When I first began my blog and growing an online business, I began connecting with other bloggers and entrepreneurs. A common trait among many of these entrepreneurs - and among many moms - is they tend to be busy and overwhelmed. I understand these feelings because as you begin to grow a business, much of it is your responsibility - if not 100 percent.

As a wife and mother, we tend to become the last priority in our lives. Life becomes busy and not everything can be accomplished throughout the day. I've learned from life experience that one of the best ways to help your family is by making yourself a priority. Here are seven simple ways you can do just that.

1. Get enough sleep

Sleep is so important for your health and your well-being. I know when life is busy and your to-do list is a mile long, the impulse may be to go to bed late and get up early. You feel like you are wasting valuable time that you could be working.

However, if you aren't receiving enough sleep, you are putting yourself at risk to get sick more often. Also, you cannot accomplish as much with a sleep-deprived mind and body. You can accomplish more in less time if your brain and body are well rested.

2. Make time each day for things you love

It doesn't matter what you love doing, you should find the time to fit it into your life. It doesn't have to be a lot of time. Just taking 30 minutes for yourself can leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed.

3. Set boundaries with people in your life

It is such a life changer when you learn how to set boundaries with the people in your life. When we don't set limits on our time and what is acceptable to us, it shows that we undervalue how important we are.

If you work hard and are a kind person, then you deserve respect. We deserve to have people value our time and what matters to us.

4. Learn to delegate responsibilities at home and work

I was married at age 19 and my daughter was born before I turned 22. My husband worked a full-time job, and I worked part-time as a nanny and went to school. At home, I did most of the chores. I didn't know how to tell my husband that I needed help. I wanted him to figure it out and being young and naive, I thought he could. Instead, I kept letting that tension build up and it was a hard few years on our marriage.

Being older and somewhat wiser, I've learned that I can have my husband do more around the house. I need to be clear about what needs to get done and negotiate responsibilities. Also, now that I have an older child, we are working with her to complete chores around the house.

5. Ask for help when you need it

Now for me, #4 and #5 on this list go together. Not only did I not know how to delegate, I also didn't feel right about asking for help. I had great people in my life who would have helped me, but I had this mental block of not wanting to ask for help.

I knew I needed help but I was too afraid and embarrassed to ask. I tried to handle everything on my own. I caused myself so much stress internally that I had a massive stroke at the age of 25.

From that moment on, I made the promise to myself - and my family - that I would speak up and ask for help. It still isn't something I enjoy but I know the consequences.

Remember, a healthy and less-stressed you is a better you. When life becomes too hard and you have too much on your plate, ask for help.

6. Try to get things done (instead of doing everything perfectly)

As busy people, we have a lot of balls in the air at any given moment and it can be hard to admit there isn't enough time. My goal is to get more done on my to-do list so I can free up some time for fun. I don't go for perfect. However, there are tasks that I work harder on and want to do better, but I think perfection on everything is impossible.

7. Be your own cheerleader

You have to stick up for yourself and realize your worth. You cannot wait for others to make you the priority in your own life. Being happy, healthy and treating yourself the way you deserve has to first start with you.

Remember, you are important and you can do great things.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on A Fresh Start on a Budget. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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One of the greatest misconceptions about productivity is that you shouldn't make time for fun - you should only schedule the tasks you need to accomplish. This is false. If you want to be more productive, you need to create time for yourself. I want to share three reasons why this is true.

1. A more relaxed you can accomplish more

Too often I find women wanting to accomplish more in their lives so they schedule every moment and leave no time for themselves. The thinking is that they need to use every minute to accomplish things with their jobs, family and homes. This thinking creates much stress and these women don't enjoy their lives. We get one life to live and it's up to you to enjoy it. This may mean you cut back on some things to give yourself time to relax and enjoy your life and family. You will find yourself more energized and that energy will allow you to get things done.

2. Finding balance between time for yourself and your work/home can lead to less stress

Finding balance is a constant struggle and challenge for many of us, yet I've found it to be so important. I suffered major health complications from trying to do it all years ago. I learned then that becoming stressed from doing it all is not worth it. Now, I want to share ways to help people find the balance that makes life better. We all have a lot to do but if we don't take care of ourselves, we will end up accomplishing nothing. My health issues forced me to quit my job and school and move my family into my parent's home. Learn from my mistakes and find the balance before your body forces you to.

