Julie Sprankles

If I had a dollar for every time I justified skipping a workout because I couldn’t find the time, well, I’d probably have enough money to cover my woefully neglected gym membership for a year. But the reality is it can seem impossible to devote a decent chunk of the day to exercise. Still, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t. Happily, there are about a million sneaky ways to fit in a workout—even when time is scarce.

When you’ve been hustling a million miles an hour all day long, the idea of collapsing on the couch and unwinding is like the Holy Grail. Decompressing from the daily grind is easier said than done, though—in order to unwind, your brain might need a nudge. Here are a few simple strategies to boost your mood and help put a stressful day behind you. Literally.

Let’s preface this by stating clearly that there is absolutely nothing wrong with sex or TV. They’re both fantastic when enjoyed with a loving partner (or by yourself). But whether your relationship is brand new or you’ve been together so long you’re inadvertently starting to dress the same, building intimacy as a couple is important. And real intimacy, well, that can sometimes take more than just a little Netflix and chill.

Have you ever wondered where your money disappears to each month? You work hard; you know you make it—yet it seems as though you never have any, or at least not as much as you think you should after you pay your bills (and Uncle Sam takes his portion). It’s like it goes into some giant universal dryer that only spits out part of what you put in—obviously stashing the rest of it away in that secret place where the matches to all of your socks are sent.

If you’ve ever considered going into business with family, look no further for role models than Jonathan and Drew Scott. Having found fame as hosts of the hit HGTV reality series Property Brothers, the pair really brings home the bacon. And by bacon, we mean money. And by money, we mean a combined net worth in the millions. Property Brothers Drew Scott and Jonathan Scott have flipped their way to a combined net worth of $20 million according to CelebrityNetWorth.com.

If you had told me a year ago that, today, I’d be smack dab in the middle of selling my home, I would never have believed you. If you’d told me I was selling my home to uproot my family, buy an RV, and roam the country for an indefinite amount of time, I may very well have asked you if you’d recently suffered a hard knock to the head. And yet, here I am.

When you read about a woman who makes only a Mason Jar worth of waste per year, it’s hard not to think you’re doing life wrong. We all want to do right by the environment, but getting started along the path to a more sustainable lifestyle can seem daunting. The good news is it really is easy being green. By making small modifications in your daily life, you can significantly reduce your waste output.