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.
How Can I Find Time to Practice Mindfulness? 5 Tips!
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.
Hygge... How to Pronounce it & How to Make it a Lifestyle
Have you ever heard of the Danish word, hygge? This word has been pronounced in a variety of ways, but its proper pronunciation is “hoo ga.” If you’re still struggling, I would recommend typing it into a search engine and having the search engine say it for you.
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.
Snow Day Activities Without Screens
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.