Next time you get out of the shower pay attention to how you dry yourself off. I bet you will notice (if you haven’t already) that you will dry off your body in the same systematic pattern each time. Even which arm you dry first will likely always be the same. For me, I start with my left shoulder. This is a habit- whether you realize it or not, and even though it’s not what we typically think of.

In fact, everything in life is a habit in some shape or form.

Most people tend to go to bed around…

Over the last few months, I’ve been renovating my home. I’ve bought a new roof, a new HVAC, new windows, and new paint through the process of refinancing. Through these renovations, I’ve learned a lot.

I’ve learned how to negotiate with contractors, how to be patient, and what are the most critical things to look for in a company.

There are many things I wish I knew before renovating my home. But there’s one thing I could have never learned beforehand — what we can learn from skilled workers.

After speaking with 17 different companies and contracting with four, this…

No amount of forethought can fully predict where you’ll end up.

It’s good to have goals and aspirations. We find success through systematically accomplishing steps that will lead us to complete our goals.

However, life is also unpredictable. Sometimes, it’s the unpredictable events that shape our lives into something we could never have previously fathomed, but could now imagine no other way.

But, if planning is still important, how do you know when to stop planning and allow your life to form at its own will?

Sadly, there is no hard and fast rule regarding how to make powerful life…

How you prioritize your time is a direct representation of what is important to you. At least, that’s how all of your friends and family see it when you say you “don’t have time” to visit. And quite frankly, they’re right.

I find myself saying “Sorry, I don’t have time” all too frequently. I say it in response to things I want to do, and to things I don’t. I say it to those I love and to those I’m just acquaintances with.

Here is what I’ve learned as I’ve witnessed some of my friendships dwindle because I’ve said no…

I’d always been a great sleeper. I was one of the lucky ones who would fall asleep within seconds of my head hitting the pillow. Occasionally I would awake in the middle of the night to use the restroom, but I always fell right back asleep.

I would wake up early most of the time, sleep in when I needed too, and generally felt good about my sleep habits.

This past year that all changed. I’ve had so much trouble falling asleep. Some nights I don’t pass out until 4am despite getting in bed at 10pm. …

A few days ago I was on a hike with a friend and a couple of mountain bikers passed by us. The woman said hello, and we replied the salutation. She said, “It’s hot isn’t it!” We live in the desert and this statement was nothing short of the obvious. But considering that we had met to hike at 12 noon, the sentiment was amplified. We nodded our heads in agreement.

But then the woman went on to say, “but that means we have the trail to ourselves!” I smiled as I replied, “yes, it’s wonderful!” It was so true.

…

Somebody had to say it. Writing words down on paper does not make you a “writer.” Heck, not even publishing those words makes you a writer.

I recently wrote an article about what I think makes a “good” writer, based upon my personal experience writing for various platforms over the past 9 years.

But I’ve come to realize, all writers should be, quote, “good,” or the term writer itself loses its meaning.

So what makes a writer? And, how does one earn such a title?

I think anyone can do it, but it’s not as easy as some make it…

We all have those days when we have LOTS to get done but we have NO motivation. Maybe you started on a roll but then fell off of it and got distracted. Maybe you just woke up with no motivation.

It happens to all of us.

But how do you START being productive (or start again) when you’re just not in the mood?

Here are some of the strategies that have helped me.

1) Take a walk around the block

This is a quick activity which can renew your energy and get you back in the right headspace to work. …