2017 is coming to an end. With 2018 just on the horizon, many people decide to start off the new year with one or more resolutions to live a better, healthier lifestyle. While we set our resolutions with firm intentions to keep them, they often fizzle out before they have a chance to stick. Making a lifestyle change takes work. It takes some real dedication. And it’s really hard to do without some sort of a plan or method for accountability. There are so many great practices and tools out there that can help you implement and stay with your changes. Check out our 8 picks to help you keep your 2018 New Year’s resolutions. Best Self Journal Holding yourself accountable is much easier when you have a way to track your resolutions. The Best Self Journal can help you stay on track and recognize your progress. I just bought one after it came highly recommended by a friend, and I can’t wait to dive in. According to the Best Self Co website, the journal was “built around the success pri

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  The holidays are rooted in tradition. Cultural traditions, family traditions, and religious traditions. Many held close to family, shared among friends, and celebrated in community. A tradition is a custom or belief that is passed down through the years, something familiar that you look forward to and come to expect each year. I love a good tradition... to enjoy something enough that someone thinks, “We should do this again... and again.” Tradition to me, creates a sense of grounding. It creates a sense of belonging to something bigger and gives us a platform to celebrate the things that matter to us. But something has felt different this holiday season. Many of the posts on social media talk about holiday dread, stress, and family issues. While I understand that the holidays are a trying time, I went searching to find what people have to look forward to. I asked friends, family, and colleagues to share their favorite holiday traditions. I hope you enjoy their stories and take t

  Around this time of year, much of the conversation in our counseling sessions surrounds the holidays. Typically, there’s an assortment of feelings associated with the holidays, some positive and some not-so-positive. Many therapy clients talk about feeling overwhelmed and stressed . Needless to say, we've been doing a lot of thinking about this stress and where it comes from. Much of it has to do with travel plans, attending multiple events, and dealing with family… plus all of the shopping that comes along with the holidays. If you haven’t started shopping yet, or still have a ways to go, your stress level might be up there right now. What’s in a gift? Whatever your reasons for celebrating or your feelings about holiday gifting, many of us participate in the practice of gift giving around this time of year. If you're going to do it, you might as well make it count and take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your gift recipients. A gift can

  Oh, the holidays! They are meant to be a time of joy, celebration and togetherness. But for some, the holidays are very difficult. We are running from one party to another, preparing for out of town guests, and squeezing in some last-minute shopping, all while fulfilling our roles as partners, parents and children. Many of us take time off, hoping to enjoy the holiday. But the time moves fast, and we easily get lost in the shuffle. In the end, we feel burnt out and regret not slowing down to enjoy our loved ones and simply relax! Thanksgiving seems to be the official start of the “holidays.” Soon enough, it’s December which tends to be full of traveling, celebrating and tying up the loose ends of the year. If you’re anything like me, Thanksgiving crept up on you this year and you had no time to prepare or set your intentions for the holiday season. With another month of celebration ahead of us, there’s still time! It can be helpful to take some time to think about what the holida