We’d all like to be better people.

We’d like to be more productive, more healthy, less wasteful, and so on.

But how to get there?

The idea of “building discipline” sounds foreboding, but it’s really a lot easier than many people think. Let’s pull back the curtain and look at some straightforward ways anyone can strengthen their discipline and achieve their goals and nurture more positive habits.

Identify Your Weaknesses

First things first.

Where is the weak link in your discipline? Are you easily distracted? Have too much of a sweet tooth? Too many personal or professional obligations to keep up with?

You…

There have been a lot of changes in the past year and a half. Work has changed. School has changed. And how we relate to other people.

Much is changing back, but not all. And some of the changes are pretty much here to stay. This is reflected in how we live our lives and, by extension, what we look for in our homes.

Whether it’s renting, buying, selling, or renovation plans, what features or upgrades are people looking for in their homes in this new world?

Here are some of the most popular.

Home Office Space

Even after the pandemic has wholly…

While fall may not be the time you’d usually consider selling your home, a lot of the previous models for doing things have been thrown off-kilter due to COVID side effects.

Summer has been pretty hot and miserable across the US. What’s not on fire is wet. But as we anticipate cooler weather in the fall, that makes it a good time to plan for showing your home for sale with just enough time for new owners to take possession before winter.

The future of home sales seems a little up in the air, but right now, homes are getting…

We all have bad days. We all get in bad moods.

We often feel like we have no control when that happens. Moods worsen and maybe even spiral.

The good news is that when it comes to your mood and how you manage your day, you’re more in control than you think.

Here are some very quick, straightforward ways to turn your day around. They’re small tricks, for the most part, but they can build upon each other.

Say something nice to someone

Saying something pleasant to another person is simple and inexpensive. You may ask yourself why you should bother. …

I have a couple of social media feeds devoted to entrepreneurship. I can sometimes find some good business advice there, occasional network opportunities, and pointers toward useful tools.

But I also run across a lot of what I (and some others) call “hustle bros.”

They’re almost exclusively male. Young. Usually white. They flash a lot of bling and talk about how broke they were a year ago but how they’re rolling in cash now.

And they’re mostly liars promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.

Sure, every now and then, there seems to be some good advice about saving or investing early. Or…

It doesn’t really matter how long you’ve been freelancing or how successful you are at it. There are times when you’re going to feel a block in your motivation. You just aren’t going to feel like doing your work, and to hell with work obligations or personal creative goals.

This, of course, can lead to some feelings of guilt. Maybe some questioning of self-worth. Or maybe hunger. It can affect people in different ways.

The good news is that a lack of motivation is usually a temporary thing. …

I’ve been working freelance for a long time now — for about twenty years in the field of publishing, and in more recent years as a freelance writer. I’ve been fortunate to live off of freelancing exclusively, but it also helps I’ve got a supportive wife who puts up with an awful lot.

Should you join the freelance workforce?

It’s not for everyone, sure, but I think it’s a better choice for more people than one might expect — especially if you work in a creative field or in one that requires you to be self-driven.

Here are five reasons…

According to a Clark School study at the University of Maryland, a cyber-attack attempt is made once every 39 seconds.

I suspect that’s an optimistic number.

Given how cybercriminals use bots for automated attacks, pretty much anyone, anywhere, is at risk of cyberattack. But there’s good news.

You don’t have to be a victim. There are steps you can take.

But if you’re the sort of person who wants to become a victim of a cyberattack, this is how you could best go about it.

No Password

I get it.

Remembering passwords is a hassle — especially when you either need to…