“If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting!” “ Stephen Covey”

As Americans, we’ve gone through a rough patch and are still facing high unemployment, a shaky real estate market, high fuel and grocery prices, rising college tuition and an overall uneasiness about the future. As individuals, the majority of us are overweight, overworked, overscheduled and overstressed.

While we can’t do much about big, national problems, we have the power to make changes in our own lives. Let’s stop doing the things we’ve been doing.

Say yes to yourself. Put yourself on your list. Schedule time for doctor visits, exercise, time with friends, hobbies and interests, and quiet time for relaxation and renewal.

Eat healthier, be more active and lose weight. Don’t keep putting it off because you’re too busy. Start now.

Pay off debt. We were lulled into a false sense of security. Another paycheck was always coming. We could always take out a home equity loan. We could always pull out our credit card. Well, now we know those things aren’t necessarily so. Think how good you’ll feel when you’re debt free.

Stop buying stuff you don’t need. Most of us have closets and drawers full of things we don’t wear or use. Consider selling or giving away things you don’t need.

Reconnect with family and friends. Don’t let your busy-ness prevent you from making a call, writing a note, posting a message or visiting an old friend. In person, be an active listener that means being present in the moment and not letting your mind whirl with other thoughts and checklists.

When at work, make sure your tasks contribute to the core mission and goals of the company. What are you doing that will have an impact on the company? That’s what will be remembered in your performance review, and when managers are deciding who to keep and who to let go.

If you need help paying some of your medical bills, especially your psychiatric bills, a payday loan might be able to help you in paying those bills. A payday loan will come in handy at the end of every month, when your psychiatrist hands you that all important bill for services rendered. Most psychiatrists will charge by the hour, which can be upwards of $150 or more, and some patients will seek out the doctor more than once or twice per week. This will make for a major bill at the end of the month. A payday loan works just like all other types of loans. It allows you to pay the money back over a specified period of time, with interest earning on the account of course.

These loans keep you from bouncing checks, missing payments on bills, or sending in too little money on a large bill that will ruin your credit score and put you into debt. These loans are not for everyone so be sure to do some research before filling out the online application. Payday loans do help those who need the extra cash though.