Relax & Reclaim

THEN vs. NOW: How Our Thinking Has Shifted THEN (Early 2000s) Motivation was treated as the main driver Setbacks were framed as lack of discipline Big goals were encouraged January 1st was the reset button NOW (Mid-2020s) Motivation is understood as temporary Habits succeed or fail based on design, not willpower Small, specific actions outperform big goals Any day can be a reset if the system supports it peaceful and relaxing Psychologists now emphasize specific plans (“when and where”), environmental cues, and self-compassion — not guilt — as the real drivers of change. Even January Is Being Reconsidered Another quiet shift? The calendar itself. More people are questioning whether January 1st is really the best time to overhaul their lives. Some wellness professionals suggest that readiness matters more than dates, and alternative “fresh starts” — including spring resets — are gaining traction. The takeaway is simple: You don’t need a new year to begin chilling with a favorite book An...

If you’re coming here from my recent “ How to Lose Weight for the New Year” series , this post is for you. Weight loss goals are often the first resolutions to wobble — not because we don’t care, but because real life has a way of crowding out good intentions. Before you decide you’ve “fallen off track,” I want to zoom out for a moment. This article started as something I wrote 20 years ago. What surprised me wasn’t how wrong it was — but how much we’ve learned since about why change is hard, and how much gentler (and more effective) today’s approach can be. Let’s talk about that. Why New Year’s Resolutions Still Struggle — and What We Know Now It’s only a few days into the New Year, and already those well-meaning resolutions are starting to wobble. You started strong. Maybe really strong. But now life has reasserted itself — work, stress, routines, fatigue — and the goals that felt exciting on January 1st suddenly feel… heavy. If that sounds familiar, here’s the good news: it’s not a ...

Winter is coming (yeah, we know it's already here, but we just wanted a cool intro) Sound familiar? No, we're not talking about a tagline from a well-known  television series based on an equally well-known sword and sorcery novel, silly... We're actually talking about wintery weather conditions. You know, snow, ice, sleet.  All the stuff we love about winter 🙄  Anyway, we all love the heartwarming, belly-filling, satisfaction that you can get from a hearty, rustic-style stew or soup. 😋  Well, if that's what you're looking for than you're going to absolutely love this recipe we've got for you.  After you eat this amazing dish, leave a comment below on how good it was and if you served it to your family or friends.  Just remember to make enough because everyone is going to want seconds! 🍲 Simple Homemade Chicken Stew 2 cups of chicken or vegetable stock 2 cans of low sodium cream of mushroom soup 3-4 carrots peeled and sliced or julienned 1...