The world of nutrition can be tricky to navigate. Short of being a nutritionist or food scientist yourself, knowing what guidelines to follow can be confusing at best. It seems like there’s always conflicting information out there about what to eat, what to avoid, and which diets are the best to follow.

How we think about things — our mindset — plays a major role not only in overall mental wellbeing but in our tangible success throughout our lives. Psychologically speaking, mindset is the single most important factor in determining future success. Our mindset drives action, motivation, and how we process circumstances.

If you’re anything like the rest of us, your world has been upended over the past six months by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many, health and wellness has become a top-of-mind priority in the wake of the crisis. After all, we want to avoid getting sick as well as spreading illness to others.

For those of us who have been on a mentoring journey either as a mentor or mentee, we know that while mentorship is full of challenges, it is an endeavor well worth your time. Mentoring helps us not only pass on wisdom to the next generation and learn at the feet of those who have gone before, but it allows us to direct our energy into the right pursuits, stay focused on the right things, and know how to go about achieving our biggest goals and dreams.

Our relationships matter. I think that the pandemic has shown us this truth in full force! We’ve been unable to meet friends and family in the same ways we’re used to — in the same ways we love. Even our relationships we mostly take for granted, that of our team and coworkers, are sorely missed in the age of social distancing and digital workspaces.

The fall season is upon us. While this is the time of year we begin to cozy up for soup weather and get into the holiday spirit, it’s also flu season. That reality takes on a special gravity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While many of us will opt for a flu shot, many will not. While the rate varies from state-to-state and our rate of vaccination this year is yet to be seen, the flu shot alone is no guarantee of health.

While the modern conveniences of technology have enabled many of us to continue business-as-usual, the necessary adjustments and alternatives have posed their own unique set of challenges. Perhaps the most utilized tool in a socially-distanced, pandemic world has been that of virtual meetings. Zoom has grown to be among the most popular, but it’s far from the only platform available.

If you’ve ever tried to keep up with the latest in diet and nutrition, you know that there are plenty of conflicting opinions on the matter. Throughout the decades, what is and is not a healthy diet has been both hotly debated and ever-changing. Low fat. High carb. Low carb. Low sugar. Vegetarian. Keto. Paleo. Wine is good for you. Chocolate is bad. For every person touting a specific type of diet or nutritional rule, another is claiming it will ruin your health and your body to follow it.

Why are we so resistant to the idea of rest? So many times, though, we cut corners with sleep and other forms of rest. Whether it’s ingrained in us from a culture hyper-focused on productivity (even busyness) as a measure of individual value and worth or a result of our feelings of inadequacy from comparison, we’re often much more tempted to push ourselves beyond our limitations — mentally and physically — than we’re willing to take a proper break.

For better or for worse, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do business and interact with others in the world. Thanks to the conveniences of modern technology, many of us have been able to continue business-as-mostly-usual. With remote work an increasingly viable option, we’ve been quick to adapt. But let’s be honest: some things are missing. It’s just not the same to work from home and in virtual spaces as it is to be in an office together.

While there are no doubt benefits to a work-from-home lifestyle, there are downfalls, too. It’s not all about waning productivity or inconsistent hours, either — working from home can take a toll on your physical and mental health.

With the U.S. economy in turmoil, it’s more important than ever to prioritize wise, effective money management. Even if we have not been directly impacted financially by the pandemic, be it through job loss, cut hours, or lost investments, the financial world is changing. The economy is struggling. We don’t know what the future will bring and our financial preparedness is paramount!

While there’s been an increase of families eating at home during COVID-19 (after all, many bars and restaurants closed temporarily and have reduced their hours since), there’s also been an increase in the consumption of fast food. We’re stressed out. We’re tired. We’re juggling work and kids at home on top of feelings of isolation and anxiety.

I think our health and wellbeing has been put to the test like never before this year. 2020 has brought more than its fair share of challenges, new worries, and concerns. Whether it’s fear of contracting COVID-19, the stress of trying to care for a sick loved one while unable to see them face-to-face, or concerns about the state of the economy and one’s job security.

2020 has brought about a big shakeup in the way we live and work. When the COVID-19 pandemic first kicked off in America, businesses and governments were quick to shut down and move to remote work. While not every job was capable of making this transition, many were. At REI Nation, I know we worked remotely for a time, too!

Leadership is a tough gig. I think it’s easy for those of us in leadership positions to let it go to our heads but make no mistake. As much as leadership is a privilege and an honor, it is a burden, too.

I don’t know about you, but this whole COVID-19 situation has resulted in a lot of food cravings. Whether a means or stress relief or fighting back the boredom of being cooped up at home, the sale of junk food is on the rise — and it’s creating some big health problems.

Resilience is our capacity to recover and bounce back under trying circumstances. That resilience can be physical, but in so many ways, we have to fight for mental resilience. Resilience is the ability to keep going in the face of failure; the ability to push through and come out stronger for it. It isn’t just surviving difficult circumstances.

We don’t tend to make the best decisions while we’re stressed out. We’re in the middle of a global pandemic. Facing the grocery store is among the biggest challenges you’ll face during the week in terms of proximity to others and potential exposure. Not to mention the stressof the current economy, the virus, and an unknown future are taking a toll.

As people, we’re prone to making comparisons. Often, these can be split-second, subconscious evaluations. Comparisons, on their own, are not a bad thing. We compare the flavors of food. We compare strategies and plans. Comparison, when neutral and done in the name of strategy, isn’t bad. Comparison is bad when it pits people against one another.