3. More time for yourself can inspire you to work harder

One area of productivity often missed is the importance of inspiration. When I'm feeling inspired and excited about something, I'm able to work harder. If I'm feeling stressed and overwhelmed, I tend to get less done. When I'm feeling overwhelmed and my stress levels are up, I take a break and I spend time on myself and do things I enjoy. Then, when I get back to my to-do list, I feel more energized and motivated to get things accomplished.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on A Fresh Start on a Budget. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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I can hardly believe it but I have been a mom for almost a decade. It seems like my daughter was just born but somehow she will be ten in October. The years just fly by. She is a pretty amazing kid and I'm quite proud of the job her dad and I have done raising her. She's an amazing girl but that doesn't mean there aren't some parenting mistakes that I've made along the way.

4 parenting mistakes that I've made

1. Parenting out of guilt

This started after I had my stroke when my daughter was 3. I felt so bad with how much her life was disrupted and the pain she went through that I started letting her get away with things and giving her things out of guilt.

Going to therapy to deal with my stroke helped me realize what I was doing and that it wasn't helping my daughter to parent her out of guilt. There are lots of reasons parents give into their children because of guilt. Parents who are going through a divorce or separation often do this. Also, it's quite common anytime parents are going through a major life change like moving, new schools and new siblings.

2. Not following through on chores

Here is an example of a parenting mistake that I've made since my daughter was a toddler and, to be honest, am still making today. I'm not good with following through especially when it comes to making her do her chores. It's an area that is constantly being worked on and we are trying to get better at all the time.

She has chores that are age appropriate and she knows how to do them. I just always forget to have her do them. I'm great with making sure she picks up her clothes and shoes and puts away dishes or trash. It's the other chores that I'm trying to get better at remembering.

3. Too much electronics

This is another mistake I'm still guilty of but am trying to slowly change for the better. We let my daughter have too much screen time. I know this is something many parents are guilty of doing as well. It is still something I'm not proud of and am trying to cut back on in her life. Between TV, video games, the iPad and playing with our phones, it really adds up to a lot of screen time.

We are real careful with monitoring what she watches and has access to online. There are things that aren't appropriate for her to see at age 9, so I'm very aware of what she is watching. I just want to cut back on how much she's watching.

4. Modeling negative behaviors

I think the main reason for mistakes 2 and 3 is that her dad and I are not the best examples of getting things done around the house and having too much screen time.

I've realized that a lot of her behaviors are because she has watched us do the same thing. So I've been trying to be more aware of my own behaviors so that I can be a better example to her.

How I feel about the parenting mistakes that I've made

I think that in reality, the parenting mistakes that I've made have been pretty minor. I know that there are more parenting mistakes that I've made and that I will make more in the years ahead. We all do things wrong as parents and none of us will ever be the perfect parent.

As parents, we just need to do our best to raise our kids and to do more right then we do wrong. I think that if we do that then all of our kids will end up being all right. So, if you've made mistakes as a parent, know that you aren't alone. We all have but, for the most part, nothing you or I have done is permanent. Just love your kid and try to keep doing better as a parent. That's all we can really do.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on A Fresh Start on a Budget. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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Let me take a guess. You are not that good at asking for help.

Chances are that I'm probably right about most of you. Women in particular have a problem asking for the help that they need. Life can be hard and overwhelming and we all need help from time to time. I know in the past I was really bad at this myself. I thought that I needed to do everything myself and didn't want to tell family or friends that I needed help.

I didn't even want to ask my husband for help in the beginning of our marriage. Then, I would feel resentful that I was doing too much and no one was helping me. Luckily, I learned my lesson.

I ended up learning this lesson the hard way in life and that is why it is so important for me to share this message with everyone that I can. I ended up doing too much and putting myself under way too much stress. My marriage was in a bad place, we were under financial stress, we were moving into a place we couldn't afford. I felt scared, overwhelmed and alone. I needed help and was too afraid to ask.

I didn't want my family to know I was going through all this and I felt like a failure. I was trying to handle it all on my own. I didn't want my husband to know that I was scared and to put him under stress as well. So I sucked it all in and didn't ask for help.

The result. I had a massive stroke.

I can't prove that the stress caused it but it seems most likely. I had the stroke the day we moved into that too expensive apartment. They ran all the tests and there was no medical cause so the most likely reason for it was too much stress.

