Whether you're in the early stages of changing some habits to improve your health or trying to keep a new year's resolution on track, it's always a good time to ask yourself if you're setting SMART goals. Our best intentions to create new habits sometimes fall short of success simply because our plans lack thoroughness. They may be too vague or unrealistic. So what can help? SMART goals, … [Read more...] about Setting SMART Goals for Success
choices
Resilience: What Is It, and How Can I Get More of It?
Resilience is defined as toughness, or "the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties." And in researcher language, it's "positive adaptation despite adversity." But is it something we're born with? Can we develop more of it? And can we use it up as we go through life? When Resilience Begins Science indicates that resilience is not uniform across people, places, or situations. So … [Read more...] about Resilience: What Is It, and How Can I Get More of It?
Decisions, Decisions: When Priorities Collide
Each day, we're faced with hundreds of small decisions to make. And often, our priorities collide. That can feel especially true during the busy holiday season. Do I start my shopping from the couch, or lace up my boots and go hiking with my family? What about that extra glass of wine I want to have with my friends, even though it's likely to throw off my sleep schedule? Should I eat the … [Read more...] about Decisions, Decisions: When Priorities Collide
Summer Sun and Bugs: Essential Oils to the Rescue
Summer brings plenty of opportunities for sunburns, bug bites, and other skin irritations. But essential oils can help when used pro-actively against bugs and in response to burns, stings, bites, or rashes. Below, I'll share some ideas for how to use these powerful compounds - and some recipes for "potions" that have worked for my family. I started learning about essential oils nearly four … [Read more...] about Summer Sun and Bugs: Essential Oils to the Rescue
For Focus, Choose One Word for 2018
I'm not one for making New Year's resolutions, though year-round I do set some goals for myself. But this year I've chosen one word for 2018 to help me stay focused. My one word is discipline. So I admit that the first time this one word came to mind, I winced a bit - since many of us equate the word with punishment. I didn't want to approach my year that way, so I also considered several … [Read more...] about For Focus, Choose One Word for 2018
Is it Self-Care, or Is it Stewardship?
Self-care takes different forms, depending on the situation and person. Lighting a candle. Enjoying a slow coffee and breathing deeply. Taking a walk. Spending time with a friend. Choosing healthy foods. Each of those has its place. But when life feels like it's spiraling out of control, self-care may be the first thing to go. How do we stop that from happening, to make ourselves more … [Read more...] about Is it Self-Care, or Is it Stewardship?
