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Resolution maker?  Resolution breaker?  At least you tried, right?  Here are some unique ideas to break the mold of the typical goals people set to see if you can stick it out a little longer!

Don’t just pick some willy-nilly goal that you already know you’re not going to uphold just because you Googled the top 10 resolutions of 2018 (in case you’re wondering they’re;  1. Improve your fitness, 2.  Eat better, 3. Quit smoking, 4. Quite drinking, 5. Learn something new, 6. Travel more, 7. Volunteer, 8. Meet someone, 9. Sleep more, and 10. Get out of debt,  according to Finder.com). There, now you don’t have to waste your time on Google!  You’re already getting more efficient for the New Year. Congratulations!

Instead, consider some alternatives here that we have broken down by personal goals, student goals, and business goals to give you some more things to consider in the coming year.

Personal goals

1. Focus on long term goals that will help you all the way into 2019, not just 2018!
2. Yes, plank… it’s good for the core! Look it up here.
3. Enjoy the little things. Take time to stop and look around and enjoy things you don’t typically notice during the rush of your day.
4. Increase your emotional intelligence (EQ). What the heck is EQ?   Click here.
5. Get your documents in order. Take a moment to make sure your vital documents and cards such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, passports, etc are together and safe.  Consider a living will at this time too!  If you need them through the year, you’ll know exactly where they’re at.
6. Start a blog.  Have a passion for cooking?  Creating things?  Traveling?  Start snapping those pictures and create a fun blog that your family and friends can follow!  Blogger.com even has a Blogger app to make it easier to keep up!
7. Take a selfie in a new interesting place each month to encourage more exploration in your life.  You never know what fun, new places you’ll find right around your area!  Google your town and start there.  Start by searching your town on TripAdvisor.com and go from there.
8. Contact people you once knew. Rekindle those friendships that faded away as life got in the way.  Especially if you don’t have time to meet new people… there are plenty you already know!
9. Make a bucket list and start crossing it off.  Start with those “I’ve always wanted to ______” things.  Immediately after you make the list, pick one thing on the list and start making plans to actually do it.  Get in the habit right off the bat!
10. Turn off your phone at meals. Spend more quality time with those you love.  Eating alone?  Take that time to just “be” and ponder.  Your mind deserves a break!

Student goals

1. Don’t put off what you can do today. Procrastination is a dangerous thing.
2. Sleep better. Seriously. Not just because your mom says so. Sleep will improve every aspect of your life!
3. Cut out activities if you’re overwhelmed. This makes more room for #2!
4. Set up a homework routine & keep school material organized to eliminate stress. You might find that you have more time for #2 & 4 when you’re in a routine and organized.  See how this works?!  You’re on your way to a better you already!
5. Pick up an activity if you need more social interaction. Surround yourself with people who inspire you.
6. Doesn’t matter where or what you’re doing, there’s nothing more satisfying than being able to help others. And hey… it’s something to do, right?
7. Explore passions, because this is your time to dig deeper into things that peak your curiosity. Many resources are available to you during this time, so take full advantage!  If you don’t have a hobby then push yourself to find something that interests you and feel free to change it up every month to get a variety in!
8. Stop doubting yourself. If you’ve ever uttered the words, “I’m not good at anything” then make that the last time you ever say that and start realizing everyone seriously is good at something.  It may not be a skill that produces tangible items, but once you find what you’re good at, use it, expand on it, cultivate it.  Never know, you may discover a new direction for your life!
9. Spend more time with family. They’re important influences in your life whether you know it yet or not.
10. Spend less time on devices. (See Personal Goal #10, then revisit #9 above.  This is starting to sound more like homework than a resolution, isn’t it….)

Business goals

1. Learn to manage cash flow more effectively. Even if you think you have a handle on it, you can always find ways to improve or push your expectations for the coming year.  If you don’t already have one, consider an accounting site, such as Wave.com, to keep you organized and on track.
2. Improve your digital presence by making sure your website content is optimized. Take it a step farther and make sure Google My Business and any other profiles that might have picked up your business info is displaying current and complete.
3. Get social!  If you’re not already, then consider taking a jump on SM bandwagon.  Even if you just add one platform (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) and focus on expanding that content.
4. Focus on backlinks to increase search engine ranking. Are there reputable sites or businesses in your industry or local area that you can connect with?  Working as a team to cross-promote is a great way to help you get noticed by new people.
5. Strive to be a better communicator. Involve others in goal setting & planning.  You’ll not only get new perspectives and ideas, but you’ll create a more cohesive, positive environment.
6. Focus feedback on the future. How can you apply your employee or customer feedback on creating a better business, process, or relationship?
7. Be a role model. Do things in your industry or community that create a respectable image.  People will notice!
8. Focus on follow-up.  Are there things in the books that haven’t been resolved yet?  Set time aside to get back to a clean slate with vendors, customers, or just ideas you have been wanting to explore.
9. Put time for you on the calendar. If you find yourself absorbed and consumed by your business, pull out the calendar and mark some days for YOU. No answering emails, or checking in with co-workers, just you and your personal life to reset your motivation and take a mind break.
10. Give back. Donate, offer a visitation or mentor opportunity for young minds. Set up a giveaway each month as a thank you to customers. Find ways to do things in your industry or community that create a respectable image.  People will notice!

