The Art of Relationships

Completing an Annual Review as a Couple

We don’t think twice about doing annual reviews at work but I personally have never considered sitting down to complete one as a couple-till now. This isn’t an opportunity to bash your partner about your disappointments but rather discuss what fell short of your expectations and how you would like to change those things in the new year. The areas I chose to evaluate were: finances, health, getaways, personal development and family (but you can choose any categories that fit your relationship). First, I sat down with my husband and made a list of the things we were less than satisfied with in 2013, things we wish we had done and those items we often argued about. Then, I set up four columns that represented each of these categories and wrote down those items we discussed in the corresponding category (see example below).  When you get to this part be sure to phrase your complaint item in the form of a goal. Example: Instead of “We never go anywhere” say “I would like to go on an annual vacation somewhere outside of the state”.  Additionally, it often helps to se achievable and measurable goals. For example: “work out a minimum of 4 times a week for 40 minutes”. I can tell you at the end of the week if this goal was accomplished without any question or subjective opinion.

Finances : Pay more towards my student loans (a minimum of “x” a month)   

Health : Work out a minimum of 4 times a week for 40 minutes  

Getaways : Have a local getaway at least once every 2 weeks  

Personal Development : Set aside 30 minutes a day to read a book for leisure  

Family : Go on a walk as a family every evening after work   

It can be a daunting task to admit that there are areas that you are less than satisfied with. You may wonder if completing this annual review will make problems were there they didn’t previously exist. But my philosophy on the matter is treat your relationship like you treat your car (but better!... assuming you take care of your car). We do preventive maintenance to our car like changing the oil, washing it, keeping the tires inflated and the inside cleaned out… usually. We don’t wait to run out of gas before we decide to put gas in the car; we know that it needs it so we stop regularly to fill it up so it will function properly. Your relationship is no different, regular tune-ups are imperative and this is one way to make sure that you keep it working in tip top shape! Good luck and Happy New Year!

Jessica Gorman has spent her career working in the non-profit mental health field. She has graduate degrees in Counseling Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Preparation and Education/Instructional Leadership and a BA in Psychology.  She has worked in a variety of settings including group homes, behavioral health agencies, universities and healthcare clinics. She has experience working as an individual, family, couple and group counselor for both children and adults.  Her personal interests within the mental health field include PTSD treatment (civilian and military) as well as the emotional challenges of parenthood.

Perimenopause + Fertility = 2014 Proactive Planning

By Ellen Dolgen

Contrary to popular opinion, you won’t just wake up one 2014 morning in menopause.

So when does menopause start? you ask. Your body actually begins “the change” 6-10 years before you reach menopause. This early menopausal transitional time is known as perimenopause. You are not in menopause until you’ve missed 12 consecutive periods.  The average age for the start of menopause is 51.

Unfortunately, during pre-menopause and perimenopause, one of the first things to take a hit is your fertility.

By age 30, about 95 percent women have only 12 percent of their original number of ovarian follicular cells, which are those which can develop into eggs, according to research from the University of Edinburgh. By age 40, only 3 percent of women’s egg-producing cells remain. However, the research also shows that most females have about 600,000 cells before birth. So even if you lose 97 percent of them by the time you blow out your birthday cake’s 40 candles, you still have 18,000 cells to celebrate!

Meanwhile, during perimenopause, you will probably find that your menstrual cycle is more unpredictable than ever, making it increasingly difficult for sperm to meet the eggs that you do have. In fact, according to Mayo Clinic, menstrual cycles that vary in length by seven or more days are a telltale signs of perimenopause.

Even if your menstrual cycle is regular, however, it doesn’t mean you are necessarily ovulating regularly, says Dr. David B. Smotrich, M.D., a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility. So put those ovulation sticks to good use! Per cycle, a 30-year-old has a 20 percent chance of getting pregnant, but by the time she hits 40, her odds drop to only 5 percent, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Still, it’s important to remember that all women experiencing menopause (and their baby makers) are unique, Dr. Smotrich says. In fact, as difficult as conceiving might seem to be, if you do not want to become pregnant in 2014, it’s still vital to use contraception during perimenopause, according to a recent review in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. (Check out the best birth control options during perimenopause.)

