Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Choose an inventory monitoring method. Create inventory groups and tags. Count your inventory. Record your inventory count.

Answer: The key to maintaining accurate inventory is having an established method of inventory tracking, and sticking to the method faithfully. There are generally two options for inventory tracking — system or manual. Inventory systems are generally software products that connect to your accounting system or cash register and update your inventory records as you make sales and buy new product. On the converse, you can also track your inventory manually by keeping an inventory log on paper or in an excel workbook, and by updating your inventory yourself periodically.  When deciding what form of inventory monitoring you use, consider your business needs, such as how often you need to access inventory records and what kind of inventory you own, as well as how much you can afford to spend on an inventory monitoring system. If you are a small business and your inventory is not dangerous or unusually valuable, you should consider tracking your inventory manually to save costs. If you run a large business or have valuable or dangerous inventory, you should consider paying to use an inventory system. Depending on what you choose to pay for, you can have as complex a system as you like, including required log-in for employees and automatic accounting updates for tax and business reporting purposes. Make a list of all the products or types of products you have in your inventory, and choose a name for each one. You can be as detailed as you would like, but each item in your inventory should fit into one (and only one) of these inventory groups. Include any inventory items you will need in the future or simply don't have on hand on inventory day, and create groups for those items as well.  Consider your purchasing needs when creating inventory labels. For example, if you run a cafe and need to have whole, low fat, and soy milk on hand every day, don't create one large inventory group called "milk." Instead create labels for each type of milk you need. As another example, if you sell rain boots in a variety of colors, you may organize your inventory by gender and size, but not color. This will help you ensure you always have boots available in everyone's sizes, but won't waste time needlessly tracking color. Remember that inventory is only things you use up providing your service, like coffee in a coffee shop and clothing in a boutique. Things like a coffee grinder or a dressing room chair are equipment, not inventory. You will likely need to keep track of your equipment as well as your inventory, but your groups should only be for items you will sell or use and need to replace as part of your regular business. Dedicate as much time as you need to perform an initial count of how many items you currently have in each group. Separate your inventory into the groups you decided on, and mark each group once you have counted it. If your inventory is especially valuable, complex, or dangerous, you might count it twice to ensure accuracy. You may need to involve your employees if you have a large business and a lot of inventory.  Physical inventory counts should be performed regularly to validate automated inventory counts. These counts allow you to identify discrepancies due to theft, spoilage, or obsolescence. Use visual cues to make inventory counting easier. For example, use bright yellow paper to record the number of items in each inventory group. Once you have counted a group, tape the paper with the count to the group, making clear you have already counted that group. If your supplies come in larger packages, like boxes filled with 10 rolls of tape each, it's fine to just count the number of boxes you have of that supply and multiply that by 10 to get your total. If you run a restaurant, bar, coffee shop, or any other kind of business where you sell food, counting inventory can be especially challenging. A common method for measuring alcohol is to measure the fullness of the bottle in increments of one tenth, and record accordingly. You can apply this same concept to other food and beverage items, using measurements that fit your business purchasing needs. You may wish to measure items by weight or by unit, for instance. If you are going to track inventory manually, use a notebook as an inventory log, or create an excel spreadsheet. Create a row for each group in your system, and then write the quantity in that group from your count. If you are using an inventory system, the system will guide you through creating labels for each group and recording the quantity on hand for each of these groups.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Avoid the "give up" attitude. Forgive yourself. Start journaling your goals. Schedule in your meals and exercise. Skip the scale.

