CHOICES Magazine

In today’s fast-paced world, finding effective ways to maintain and improve our health is more important than ever. While diet and exercise are often emphasized, one powerful yet sometimes overlooked avenue for enhancing well-being is the act of creating art. Engaging in artistic activities isn’t only for professional artists; it’s a therapeutic practice accessible to everyone, regardless of skill level.

Having been a professional speaker for over 20 years of my life, I often found myself on the road during holidays when others were at home with their families. One year, in particular, stands out—a Thanksgiving like no other, filled with unexpected moments of joy and connection.

I was too strong for too long. I believed in the lies of self-sacrifice and putting others’ needs ahead of my own. I became adept at masking the constant pain, pushing myself beyond my limits, and learning to live in chronic stress and disease…

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s hard to escape the constant drumbeat of “hustle culture”—the mindset that glorifies busyness and relentless pursuit of success. This pressure often leads to burnout, leaving us feeling like we’re on a never-ending treadmill, exhausted and chasing a version of success that feels more like survival.

Most of us move at a faster pace than is best for us, and this can be anxiety-producing, ungrounding, and de-stabilizing. Practice slowing down your internal speed as much as possible.

Taking time to review your financial and tax situation could help you (and your family) keep more of what you have earned. While some strategies apply now, others involve anticipating changes to come. For ways to potentially reduce your tax bill this year or moving forward, consider these ideas from Bank of America.

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with the holidays due to a variety of reasons—family, food, and surprises of all kinds. Holidays are bittersweet. For some, it’s a time to celebrate new beginnings and welcome little ones into the family.

In the wake of a recent lawsuit claiming that hackers may have stolen Social Security numbers for every American, the nation faces one of the most severe cybersecurity breaches in history. The implications of such a breach could be devastating, as Social Security numbers (SSNs) are the cornerstone of identity verification for financial institutions, government agencies, and healthcare providers.

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, the demands on your time, energy, and focus can be overwhelming and you are often wearing many hats—running a business, managing your household, nurturing relationships, and pursuing personal growth. In the quest to succeed, one resource tends to be overlooked, even though it is our most valuable asset: our health.

How many hard lessons about self-care and burnout have you learned during your entrepreneurship journey? If you’re like most entrepreneurs, the list is long. We’ve all been there—working long days, skipping vacations, putting off workouts, saying yes to every client, surviving on five hours of sleep, or grabbing whatever food we can because we’re too busy.

Mary Ronnow has been a successful entrepreneur and licensed Master Esthetician for over 30 years. She is the founder of The Skin Institute in St. George, Utah, and the co-owner and founder (along with her daughter, Lieren Pearson) of The Skin Institute International in Honolulu, Hawaii. She is also the owner of Starry Nites Ranch in southern Utah.

We live in a world today that is fast-paced, and overly stressful, and most of us are juggling way too many things at one time, taking little to no time for ourselves. This can add to our success levels, and allow us to achieve our goals, and maybe even our dreams, but at what cost?