There's an old idea in personal development -- probably first espoused by Dr. Maxwell Maltz -- that it takes 21 days of doing something every single day to make it a habit. As far as I can tell, there's never been a thorough scientific study to prove that it's 21 days (instead of 17 days or 35 days or whatever), but let's proceed as if it's basically true: You repeat a new behavior enough times and it becomes second nature. The big question then is . . . how do you get yourself to repeat it enough times? That's what we're talking about today. Make the Decision Once Don't try to establish a bunch of new habits at the same time. You can make sweeping changes in your life -- people do it all the time -- but from what I can tell, you're likelier...

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.

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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.

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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.

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Modern supermarkets carry fresh produce year-round, but the best -- and cheapest -- vegetables are still to be had in the summer.

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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.

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Warmer weather offers so many opportunities to take a small thing and turn it into big enjoyment, without breaking the bank.

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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.  

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Being in debt sucks. I know because I was once there. And believe me when I say that debt goes so far beyond an empty wallet: It can affect nearly every aspect of your life, from your relationship with your spouse and your kids…to how you see yourself. There’s just so much stress involved with being in debt that it truly begins to consume you. Over time, though, I began to learn how to deal with these emotions—and that’s when things really started to look up. In this Life Balance blog, I’ll share with you what I did to stay sane when it sometimes felt like I was going to fall apart. My sincere hope is that this blog will help you learn how to deal with these emotions as well, because I firmly believe that a good mental state is one of the single most important tools in becoming debt-free. ...

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.

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What if we could experience little slices of that vacation vibe -- the relaxation, the feeling of escape -- in every working day?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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There’s something else that helped me immensely when I was digging myself out of debt: keeping a journal. Sure, my husband was a great support system, but let’s face it: he was dealing with plenty of his own emotions. And so I felt that it was unfair to unload all of mine on him. So one day, while I was running errands with my daughter, I stopped by the dollar store and found an entire bin of little notebooks, all with different designs on the cover. I picked one out that had a beach scene on the front because just looking at it made me feel calm and tranquil. And the best part about it was that it was only a dollar. Just one buck!...

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.

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Review everything I say against your own good sense, and consult with a doctor if you think that your nutrition issues call for it.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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When I was in debt, there were times in which I thought to myself, “I can do this. I really can.” But there were other moments in which panic would take over, and I’d wonder, “How am I ever going to pay off this dollar amount? It’s just TOO BIG.” But after a while, I decided it was time to change my attitude. If I kept thinking of getting out of debt as climbing Mt. Everest, there was no way I’d ever be able to reach my goal…let alone even envision it. So I began a little experiment…...

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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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