If you are approaching 30 this New Year and have plans of getting pregnant in the future, Dr. Smotrich recommends having some baseline fertility tests performed for your big 3-0. Follow up with yearly tests until age 35, semi-annual tests (pair them with your trips to the Victoria’s Secret semi-annual sales!) until 39, and quarterly tests after that to monitor your fertility, he says. Some simple blood tests to consider: a Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test, which measures levels of hormones that control your menstrual cycle and production of eggs; a 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Test, which determines your body’s levels of calcidiol, deficiencies of which can predispose your baby to health complications; an Estradiol Test, which measures a form of estrogen that is integral to conception and pregnancy, and an Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Test, which estimates the number of eggs in the ovaries.

If your numbers—and years—aren’t working in your favor this New Year, don’t panic. Fertility treatments exist to help give women the babies of their dreams. For instance, during in vitro fertilization, eggs are harvested from a woman’s ovaries, combined with sperm in a lab, and implanted in a woman’s uterus for the greatest chance of conception. In women ages 35 and younger that have up to six cycles of in vitro fertilization therapy, the live-birth rate ranges from 65 to 86 percent. The rate for women ages 40 and up ranges from 23 to 42 percent, according to an analysis of more than 6,000 patients published in The New England Journal of Medicine. According to Dr. Smotrich, the procedure usually costs about $10,000 per cycle.

However, since the risk of birth complications increases with the mother’s age, Dr. Smotrich recommends that, before trying to become pregnant, women older than 35 talk with their doctor about having their baby monitored during gestation for chromosomal conditions including Down Syndrome. A good 2014 offense is the best 2014 defense.

When it comes to fertility, ignorance is anything but bliss! But if we keep tabs on our biological clocks, we can help make sure that when our lives are ready for a baby, so are our bodies!

Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN!

Ellen Dolgen is outspoken women’s health and wellness advocate, menopause awareness expert, author, and speaker.

After struggling through the silence that surrounds menopause, Ellen resolved to help women reach out and end the confusion, embarrassment, and less-than-lovely symptoms that come with “the change.” Her passion to be a “sister” to all women fueled Ellen’s book, Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness. As a result of her women’s wellness journey, and in response to the overwhelming thirst of her ever-expanding audience for empowering information, Ellen’s weekly blog, Menopause Mondays^TM was born.

Menopause Mondays^TM allows Ellen an expansive platform from which she broadens her discussion of menopause, women’s health, and life as a menopausal woman. Her weekly newsletter provides a one-stop shop for the latest menopause and women’s health news and research, allowing women the access and know-how needed to take charge of their health and happiness. In addition to Ellen’s ever-growing social media presence, EllenDolgen.com has fast become “the place” on the web for informative and entertaining women’s menopause and wellness engagement. Ellen is #1 on Dr. Oz Sharecare.com Top 10 Social HealthMakers on Menopause. In 2012 and 2013 EllenDolgen.com/Menopause Mondays was named first on the list of the “Best Menopause Blogs” by Healthline. Ellen is also a regular contributor to over a dozen leading women’s health blogs. Her motto is: Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN!

Ellen has founded a women’s health and wellness program that provides corporate education events for businesses, healthcare institutions, and other organizations. She produces and facilitates Menopause Mondays Parties^TM for organizations across the country. In addition, she works with pharmaceutical companies in helping them understand and address women’s health needs. Ellen co-chaired a social media roundtable for Novo Nordisk in 2012. In 2013, Ellen was a key spokesperson for GLAM^TM (Great Life After Menopause) a non-branded campaign sponsored by Novo Nordisk.

She serves on the Community Advisory Board of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla and has chaired and served on various boards and committees for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, San Diego Hospice, Brandeis University, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, NARAL, the Phoenix Heart Ball, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Angel Charity for Children, Brewster Auxiliary, and Handmaker Home for the Aging. Ellen’s lifelong commitment to philanthropy through board representation, fundraising, and event organization continues with her founding of Menopause Mondays, which assists in promoting women’s health and wellbeing around the world.

