The few days between Christmas and the new year seem like a blur. Vacation means losing track of days, eating too much cheese and pie, and feeling completely unequipped to jump into the “new year, new me” mantra. No wonder resolutions fail. Whether or not you fell off the fitness wagon for the holiday season, refocusing on your wellness goals isn’t always easy.

Maybe you’re discouraged by a lack of progress. Perhaps you met your goals, but maintaining them is boring. Whatever your reason, the new year is a good time to refresh and reignite your passion to strive for the best “you” you can be!

While the outward perception of the holiday season is merry and bright, most of us understand that what we see on the outside doesn’t always reflect the truth. The holidays are hard. The end of the year is brutal. Different people experience a whole host of hardships this time of year, from getting presents under the tree and making magic for their families to those trying to keep their businesses – and heads – above water for the new year. 

Even if things are fine financially, the stress of getting all your ducks in a row, all the year-end reviews and data in, and everything you feel needs to be done can be overwhelming, stressful, and downright depressing.

We’re almost to the 2024 finish line. This year has been undoubtedly memorable – and not always for good reasons. You may feel burned out, exhausted, and less excited than ever to start it all over again in 2025. Trust me, I know how it can feel. But as entrepreneurs and business leaders, we can’t afford to drag our feet into the new year.

Mid-December is almost here, and that means we’re about out of time to get holiday gifts in! If you’re giving gifts in your office, you probably don’t have until Christmas (or your holiday of choice) to source the right presents for your bosses, co-workers, or team members.

Here in Tennessee, the weather never gets truly cold. It’s been a balmy fall, and only recently have we seen nighttime temperatures below freezing. As much as I’m more used to heat and humidity in my neck of the woods, I would happily welcome some colder weather, but probably not for the reasons you’d expect!

A recent Fast Company article revealed that psychologist Gloria Mark discovered a dramatic drop in our attention span in front of screens. In 2004, our attention span was 2.5 minutes. In 2020, it had dropped to a paltry 47 seconds. Some would quickly blame tech use for this shift – or individual apps like TikTok. 

But technology is a tool. Like any tool, it can be wielded with purpose or used carelessly. It’s the knife that chops your vegetables versus the knife that slices your finger! It’s the same knife. The difference is in how it’s wielded. 

Technology in the workplace can be both a positive and a negative influence, depending on how it is implemented and used. If we’re going to maximize the positives, we need to understand both risks and benefits!

Something about the holidays can make the coldest of hearts grow warm. I love this time of year – the time I spend with friends and family is priceless. If you’re a boss or in any leadership role, you understand, too, that the holiday spirit doesn’t – and shouldn’t – stay out of the workplace. It’s infectious in the best way and can be enormously beneficial for everyone.

Showing appreciation during the holiday season is a meaningful way for leaders to boost morale and reinforce team cohesion. Studies show that holiday spirit (and gratitude for your people) can reduce turnover and increase productivity.

They say half the battle is in the mind – and I would agree. Links between mindset and performance are well-documented. As much as we wish meeting and maintaining our health goals (whether diet or fitness-related) was as easy as doing it, the mental aspect is a roadblock many people wrestle with. 

I know there is an ebb and flow of motivation in my own journey. I have to have more than willpower. I’ve found I’m more successful not when I focus on my desire to do things but more on discipline and changing my mindset. If you’ve found yourself struggling in this area, keep reading. 

Is it just me, or is the end of the year tough? So many times, we hit a point in the fourth quarter where we feel we’ll limp across the finish line. Ending not with a bang but a whimper. If you’re like me, you really can’t stand that feeling. We want to finish strong!

But if you are feeling this way, take heart. End-of-year burnout is a common challenge as we juggle wrapping up projects, setting next year’s goals, and managing personal holiday commitments. The good news? Because it’s common, there are plenty of proven strategies to pull from to mitigate and avoid those year-end woes.

Any movement is good movement. But if I’m taking the time and effort to carve out time for a serious workout, I want to see results. Fitness efforts build over time – I’m not talking about some magical way to see instant abs. But if you want to have an efficient workout – the “most bang for your buck,” so to speak – you must be intentional about it.

Believe it or not, how you prepare and approach your workout determines your results as much as the exercise. Here are seven rules to follow to get the most out of your workout, whether you’re hitting the gym or the running trails.

