents and students remains free.  However, before you can communicate with your potential client you need to purchase the tutoring job.  Purchasing a tutoring job also makes you become the owner of students contact information (email, phone number, website, twitter id if any).    The prices for each tutoring job will be low ranging from $0.00 (free) to $5.00.  Thus, Tutorz.com system is transparent, fair and of great value. The price of an individual tutoring job depends on the quality of the tutoring lead. We compute a jobs quality from measures such as the tutoring subject, the specificity of content, geographic region, meta data, and the students past history. Purchasing a tutoring job is simple and typically requires just one click. Such a click results in the jobs purchase amount to be withdrawn from your Tutorz credit balance. Credit can be bought with your credit card or PayPal account. There are 3 credit packages available: Green Apple, Red Apple and Gold Apple. Purchasing a premium credit package (Red and Gold Apple) earns you extra money: $5 and $25 respectively. All existing tutors and for a limited time all new tutor sign ups receive a complimentary $20 in free credit. For more information on our new pay-per-job system check out: www.tutorz.com/how-it-works www.tutorz.com/pricing SmartMoney features Tutorz.com In its October 12 issue, the SmartMoney magazine (a Wall Street Journal magazine) features Tutorz.com in its article “Behind America’s Tutor Boom â€" How a cottage industry became a $100-an-hour juggernaut.” by Missy Sullivan. We at Tutorz.com are thrilled to be recognized by SmartMoney as one of the tutoring companies that shape the American education industry.  Specifically, Sullivan says about Tutorz.com: “…leading site…Tutorz.com, a California start-up, offer(s) an eBay-like marketplace where tens of thousands of tutors are treated as independent contractors;” Read the full article here: SmartMoney features Tutorz.com Tutor of the Month: Michael Powers Michael is a communication specialist who tutors Math, English, Reading, Writing, computer programming among many other subjects. He holds a BA degree from the University of Davis and currently lives in Northridge, CA.  You may visit his profile here. Web Statistics of October After a 3 month dry spell Tutorz web statistics has picked up noteworthy.  There were 83 unique, non-spam tutoring jobs (up from 60 in September). 1,860 visitors came to Tutorz. (1,770 in September). The visitor-to-lead conversion ratio remained at 3.4%. However, the most positive event this month which more than doubled from 20 in September to 45 in October. Alexa improved Tutorz’ global rank to 1.26 million  (1.58 million in September). Also, the bounce rate has improved to 43.6% (from 44% in October). The graph below visualizes the most important statistics (tutoring jobs, sign-ups, visitors). Sincerely, The Tutorz.com Team

Why New Years Resolutions Dont Work

Why New Years Resolutions Dont Work There are only a few more days left in 2017, and it’s about now that we begin to recall our last year’s resolutions and our failure to achieve them. So, what went wrong again? Every one of us could come up with a number of explanations and excuses, but these can be actually boiled down to just a few points: You dont believe in yourself A failure to act can cripple you before you leave the starting line. You have to believe in yourself. So what if you’ve failed a time or two? This year, you can try again! Your time management skills are lacking Managing your time effectively is not about crossing all the entries off your to-do list; it is about knowing what your priorities are and getting the right things done first. If you need some help find a life coach and work with him. You have no social support It can be hard to stay motivated when you feel alone. The good news? You’re not alone! Post a status on Facebook asking your friends if anybody would like to be your gym or accountability buddy.  Social support  can enhance quality of your life and provide a buffer against adverse life events. You dont  monitor your progress If you dont track and monitor your progress in some way, how will you ever know whether youre any closer to reaching your goal? You are  impulsive If you want to change something about yourself or about your lifestyle don’t try to change whole thing, first pick one thing stick to it and change it. Change is hard We commit ourselves to changing something we really don’t want to change, or to do something we really don’t want to do.  So if youre having a hard time sticking to dont be so hard on yourself â€" youre better off making resolutions you can actually stick to, and recognizing that its not easy to change overnight.