Ellen has appeared on the “TODAY Show,” The Katie Show,” “NBC Nightly News”, the “Rachael Ray Show,” “The Doctors,” Oprah Radio, Playboy Radio, NPR’s “Tell Me More,” Doctor Radio, and dozens of regional and national media outlets. In 2011 she appeared in a production of “The Vagina Monologues.” Ellen was one of the first regular contributors to debut on The Huffington Post’s, Huff/Post50, which targets 116 million Americans over the age of 50.

Ellen is the founder and president of Menopause Mondays and is a principal of Dolgen Ventures along with her husband, David. She lives in Coronado, California, and has two adult children, Sarah and Jack.

Like Ellen Dolgen on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and Pinterest, connect with her on LinkedIn, Google+, and Klout, watch her videos on YouTube, and subscribe to her newsletter.

4 Work Mistakes You Don't Know Your Making

Check out this great article from Daily Muse!

by Katie Douthwaite reposted from www.dailymuse.com 

 

When you’re the newbie at work, you do everything in your power to stay on your best behavior. You show up to the office early, leave late, dress conservatively, and absolutely never, ever check your Facebook page from your work computer.

But, as the weeks go by, it’s easy to slide into a sense of comfort and let your guard down, following in the footsteps of your co-workers (who know just how far they can bend the rules). And soon, you’re missing deadlines, tweeting covertly, making excuses as to why you’re not as productive as before, and in general, setting yourself up for a not-so-great performance review.

So what happened? Well, it’s simple—you forgot the basics. If you’re looking for a way to get back into gear, revisit the advice you got when you were first starting out in the professional world, and follow these easy (but often ignored) bits of advice.

1. Stop Using Excuses

Just like your puppy dog eyes didn’t work to convince your 8^th grade teacher that your little sister threw away your math homework, excuses don’t go very far with your boss. And no matter how genuine your intentions are (“but I had so much on my plate—and then I came down with the flu!”), all your manager will hear is that you don’t use your time effectively.

So here’s a no-fail way to impress your boss: Do what she says. When you have an assignment, don’t make her remind you about it, and don’t ask for an extension. If you have questions, ask them well before the deadline, and if you need help from teams in other departments, engage them with time to spare. Do quality work, and turn it in on time.

By completing your work without excuses or constant reminders, you’ll gain your boss’ immediate trust and respect, and you’ll be well on your way to gaining more responsibility—or even a promotion.

2. Show up on Time

You may think it’s endearing to be labeled the “late one,” who never seems to make it to a meeting before the fifth PowerPoint slide. So you laugh and give a little shoulder shrug as you noisily bustle into the conference room, assuming that everyone just writes it off as, “Oh, that Suzie.”

Well, it's not cute. And no matter how much you feel it’s a part of who you are, lateness is not an inherent trait—so excuses along the line of, “I can’t help it!” won’t work. If you’re serious about your job and impressing your team and boss, make it a point to show up on time—or better yet, early. Whatever it takes (e.g., an extra alarm, a working coffee pot, a puppy who needs attention at 5 AM), make it happen. It’s worth it.

3. Return Emails

When our communication is so readily at our fingertips, there’s no excuse for leaving your email unanswered for more than a day or two. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve written an inter-department email to get no response. Not in one week, not in two—never.

So, it’s no surprise that you’ll earn instant respect from your entire team (and anyone else who contacts you) if you answer emails in a timely manner. Don’t know the answer? That’s no excuse to leave the email sitting in your inbox. Write a quick response anyway: “Hi Jan, I’m not 100% sure about this, so let me look into it, and I will get back to you by the end of the week.” Then, get back to her before the end of the week.

I know—we’re all busy. And I’m not saying you need to answer every email the moment it arrives in your inbox (that’s certainly not an efficient way to work). But when you ignore an email, what you’re conveying to the sender is: “You’re not important enough to warrant a response.”

4. Follow Through

As a new manager in an unfamiliar industry, I don’t always know the answers to my employees’ questions. But instead of just having them ask someone else, I let them know that I’ll find out and get back to them. And then, I follow through. Each time I’m able to deliver an answer, I’m conveying that I do what I say I’m going to do—and my employees grow to trust me more and more.