So, now you know why I think this is important. Although you will probably not have a stroke because they are pretty rare. The thing is that being overwhelmed and doing too much and not ask for help does affect your health in many negative ways. You can have trouble sleeping, bad headaches, stomach issues, risk of major health problems. We all don't want that.

Why you should ask for help and not worry about it

1. People you care about want to help you

That's what I forgot when I was getting myself all overwhelmed and stressed. I should have realized how much my husband and family loved me and that they wanted the best for me and were willing to help me when needed so that I could be happier and things could be better.

2. You will feel healthier and that's what everyone wants

If you aren't feeling like you should ask for help from family or friends because you feel bad, you need to remember this. By them helping you, your health would be better and those who love and care about you want to help you be healthy.

3. We all need help and struggle

There is no shame or reason to be embarrassed by needing help with things. I don't know anyone who can do everything that needs to be done in life on their own. That is why you should ask for help because it's normal to need it. We all need the support from others.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on A Fresh Start on a Budget. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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Dating, as much as you can, is important for a relationship. It is quality time with that person doing something fun or enjoyable together. My parents went on dates a lot when I was growing up and I think it's one of the reasons they are still married more than 30 years later.

Here are some inexpensive date ideas I want to share. I tried to include different date ideas for all types of couples. Hopefully, you will find an idea or two for an inexpensive date in the future.

1. Movie night at home

Rent a movie or watch one you have already. Make some popcorn and cuddle up together and watch a movie or two.

2. Have a Netflix night at home

Same as movie night except you binge watch some Netflix together. We have this kind of date a lot. Snuggle up on the couch or in bed and watch something you both enjoy.

3. Pick up ingredients for a favorite meal from the grocery store and come home and make dinner together.

4. Work on a project together

Maybe something needs to be painted or put together. Spend time doing it together and make it fun, then grab something to eat.

5. Try lunch dates versus dinner dates for a lower price

6. Go to the movies

It can be expensive but if you are able to go to a matinee, that saves a lot of money. We go to matinees a lot and then usually share a drink. Going in the day versus the night can cut the price in half.

7. If you go out to eat, try to choose a cafe or something that is less expensive than a fancy restaurant.

8. Go on a walk or a hike together

if that is the type of thing you both enjoy. Find somewhere pretty to walk around and do it together.

9. Check your city for local concerts or events that may be inexpensive

10. Make it a game night

Break out a board game and play a game together.

11. Have a video game competition

This one my husband would love for us to do. Play a Wii, X-box or a PlayStation game.

12. Go on a drive together

It won't be free since gas is still rather expensive but sometimes it's nice to go on a drive. My husband and I always have nice talks on a car ride.

13. Have a spa day at home

Take a bath together if you have a large enough tub, give each other back massages with oil or lotion. Very romantic and relaxing date.

14. Go get a cup of coffee at a coffee shop together

15 . Take a tour of a nearby landmark

You both could learn something about a place together.

16. Go walk around Ikea or another home furnishing store together and imagine how you would decorate a home.

17. Look through old photos or videos together

This is especially fun if you've been together a long time and when you have a child. You can see how much things change.

18. Take a class together

Dancing, art, cooking something.

19. Go out for ice cream or frozen yogurt

20. Paint your own pottery

21. Have a "Make Your Own Pizza Night."

Get creative with your toppings.

22. Take a visit to the zoo

23. Go rollerblading

24. Go on a picnic

25. Go wine tasting

26. Get up, make breakfast and have breakfast in bed together

27. Go miniature golfing

28. Build a fire and make s'mores together outside

29. Go camping

30. Go bowling

31. Go to a book store and go find a book that you think the other would like

Then, if you want, buy them and take them home. Sometimes it's fun just to see what your partner would choose for you.

32. Go find open houses to check out

Just for fun.

33. Go see a local play together

Usually schools or smaller companies put on plays that are relatively inexpensive.

34. Go to the beach

We live close to one and it's fun just to walk along the beach or the pier.

35. Watch a sunrise or sunset together

36. Go Kayaking

37. Play pool together

38. Make ice cream sundaes at home and enjoy

39. Have a water gun or nerf gun fight

40. Go to an arcade

41. Take your dog on a walk together

42. Bake cookies together

43. Make a bucket list together of things you want to do in your relationship

44. Go to a high school sports game together. (baseball, football,etc.)

45. Go play at the park

46. Read a book out loud together, each taking turns reading

47. Take a blanket outside and lay down and look at the stars

48. Try out a new place to eat

49. If you like a restaurant that is pricey, just go get drinks and dessert

A lot cheaper but still can be a fun night out.

