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Archive for the ‘Decisions’ Category
Simonites Decide About Academics? Yeah, Right!
Now that the school year is about a month in, you probably think that Simonites have been making all sorts of academic decisions, right? Wrong! Out of the top 10 most popular decisions in the past month, only two have to do with education: Decide on a college (#5) and Decide on a major (#10). So, what exactly are Simonites thinking about? The same as usual–L.O.V.E.! I don’t know whether my users are true romantics or just hormonal, but the top three decisions of the past month are: Should I ask him/her out?, Should I tell him/her how I feel?, and Should I get back together with my ex?
Interesting tid-bit: The top factor for both Should I ask him/her out? and Should I get back together with my ex? is none other than LOVE. Meanwhile, the top factor for Should I tell him/her how I feel is…Avoiding awkwardness.
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Decide How To Celebrate the 4th of July
Hi Simonites! Sorry for the brief hiatus from the blog–I have been busy focusing on my decision making tools. But, never fear, I haven’t forgotten my community. Enough about me, though. Back to you and your decisions!
Summer is well on it’s way, so hopefully you are all making the choice to enjoy yourselves and to find time to relax. And for those of you who either have trouble deciding to slow down or just don’t have the choice, there is always the reliable three-day weekend and national holiday to come to the rescue. And what better summer holiday is there in the U.S. than the Fourth of July? Fireworks, barbecues, family, friends…my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
To get you in the spirit, here are a few articles to help you decide how to spend this July 4th. Specifically, what to eat and drink, which fireworks to watch, and how to stay safe:
- America’s Best Fourth of July Fireworks Displays
- Fabulous July 4th Party: Simple, Stylish and Affordable
- KidsHealth.com Fireworks Safety
- Fourth of July Recipes, Menus, and Drinks from Epicurious.com
I will keep you posted on other helpful articles as I come across them. More soon!
Decide How To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, gang! I hope you are wearing green, because there is always that one twerp in the office who will decide to pinch you. The big question is: How will you decide to celebrate?
If you decide to get into the holiday spirit and want some good, clean family fun, you should take a look at the advice in this “Geek Dad” article from Wired.com, 10 (Mostly) Sober Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Another list of ideas comes from the Washington Post, geared specifically toward college kids: “Happy St. Patrick’s Day!” (very original title, I might add). If you are feeling a little more wild–and don’t mind being tired at work tomorrow, look to your local newspaper or newstations’s website to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood tonight. But, please, be safe!
Decide Whether To Tell Your Crush How You Feel
Ah, spring is in the air and more likely than not, if you’re single and looking for love, you’ve got a crush on someone. Merriam-Webster defines a crush as: “an intense and usually passing infatuation.” Whether it’s a coworker, friend, or neighbor, a crush is someone you have probably had your eye on for at least a little while. Depending on how discrete you have decided to be, your crush may or may not have any idea how you feel. And, let’s face it, they may or may not decide they like you in return. So, how to decide whether or not to tell your beloved how you feel? You’re in luck–I have a decision and advice for this: Should I tell him/her how I feel?
If you use the My Scores tool, as usual, you will get a chance to decide on your priorities. You can also get advice from my factors checklist. If you decide that your top priority is finding love, telling your crush may be worth the risk. Think of the possibilities! But if your top priority is avoiding rejection, you may decide that sharing your feelings is too risky for you. Imagine the humiliation! In addition to using the My Scores decision tool, I recommend that you try the Points of View tool, so that you can consider the best and worst case scenarios for each alternative. Assessing how you might feel if everything goes right or wrong will help you decide if you are ready to take a leap.
Good luck, Simonites! In my opinion, you are all very, very lovable!
Decide Where To Go (Or Stay) For Spring Break
For those of you lucky enough to still have a spring break (ah, the good old days), it’s not too late to decide to spend your spring break in a way that leaves you feeling relaxed and ready to take on the spring quarter/semester. Whether you decide to stay in town or get away, there are plenty of options to fit any budget and lifestyle.
If you decide you want to leave town this spring break (and haven’t already booked a trip), you should take a look at this Los Angeles Times article I found, Spring Break: Last-Minute Travel Deals For Students. The article lists lots of great spring break deals, as well as other websites you can decide to check out for more information and suggestions. SmarterTravel.com also has suggestions for Last-Minute Spring Break Getaways, although these aren’t necessarily targeted at student budgets.
