23 Proven Routines and Philosophies For the Best Version of Me

23 Proven Routines and Philosophies For the Best Version of Me #goals #routines #improvement #personaldevelopment

What would you have to do to discover the best version of yourself? Not just the fittest, the smartest, or the most socially responsible you – I’m talking about the total package… The best YOU. All-around. To unleash your fullest potential, you would need to design an incredibly healthy lifestyle prioritizing just the right amount of happiness, fitness, success, and freedom.   Over the last decade, I’ve been experimenting with different routines and philosophies to do just that – design a healthy lifestyle to unleash the best me   In this decade of experimentation (ages 22 – 32), I’ve lost 65 pounds and kept them off, started a business with my wife that provides for our family and the families of our employees, hiked the entirety of the most naturally diverse rainforest on earth (with 2 great buddies) in pursuit of my Master’s degree, became a father (twice over now […]

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What You Should Know About Health Insurance in 2019

What You Should Know About Health Insurance in 2019

    (This is a sponsored post discussing what you should know about health insurance – please see my disclosure for more details.)   Open enrollment just ended and 2019 is in full swing! If you’ve recently enrolled in health insurance, hopefully, you know a thing or two about your new plan. But if you’ve worked at the same company and have received the same health insurance year after year, it’s easy to just click a few buttons without fully reading the fine print.   Are you up-to-date with the latest news?   Knowledge is power and we’re here to discuss some of the most important 2019 health insurance trends—so that you can confidently make an informed decision about your provider and their packages.     What You Should Know About Health Insurance in 2019   You’re No Longer Required to Have It   You probably recall when it became […]

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Unexpected Humor During my Bestie’s Cancer Battle

Unexpected Humor During my Bestie's Cancer Battle

If you’re a regular MikedUp Blog reader, you’ve at least heard about our friend ‘Jen’ and her battle with breast cancer – she wrote 14,000 words about every detail of her story. You’ve also seen Jen’s story from the point of view of her co-worker and dear friend. We’ve sufficiently covered many of the highs and lows that one may encounter with a cancer diagnosis or the diagnosis of a close friend. However, that’s still a little meat left on the bone. Believe it or not, there are still funny times, great experiences, and human moments that happen during life while on this journey. A lighter side to cancer, if you will.   So in this third and final post detailing some portion of Jen’s journey, I’ve asked one of Jen’s best friends (Erica) to share some of her thoughts about what Jen went through. Below, we’ve got some wig […]

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Boost Your Health in 2019 – Tips to Look and Feel Great

Boost Your Health in 2019 - Tips to Look and Feel Great #sleep #stress #health #fitness

    I’m not getting any younger. And sometimes the aging dog needs to learn new tricks. That’s why when we rang in 2019, I sought out new answers to the question of ‘how to be healthy in 2019.’ Sure, I was maintaining my fitness, but we’ve got a new baby on the way and some other big changes ahead – and my fitness, health, and wellness arsenals needed restocking.   That’s why today I’ve asked Stephanie to help us with some tips:   Personal development and self-care gave Stephanie Haywood a boost when she needed it the most. She writes to share with us the gift of self-knowledge, self-care, and self-actualization to help us face life’s challenges.    Here is Stephanie’s answer to my question of how to be healthy in 2019   Every day you wake up is an opportunity for self-improvement. Make this year your Year of Change, […]

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Improve your Fitness With These Killer 10 Minute Workouts

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Alright, here’s the deal. We’ve all got a bazillion things to do these days. Personally, I’m trying to be the best husband and father, grow our business, improve my blog, network, learn new things, yadda yadda… And if your priorities aren’t in line, it’s not too difficult to hit the “do-later” button when it comes to your workouts. But if we’re being honest, skipping the workout in favor of pretty much anything else can be a huge mistake. I’m no saint when it comes to knocking out hour and a half long workouts 5 days a week, but – when it comes to just needing to get something accomplished, I’ve turned to the 10-minute workouts below to get the job done.   “I hear you and 100% – yes, if we’ve got enough time to workout for an hour at a time a few days each week, that would be ideal.”   […]

