Change and challenge,  Health & wellbeing

Who’s the boss of you?

“I need to take an emotional breath, step back, and remind myself who’s actually in charge of my life.” ~Judith M. Knowlton

This month, you’ll find plenty of articles on how to break bad habits and establish new routines. One feature I read defined a bad habit as anything that harms us (and others), negatively impacts our relationships, or steals the time we could be spending more constructively.

Habits get tricky when there’s a fine line between what’s good and bad for us. My coffee addiction has several health benefits, according to medical research, but a third or fourth cup pushes my anxiety over the edge and isn’t good for me.

To riff on today’s quote, the habits we need to change are the ones that control us. Let’s say, for instance, that you’re constantly checking your phone for social media updates or ruminating on something that’s bothering you. You can substitute anything else for social media and other obsessions — and you get the point. Do you have habits that are in charge of your life? ~CL

Throughout my career, I've worked as a book production editor, travel magazine editor, features writer, and weekly newspaper columnist. My award-winning lifestyles features and essays have appeared in many national magazines and anthologies, including Newsweek, Reader's Digest, The Christian Science Monitor, Writer's Digest, Victoria, Better Homes & Gardens, Bella Grace, and more. My weekly Sunday "Life Lines" column ran for 14 years in The Daily Tribune (Royal Oak, MI) and won a First Place (Local Columns) award from the Michigan Press Association. My essay collection, Writing Home, includes 93 previously published columns and essays focusing on parenthood and family life.

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