Newsletter December 2017 Edition

News

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Mille Lacs County Offices will be closed in observation of Christmas Day, December 25, 2017. Mille Lacs County Offices will also be closed for New Year’s Day on January 1, 2017. Rejuv Medical Lunch & Learn Presentation at Mille Lacs County The Mille Lacs County Wellness Committee is hosting the Rejuv Medical Lunch & Learn! “Nutrition 101: How to Eat so You Won’t Die,” will be presented by Tanner Neubauer, CSCS-NSCA. Lunch will be provided after the event for registered participants. To register for this event, please contact Kara in ASO. WELCOA Quiz Winner Congratulations to Jason Heacock from the Sheriff’s Office for being the winner of our November Wellness prize! Watch for the WELCOA quizzes with the December newsletter for your chance to win. All of the answers to the quiz can be found in the WELCOA health bulletins. Those who score 100% on the quiz will be entered for a chance to win a Wellness prize! Send your quiz answers (either the entire answer sheet or just your answers in an email) to Kara in ASO by 12/15/17.

Events & Attractions December 2nd Isle Chamber of Commerce: Christmas in the Park Milaca Chamber of Commerce: Milaca Area Christmas Home Tour

December 2nd Princeton: Visit Grandma’s Kitchen

December 9th Snowmobile Festival: S.N.O.W. Fest

I have worked at Mille Lacs County for twenty-five years. The best part of my job would certainly be helping all customers – both the public and my coworkers! I was born in Osceola, WI. However, I grew up in Scandia, MN. I graduated from Forest Lake High School. I then went on to graduate from the Minneapolis Business College with a degree in accounting. I am married and have two wonderful, grown children. I enjoy knitting, crocheting, and listening to audio books in my free time. If I could go on any vacation, I would certainly take a road trip across the United States. I would love to stop and visit all of the “out of the way” sights!

Employee Spotlight

Sandy Kephart

Property & Elections Clerk

Auditor-Treasurer’s Office

(or how to avoid pitfalls and adopt new strategies to stay on track)

Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work.

A New Year offers the promise of a fresh start for millions of Americans, as each of us start contemplating our New Year’s resolutions. However, research suggests that only a fraction of Americans actually stick to these goals. If you’re like most people, your new-found goals likely dissipate by the time February rolls around. The reasons this happens are varied, but experts say there are several common pitfalls that keep people from achieving their New Year’s resolutions.

A large percentage of Americans choose "weight loss" as one of their top goals. This, however, is too general a notion that does not give you something specific to work towards or a well-defined path to follow. Similarly, if you want to be more physically fit, but have barely gotten off the couch in two years, planning to run a marathon isn’t going to be feasible task. While many recognize aspirations to lose weight or run a marathon as a difficult task, few will see that learning a new skill, language or instrument can also result in disappointment.

“I think we try to set not only too extensive of a goal but also too many goals,” said Dr. Stephen Graef, a sports psychologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “We might really try to shoot for the moon too quickly and that doesn’t work out, or not only do we want to go to the moon but we want to go to Mars and Neptune and Saturn. And if we try to do all of those, we don’t have the mental and physical resources to be able to accomplish that.”

Fortunately, avoiding these pitfalls and adopting some strategies to stay on track can help you achieve your goals. Follow these expert tips to stick to — and actually achieve — your resolution for the New Year.

Be Honest. Many times, we set goals because we think that’s what we’re supposed to do with the arrival of a New Year. “Many people don’t make their own resolutions out of what’s most meaningful and desirable for them but they set it out of what other people told them they need to do out of fear or guilt,” said Dr. Karen Lawson, director of the Integrative Health Coaching program at the Center for Spirituality & Healing at the University of Minnesota. “So the motivation doesn’t come from within but comes from the outside and that doesn’t tend to lead to success.” Be honest with yourself and set realistic goals for yourself.

One Goal at a Time. While losing weight, quitting cigarettes or soda, and decluttering your home are all worthy goals, trying to obtain them all at once will certainly be overwhelming! Over stepping your own limitations with multiple simultaneous goals often leads to failure. Stick to one thing, master it, and move onto the next. Having trouble deciding which goal to work on first? Focus on goals that will enable your mind and body to run more effectively, like exercising, eating nutritious foods, or ending bad habits.

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(or how to avoid pitfalls and adopt new strategies to stay on track)

Why New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work.

Set Yourself Up for Success. If aspects of your environment are slowing your progress, change them. Want to wake up earlier but every morning continues to be a struggle to get out of bed? Put your alarm clock on the other side of the room so you will be forced to get up to turn it off. Having trouble making it to the gym? Sleep in your gym clothes to make it easier to get out the door for a morning workout. Can’t stop snacking? Get the junk food out of your home and replace them with healthier options.

Track Your Progress.

Once you’ve identified your goal and have a specific plan set for how to achieve it, tracking your progress becomes the final key to success. Create a visual picture of your progress – this will aid in motivating you as well. “If on your calendar, you’ve marked off five days in a row where you’ve met your goals, that’s going to really increase the likelihood that you don’t want to break that on the sixth day. It just looks aesthetically pleasing to the human eye to have that consistency in that tracking,” Graef said.

Celebrate Success.

We are always harder on ourselves than anyone else. When you have a bad day, rather than condemning yourself, reassure yourself that tomorrow is a new start. Be compassionate with yourself; acknowledge your mistakes and move on.

Celebrate your success – no matter how small! Recognizing your hard work is the key to success. “Acknowledge when you had a really great day, or even a really great moment an hour ago,” Lawson said. “Figure out ways to be happy and joyful and congratulatory for when you’re doing it right.”

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New Employees

Employee Updates

Employees Leaving

Jay Munson, Assistant County Engineer, left after 28 years of service.

Jesse Fussy, Correctional Officer, left after 4 months of service.

Matthew Buckley, Correctional Officer, left after 2 years of service.

Shawn Widmer, Veterans Services Officer, left after 3 years of service.

Employees Moving

Teresa Corona, promoted from Correctional Officer to Jail Sergeant.

Solid Waste Coordinator Environmental Resources

Stephanie Reynolds

Victim-Witness Coordinator

CAO

Darian Buel

Office Support Specialist

CVS

Shelly Milton

Social Worker CVS

Victoria Wozniak