50. Play 20 questions

Come up with a list of 20 questions to ask each other.

51. Go indoor rock climbing

52. Go swimming or in a hot tub

53. Go fruit picking

54. Visit a nearby city or town and play tourists

I hope this gives you some fun new inexpensive date ideas. I tried to include outdoor ideas, indoor ideas, sporty ideas, food ideas, etc., to give everyone some new choices since we all wouldn't enjoy the same type of date.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Karissa Ancell's blog, A Fresh Start. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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It is important for me as a mom to communicate with my daughter so she will feel comfortable talking to me and so I can stay aware of what is going on in her life. I'm hoping that by doing this now, when she's 8 and in elementary school, that she develops the habit of talking to me about what's going on in her life. Before I know it, she will be a teenager and there will be more important things going on in her world and I want her to trust me and feel comfortable talking to me.

Keeping communication open between yourself and your child is so important, especially when they are in school and away from you for hours each day. You have to make them feel comfortable talking to you so that if something important happens, they will feel like they can come to you.

I learned the importance of this when my daughter was in kindergarten and was assaulted by another student. I was lucky she felt comfortable coming to me and it really made me aware of the importance of talking to her about things on a daily basis. Now, not all days does she have a lot to say, but I still go through the same questions and if she wants to elaborate on some answers I'm there to listen. The questions I ask help me to keep informed on what is happening in class, who she's getting along with and who she isn't getting along with. If she's having problems with another student I don't necessarily need to get involved but I can help her come up with solutions and step in if things start getting out of control.

Now, my daughter is a talker and I understand not all kids are but I think you should still aim to ask two or three questions a day just to know what's going on in your child's day. There are lots of questions to ask kids but these are just the ones I use. Use whatever question work for you and your kids. The important thing is just to start talking to them on a regular basis.

These are my typical questions?

1. Who did you sit with at lunch? What did you talk about?

2. What was your favorite part of your day?

3.What was the worst part of your day?

4. What did you have for lunch? (If it was a school lunch day.)

5. What did you do and who did you play with at recess and lunch?

6. Tell me something new you learned today?

7. Did anything special happen today?

8. How was (enter a friends name) day? Did you two play together today?

9. Did your teacher read a book today? What was it about?

10. What are you doing in class tomorrow?

So what questions do you ask? Are your kids big talkers, like mine?

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Karissa Ancell's blog, A Fresh Start. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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I don't claim to be a relationship expert and I don't think there is a perfect marriage. Although, I do have a good marriage and we are happy after more than a decade. It hasn't all been easy and there have definitely been some downs but we got through those times and are making it work. Here are the secrets and tips I've learned to have a successful marriage.

1. Keep your relationship offline

Too often I see people venting and talking badly about their spouse on Facebook. This is a recipe for disaster and it breaks down your relationship. I try to never mention Blake, my husband, on Facebook except an occasional photo. I also only write about him in a positive light on my blog. Not that we don't have our problems and of course, he drives me crazy sometimes. I just think it hurts our marriage to talk badly about him in public, especially online where anyone can see it.

2. Tell each other the truth

I believe that little lies lead to bigger lies and on and on. In our marriage, we tell the truth. Even if it's as simple as buying something and letting the other person know that we did. If I think that there is anything that he would want to know, I tell him. So far, in almost 11 years of marriage and 16 years together, there has never been an issue of dishonesty. I've never found him lying and he's never found me in a lie. I think that knowing we can trust each other is keeping our marriage strong.

3. Help each other

You have to be there for each other. It's not always easy and sometimes you won't feel like it but when I really need him, my husband is there. When he really needs me, I'm there to help him.

4. Spend time together

My husband and I try to spend as much time together as possible. We also try to go to movies and out to eat as much as possible. I think that it strengthens our marriage and makes us a better couple the more time we get to be together.

5. Remember you are a couple too

It can be so easy to forget about your roles as husband and wife. Sometimes you get so busy with jobs and being mom and dad that you forget that you need to focus on your relationship. It's important to make time for your marriage and focus on that for awhile instead of all the other things.

