
Seasonal Depression: 4 Tips
Well, it is that time of year again, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season are now upon us! While the season can be a favorite for many, the reality is that many people do not see it as such. Whether it be the financial strain, pressure to be joyous, memories of loved ones who are no longer part of our lives, lack of sunlight, or the angst of reflecting upon another year of unfulfilled resolutions, joy often turns to sadness during these months. Whatever the reason, the holiday season can be a trigger to a mood disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and loss of interest in activities are often common symptoms for people experiencing this disorder. So, how can we cope with this difficult time? Here are a few tips on handling the stressful feelings associated with seasonal depression.

Tips for Handling Busy School Schedules
Ok, so it’s that time of year again- school is back in full swing and the calendar is starting to fill up very quickly! Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week to accomplish everything? Homework, routines, work, dinners, playdates, sports, afterschool clubs, holidays, and the list goes on. It is certainly a challenge to get through our checklists and still feel like we can breathe. Well, guess what? With a little organizing and some determination, you can make it work and still enjoy those moments!

Building a Better Sense of Self
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.

2021 Reflection
As we round out 2021, I wanted to change up my last blog post for the year. It has been an interesting year and I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. It seems like just yesterday I was adding the blog to the website and we were just starting 2021.

New Year's Resolution
Raise your hand if you have ever made a New Year’s resolution. If you ever have made one how long did it last? Research shows that many New Year’s resolutions are forgotten or stopped within 6 months. Resolutions and goals are great. However, to increase your chances of success and achievement, you want to make sure the resolutions are realistic and obtainable. Otherwise, you are setting yourself up for failure and the impact of not completing the resolution might be worse for your mental health than not setting one at all. As you are figuring out what your resolution will be or maybe you have even thought of one already, consider the following to help you.