Mood swings and energy slumps can hold you back from your busy agenda, and sometimes those daily ups and downs can be managed with a better sleep schedule. Many of us forget to catch the important zzz’s when we’re caught up with a never ending to-do list and all the fun and excitement of an action-packed schedule. But compromising on sleep can do more damage than good; not only is it bad for your skin, but low energy levels can make it difficult to concentrate, focus, and just enjoy each day to the fullest! Here are some tips on getting your recommended snooze fest each night:

1. Calm down with herbal tea. Chamomile and lavender teas are perfect for turning down the volume of the day so you can relax and drift off to sleep with ease. Look for organic blends of lavender, chamomile, and soothing eucalyptus if you need to clear up the sinuses. It’s a super-healthy way to end the day and a great habit to get into if you have trouble relaxing at night.
2. Make like a princess, and deck yourself out in a plush and comfortable nighttime outfit. Invest in a satin eye pillow to soothe tired eyes and block out extra light so it’s easier to tune out. Anti-stress eye pillows also contain herbs and other stress relieving ingredients for an extra treat!
3. Don’t eat sugar after 8 p.m. Break out of the dessert habit at night, and you may even find yourself a few pounds lighter in a few weeks! Sugar near bedtime can make it hard to get to sleep, and can even leave you hungrier than usual in the morning. Eat a high protein snack if you’re experiencing hunger pangs so you’re not up throughout the night, and enjoy your dessert after lunch or as a snack earlier in the day when possible.
4. Invest in quality pillows. Down pillows are perfect for a trip to dreamland with little fuss! Down bedding and pillows can help you ramp up the luxury factor for your bedroom, and help you drift off to la-la land in no time flat.
5. Enjoy some light reading. Put away the magazines, novels, and even textbooks at least an hour before bed and enjoy some lighter reading instead. Keep in mind that anything you read right before you doze off is likely to end up in your dreams! So pick up your favorite poetry, short stories, or even a comic book to give your brain a break and look forward to restful sleep.

Get the restful night's sleep you deserve and enjoy a vibrant and fantastic day ahead!

'Being happy' doesn't always come easily, especially when you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or even fearful of the future. However, the road to happiness is probably easier than you think; simply thinking about being happy today, being grateful for all the wonderful things around you, and practicing positive thinking can help your mind, body, and spirit.

When you're feeling restless or stressed out, chances are you haven't taken a time out to just enjoy a happy moment! Here are some tips on deciding to be happy today!

1. Write down five things that make you smile. Whether it's your puppy greeting you when you get home, or the hiking trip you ventured out to last weekend, write down five memorable things that put you in a positive state of mind. Just bringing these into your awareness can help you cultivate some happy thoughts immediately.

2. Learn to be grateful. Your health, your family, your positive relationships, and your overall well-being are rich sources of happiness that we often overlook. Just think about affirming how valuable your health is, and how you can enjoy the world and people around you. Doing this first thing in the morning is a great way to start your day in the positive! Break out a gratitude journal if you want to keep track and make it a healthy habit.

3. Get creative! Whether you like dancing, reading, writing, or painting, take the time to enjoy even a small act of creativity at some point in the day. Even 5-10 minutes of doodling can help you enjoy some calm, positive moments throughout your busy day. It's easy to forget about natural creativity when you're absorbed with magazines, television, and even the internet. Learn to channel some energy to a creative outlet and you'll be refreshed and energized very quickly.

4. Get physical. Short spurts of physical activity can help increase endorphins in the body; the feel-good hormones that can alleviate stress and reduce pain. Choose one or two activities that will get your heart pumping and know that you'll have a more positive outlook at the end of it. Deciding to make this a part of your weekly or daily schedule is a simple step towards your more positive lifestyle.

5. Eliminate negative people and situations whenever possible. You have a right to create healthy boundaries and discourage negative situations and people from taking away your happiness and joy. Do your best to find out what may be holding you back; cultivate healthy relationships and trust yourself to pursue only things (and people) that truly make you happy.

The first step in enjoying happiness is simply deciding to be happy in the first place. Get started with any of these five tips and look forward to more positive and healthy weeks ahead!

