A few tidbits to get us through the week …
OK folks, the time is upon us. It’s the time of year – the beginning of the year – when we stare straight-faced at our selves and commit to our New Year’s resolutions.
I’m going to go out on a limb here. Probably the most common commitments have to do with exercise, money or smoking. So let’s tackle those this week.
- 10 Easy Ways to Make Exercise a Habit – The thing I’ve learned of poor health is that it’s 99% a result of poor habits. Bad habits cannot be broken. They can only be replaced with good ones. Habits, good or bad, start as flimsy cobwebs. Over time, they become strong as steel cables – that either support or shackle us. Let’s make sure our habits support our goals.
- Solutions for Life and Money – Seems everywhere I go lately, I hear Dave Ramsey’s name come up. (Not to be confused with our pal, the screaming chef, Gordon Ramsay.) No, Dave Ramsey has opened new doors in personal finance and debt management. For instance, where nearly all other financial advisors say you should pay down the big debts first, Dave says you should pay the little ones off first. Because they’re immediately achievable goals, once reached, they provide the boost of confidence and positive energy needed to tackle the bigger debts. Although I’m lucky to have never struggled with debt, in today’s economy, Dave’s finance philosophy is a refreshing zig as many others zag with little results.
- NA – Nicotine Anonymous – Now, smoking is something I have personally struggled with. In fact, although I’ve been smoke-free for five years, I still struggle with it. But – and this is my greatest point – it gets easier with each passing day. For anyone out there who smokes and has tried to quit, I needn’t describe the sensation of your stomach in knots while the earth crumbles away from under your feet … and the fear of a dark and endless misery. You know the feeling. But I promise you, it only last a few minutes. Wait it out. Hide it out. Ride it out. You’ll see. It goes away. Sure it comes back, but less and less frequently each time until eventually the cravings are gone, replaced only by memories of when you were a smoker, some fond, some not. Sometimes when I’m out on hike, run or swim, I’ll draw in a full and pure breath of air and think, “It’s hard to believe I used to smoke.” But I did.
As for me this year – and I know it’s lame, but it’s something I need to do – I’m resolved to improving my scheduling skills so, in addition to tackling priorities, I can take on more of the things I want to do.
Enjoy the jumps! Come back and see us when you can …
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