Of course, this doesn’t just apply to answering questions. If you tell a co-worker you’ll proofread her report, don’t push it off until she reminds you about it two weeks later. If you assure your team that you’ll take care of an important client’s account, don’t let it sit on the bottom of your to-do list until one of your co-workers has the customer on the phone, screaming because she hasn’t heard from anyone in over a week. If you make a commitment, follow through—you’ll convey that you can be trusted with anything.

Easy tips, right? Well, tell yourself that a few months into your new job, when you realize your boss usually forgets about the deadlines he gives you, and nothing bad ever happens when you forget to answer an email or two. But don’t fall into that trap! Go back to this basic advice, and you’ll never fail to impress your team, clients, and boss.

Career Spotlight: Speech Pathologist

Fresh Start Women’s Foundation Career Spotlight December 2013

Laura Morrison GradSchools.com

Welcome to the start of a monthly career spotlight blog series created by the team at GradSchools.com, an educational directory and resource for adult learners interested in pursuing a graduate degree.  Deciding to invest in your education is a huge decision, one that should be made only after careful planning and evaluation of all available options.  One way you may want to start thinking about your educational decisions is to consider what you want your life to look like after you graduate: How much money do you hope to earn? How much flexibility do you need in your career? Are you willing to relocate to pursue a career? What is the anticipated job growth in your field? In this series we will provide an overview of the job outlook, salary data, daily life, and educational requirements of selected careers in hopes that one of these spotlights will help you decide what you want to be when you grow up.

Okay, the first career spotlight is “Princess” just kidding (even though that does sound nice), in the interest of staying grounded in reality, let’s explore career options for Speech Pathologists.  If you have children or know people who have children you have probably heard about speech pathologists and you may have wondered what exactly they do and how exactly they got onto this career path.  Let’s take a closer look at what it is like to be a speech pathologist.

A speech pathologist is someone who works to diagnose and treat communication and swallowing disorders.  They are generally employed within the educational or healthcare system, but they might also work in private practice, at an agency, or at rehabilitation facilities.  Most states require speech pathologists to obtain licensure, licensure requirements vary by state, but in general SLP’s are required to have earned a master’s degree from an accredited speech pathology program and have completed several hundred hours of supervised clinical training.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics speech pathologists earn a median annual salary of $69,870, and employment of speech pathologists is expected to grow by 23% between 2010 and 2020, and  most speech pathologists are employed full time.    

Interested in this career, great, now let’s dispel some common myths about speech pathologists:

Myth: Speech pathologists only work with children.

Fact:  Speech Pathologists are trained to work with individuals suffering from a communication or swallowing disorders.  This can include people of all ages and walks of life.  Speech pathologists are employed by schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, and hospitals or health care centers. 

Myth: Speech pathologists are glorified teachers.

Fact: The educational requirements for speech pathologists more closely resemble those of a person in the healthcare field.  Speech pathologists are often required to take courses in anatomy, biology, neurology, and physiology, to name a few.  They are also usually required to complete several hundred hours of supervised clinical training in a variety of institutional settings.

Myth: Speech pathologists spend most of their time doing arts and crafts or playing games with their clients.

Fact:  While crafts and games are often used in speech therapy to encourage interaction, speech pathologists do much more than sit around cutting out squares and circles or playing guess who.  A good speech pathologist knows how to make therapy fun, but while their clients are playing SLP’s are working hard to ensure the activity is helping to improve their client’s ability to communicate.

In addition to a comfortable median salary, and potentially varied job opportunities, speech pathology was listed as number 19 in Forbes magazine’s list of the Top 20 Best Paying Jobs for Women in 2013.  If you are interested in learning more about careers in speech pathology visit GradSchools.com to search for programs or browse our resources section.

10 Tips for Surviving the Holidays Post-Divorce

Here are some practical ideas for surviving the holidays, especially if this is your first Christmas as a single woman.  As we all know, the holidays can be stressful, but it seems even worse after a divorce. When the holiday stress starts, take a deep breath and use some of the suggestions below to help you survive the season.This article is reposted from www.womansdivorce.com

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  The Holidays are upon us once again and for many of you, this might be the first time around as a new unit, I.E. without your ex. It's a difficult time, no doubt about it, and just another step in the transition into a new life after divorce. If you plan for this season you can make it easier on yourself.

