Our world is much more difficult, demanding, and faster-paced than it ever was before. Most women are finding it nearly impossible to escape and wind down—even for a few short minutes. Psychologist and author Dr. Dale V. Atkins, the creator and host of television's "Dr. Dale's Life Issues," has the solution: Sanity Savers —52 weeks of invaluable daily tips, thoughts, and suggestions that will help you restore balance, order, simplicity, and, most important, happiness to your over-stimulated life. All it takes is a few minutes each day to save your sanity . . . and improve your life! Our world is much more difficult, demanding, and faster-paced than it ever was before. Most women are finding it nearly impossible to escape and wind down—even for a few short minutes. Psychologist and author Dr. Dale V. Atkins, the creator and host of television's "Dr. Dale's Life Issues," has the solution: Sanity Savers —52 weeks of invaluable daily tips, thoughts, and suggestions that will help you restore balance, order, simplicity, and, most important, happiness to your over-stimulated life. All it takes is a few minutes each day to save your sanity . . . and improve your life! Dale V. Atkins, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who has more than thirty years of experience as a relationship and family expert. She is the author of five works of nonfiction, a frequent guest expert on "Today" and many other TV shows, a sought after lecturer, and is the creator of the popular online newsletter, "Sanity Savers and More." Barbara Scala is an attorney turned Certified Life Coach dedicated to helping women create a new life after divorce or other transitions at www.bloomafterdivorce.com. Sanity Savers Tips for Women to Live a Balanced Life By Dale Atkins HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. Copyright © 2007 Dale Atkins All right reserved. ISBN: 9780061242953 Monday A "New" New Year's Resolution New Year's resolutions are often about committing to an exercise program, losing those extra twenty pounds, or quitting the smoking habit. While all of these are likely to be terrific for your health, offer great promise, and are made with the hope that your life will be better, the funny thing is that often our New Year's resolutions from one year to the next are exactly the same. Ring in this New Year by changing your attitude about something or someone (including yourself). So often our attitudes remain unchanged and unchallenged and we become stale in our outlook. Take a refreshing approach and question whether your perception serves you well or restricts you, holding you back. How many times have your own or other people's opinions prevented you from doing or trying something? "I always wanted to go skydiving but my friends will think I'm crazy." "I would like to take an art class but I can't draw." "I would like to learn to play the piano but I was never very good at it when I was a kid." "I would like to travel but I don't have a companion." "I would like to dance but don't have a partner." No Challenge, No Change. If you don't give yourself a challenge, there can be no change, and without change, there is no growth. Ask yourself, "How can I be continually challenged?" Meet People Who Are Different from You. Step out and don't limit yourself to your usual group (age, culture, race). Find people with similar interests but from different backgrounds. Meet and be with people who are both younger and older than you. Learn from their experiences. Be Conscious and Present. By being fully aware, we can accept, reject, or change that which we don't want into something that can be helpful and productive. Be Eager for Personal Growth. Seek knowledge, adventure, and friendship. Do not confine yourself to a familiar road, traveling along paths others have gone or mapped out for you. Leave the familiar path from time to time. Be adventurous. Find your element; never stop searching. Continue your quest in life. It is all about growth! By changing your attitude you can try things you thought you were "unable" to do and have experiences that will open your mind to incredible possibilities. Continues... Excerpted from Sanity Savers by Dale Atkins Copyright © 2007 by Dale Atkins. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.