Let’s face it- we have all sought out the approval of others at one time or another. But what happens when we need constant validation and attention from other people? Well, then it is time to look a little deeper at how to strengthen our beliefs about ourselves. As we become less dependent on the approval of others, our lives tend to feel more emotionally regulated and we then begin to have the tendency to believe in ourselves.
Summer is finally here, and we can all now slow down and enjoy the beautiful weather- right? Well, as relaxing and fun as summer can be, many of us overload our social calendars in order to cram everything into those few short months before the kids go back to school. This can cause a lot of anxiety for many people. So, how do we allow ourselves to stay truly present and actually enjoy these moments? Practice mindfulness! Well, this is sometimes easier said than done. Mindfulness is often associated with a visual image of a person in a yoga pose by themselves counting deep breaths. For some of us, this task seems difficult, time-consuming, and awkward. Well, there are other ways to accomplish the art of staying present in the moment and feeling calm and grounded.
In general, there has been an increase in awareness of mental health care/illness over the last few years. Although still stigmatizing, mental health care and illness are being talked about more than ever. If you needed proof, check out the waitlist many mental health providers currently have. The zeitgeist of the time is showing that more and more individuals are seeking and benefiting from mental health care, which includes taking mental health days!
Holiday parties can be stressful. Holiday parties at work can be even more stressful. If you are someone who has social anxiety or generalized anxiety, just thinking about your company’s holiday party is probably causing you to sweat right now. It would be easy not to go, but then that is just giving in to the irrational thoughts and beliefs. Instead, plan to go to the holiday party (even for a little it) and use some of the tips below to help you get through the event. Although the below tips are by no means exhaustive and may not apply to each individual, if attending your holiday work party is causing you to experience anxious symptoms, you may also find comfort and assistance in talking to a mental health professional.
Who doesn’t love a good snow day? If you are joining my blog from NJ or any other place that gets hit with snow during the winter, snow days can stretch out. The first few storms are pretty and it’s nice to have a day off here and there. However, once you are on snow day #5, it’s freezing, and you’ve had to cancel plans again, it gets annoying. A snow day can turn into the perfect (or not-so-perfect) day to sit around and binge-watch Netflix or scroll on social media. However, screens weren’t always around for snow days (yes, I know… shocker!). Sitting in front of a screen all day isn’t the healthiest or most productive way to spend the day. If you are looking to make your next snow day screen-free, or at least include less screen time, check out some non-screen-related snow day activities below.