Go easy on yourself

Emotions may overwhelm you right now. Know that you will have major bouts of sadness, anger…whatever. Take good care of yourself and give yourself as much nurturing as you can muster. If you had a friend who was in your shoes, how would you treat her? With love and compassion I would think.
Get in touch with the things that you know will lift your mood and stay away from anything that upset or saddens you. So if trimming the tree with old ornaments makes you sad…don't. Go out and get new ones or sit with the kids and make them yourselves. Again, do things differently now that your life is different.
Do the things that make you feel better. If you had no obligations and no limitations…what activities would you engage in to make yourself happy? Would you go to the theater? Spend the day at the museum? Get a massage and facial? Go hiking?

Watch out for expectations.

There is so much pressure to have the most wonderful time of your life during the holidays. Unrealistic and unachievable expectations set us up for disappointment and resentment. Accept the difficulty of this time of year and your loss.
SET BOUNDARIES: Explain to your family and friends what you are capable of doing this year, and what you aren't. Don't let others guilt you into taking on more than you can handle. Learn to say no as it will define you. Also learn to say yes to the things that will make you feel better.

Make certain that you do not isolate yourself.

If you are sharing the kids, ensure that you have somewhere to go on the day that the kids are with your ex. I have in the past even invited myself to a good friend's home and they welcomed me with open arms. Remember, everyone is busy during this season and sometimes they just need a friendly reminder. Get out of the house. Your pain and depression may tempt you to lock yourself away but force yourself to go out even if it's only for a short time. Look into a divorce support group in your area. They help tremendously.

Seek Support

Have the phone number of your counselor, clergyperson, life coach, close friend or hotline taped to your phone. Call someone when you are feeling really low. No one said you had to go it alone.

Cut yourself some slack.

Don't go crazy this year shopping and cooking and whatever if you can help it.
Don't forget all the stress and depression busters: exercise, yoga and meditation. These are scientifically proven ways to combat the negative effects of stress on your mind and body.

If you can afford it, make plans to get away.

I remember a time when I was brand new in NYC and New Year's was looming like a black cloud. I made last minute plans to go away to a health spa for a few days and it was wonderful. I met great people and made life-long friends. During these tough economic times that might not be an option for you but that does not mean you can't find an alternative.

DON'T numb the pain with drugs or alcohol

Numbing emotional distress with chemicals creates more depression. Try the stress busters instead.

Practice gratitude.

Think of the things in your life that are good and right: health, shelter, food, children, family, friends, pets, a job, freedom, safety, self-esteem, new beginnings and the beauty that surrounds us.

Volunteer

There is nothing like giving back to make you feel better and to show you that there are always those who are so less fortunate than we are. Head for a shelter, a soup kitchen, a hospital…whatever.

Use the New Year as a starting point for a new life.

A new year is just around the corner.  Begin doing things differently. Try on new activities. Engage in new ways. Stay in action! It is the small, actionable steps that lead to empowerment and positive change.
This too shall pass. You will survive the holidays. Watch out for pity parties…been there and done that! Remember, it is how you choose to handle the holidays that will have the greatest impact on your experience…just like it is how you choose to handle what life has given you that will make the greatest difference in your life.

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Article by Shelley Stile.

The Job Skills You Need (That Nobody Talks About)

This articles is by Lea McLeod and reposted from www.dailymuse.com 

Far too many clients come to me at an “I can’t take it anymore” stage of their career.

Take Tricia, for example, who came to me discouraged with her job and her inability to manage it. She was working long hours—most of them spent sitting in meetings and dealing with hundreds of emails—then rushing last-minute to finish marketing campaigns, which always seemed to turn into fire drills.

The “always on" mentality was getting to her. And she was ready to quit.

I immediately saw that Tricia was missing the most essential job skill I believe every employee must have: priority setting and management. That is, the ability to clearly identify the most important priorities and to focus the vast majority of your energy and time on those things.