Most of us aren’t haunted by ghosts or ghouls. The number one thing that “haunts” human beings? Our failures. Our mistakes. Those moments when we came up short – when we took a swing and totally whiffed it. The ol’ swing and a miss. 

I know I’ve had times when thinking about failures didn’t result in a simple “cringe” moment. I just couldn’t let those mistakes go, no matter how long it had been or how far I’d come from the person I was.

Leadership is a funny thing that’s hard to define. What does it really mean to be a leader? I’ve seen so many “flavors” of leadership that it can be challenging to quantify. Ultimately, I don’t think good leadership is about telling people what to do or calling the shots. I don’t think it’s just being the guy at the top of the pyramid. I don’t even think it’s about being the smartest person in the room. 

Authentic leadership – effective, lasting, and good – is both inspirational and aspirational. Let’s unpack what I mean.

Are you unknowingly making your health worse instead of better? There are so many manipulative marketing ploys, misconceptions, and misinformation in the health and wellness world that, unsurprisingly, many of us end up duped. Those of us just starting our earnest efforts to improve health – whether by nutrition, exercise, or mindfulness – are most vulnerable to these traps. I know I wasn’t immune when I first started out!

These traps can not only slow your progress but reverse it. I know how frustrating it can be when your wellness goals seem like the eternal carrot on the stick! So, I want you to be able to spot – and avoid – these traps.

It’s already October, the season for ghosts and ghouls, terror and fright! I enjoy a good scare as much as the next guy – as long as it’s all in good fun. Harmless fear can be exhilarating, even addictive.

But that’s not the case for real fear. Fear is natural when we feel threatened or in danger – physical or financial. As business leaders, bosses, and entrepreneurs, fear isn’t uncommon. Not all of us, though, know how it truly impacts us.

All of us have faced a crisis at some time or another. It may be personal or professional, recent or in distant memory, but I guarantee you can remember just how stressful those do-or-die moments are. It’s even harder when others look to you for reassurance and solutions. So, how do leaders let cooler heads prevail when there’s a lot on the line?

It isn’t easy – but I have a few tips based on my own experience putting out proverbial fires. This is how I stay calm in a crisis and lead my team through to the other side.

Nutrition guidance often takes a “shotgun” approach to health and wellness. While guidelines like “drink more water” and “avoid processed foods” are beneficial, they don’t address individual needs, goals, and health concerns!

Studies show individualized nutrition advice yields better health outcomes, especially for weight, cholesterol, mood, gut health, heart disease risk, and metabolic health. We all have genetic and environmental factors that make our response to food and nutrients wholly unique.

Doctors use something called the mechanism of injury to determine a diagnosis and the extent of bodily damage. They must know where you were, how you were positioned, and exactly what happened. For runners, sometimes the mechanism of injury is obvious, like tripping and falling. But other times, the source of injury isn’t so obvious.

There are surprising sources of injury that runners might not immediately consider. To stay in peak condition and avoid painful, annoying recovery periods, you must know some of the sneaky ways runners get hurt.

Human beings are social creatures with complex inner lives. Sometimes, we can act in irrational, unpredictable ways. That’s where psychology comes in! Psychology is the study of human behavior – describing, explaining, predicting, and learning how to improve it. 

I think many professionals – marketing teams, business leaders, politicians, you name it – use psychological “tricks” in unethical ways to get their desired outcomes. Utilizing psychology to benefit career and business doesn’t have to be disreputable. The key here is whether or not people are hurt or deceived in the process.

What the heck are adaptogens? That was my first thought when I first saw products marketed with this new health and wellness buzzword. Over the years, I’ve seen enough “miracle” supplements and nutritional “game changers” to know they’re never what they advertise. 

Stress is at an all-time high. It feels like it’s been a mounting issue since the pandemic. Naturally, we’re all looking for solutions to help manage stress! So, of course, companies capitalize on potential solutions – not all of them safe or effective.

That doesn’t mean, though, that adaptogenic supplements don’t have benefits. After diving into some research and studies, I’m here to break down the what and why of adaptogens in your diet.

Despite your success, self-doubt has a nasty habit of creeping in anyway. You may have no apparent reason to feel like you do – but that doesn’t stop these feelings from rearing their ugly heads. I know I’ve experienced self-doubt in my professional life – as a leader, an entrepreneur, and someone willing to take risks, it’s inevitable. 

But we don’t have to live with self-doubt. Once you recognize where these sentiments come from, you’ll be better equipped to understand and overcome…leading to bigger and better things!