INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Look at the changes you want to make to Measurably Improve Your Quality of Life. Which goals require you to learn more before you can confidently make the change you want? Look for a goal you could start on now, without too much time required. In this case, the goal we have chosen is to take better care of our body. Then we are going to break it down. What elements go along with taking better care of our body?  Study as early as possible. Get plenty of sleep Eat healthy food Drink plenty of water Get exercise Brainstorm criteria for which options you are attracted to and which you are not. Are you interested in researching on the internet? Do you want to talk with a nutritionist or a fitness instructor? If you have difficulty when paying attention while reading, would magazine articles be an effective option for learning?  Trust your intuition. If heading down a certain path doesn't feel right, don't go that way! If you begin reading on ways to improve your sleep habits, and the information is not something you would be willing to use in your own life, then stop reading, and find a different resource. Do not continue simply because it is information coming from an “expert” or because “everyone is doing it”. The information has to be useful to you.  Refine your goal with research. As you begin to look into ways to take better care of your body you may discover there is one element that you really want to focus on. This narrows your goal from “I want to take better care of my body” to “I want to take better care of my body by eating a healthier diet.”  Find someone who has done what you want to do and have them show you. If you know someone who has changed elements of their lifestyle, such as exercising more or implementing a healthier way of eating, talk to them. Find out what they did, how they did it and where they found their information.  Do research on the internet, take a class, interview others, and find a mentor. Try out different varieties of learning to see which one works best for you. Pick something that is possible to do in your environment, that you can work on constructively within your timeframe, and that you can do successfully with the energy and attention you have. Do not decide to take a nutrition class if you are already pressed for time and won’t have time to attend. Instead, take a smaller piece, such as following a nutritional plan. Whatever it is, it needs to be something you can effectively add to your life.  Consider time constraints, geographic constraints, and your mental state. Do not bring more stress to your life by taking on more than what works for your life circumstances. Learning should add to the quality of your life, not take away from it.  Schedule a time of day for learning and practicing what you learn. Having a set time for learning can help motivate you to continue the process.  Develop the habit of paying attention to what you want to learn or improve upon. "Emotions drive attention. Attention drives learning." Pay attention to your emotional reactions. If you are researching exercise options and find yourself resisting, explore why. What is it about exercising that is causing the reaction? There is a reason for resisting the learning experience.  Don't become overwhelmed with all the choices. Sometimes we become distracted and overwhelmed by wanting to choose the “right” option. There is no “right” or “wrong”; it is about what works for you. Just pick one and try it! If it doesn’t work, then pick another one. To effectively conduct an experiment you need to have a plan, a way to evaluate if the experiment is working and a time to reflect on the process and outcome. The learning process works the same way.   Setting a specific criteria allows you to see if you have met it or not. When deciding on a nutritional plan do I want it to include 3 meals a day or do I need it to cover several smaller meals throughout the day?  Be sure to have a method for keeping track of progress. Use whatever tools you have! Notebooks, phone, apps, computer, internet, calendar, blogs, etc.  Keep reflecting on your progress. Do I still need more information or do I have what I need to begin a new sleep routine?  Set milestones and stick to them. I want to find 3 new healthy dinner recipes to incorporate into my nutrition plan. Did you reach them? Did you learn enough to implement a new exercise plan? Have you found an effective way to improve your sleep habits?  A reminder in your calendar will prompt you to reflect. Set a “check-in” date to evaluate the information you have learned; see if it is effective; is there is more you have realized that you need to know. What worked and what didn't? Why? If the learning approach you chose worked, then keep going with it. If not, go back and pick a different one and start experimenting!

SUMMARY: Pick a goal. Research options for learning. Choose the best option. Experiment with learning. Evaluate your results and milestones. Refine your approach.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: These are great little strips of a cotton material backed with an ultra-sticky solution that dries to your face. Follow the package directions by getting your face damp and applying the strips to your blackhead-prone areas. Wait 15 minutes for the strips to dry, and then rip them off quickly to pull out your blackheads. This option offers immediate results, but must be followed by one of the aforementioned cleansing routines in order to give long-term results as well. Gels containing salicylic acid dissolve away the dead skin and dirt that gets trapped in your pores. Purchase a salicylic acid peel from your nearest drugstore or visit a local spa for a professional treatment. Use by applying in a thin layer to the affected area, allow time to set, and then rinse off with warm water. This is a special spa process which works by using a specialized brush and chemical cleanser to clean out dead skin cells. These are often only available at spas and your dermatologist's office, but some beauty supply stores offer an at-home version. Get these treatments on a regular basis in order to receive the best results. Retinoid creams are packed full of skin-approved vitamin A, which helps to improve skin growth and prevent oil buildup. You can find retinoid creams at your favorite drugstores. Use 2-3 times a week in addition to your regular skin cleaning routine to keep your pores blackhead free. Although using a blackhead removal-tool on your own can cause damage to your skin, getting a professional facial can give you the same immediate results with blackhead removing tools. Ask your dermatologist or esthetician for different facials that are offered and decide on which is best for your skin type. Getting these blackhead facials once every 2-4 weeks can help to keep your skin clear over time.

SUMMARY:
Use pore cleansing strips. Try a facial peel. Get microdermabrasion. Use a retinoid cream. Get a facial.