A healthy body image can do wonders for your self-esteem, but it’s usually easier said than done. With the pressures of friends and the media to always look your best, finding time to love yourself inside and out can be a challenge. Instead of focusing on the scale, why not find out how to become a real ten in your life? Practice makes perfect, and thinking healthy can really help us stay on a much more positive track so we can enjoy being who we are, no matter what size, shape, or weight. Here are just a few tips to help you love your body without waiting for the scale to define who you really are:

1. Start enjoying exercise. Working out is a great way to stay in shape and enjoy the freedom of movement. Try different workouts each season to keep things fresh, and don’t worry about ‘burning calories’ and ‘melting fat’ while you’re at it. You’re much more likely to enjoy your workouts when you’re just doing it for the experience. Trying something new helps you learn new skills and techniques, and it’s a great excuse to just get outdoors and do something!
2. Don’t accept unsolicited criticism. So your boyfriend puts you down, your family is teasing you about the recent weight you’ve gained—so what?! Learn to appreciate their input, but acknowledge that you know what it takes to be healthy and happy—and commit to doing what you feel is best for you.
3. Make a list of ten things you love to do. Whether it’s hiking on the weekends or painting during your free time, learn to appreciate how your body helps you do all of the things you love. Being grateful for what you have is a great way to make you feel good about yourself, no matter where you are!
4. Host a party that lets you indulge. Stock up on healthy recipes and snacks, and get together with friends to just celebrate for a night. Feeling good about yourself often means tapping into your skills and talents. Are you a great baker? A chef in the making? Or do you just love finding new recipes? Find out how to convert your favorite treats into healthy portions and versions, and you’ll be making the most of your talents for the benefit of all!
5. Spend quality time with people who truly care about you. Loving relationships can create a very positive foundation and just make you feel good about yourself unconditionally. Seek out positive people in your life; and if you find yourself surrounded by negativity, start branching out and making new friends!
6. Laugh! Studies have shown the power of laughter; there’s even such a thing as laughter therapy! Catch up on your favorite comedies, head out for an improve show, or just get together with the gals and giggle away. Laughter releases feel-good hormones that can lift you up no matter how you’re feeling.
7. Stretch. Early morning stretching exercises such as yoga and pilates can really help you feel ‘centered’ and more in tune with your body. Stretching is invigorating day or night, and can help you appreciate your natural strength. Practice for just 10-15 minutes per day and you’ll notice a difference in less than a week.

Loving your body often starts with loving yourself unconditionally; this means that no matter what you do or where you are, you are confident that you are A-okay! Don’t let the pressure of the scale ruin your day; you’ve got too much to offer, share, and enjoy with the world!

At home or at the office, that never ending to-do list can seem like a force to be reckoned with, especially on Monday morning when you've barely had a chance to catch your breath from a weekend full of activities. Instead of thinking you need to cut down on all the great things you do in your life, becoming more efficient with your time can offer a much better strategy. Try eliminating some times wasters with these quickie refreshers on getting organized and improving your productivity:

Stop checking your e-mail. If you are constantly checking, deleting, and glancing at your e-mail each day, you're probably sucking away at least 5-10 minutes each hour. Commit to only checking e-mail 3-4 times per day, and stick to a schedule by keeping a log when you start out.

Return phone calls in batches. You're probably spending more time on the phone playing phone tag and leaving messages than you are actually getting your message across. This is one area where e-mail and instant messaging can actually help-you're sure to get the message across at the right time and can keep track of ‘sent' mail as your record of communication. Still, when you do need to speak with the person, plan ahead and avoid lunch hour or the early-Friday-afternoon-out-of-office messages. Organize your phone calls in batches of say, 5-10 per hour, and then be done! This will make things much more efficient, and help you actually reach the other person in a reasonable period of time.

Reduce the paper hurricane. Papers on your desk can easily distract you and make you to re-trace your steps. Get organized with clutter-reducing files, folders, and even boxes. Investing in some quality office supplies can make it much easier to make the most of your workspace, and have information at your fingertips right when you need it.

Schedule your breaks. While it's great that the daily run to Starbucks gives you a chance to socialize and take a time out from the house or the office, taking a scheduled break might actually help you focus better. When you know when your break will be, it's much easier to get organized around it. You'll get more done, and can actually look at a break as a reward for staying on track.

Getting more done in less time can help maximize your hours and really move projects ahead-with much less stress. This can be a tough process to get going, but once you learn some tricks and techniques for the simple parts of your day, you can start applying the same tactics for larger projects.