6. Laugh together

I think more often than not a good marriage is one that has laughter. So laugh together, find time for silly movies and being silly together. It's harder to fight and be unhappy with each other if you make time for laughing.

7. Your families are your responsibility

Both of you come into the marriage with families of your own. Hopefully, you get along with your spouse's family and you don't have in-law problems. Problems with in-laws is one of the most common marital issues. One way to make it better is you are each responsible for your own families. If your mom has a problem with him then you deal with it and if his sister has a problem with you, then he handles it. You shouldn't have to be put in a position to deal with new family who you don't know as well as your own family.

8. Be respectful

Having respect and giving respect to your spouse are such basic steps to having a successful marriage. If you don't feel respected then you probably aren't going to feel very loved by your spouse either. If they don't respect you, how can they love you? If you don't respect them, then how will they know you love them? Also why would you want to be with someone who you don't respect or that doesn't show you respect? There might be times or days where you aren't as respectful as you should be, but overall, you should respect each other.

9. Stick it out

There are going to be hard times in your life and hard times in your marriage, that is pretty much guaranteed. It's important to remember that these times pass and that things will get better with time. So stick it out and fight through these hard times. They might surprise you. Those hard times might end up teaching you things you need to know. Also, sticking through these times together will make you both stronger.

If you are married, then you know it's a lot of work. But in the end, a happy marriage is worth the effort.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Karissa Ancell's blog, A Fresh Start. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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Raising girls is hard work, well, raising kids in general can be hard work. My daughter is eight and I have prepared for her to enter the tween and teen years. It can be frightening because as parents, we want to protect our children but the reality is, there is only so much we can do. So, I have put together the 12 things I think mothers of girls should know.

1. Your makeup is now her makeup

My daughter really likes doing makeovers on herself. With time, lessons will have to be taught on applying less but for now, it's just for fun.

2. Telling them about periods is really uncomfortable and awkward, but I want her to be prepared for when it happens.

It's my job to be open about my body and what's going to change with her body. She needs to be comfortable talking to someone about it and it should be me.

3. The world will try to get them to grow up too fast and it's your job to keep them girls as long as possible.

That's why even though my daughter hates it, no makeup when we go out, only appropriate clothes, no cell phone yet. It's my job to set boundaries.

4. Encourage and support the relationship with their father

Your daughter needs you as her mother but she needs to know a man loves her so she doesn't fall for a boy pretending too.

5. Teach them the value of saving money so that hopefully, someday, they won't have to depend on anyone to take care of them financially.

6. Be careful how you talk about your body in front of them

You will become their example for how women should view their bodies. Speak kindly about yourself in front of them. I also try to limit body teasing or talking negatively about weight as much as I can in front of my daughter. At 8 years old, she is already aware of body sizes and worries about them. I reassure her that her body is the right size and healthy.

7. Protect them but also teach them to stick up for themselves

The world needs more strong women. My daughter knows I've got her back but she has to attempt dealing with a problem a couple of times before I step in.

8. Compliment your daughter on things other than her beauty or appearance

She needs to know there is more to her self-worth than beauty. So tell her she's smart or funny or kind. Things that won't fade with time.

9. Set boundaries in your life with how people treat you

We are their greatest teachers and they learn from what we do more than what we say. So, if you are strong and demand being treated well, there is a better chance she will grow up and do the same.

10. Follow your own dreams and passions

Set the example that what you love to do is important so she will believe in her own dreams and passions. It's why I share with my daughter my blogging goals and achievements so she can know that I have goals and things I do that I work hard to be proud of.

11. Teach them to be smart when it comes to being around men and boys

Leaning to trust your instincts and gut feelings is important.

12. Help them realize that their body is to be valued and treated with respect

Have open and honest conversations about relationships and how they should and should not be treated.

I hope my list will help those of you raising girls to have an easier time. As moms, we all need extra support and guidance from other moms, especially those that have been doing it longer.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on Karissa Ancell's blog. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

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Editor's note: This article was originally published on Karissa Ancell's blog, A Fresh Start. It has been modified and republished here with permission.

I've been thinking lately a lot about how to get the most out of life and enjoy my life more. See, I like my life. I'm blessed in a lot of ways and I have a good life. The thing is that no matter who you are, I believe you can always better yourself and make your life even better. We can always reach for more joy and try to achieve more in our lives.

