Rebecca Morgan on why her use of to-do lists – as well as an amazing attitude – prevents her from getting stressed out.

It was only after I met a friend at work who was openly friendly and constantly smiling that I learned what I was missing. That feeling of happiness I longed for was within reach and I ultimately asked her for advice on how I could obtain the same cheer and joy.

As much a part of the human condition as falling in love, habits, like our favorite aunt, exist only to smother us in comfort, giving us reprieve and safe haven from worry and concern.

Even though we live in a society where more things are automated than ever before, the amount of responsibility most people feel is increasing. If you are stressed out, there is a good chance that you are not making the best possible decisions.

Call it what you will; Karma; paying it forward; what goes around comes around… the concept has an amalgam of names, but it principal is simple: doing good does good for you.

When you have a foundational understanding of these five wellness keys, you have the information you need to create a life that clearly reflects your priorities, values, hopes and dreams.

It’s important to understand what “being happy” really means. It’s not as simple as adding equal parts sugar, water and dreams into a mixing bowl and stirring for a while. It takes hard work, which is a great segue into my first tip…

It’s difficult until it isn’t. Five words; seven if you don’t count contractions. But, consider the message in that unvarnished declaration.

We inhabit a more wrinkled body than in days past, but that does not preclude our need for positive recognition. Yet, somewhere between then and now, we stopped giving to ourselves the same kudos we give to others.

You did well. You deserve it. It’s fine to ask for a compliment. Just remember to praise and compliment others as often as you can too.

First, we need to recognize that willpower is not the power to say, “I won’t.” It’s the ability to say, “I won’t… for the next ten minutes.” Although that alteration appears minor, there is considerable control applied by appending the standard definition, since I might not believe I can resist “for a long time,” but could accept the fact that a few minutes is doable.

Going through a divorce can be a painful experience and you may think that you will never get over it. By keeping this information in mind it may help you come to terms with your divorce and have realistic expectations about moving forward and the healing process.

In time, the stress became unbearable. I started resenting the season. I wished I could crawl under a blanket in October and emerge in January. I stopped attending holiday parties and resented family get-togethers. I embodied Scrooge, and everyone around me knew it.