What gives our lives meaning? Meaning comes from doing. The tasks we perform daily are imbued with meaning when they align with our skills and interests, when they engage us, and when we feel a sense of accomplishment from them. Meaningful activities delight and create purpose in our lives and help us socialize.

Have you already missed a couple of meditation sessions or skipped the gym more times than you intended? You are not alone. One third of people have abandoned their resolutions by February. This does not mean you need to throw up your hands and give up. Here are five ways to help you get back on track:

Barbara of Chatham, Ontario is 85 and she starts her holiday baking early. “If I don’t get started in November, I might as well not start,” she says. Once December hits, the numerous clubs and groups she belongs to begin hosting their holiday events, and she barely has time for baking. Barbara’s signature dishes are a Christmas cake, a shortbread cookie and an oatmeal cookie with a secret ingredient (“They’re made with lard!”).

While delicious, Barbara might be looking to lighten up her holiday baking next season as she was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Barbara thought by the time she was 85, she’d be able to eat whatever she wanted. She never expected to have to modify generations-old recipes or give up holiday baking altogether.

If you’re like Barbara and looking to adopt some healthier habits in the new year, here are some great baking substitutions:

The holidays are a time to be with family and to enjoy each other’s company. Festive gatherings are also an ideal time to get caught up on what your loved ones are doing. Are they enjoying their new class at the gym? Is there any gossip from the Red Hat Society? Are they still able to safely live in their own home?

This last question probably will not come up over the dinner table, but it may cross your mind. Be observant at holiday get-togethers and look for some of the following signs your loved one may need help at home:

Nothing worth doing is easy. However, that does not mean everything worth doing has to be hard. Caregiving is one of the most worthwhile things we can do for ourselves and our loved ones. Here are some tried-and-true life hacks to help you make your life and the life of the person you are caring for simpler and more organized.

Falls are the No. 1 cause of injury-related hospitalizations among seniors. They are also the cause of 95 percent of all hip fractures in older adults. Here are nine ways to help protect your loved one from falls in winter months.

One was harassed about her weight. One came forward to say that people whispered about his wheelchair. Another knew people were laughing at the way she did her hair. These are not stories from high school. They are stories from senior residences, where bullying is more prevalent than most people think.