Month: December 2015

5 Ways to Stick to Your New Year’s Resolution

Posted on by Cochrane & Porter

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At the end of the year, I often hear people say, “I’ll make that my resolution for next year” or “I’ll start in January.” It is estimated that about 45% of Americans set New Year’s resolutions, although about 24% of them end up failing for some reason or another. However, the start of a new year is actually a great time to make significant changes that can last for years to come.

Set short-term goals. If all you have is a long-term goal you want to achieve during 2016, how will that help in the short-term? You can create a monthly resolution you’d like to meet and make sure you stick to it. This also helps because your long-term goal will seem much less intimidating if you’re looking at them in the short-term.

Keep a log of your goals and share them with loved ones. If you’ve discussed your goals with friends or family they’ll be aware of what you are trying to reach and are more likely to push you if they know your specific goals. Another good idea is to send a weekly update to them so they stay on board with your progress.

Make sure your goals are realistic. Choose a reasonable goal that will be attainable and not make you feel stressed or rushed. For example, if your resolution is to lose weight, make a goal of 5 or 10 pounds than re-asses after that goal is met. Or, if you are trying to stop smoking cigarettes, try cutting down to 5 cigarettes a day rather than a whole pack. Then, gradually decrease the amount per week.

Be aware of possible setbacks. Of course as humans, many people backslide occasionally on their resolutions and goals. However, it is important if you want to achieve your goals, you need to respond in a positive way to your setbacks. If you make a mistake, view it as temporary and understand you are not failing just because of that.

Don’t give up. Making changes can be difficult, and it will definitely take a lot of will power and determination. If you really put your mind to something and are persistent, you will see changes.

When it comes down to New Year’s resolutions, it is important to simply drop a bad habit. Try something new. If you’re trying to lose weight, eat more vegetables and cut out any processed food. It may take time, but it will be worth it.

Have a Happy and Healthy 2016!

Would You Like To Help Someone In Need?

Posted on by Cochrane & Porter

Interested in helping a child in need?

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” –John Holmes

I try to keep in mind there are people who need help year-round and not just around the holidays. For many of us, the holidays are a time for giving back, whether that means donating to a local charity or helping out a friend or family member financially. Right now, there are many children who aren’t fortunate enough to even wrap a jacket around them when it’s cold, or live in a heated home. We often take small things in our lives for granted. It’s important to remember how fortunate many of us are. This holiday season, Cochrane & Porter is helping Caring Partners, Inc. to raise money by raising donations for those who are in need.

Caring Partners, Inc. is a nonprofit organization which consists of two Massachusetts charitable programs – Belle of the Ball and Coats for Kids. Belle of the Ball takes place in the spring and distributes prom dresses to high school junior and senior girls who would not otherwise afford to attend their school’s prom. This program is different than many other prom gown collection drives because there is also a day full of personal shopping and pampering for each of the girls.

We at Cochrane & Porter are humbly asking for any donation to support Caring Partners, Inc., as well as donations of coats or jackets. All money raised will be used to fund Belle of the Ball and Coats for Kids which benefits children of all ages and young woman. In addition, we are holding a coat drive here at our office, and we encourage our clients to add to our collection by holding coat drives of their own. Coats will be cleaned and distributed to more than 900,000 coats to families in need. Together, we can make a difference.

If you are interested in making a donation, you can do so here. If you wish to donate a coat or jacket, our address is 981 Worcester Street, Wellesley, MA 02482. We will be accepting donations until January 7th, 2016.

We wish the happiest holidays to you and yours, and a happy and healthy new year. We take pride in serving our customers like you and helping you with the most important assets in your life. Please know if you have any questions regarding your insurance you can contact us at 781-431-9800.

7 Fun Ideas for Winter Weather

Posted on by Cochrane & Porter

Many people, including myself, may find themselves slightly bored during the winter as the weather can potentially restrict us from going about our normal daily routines. However, there are many fun activities that you can look forward to when the weather becomes cold and icy!

  1. Go Skiing – Many people look forward to winter just for this reason. Prices this season have been dropping! There is the option to go night skiing as well, which some prefer over daytime. Liftopia helps you to find New England Skiing Deals.
  2. Tour a Brewery – Brew tours are common in the winter, and they even fill up quick. Most places, Samuel Adams for example, only recommend a small donation be made by those who attend. They are informative, interesting and usually last about one hour. Check out Boston Magazine’s list of the Top 21 Breweries in New England.
  3. Go to the Gym – The winter is a great time to workout at a gym. Many feel the gym is exactly what they need right after the holidays! It’ll help keep the winter blues away and help you stay in shape while it is not so nice outside.
  4. Go Sledding – Especially if you have children, sledding is a winter pastime that never gets old. The two best parts about sledding are it’s free and you can sled at the closest hill to your home.
  5. Taste Wine – Wine tastings are relatively quick and are very cheap. Typically they take place on Saturday afternoons and evenings, but are offered other days and times.
  6. Go Roller Skating – Most people probably haven’t roller skated in a long time. It’s fun and cheap for anyone, and can be an exciting experience for children. Check out a list of Roller Skating Rinks in Massachusetts.
  7. Play Board Games – It’s reasonable to assume that the majority of people probably haven’t done this in years, mostly due to the increase of use in technology and all of the applications that are now available instead of a physical board game. It’s also a great way to socialize and still stay inside your home. Popular Mechanics List of 25 Best New Board Games

Just because there’s snow on the ground does not mean there’s no fun to be had! Make the most of the cold weather by keeping busy and spending time with those who are important to you. Happy Winter!

5 Tips for Driving in Winter Weather

Posted on by Cochrane & Porter

Most drivers face adverse weather conditions at some point or another while driving, especially in New England. We have several types of bad weather conditions, the most common being:

  • Fog & mist
  • Rain
  • Snow
  • Flood
  • Hail
  • Strong winds
  • Extreme hot or cold weather
  • The sun when driving from sunrise to sunset

While there are many precautions you can take to prevent an accident, we consider the following to be the most important:

  1. The most important driving tip for winter weather is to reduce your speed. While it may seem like common sense, many people forget that just because you feel as though you are moving right along in bad weather, you can easily slide. No matter the vehicle, you should not drive more than 45mph in adverse weather, to prevent an accident.
  2. Simply do not drive on icy roads – there’s no better way to avoid an accident than by staying off the roads until bad weather has passed.
  3. Always wear your seatbelt – wearing a seat belt should be common sense, but during bad weather it is even more important that you wear it.
  4. Stay aware of predicted weather conditions – if you know that a bad storm is coming, simply try to stay off the road for as long as possible, until  cleanup is complete.
  5. Turn into a slide – When fishtailing or sliding, it might indicate that you are driving too fast. If this happens, it is important that you turn into a slide, because this could prevent you from sliding off of the road or hitting something else.

If you have any questions, whether it is regarding vehicle safety or insurance, please give us a call at 781-431-9800. Safe travels!