As a self-proclaimed workaholic who measures my value almost purely on productivity, I tend to be incredibly hard on myself if I’m not getting enough done, and on others who I feel aren’t catching up fast enough or are getting in the way of my own progress.

That’s an awful tendency.

Why would I think the only thing I — or anybody else, for that matter — have to offer is output. It’s great to hear that my ideas and experiences with personal finance or sobriety have helped others, but that can’t be everything. I’ve got to be more than just my work. …

It takes at least three weeks to build a habit. With 2019 around the corner, here’s how to hit the ground running.

Hands up if you’ve ever promised yourself to quit smoking, set a budget (and actually stick to it), hit the gym, or spend more time with family and friends.

Damn. Writing that was tough with both hands in the air.

We’ve all set our New Year’s Resolutions with the best of intentions, genuinely dedicated to making this the year where we follow through.

I will hit the gym 5 days a week. I will ditch the takeout and start brown-bagging my lunch. I will trade Netflix binges for quality time with loved ones.

This isn’t the first time I’ve written about resolutions. To be honest, I’m a bit torn about the concept in general. On one hand, I truly believe in the benefits of setting goals and having something to work towards. But on the other, I loathe the idea of using January 1st as a date to anchor your goals around. If there’s something you want to accomplish — whether that’s learning a new skill or getting in shape — why wait until the new year to get started? …

If you spend all your time and money feeding the bottom line of some faceless company, buying their throw-away products that do nothing but scratch the itch temporarily feel satisfied, you’re merely distracting yourself from the reality that you aren’t truly satisfied or fulfilled.

But let me be clear: I don’t say this with any judgment. I’ve been there before, and I’ll absolutely be there again. …

My family was never poor, but we were always broke.

From the outside, you wouldn’t have known it. We had a nice home with a big yard in a growing suburb. They leased new cars every few years and made regular visits to the theater and enjoyed a decent bottle of wine.

Resolutions? It’s March! Rob, get your shit together.

If you’re anything like me (and the vast majority of people), you’re ready to waive goodbye to February as it passes by. Also like most people — 80%, to be exact — our New Year’s Resolutions have given way to last year’s habits, and are long-behind in the rearview.

But where did things go wrong? Were we too ambitious? Too vague? Too idealistic? And how the hell can you make a resolution that actually sticks?

Whether you want to learn a new language, build an emergency fund, get in shape, or develop a new skill, you can succeed. And rather than banking on waking up at some ungodly hour to sweat it out on the elliptical or cutting back on lattes to save enough to retire in Bali one day, these six steps will help you make changes that actually have a lasting impact. …

Like anybody else who’s spent a morning on the bathroom floor after a night at the bar, I’ve sworn off drinking countless times. And also like everybody else, those attempts were easily cut short by a birthday, holiday, or some random Thursday that I definitely had to get drunk for. But it was fun. As much as I said I wanted to quit, I can’t honestly say I wanted to.

I’d never say I had a drinking problem, but I definitely developed a problem with drinking. Drinking a 12-pack a few times a week was normal in college, and I carried that habit forward after graduation. …

Thank god it’s Monday.

We’ve heard it before: we spend a third of our life working, so why spend it doing something you don’t care about? Why not do more of what you love? Why spend your time doing something you don’t truly care about?

I get it. We all get it. Not everybody gets to live their dream or have a job that makes them jump for joy in the morning. But that doesn’t mean you should start each week waiting for it to end.

I’m guilty of it, and so are you.

Time and time again, I find myself getting ready to go somewhere, where quite frankly, I don’t want to be. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not anti-social, and I’m no recluse. But sometimes, I just love not doing a damn thing.

Leading up to those events, I’m anxiously checking my phone, crossing my fingers and hoping to get a text saying the plans are off.