Life Tools and Tips

Having a pet in your life is one of the most fulfilling and also challenging things you can do. They bring us so much love but can be a handful at times. It is because of this potential turbulence, you should consider pros and cons seriously before making any commitments. I believe that pets have a purpose in our lives, just as people do. This concept enables me to take the good with the bad and commit to long-term relationships with them. There are so many positive reasons to consider becoming a fur mommy. I understand that isn't always possible for everyone. Here are 4 ways to have a quality relationship with animals.

Making the decision to end any relationship shouldn’t be done on a whim or in anger. And, if you find yourself on the receiving end of being unceremoniously dumped, you should consider what led up to it. If it was in the heat of the moment after an emotional throw down, you may want to step back and reflect before throwing the towel in. At this point, you may be asking yourself this: Is my relationship worth fighting for? Only you can answer that question, but here are some tips to navigating the tough road.

Calling in sick to work isn't the most positive thing for the company or your career, but, sometimes, it's unavoidable. When you are ill, it's important to make wise decisions for your health first, otherwise, you could miss more work than just a day. Here is a quick guide to that challenging question: Should I stay home from work?

When we are young, many of us make the mistake of engaging in reckless behavior without considering the consequences. Been there-done that. For the most part, adolescent mischief doesn't end in disaster- except when these behaviors cross over into adulthood. One example of this is smoking cigarettes. In teenage years, smoking has a certain allure - it is rebellious and cool. This wasn't helped by the huge number of marketing campaigns that in the past, used smoking to help sell a product.

Everybody has bad habits. Some people enjoy a cigarette after lunch. Others keep a messy desk. And some need drugs or alcohol to get through the day. While some bad habits can annoy your coworkers, others can isolate you from your friends and family and even destroy your mental health. Some can kill you. These are the type of habits you want to get rid of as soon as possible: the addictions. If you think you might have a problem with any of these, it’s time to make some changes. Here are 3 things you can do to help end destructive bad habits for good.

Living with or knowing someone with a drug or alcohol problem is not an easy experience. Addicts suffer but, unfortunately, their erratic behavior can create confusion, feelings of rejection, and despair in those around them. This is why successful recovery often includes not only the addict but his or her family as well. Because the odds of overcoming any addiction are greater with support, it's important to educate yourself about the process. You will come up against many challenges that will strain your relationship with the addict. Don't worry, though, you can help an addict and still stay close.

College is expensive, there's no doubt about that. And even if you are lucky to have some of your expenses taken care of, you probably still need money to supplement living expenses. With limited time and resources, you will have to get creative to earn the extra cash. Here are some savvy ways to make money while in college.

It has been scientifically proven that when you are focused on happy, positive thoughts you feel and perform better. When you’re happy, you feel positive and as though you can overcome anything. And, though, positive thinking is not all you need to have to change your life, it certainly is a good place to start.

Routines can bring comfort and stability to our lives. That said, our habits aren’t always good for us. In fact, there are several things that many people do before hitting the sheets that are actually detrimental to their health. Take a look at my top 5 that can be sneaky but oh so damaging.

Is anyone else in the Northern hemisphere over winter already? Well, those dark mornings are starting to get a little brighter; we are in the home stretch to Spring and Summer. You know what that means? Yeah, it's time to start thinking about getting you body ready for warmer weather. This is the perfect time to focus on self-improvements like fitness and health, and, of course, you want to sport that smokin' hot body for summer. Here are some savvy tips that you can start today!

In our youth, we're often told that we only live once. "Live life to the fullest!" they scream. Though these cliches for enjoying life are fun to embrace at the time, ultimately, they do more harm than good. Living a life full of exciting experiences and interesting adventures is one thing, but taking it to an extreme steals the very life you're trying to live. This one body you have is your ride for life. Cherish it. The alternative is sickness, disease, pain, and possibly dying young. My mom died when she was only 59 because of the things I'm about to share with you. Yeah, it's that real...and that important. You might want to ask yourself this: "Is my lifestyle killing me?".

Stress is a part of human life, but it affects each of us differently. It's important to know what triggers stress in your life and whether you deal with it effectively or not. In most cases, a little stress won't harm you, as your mind and body have reservoirs to handle it. However, if it's creating illness, relationship issues, and work problems, beat stress with these 5 mood-boosting measures.

Unless you have a diagnosis of a certain disease, it can be difficult to understand why you aren't feeling well and have no energy. Pay attention to your body, though, a lack of energy can be a sign of serious illness. Not to mention, it can put a challenging twist on even everyday tasks, like cleaning, meal prep, and playing with the kids. Hopefully, it's nothing, but see your doctor if you have concerns. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to feel better. If you want to improve your health and boost your energy levels, the following 5 tips will take you to the next level. There is nothing new here, it all just bears repeating!

You may think that sitting at a desk in an office for nine hours a day doesn’t pose any risks to your health, but you’d be wrong. You may not be exposed to dangerous machinery or at risk for falling, but that doesn’t mean that your workplace doesn't have hidden health pitfalls. Work-related illnesses and injuries can happen anywhere and anytime, even in a cubicle in an office building.

Working out is an important part if the grand scheme of health and fitness. There are so many different things you can do to ensure you are keeping fit. Regardless of what type of exercise you choose, one of the smartest things you can do is make sure you are energized before each session. This will help make the most out of the time you have set aside for fitness. You will burn more calories and, ultimately, feel better during and after your workout. Do as much as you can to make sure your physical and mental energy is good before you exercise. Try these 3 powerful ways to help prepare you for even really tough workouts.