Answer: Many times, it's easy to throw in the towel after a few unhealthy meals or days of eating.  You may think you've "ruined" your day by an unhealthy meal, but that doesn't mean you can't make positive choices the rest of the day!  Everyone makes mistakes or gives into temptations — that's a normal part of being a human being.  But if you're trying to eat healthy or lose weight, a few slips are OK.  Don't give up just because you indulged more than usual. If you've slipped up try to immediately think of the next healthy choice or lifestyle behavior you can make. Overeating or overindulging — especially over a few days — can make you feel really guilty or like you've failed your healthy eating plan.  But that's not true.  You haven't failed anything and there's nothing to feel guilty about.  Remember, overeating and indulging in some unhealthier foods is part of normal eating.  The difference between a "cheat meal" and completely falling off the wagon is how fast you can get back into the groove. Remember that all is not lost if you get off track. Simply get right back on. Do not engage in negative self talk or negative thoughts.  Try to stick to saying positive affirmations or mantras to keep your mind in a positive place.  This will lead to more success long-term.  Many times, continued negativity can lead to increased stress or feelings of guilt which may also trigger a binge or perpetuate unhealthy eating patterns. The original goals you may have had or were working toward might seem much farther off after overindulging.  But you can get right back on track by rewriting your goals and how you plan to meet them.  This little refresher can help get you motivated.  Review your old goals and think about how you might want to change them long-term.  Also consider if you should change how you're going to meet those goals. You can also use your journal to keep track of your food and drinks as well. Sometimes the amount of changes you need to make to get back to your normal routine can feel overwhelming.  However, making a schedule or plan can make it seem more manageable.  Try scheduling in your physical activity during the week.  Write out which days you're going to work out, at what time, and for how long. Write up a meal plan for your healthy meals and snacks. This will give you the framework for grocery shopping and healthy eating. Although in the long-term, getting on the scale somewhat regularly is important to weight loss, hopping on right after a few days of overeating might not be a good idea.  Chances are the number is higher than you'd prefer.  This might stress you out, make you upset or increase your feelings of guilt or failure.  Instead of worrying about the scale, focus your energy and attention on your goals and the steps you're taking to get back on track to your healthy lifestyle.  The scale can wait. Give yourself at least a few days or a week or more until you get back on the scale. Skip the scale until you feel like you've been back on track for awhile. It is advisable to get back on the scale at some point.  It might not be right away, but be sure to make plans to check in with your weight when you feel the time is right.


Problem: Write an article based on this summary: Involve your older children in the pregnancy process. Remind your child that he or she was a new baby once.

Answer:
You will have plenty of time from when you first know that a new baby is coming until the baby actually arrives, so use it to ease the transition.  Try a few of the following ideas:  Explain the kinds of things that will happen before, when, and after the baby is born over and over so that your child is prepared for what can be confusing times. But leave a little room for the unexpected, e.g., a baby who has to stay in the hospital for a few days or weeks. Avoid giving your child the idea that the baby will be "someone to play with" or "your best friend" right away - the younger your child is, the more crucial this is. Make sure your child understands that for weeks the new baby will only sleep, eat, look around, poop, pee, and cry. Be especially clear about the crying, i.e., explicitly tell your child that some babies cry a lot and that this is NOT the older child's fault or responsibility.  Get a baby doll and have your child practice taking care of the "baby." Allow your child to come with you to prenatal appointments to listen to the baby's heartbeat. Take them to an ultrasound appointment. If you have a good friendly OB, CNP, or midwife, see if he or she will let your child "help" in some way. Consider allowing your older child(ren) a say in naming the baby. This can be done by providing a list of names you wouldn't mind the baby having as a first or middle name and letting them choose the ones they really like. Ask for their input in designing and putting together the nursery. If this would work for you and your family, see if your child(ren) can attend the birth itself. Read stories to your child about new babies that provide realistic descriptions about how new babies act and positive models for how older siblings should behave. Stay away from books that paint an unrealistically rosy picture or that make ambivalent feelings seem unacceptable. Above all, keep all of this preparation brief, light-hearted and casual. Going on and on about it will bore some children and make others feel more anxious than prepared. Using age-appropriate and positive words, tell your child about his or her birth and what made it special. This will reassure your child of his or her importance to you, and help to make it clear why you're so excited about the new baby.