There’s a moment in the third season of The West Wing where President Jed Bartlet declares that stress is something that happens to other people. Sadly, many of us are holding ourselves to the same harsh standard with devastating consequences for our health.

Stress is a natural physical reaction and it’s useful - the problem is that in modern life we don’t give our bodies time to recuperate. Instead we subject it to yet more stress and the cumulative effect can lead to health problems such as high blood …

Tags: anxiety , GTD , personal development , self help , self improvement , stress , wellness

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Today is Shrove Tuesday.

Depending upon where you are in the world that could mean shaking your beads and booty for Mardi Gras in New Orleans or Rio de Janeiro, donning a Carnivale mask as you swan about Venice in a gondola, or practicing your flipping skills for Pancake Day in London.

If you are Christian then it also means that Lent starts tomorrow. Most people associate Lent as a Catholic thing but it’s actually practiced, on a voluntary basis, in many Protestant denominations as …

Tags: environment , habits , Lent , self improvement

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Forget New Year’s Resolutions that make everything harder and more complex. Why is it always about doing more? Can we all do less for a change? It’s time for a serious paring down; a hard core detox. It’s time for simplifying.

There’s nothing super about being a superwoman. So, with the beloved holidays behind us and tax deadlines still somewhat comfortably in the future, it’s a good time of year to lose a bad habit, ditch a possession or expense, and just let go of whatever could be holding you …

Tags: guide , hacks , lifestyle design , money , personal development , self improvement , tips

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At this time of year, I used to line up all my New Year’s Resolutions. But these days, it’s easy. I’ve only got one, and it goes as follows:

I am never going to try to stick to a New Year’s Resolution ever again. (Except this one).

On December 31st, New Year’s Resolutions seem like such a terrific idea. It’s a 2,000 year old tradition to take this time to look backwards and forwards (not simultaneously, you’ll do yourself an injury), and it seems to have arisen from …

Tags: lifestyle , new year , resolutions , self improvement

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Here we are, in the holidays again! This time brings many celebrations. I acknowledge December as a month of gatherings, sharing warmth and connecting to the winter season. It is a time that crosses over from the social glow to the inner warmth of reflection – the deep stillness that rests just beneath the buzz of parties and gifts.

And tipping us into January is New Year’s and our flurry of resolutions. May I recommend you give yourself plenty of time and start on something now? Choose a habit that …

Tags: beauty , health , self improvement , tip , wellness

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Chronic complainer? We’ve got the cure.

My life is good. And compared to millions of people around the world in very unfortunate circumstances, my life is very, very good. But despite the love, health and prosperity I am so lucky to have, I still find it pretty easy to tumble into a downward spiral of the gripes.

While ranting about one of my “problems” to a friend, she interrupted me and said “Keep a gratitude journal.” And that was it. I knew what I had to do.

Later that night I pulled …

Tags: health , personal development , self improvement

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