If you decide to stay in town this spring break, either at school or in your hometown, there’s no reason you can’t still have a great time! Depending on where you live, you might want to decide to explore your town/city in ways you don’t get to during the busy semester. Visit TripAdvisor, Frommer’s, Lonely Planet, or another travel site to explore your area like a tourist. Or you may have a list of certain parks or museums you wish you had time to visit during the school year, but you are just too swamped to take advantage of them. Don’t forget to check your local paper for area festivals and events that go on during spring break, such as SXSW in Austin or Harvest of Hope in St. Augustine, Florida. For more music festivals in your area, check out Festival Outlook for a complete list of 2010 music festivals.
Whatever you decide to do, you should always make safety a top priority. Check out the CDC’s Spring Break Health and Safety Tips for information and resources that will help you stay safe, whether you are at home or away.
Decide How To Tackle Your Taxes
For those of you struggling to decide how to tackle your taxes, I took some time to research the latest articles that give advice to help you decide how prepare for April 15. From deciding to avoid common mistakes, advice about software and IRS protection, to deciding translating the lingo, here are some of the helpful articles that caught my eye:
- 10 Most Common Tax Mistakes, WalletPop.com
- Using Tax-Prep Software? Trust Results but Verify, NYTimes.com
- Don’t Pay For IRS Protection, CNNMoney.com
- 10 Tax Terms Translated Into English, msnbc.com
Decide Whether Or Not To Go Back To Your Ex
Even before It’s Complicated hit theaters and this Valentine’s Day got people thinking about lost loves, one of the most popular user decisions has been Should I Get Back Together With My Ex?
The appeal of getting back together with an ex is obvious. There is already a built-in familiarity and comfort level, as well as a shared history and fond memories. No awkward first dates, no 20-questions about each other’s families and backgrounds. Throw in a long-standing chemistry and you face a very compelling argument for deciding to get back together. That is, of course, if you can decide to forget any painful history and to ignore the advice of concerned friends and family.
When it comes to deciding to get back together with an ex, there are many issues you should consider, from why exactly you parted ways to begin with, how you and your ex may or may not have changed, and so on. And where else to get advice but Oprah.com’s relationships page? M. Gary Neuman, a family therapist, offers his two cents in this article: “Get Back Together With Your Ex? It’s Complicated.” He addresses the pros and cons, and also offers advice for those who do decide to give it a go. If all you have in mind is a booty call, decide to read Sex and the City screenwriter Cindy Chupack’s advice about deciding to call up an ex: “Should You Sleep With An Ex?” (Spoiler: she doesn’t recommend it.)
So, what are Simonites deciding to do? As far as results go, the decision outcomes have been split pretty evenly between deciding to get back together and deciding to stay apart. What are users considering when trying to decide what to do about their exes? The #1 factor, by a long shot, is “Love,” with “Happiness” and “Avoiding pain” in a close race for second place.
Have any of you decided to get back together with an ex? How did it work out? Any advice for other Simonites?
Decide To Make Your Temporary Position a Permanent One
Interested in making your temporary title a permanent one? Then decide to read this WSJ article for some advice on how to do so: “Making a Temporary Stint Stick.” Although the author decides to give advice mainly for people in interim management positions within their companies, I think anyone in a temporary position should decide to follow this advice. Have any of you decided to turn your temporary position into a permanent one? Has it worked? If so, what advice can you offer other Simonites?
Want to Decide on a Job? Consider the “World’s Coolest Jobs”
If I ever decide to give up my career in decision making (which I can’t imagine choosing to do), perhaps I could have a future as a water-slide tester or a fried food inventor. To find out more about these 11 dream jobs, you should decide to check out this list of the World’s Coolest Jobs, which I found on msnbc’s TODAY Technology & Money page. Do you think these jobs are too good to be true?
Decide to Take Your Career “Off Autopilot”
I just read a terrific U.S. News & World Report career article by career coach and author Curt Rosengren: 4 Steps to Taking Your Career Off Autopilot. What I like about this article is that rather than decide to give vague answers and advice, the author has chosen to pose important questions that we should all decide to consider, no matter where we are in our careers or what field we work in. It’s always a good idea to take some time to check in with yourself and decide how satisfied you are with your career. If you are interested in taking Rosengren’s advice and making changes, you should check out U.S. News’s list of the 50 best careers for 2010.