Nora and Tim help you find balance when dealing with a stressful debt situation. Learn how to manage stress and enjoy travel without breaking the bank.
Here's a truth that you must embrace if you want to change the way your body looks, feels, and functions: the ONLY way you'll ever get fit is by taking baby steps.
This is what's been happening with me: Although I'll never win any athletic contests, I'm a fairly serious weightlifter, and, after a hiatus of several years, I've also been getting back into running. But work has been unbelievably hectic, family duties have intervened, and, next thing you know, three weeks go by and I've only worked out twice. It happens. Do It First
So, figure out where to strike the balance between (a) being a responsible parent, looking out for your children's well-being, and (b) not being a complete spoilsport.
Air conditioning is the salvation through the Texas summer, but sometimes you -- and especially any kids you need to entertain -- need an outdoor activity that everyone can enjoy without roasting.
Modern supermarkets carry fresh produce year-round, but the best -- and cheapest -- vegetables are still to be had in the summer.
Warmer weather offers so many opportunities to take a small thing and turn it into big enjoyment, without breaking the bank.
Even more importantly, whoever's on the receiving end of the gifts can also do a lot to communicate clear expectations. So even if you're the one waiting for your partner to "surprise" you with a Valentine's treat, read on.
Sometimes it's hard to be thankful. Even if it's Thanksgiving and you're surrounded by loved ones and good food, you might still be thinking about the downsides -- lousy job, no job, being out of shape, troubled relationships, or money worries. I'm sure most of us could come up with a long list of problems in two minutes flat.
A few years ago in the month of May, I took the train across Canada. This is a world-renowned train trip, snaking through mountain corridors, across endless prairies, and around massive lakes. And I did it for almost half of what it would have cost to go in June. Welcome to shoulder season travel.
In a nutshell, a feeling of self-efficacy means that you feel like you're able to succeed at what you're trying. You feel competent.
What if we could experience little slices of that vacation vibe -- the relaxation, the feeling of escape -- in every working day?
During the workday, it's tempting to run out and grab a burger for lunch, or microwave the same frozen meals over and over. But frozen meals get boring, and fast-food lunches are triple losers because you waste time fetching them, you waste money buying them, and you degrade your fitness by eating them. The good news is that there are plenty of tasty, inexpensive, and easy-to-fix foods that will support your fitness program without burning a hole in your wallet.
Hey, I'm sure the weather will be better a month or two from now. So what? Get out there anyway! If the ground is still soggy, put on some Wellington boots -- or just go in your bare feet -- and enjoy the spring air.
Review everything I say against your own good sense, and consult with a doctor if you think that your nutrition issues call for it.
Your weakness could be the big sales -- for shoes, power tools, or whatever -- at your favorite store. It might be wasting whole evenings on junk television, then feeling guilty because you're not caught up on housework.
Whatever you do, remember this: even though the hard work of exercise can make you temporarily tired and sore, you pursue it to promote your overall sense of well-being and joy. Tap into that bigger feeling of better health.
Here's an open secret for you: Mindset is everything. If you think you can go out and do something great, you'll at least try, which gives you a shot to succeed. If you think you can't . . . you probably won't go after a tenth of what you might achieve.
Clutter doesn't come from the stuff itself, but from the decisions we make -- or fail to make -- about the things we have and the available space we have for them.
Most people will tell you that the holidays are about family, but our loved ones can easily get lost in the shuffle when we're swimming in so much stuff. I mean the stuff we do (baking cookies, throwing parties, driving to Grandma's house), the stuff we buy (food, gifts, more food), the stuff we handle (decorations, wrapping paper, the Christmas tree), and everything else that clutters up our Novembers and Decembers.
Whose expectations are you trying to live up to?
The holidays are a great time to reflect on this, since so many people make this the season of excess: too much food and drink, too many parties, and too much spending on too many gifts.
In my experience, dealing with reality as it IS counts as one of the absolute essentials for living a happy life each day. When we get hung up on how things should be, or how we wish they could be, or how they would be if only the deck weren't stacked against us -- or whatever other unattainable fantasy condition prevails in our minds -- several bad things happen.
It's normal for us to have emotional reactions to life's events. No one expects a person to "turn that frown upside-down" the moment that they receive a diagnosis of cancer, for example. But from all that I've seen and read, life's winners all develop their skills at rebounding from setbacks. No matter what happens, they keep themselves from getting too low, and they don't mire themselves in poisonous emotions.
In addition to the blogs, be sure to check out the new CareOne Groups:
Are you finally out on your own and figuring out how to balance your finances? If so, this is the group for you. In Starting Out, you can talk about the challenges you are dealing with in a group of like-minded people.
Do you feel like you are finally understanding what being a "grown-up" is all about and are settling into your adult life? If so, this is the group for you. In Settling In you can connect with others who are just like you.
Struggling to balance all that an established lifestyle has to offer? The balancing it all group is for you. Discuss the challenges you face when your responsibilities at work, at home and with family and friends all compete for your attention.
Are you currently retired or planning on retiring very soon? If so, this is the group for you. Times have changed and so has retirement. Learn how others are redefining retirement.