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.