This year, it feels like energy is in short supply. The fatigue and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic have had devastating health effects, including chronic sleep problems, poor eating habits, and (you guessed it) a general lack of energy.

In our professional lives, we dream of an abundance of opportunities to grow our experience, status, and income. We get excited when new things are on the horizon — and who wouldn’t? I for one find myself energized by new opportunities. I get to test my knowledge, hone my skills, and grow my experience.

The past six months or so have been tough for gym-goers. Even for those of us outdoor runners, there are times when the weather is unsavory for our preferred workouts, and hitting the gym would have been the preferred, normal alternative to running. We’d jump on the treadmill, cross-train with some weights, or hit the stationary bike.

When I talk about fitness, as with many people, I tend to gravitate towards physical activity. Exercise. This is only natural, as it’s mostly what comes to mind. However, physical fitness — holistic health and wellness — is also deeply tied to nutrition. I’ve been fairly open about my health journey. I became an endurance runner. For me, it’s never been about having all of my gains in one area or even being the best.

What makes a company successful? When we look at the top companies in our region or the world, we see that there is no shortage of potential answers. For me, my idea of success comes from my experience.

There’s no doubt about it: we’re living in emotionally-charged times. Between COVID-19 fears, economic frustrations, and political opinion-slinging leading up to the election, emotions are running high. We’re feeling depressed and anxious, angry, and scared. We’re wound up in more ways than one.

Human beings have been feasting on whole grains for thousands of years. However, some emerging diet trends — such as paleo and keto — malign all grains and carbs as being inherently bad for our bodies.

One of the biggest issues facing parents these past few months is how to maintain the quality of schooling for our children despite the challenges of remote learning, lockdowns, and mask mandates. For many of us, our children (at least, those under 18) have spent an unprecedented amount of time at home. Even for those of us living in areas where schools have reopened, they’re often not operating at full capacity, five days a week.

The world of nutrition can be tricky to navigate. Short of being a nutritionist or food scientist yourself, knowing what guidelines to follow can be confusing at best. It seems like there’s always conflicting information out there about what to eat, what to avoid, and which diets are the best to follow.

How we think about things — our mindset — plays a major role not only in overall mental wellbeing but in our tangible success throughout our lives. Psychologically speaking, mindset is the single most important factor in determining future success. Our mindset drives action, motivation, and how we process circumstances.

If you’re anything like the rest of us, your world has been upended over the past six months by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many, health and wellness has become a top-of-mind priority in the wake of the crisis. After all, we want to avoid getting sick as well as spreading illness to others.

For those of us who have been on a mentoring journey either as a mentor or mentee, we know that while mentorship is full of challenges, it is an endeavor well worth your time. Mentoring helps us not only pass on wisdom to the next generation and learn at the feet of those who have gone before, but it allows us to direct our energy into the right pursuits, stay focused on the right things, and know how to go about achieving our biggest goals and dreams.

Our relationships matter. I think that the pandemic has shown us this truth in full force! We’ve been unable to meet friends and family in the same ways we’re used to — in the same ways we love. Even our relationships we mostly take for granted, that of our team and coworkers, are sorely missed in the age of social distancing and digital workspaces.

The fall season is upon us. While this is the time of year we begin to cozy up for soup weather and get into the holiday spirit, it’s also flu season. That reality takes on a special gravity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While many of us will opt for a flu shot, many will not. While the rate varies from state-to-state and our rate of vaccination this year is yet to be seen, the flu shot alone is no guarantee of health.

While the modern conveniences of technology have enabled many of us to continue business-as-usual, the necessary adjustments and alternatives have posed their own unique set of challenges. Perhaps the most utilized tool in a socially-distanced, pandemic world has been that of virtual meetings. Zoom has grown to be among the most popular, but it’s far from the only platform available.

If you’ve ever tried to keep up with the latest in diet and nutrition, you know that there are plenty of conflicting opinions on the matter. Throughout the decades, what is and is not a healthy diet has been both hotly debated and ever-changing. Low fat. High carb. Low carb. Low sugar. Vegetarian. Keto. Paleo. Wine is good for you. Chocolate is bad. For every person touting a specific type of diet or nutritional rule, another is claiming it will ruin your health and your body to follow it.

Why are we so resistant to the idea of rest? So many times, though, we cut corners with sleep and other forms of rest. Whether it’s ingrained in us from a culture hyper-focused on productivity (even busyness) as a measure of individual value and worth or a result of our feelings of inadequacy from comparison, we’re often much more tempted to push ourselves beyond our limitations — mentally and physically — than we’re willing to take a proper break.

For better or for worse, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do business and interact with others in the world. Thanks to the conveniences of modern technology, many of us have been able to continue business-as-mostly-usual. With remote work an increasingly viable option, we’ve been quick to adapt. But let’s be honest: some things are missing. It’s just not the same to work from home and in virtual spaces as it is to be in an office together.

While there are no doubt benefits to a work-from-home lifestyle, there are downfalls, too. It’s not all about waning productivity or inconsistent hours, either — working from home can take a toll on your physical and mental health.

With the U.S. economy in turmoil, it’s more important than ever to prioritize wise, effective money management. Even if we have not been directly impacted financially by the pandemic, be it through job loss, cut hours, or lost investments, the financial world is changing. The economy is struggling. We don’t know what the future will bring and our financial preparedness is paramount!