Let’s be real… how about you just skip the resolutions altogether, and add a new tradition by saving yearly Time Capsule sheets!  Keep the collection in a box or jar in the top of the closet and pull it out every year to add a new sheet. (Tip: print 10 sheets now so you don’t have to worry about finding your file again later…)  Here’s an example, but there are plenty more on Pinterest!

Does your wallet have you fighting the blues after this holiday season?  While we can’t put that money back into your pocket after those shopping sprees, we can help you find ways to save in 2018!  There are a number of things you can try to lower your next cable or internet bill, depending on the services you have and the situation you’re in.

For instance, do you get a paper invoice in the mail each month?  Just by signing up for e-billing and going paperless, you can save $1.00 each month!  Go green and save!  Additionally, you can get a $2.00 payment discount if you attach a bank account instead of a credit card.  It may not sound like much, but it adds up and takes minimal effort to implement.  Just contact us at (800) 365-6988 to inquire.

Another alternative to save money on your bills would be to purchase your own modem to eliminate a monthly rental fee.  Of course, you’d have the initial cost of the device, which could land right around $100, but in 10 months you’d recoup the cost and save roughly $10/mo in the months to follow!  Before making this move, however, contact your provider and make sure it is an option as some do not allow you to have your own.  Additionally, do your research beforehand and make sure it’s compatible with your provider as well!  A quick phone call to your provider will verify this. (Check out the Hitron or Arris modems!)  The downside, is if anything goes wrong, your provider will most likely not be able to troubleshoot equipment that is not theirs.

This next one may seem like a definite “no way” but take an honest moment to consider your actual usage.  When was the last time you watched all of your channels or were internet intensive?  Look at your account and consider a change if you never hit your current usage allotment.  Switching video packages or switching your internet speed tier could be an option you’re not considering!  While various channels are bundled together from the network providers and you can’t just cut individual channels, you still may find that a different package combination could satisfy your viewing needs just fine.  To see the options in your area, head to the video page on our website, scroll halfway down, and enter your zip code in the “view my channel lineup” section.  You’ll see what channels fall under which packages.

You can head over to our Bandwidth Calculator to see what your internet usage is as well.  You will need your Modem’s MAC ID, which you can find on the back of your modem and then enter the date range you’d like to retrieve stats on.  Each internet package has a data limit.  If you fall under your limit, you may have a larger tier than what you actually require.  Of course, this applies to non-internet intensive customers, but it’s worth looking into if your main priority is to keep the green in your pockets!  If you’re currently paying separate providers for internet, video, and phone then make sure you check out the savings in a triple play bundle.  Three services, one provider, one bill, one low price.  Cha-ching!

Got friends?  Sign them up!  With our Refer a Friend program you can save $10, $15, or even $25 off your bill for 4 months!  Your friend must be in good standing for 30 days before the credit is applied.  The credit amount depends on the type of service your friend signs up for.  To take advantage, just go to the website, fill out the form, and we’ll do the rest!  Easy peasy!

It’s all around you.  Chances are, your life is becoming filled with Wi-Fi devices, all of which are competing for your router’s attention.  If there’s not enough signal strength to go around, it can be a dreadfully frustrating situation and cause strain on your day to day activity.  There are so many factors that can play a part, so understanding what causes low signal strength and things you can do to improve it, might help you overcome many issues before ultimately picking up the phone for customer service.  So what can you do to test the signal strength in various locations in your home, and what is there to be done with the low signal areas, you ask?

Let’s start with verifying your issues are coming from your Wi-Fi.  Sluggish internet browsing, interrupted streaming, Wi-Fi signals cutting in and out, or just complete dead zone areas can wreak havoc on your life when you rely on these devices and services to complete your tasks.

Since Wi-Fi is like an umbrella encompassing your home, it goes without saying that the more obstacles that get in the way of that umbrella spanning out, the weaker the signal is going to be past those obstacles.  With this, you’ll have to expect that the rooms in your house that are farthest away from the router or have more walls or floors between them, are going to provide the weakest signal.  This also goes for rooms that have other Wi-Fi devices in them or standing between it and the router.  Some devices, especially some phones, don’t play well with others and suck up all the fun for the others.

So what can you do?  First and foremost, put your router in a central location that most directly covers the main areas you will be accessing the signal the most from in your home.  Remember the umbrella and stick the handle right in the center to cover the majority of your house.  You can also make it a habit to update your router’s firmware.  Some devices have an update button, while others require you to go online to the manufacturers website.  These updates can increase performance, give better features, and apply security updates.  If you have a dual-band router, you’ll see a 2.4 GHz and a 5 GHz option under your wireless setup options.  If you change the frequency settings to the 5 GHz it could help improve your signal because it is not as commonly used as the 2.4 GHz.  Ultimately, you might want to just update your hardware.  You can’t expect amazing things from outdated devices, so maybe it’s time for a replacement router to ensure you’re getting optimal signal strength.  Instead of replacing the entire router, you could just replace the antenna first or get a wireless range extender.  Both will help boost and spread your signal more efficiently.  The wireless extender is great if you have thick walls or many rooms that the signal has to pass through.

Side note, if you’re curious about mapping out the Wi-Fi signal strength throughout your entire house, you may be interested to know that Roomba will soon be coming out with a new version of these little vacuums that will do just that!  While it is intended to let you know which rooms it might struggle to connect in by showing the signal strength in each room, it will, nonetheless, act as a gauge to let you know how well your Wi-Fi is doing across the board!