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How to Be a Financially Fit Day Trader

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  (This is a sponsored post discussing the in’s and out’s of how to be a day trader – please see my disclosure for more details. Image via Flickr by schrierc)     The basics of how to be a day trader   Day trading is a great option for those who want to make a good income while having the flexibility to work anytime, anywhere. However, it can be a risky venture, especially for beginners. Many new traders just want to learn how to set up their charts and start making money right away.   If you want to make a steady income from day trading, you need to spend enough time learning the ropes and have the discipline to follow a set of rules that many traders abide by to achieve long-term success. Discover how you can be a financially fit day trader.   Treat Day Trading Like […]

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How She Lost 220 Pounds and Took Back Her Life

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Alright… You caught me. I was procrastinating and scrolling through my Facebook feed a while back, just killing some time when I saw a friend of mine post, “This is how I lost 220 pounds in about 18 months!” The post was headlined by before and after pictures, and I literally did a triple take. 220 pounds!! That’s crazy, amazing, awesome, and … it had me wondering: what weight loss tips could she share for someone at the start of their journey?   Here are some of her before/after pics:     During her journey, Kate went from a size 4XL to a Medium and from a pant size 28 down to an 8/10 (depending on the pants ????)   So I reached out to my friend (Kate) to ask if she’d be willing to share a bit of how she made it happen. She was stoked to share her tips and […]

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“I Have Accepted Another Job Offer – This is My 2-Weeks Notice”

"I Have Accepted Another Job Offer - This is My 2-Weeks Notice" #2-weeksnotice #resignation #business #employees #respect

  “Wait… What?!?!” Let me just say off the top that receiving our first version of the “2-weeks notice” flanked the $h_t out of me. I never saw it coming… Not even for a second. But after some time to reflect, process, and move forward – as they say, “Everything happens for a reason.” Now all that’s left to find out is whether that reason will set our family up for the next great step in life complete with increased happiness and wealth… or, if that reason is the start of the financial apocalypse as we know it…     (Photo courtesy of Justin Montemarano)   We’ll get back to the 2-weeks notice, but first – a MikedUp Blog original     Don’t know if you’ve heard, but my wife was pregnant with our second child and due back in early January (I don’t say: “we’re pregnant…”).     So […]

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Ideas For How to Make Extra Money on the Side

Ideas For How to Make Extra Money on the Side

  Michael Williams is here today with his post on how to make extra money on the side. We’ve talked previously about why you need to start a side hustle, and Michael is here to add context to that argument, as well as give you some great options on how to get started.    Take it away, Michael:     Ideas For How to Make Extra Money on the Side     The term ‘Side Hustle’ is used a lot now, gaining popularity over the past few years. Surprisingly, it isn’t a new term, being used by American newspapers as far back as the 1950s where it described the work undertaken by people outside of their main jobs.   It’s clear that making a bit of extra cash on the side has been a part of life for a long time, but in tandem with the term ‘Side Hustle’, it’s […]

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When you Accidentally Pay the Mortgage Twice in December

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“…But if you paid the mortgage twice, we’d be out of money in our checking account…?” Was Monica’s inquisitive statement.   “Exactly.” – My response     Let me briefly set the “I double paid the mortgage” table here…   We’re in the heart of December now. Christmas gifts, travel plans, party preparations, and a whole heap of other activities were on the mind (and the budget). Add that to the regular bills and responsibilities… I’m probably preaching to the choir here – we’re all busy, right? ’Tis the season!   I’m crying a bit to write this, but our student loan and mortgage payments only differ by a few cents. We take advantage of the automatic withdrawal functions for both but a recent refinancing of the student loans (blog post to follow next year) was done through a new lender, and hence a new website.   The combination of a hectic season […]

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