Success requires overcoming obstacles and that can be hard. Why, then, when the going gets tough, are we unprepared and wonder why the journey is not pain-free? Part of it has to do with our desire to avoid pain, seek pleasure, and take the path of least resistance. Being aware of this triad can help you better accept, and tolerate, the obstacles you’ll face.

A bedtime routine helps you wind down for a good night of sleep, and we can all agree sleep is vital to health and overall wellbeing. It can also help us use our daytime productive hours more effectively. Why, then, is it so hard for so many of us to implement and stick with a nightly bedtime routine? 

Protein intake increases mental alertness for several hours after eating. This is because dietary protein increases levels of the brain neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine which can make it easier to concentrate, learn, and complete complex tasks. A lack of dietary protein can be associated with decreased cognitive function.

Navigating executive function issues can be challenging and fraught with emotion. Frustration is common for everyone. Children often feel shame, isolation, and hopelessness. Parents often feel guilt, anxiety, and anger. These emotions are difficult for the child and the parent, and they can wreak havoc on the parent-child relationship thus compounding the problem. Being compassionate towards yourself is key. Being compassionate with your child will let him or her know they are not alone or misunderstood, give them the security and confidence to learn and evolve, and strengthen your relationship. From there, you will both be in a much better position to find and sustain solutions that work for both of you.

One highly effective way to keep meals tasty and easy is to repeat the same basic menus from week to week. Then change things up with slight variations and liberal use of sauces and condiments. A weekly dinner schedule takes the guesswork out of meal planning, streamlines weekly food shopping, and expedites cooking because you’ll get skilled and efficient with these meals. Win-win all around!

Let’s face it: when you’ve got a lot of responsibilities to juggle and are prioritizing your own well being, making complex, time-consuming meals isn’t high on the list. However, eating a variety of tasty, healthy meals is appealing. So how do you make delicious, healthy meals when you don’t have a lot of time? The answer is to cook basic foods and dress them up with sauces and condiments. The goal is healthy, easy, quick, and just enough flavor to make it interesting.

Being a Health Coach for Divorced Parents is a logical extension of the wellness, nutrition, and life & lifestyle coaching I’ve been doing since 2001 when I first became a certified life coach. Recently I’ve been working with more divorced parents who want to refuel their tank and create a happier and healthier next chapter for themselves and their children, and I want to embrace divorced parents and the related issues more fully. I enjoy more acceptance, joy, gratitude, and success in my life these days, and I’ve come to peace with issues of divorce that I was unable or not ready to address in the past. I’m eager and honored to help others get to their happy place without having to go through everything I went through to get here.

Do you have a To Do list that should really be titled a “Things I Need to Do but Never Get To?” Sometimes we use our lists against us. For example, using it to feel discouraged by how busy we are, criticize our time management skills, or tell ourselves we are falling short in our lives. It doesn’t have to be this way! 

Planning your time is a work in progress. Eventually it becomes second nature and adds enormous value. With the ongoing pandemic it’s even more important because without as many scheduling anchors in our lives, it’s easy to feel that time gets away from us without spending it on things that we actually care about. 

It’s not always easy to follow through with an alternative plan and break the familiar habit.  But using imagery to formulate a specific action in response to a specific trigger can give you clarity about what actions will support your goal, confidence to follow through, and, ultimately, the success you’re aiming for.