Atricle by Make The Days Count Contributor Jennifer Snelling

When the thought of writing about conquering fears first entered my mind, I figured I would probably be the least qualified to write about such a thing.  I am no psychologist or guru, and I worry about even the silliest things – a trait I inherited from other generations of women in my family.

When I was young, I had their fear of storms.  Even as a child, I worried about my loved ones, innocently making false promises to my favorite doll and teddy bear that I would save them if they were in danger – a promise I could not keep when our house burned down while I was at school.  As I grew up, I was afraid of driving, pumping gas, getting a job, and to this day I still worry if things are turned off and unplugged when I leave the house.

It isn’t a simple matter of being afraid. Read More »

Article by Christian Nanz

Everyone’s worried about saving money these days, but is exercise really something you want to give up?  You can build a better body on a budget.  From simple workouts with no equipment to getting some of the benefits of a trainer for free with the click of a mouse, there are lots of ways to stay (or get) in shape and still save money.

Partner or Group Training

Personal training is a great choice when you need guidance and motivation.  Sharing your session with a friend or family member can save you money and give you extra motivation for your workouts.

Dust Off Old Fitness Equipment

If you haven’t ventured into your basement or garage lately, now might be a good time to see what you have been storing there. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Jennifer Snelling

Most people make ambitious plans for the New Year including the old standards like getting healthy, organized, or improving themselves as a person.  As the New Year comes in and we’re focusing on our enthusiastic new goals for our lives, it’s easy to forget about the little things that could immediately make our days go smoothly and, in turn, make it more convenient to attain even our loftiest aspirations. 

It’s the one thing that could help us all – goals or not – more time.

Here are ten easy time-saving tips I’ve picked up that bring more convenience and ease to life. Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Blake Cothron

This time of year is seen as a time for new beginnings, a fresh start.  It’s seen often as a time to wipe clean the slate of last year’s stuff and start anew.  Personally, I don’t get wrapped up in any festivities or making New Year’s resolutions.  I think they’re mostly short-lived and overly hyped. 

How often have any of us really kept any resolution in the long-term?  Instead, let’s embrace change in our lives, letting go of the realities that aren’t in harmony.

Go Beyond the Hype

I know it’s happened to most of us.  The New Year comes along and we join in the tradition of making New Year’s resolutions.  It’s commercialized by … Read More »

Article by Make The Days Count Contributor Stefanie Johnson

Imagine this:  Your New Year’s resolution is to lose a substantial amount of weight.  Every day for six months, you doggedly push yourself out of bed two frosty hours before sunrise, don a jogging suit and run miles to the gym, where you spend an hour on a treadmill and lift weights until your muscles and joints scream in agony. You run home again, shower, and then head off to work, fresh as a daisy, whistling a jaunty little tune.

It’s a beautiful dream but here’s the reality:  You try your intense pre-dawn exercise regimen for a couple of days. You lose steam when you don’t get the immediate results you were hoping for, and feel utterly exhausted from all your hard work.  During one of your sessions, you push too hard and up injuring yourself. Then you give up.  You tell yourself it “hurts too much,” “it’s no fun,” and “it’s not worth it.”  You say “some people just aren’t meant to be fit.”  You get depressed at your inability to follow through with your goals, and end up gaining even more weight.

This is a vicious, self-destructive cycle, and its time to break free from it! Read More »