I've only been in my 30's for six months now but so far so good. My 20's were a hard decade. I went through a lot, adjusting to marriage and having a baby. And though nothing brings me more pleasure and happiness than my daughter, the first couple years of motherhood were a struggle at times. My marriage struggled in those first years, then I had a stroke at 25, so the last five years of my 20's took me down a different and unique path than most people go through during that decade in their lives.

Now that I'm still in the beginning of my 30's, I want to be proactive and plan on doing everything I can to make my life even better and more special and live each one of these years, months and days of this decade to the best of my ability.

Having a better life is about making better choices and although I am more than aware that we can't control everything that happens to us, we do have more power than we think and there are choices we can make every day to have a better life.

1. Share your feelings with others

I have found that when I hold on to what is hurting or bothering me and keep it inside, it eats away at me and brings me down. So when I am hurting and feeling bad about someone or something, one of the best things for me to do is to share these feelings with someone. Keeping it all in is toxic and letting it out clears away some of those toxins and makes me feel better. Opening up and sharing what I'm struggling with also brings me closer to the people I share with.

2. Embrace the things that bring you joy

Give yourself the moments where you let yourself do the things that make you happy. Depriving yourself of joy because you think you don't have time will make you miserable. Taking time to relax and do the things you enjoy are so important and will make you a better and more productive person.

3. Get enough sleep

This is so utterly important. Your body will preform better and you will be healthier if you get the rest your body needs. It's hard to be positive if you are cranky from not enough sleep. It's not a sign of strength to be someone who is going 24/7. In my opinion, it's a sign of weakness because you are saying everything else is more important than I am so I'm going to keep on going even if it's hurting me. Your life and your productivity will suffer if you are too tired to do your best work.

4. Have pets

Not everyone is a pet person, but I am and my animals bring such joy to my life. We are especially feeling this now with a new puppy at home. Although he is a lot of work, his presence is such a joy to our family and he makes us all happy.

5. Replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts

This one isn't easy and I get that, but it will make such a difference if you make the effort to start working on it. The way I do this is to just monitor my thoughts. If I notice that I'm thinking negative thoughts, I will try and replace those thoughts with more positive thoughts and feelings.

6. Eliminate stressors in your life

I've found that these can be people, places or specific situations. My stressors will be different than yours will be. It took me time to figure out what mine are and how I need to deal with them. There are certain people in my life that I need to really enforce strict boundaries with because if I don't, I can be walked over by them and they can hurt me. For my sanity and health, I have to make sure I have rules in place of what I will and won't tolerate and also limits placed on time spent.

7. Remember not everything is as big of a deal as it seems

This is so true but sometimes so hard to remember. It is something that I really started to understand after my health crisis. After going through a major health issue, you become aware of how unimportant and insignificant so many things we obsess and worry over truly are. So try and remember this when something is bothering you. In the big picture of life, is it really that important or can you let it go? The fact is that a lot of things we worry and stress over won't even matter to us in a few weeks. So try and take the time to think about if something is really a big deal or only feels like a big deal in the moment.

8. Walk more

Walking, or getting more exercise, is important not only for your physical health but also for your emotional health and well being. This is one area of my life that I am going to try to work on improving by starting small and just increasing my physical activity a little bit at a time and getting myself to move more.

9. Help others

For me, one of the best ways to feel better about myself and my life is to do something to help someone else. Even if it's something small and doesn't take a lot of effort on my part. Knowing that I helped someone out and made their life a little easier is an incredible mood booster.

10. Smile and laugh more

There is a reason why they say laughter is the best medicine. There are plenty of studies and research that support the health benefits and mood boosting powers of smiling and laughing more. So do it more. Find something funny to watch when you are feeling down and need to feel better. For me episodes of "The Office" are a great choice.

11. Drink more water and eat better

There is plenty to support the benefits and powers of healthy eating and drinking more water. It's just a matter of me doing it more and making it a priority in my life.

12. Celebrate your victories and accomplishments

There are going to be bad things and disappointments in your life, that's just part of life and it can become easy to focus on those negatives. That's why it's so important to really celebrate accomplishments and victories. The more you train yourself to focus on what you do right, the less you will focus on what goes wrong.

13. Set goals for yourself

Having goals to keep you moving forward is incredibly important to having a happy life. Setting goals towards achieving your dreams and getting the life you dream of will make it more likely that you will get that life. It's a matter of setting goals and working on the steps needed to make those goals a reality.

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