Unfortunately, though we often talk about time management and productivity in the office, the art of prioritization is often lost. As a result, many people end up like Tricia: exhausted, frustrated, and burnt out.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by excessive hours and constantly shifting to-dos, here are a few telltale signs that you might need to manage your priorities better—and some easy ways to get back on track.

Sign #1: You Believe That Everything is Important

If you look at your to-do list and see everything as equally important, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with your volume of tasks, rather than the quality of your work. But consider this: The Pareto Principle suggests that 20% of your tasks produce 80% of your results—and that means that a small fraction of your daily work deserves the majority of your attention.

In Tricia’s case, she was accepting every meeting invitation she received. But that didn’t mean the meetings were worth her time or helped her accomplish any of her primary goals.

Solution: Get Clear on Your Goals and Objectives

Work with your manager to get a crystal clear idea of exactly how your performance will be assessed (e.g., will you be reviewed based on the dollar amount you brought in or the satisfaction level of your clients?). Once you have a better handle on your deliverables, you can break them down into weekly goals.

For example, if your ultimate goal is to generate new revenue, then your primary focus should be on following up with leads you got at a trade show and building relationships with potential customers—not spending hours each week helping plan the next trade show.

As you make decisions about work throughout each day, ask yourself, “How will this get me closer to my goals?” If it doesn’t, put it down and move on.

Sign #2: You’re Consumed by Activity Rather Than Accomplishments

Have you ever started with a list at the beginning of the day, felt busy all day, but left feeling like you didn't get anything done? Frustrating, right? Tricia was certainly busy, but she wasn’t accomplishing much.

In reality, you probably got many low priority things done—like clicking through unimportant emails, sitting through inefficient meeetings, or doing small tasks that don’t move your important work forward. Maybe you spent the day on projects helping your boss or co-workers, but not getting your own work done.

Solution: Make a Daily Plan and Stick to It  

Create a daily plan that starts with scheduling your most important work. Those priority activities get first crack at your calendar, before you even think of doing anything else.

You’re most likely to complete certain tasks when you carve out a specific date and time commitment to them. If email is a constant distraction, turn it off, and only check it at two or three specific times each day. (When you’re entrenched in worked and get distracted by reading an email, it takes a full 64 seconds for your focus to recover. Think about that: You’re losing more than a minute of valuable time for every email you read while in the midst of important work!)

Sign #3: When You Get to the Important Work, You Get Distracted

You hear the continuous “ding” of incoming emails, texts, and instant messages and feel compelled to peek. You constantly get distracted by the siren call of social media. Procrastination keeps you from starting and perfectionism keeps you from finishing. And you mistakenly think that by multi-tasking, you’re getting more done in the same amount of time. Sound familiar?

Multitasking to some extent is inevitable, but remember: Even if you’re able to narrow down your work to the most important tasks, you won’t be able to make any progress if you can’t focus for long enough to finish them.

Solution: Develop Your Ability to Focus

Once you’re clear on the priority work that needs to get done, learn how to get—and stay—focused on those tasks. Try these go-to strategies:

1. Chunk Your Work: Use the Pomodoro technique to schedule 25-minute time slots to work on priority tasks. Don’t look up until the time is over, then take a short break. Repeat four times, then take a longer break.

2. Batch Your Work: Group similar tasks together in blocks of time on your calendar, so you can focus on one thing and get it done. Activities like processing email, returning phone calls, or reviewing documents can be grouped together and done in batches.

3. Stop Multi-tasking: In the end, each task will take longer—and you’ll compromise the quality of your work to boot.

As you go through the day, do frequent reality checks: Stop each hour and quickly ask yourself:Did the last hour contribute to my most important goals? If not, vow to make the next 60 minutes better and start again. If you do a reality check each hour, you’ll never let an entire day get away from you.

Finally, track your success. End each day with a review of what you accomplished and how it moved you toward your most essential deliverables. This makes it easier to let the other—nonessential—things go.

When you’re ready to take back control of your work life, remember that it’s not about time management or productivity. The point isn’t to get it all done—it’s to get the most important work done. I like to keep Brian Tracy’s advice in mind: “It’s not the time you spend working overall, but the amount of time you spend working on high priority tasks.”

Student Loan Grace Period Ending? What to Do!

This article was reposted from www.dailymuse.com 

If you graduated this spring and had any student loans, then you’re likely facing the end of your grace period about 10 days from now. May and June graduates, you’re looking at the end of this month or December.

In any case, this six-month period following graduation during which you don’t need to post payments on the majority of federal and private loans is coming to a close—and quick.

Given the rising cost of education and economic fluctuations, many new grads have hefty loan packages, translating into hundreds or even thousands of dollars of payments each month. (While the average debt held by U.S. borrowers hovers around $27,000, one out of eight borrowers has over $50,000 to pay off.)

Hopefully, you’ve already put a sound financial plan in place to cope with the costs—but we know the first months after graduation are a whirlwind. With such sizable bills winging their way towards your account, what can you do to get on top of things now?

To help out, we’ve outlined five steps you can take—in just hours—so that you can build your monthly loan payments into your budget and be ready to go by next week or next month.

1. Know Your Loans

For starters, it’s important to become completely aware of what loans you’ll soon be paying, to which parties, when your payments will begin, and how much they’ll run you.

If you have federal loans, a great starting place is the Department of Education’s National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS). Log on, and you’ll find detailed information on all of your federal loans consolidated in one place. For any private loans you’ve taken on, you’ll want to contact your school’s financial aid office or check out a copy of your annual credit report (as well as credit information available through sites like Credit Karma)—both should be able to show you a list of your lenders.

Once you have all of this info, make sure you understand exactly what you’ll need to be paying—and when. If you have any questions on the repayment process, now’s the time to ask!

2. Review Your Daily Spending

Whether you’re still interviewing or you’re happily installed in your dream job, you should be preparing for a significant uptick in your expenses once your loans kick in.

So, pull out your personal budget, and identify a few nonessential spending categories you can scale back on to accommodate your loan costs. (Don’t have one? There’s no time like the present to create it.) Beyond the usual suspects like takeout dinners and wardrobe splurges, consider adjustments to other aspects of your spending, like downgrading your gym membership or cable package for several months or increasing your time on public transit.

(Also keep in mind that your short-term spending is likely to spike due to the holidays, making it more important than ever to set firm spending rules now!)

3. Build Your Loan Payment Strategy

Now that you have a handle on both the terms of your loans and your personal budget, you should plot out your loan repayment strategy going forward. One key decision to make now: whether you’ll make the minimum payments or try to pay down your loans’ principal earlier, to avoid more interest payments in the long run.

Many loans come with 10-year or 25-year terms of repayment. By calculating your costs over the term, you’ll be able to identify when you could take the plunge and devote more money towards the principal. You can log into NSLDS and use the government’s repayment estimator tool to estimate your monthly costs on different repayment plans. Map out your next few months of earnings and expenditures to assess whether, for instance, a yearend bonus is better spent on your loan principal than other savings, spending, or investment options.

4. Consider Consolidation

If you have many loans—and especially if you’re like the majority of graduates and managing multiple loans with different interest rates and repayment terms—it’s worth considering refinancing to achieve a better interest rate. Take a look at the refinancing calculator at CommonBond, which breaks down your potential savings from refinancing on a monthly and annual basis. Depending on your lender, refinancing can also help you consolidate and streamline your loan payments on just one monthly bill.

Think of refinancing as a great way to start afresh, especially since you’ve come a long way since you first took out those loans as a student. Take this chance to choose the best payment plan for your new lifestyle. 

5. Reevaluate Other Financial Milestones

We know it’s tough to reconsider your springtime Hawaii vacation, but it will be even tougher to fall behind on loan payments after two weeks in Maui. Take a step back and think about the rest of your financial goals (buying a new car, moving to a better place, or planning a wedding, for example), and decide how you’ll integrate them with your loan payments. Because you should never need to compromise your savings or emergency fund to repay your loans, it may make sense to push back some of these goals, set up separate savings accounts for them, or, again, find other ways to trim your budget or loan payments.

Starting the process of paying back your loans can be daunting, but with some careful planning, financial prioritization, and a payment plan that works for you, you’ll be able to put your grace period worries behind you in no time.