Welcome back to Calming Yoga with Amalia Trieger. For this class, you will need a yoga strap, a couple of yoga blocks and a chair. We hope you enjoy the class.
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4 Ways to Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Home and Make it Special
So many of us look forward to New Year’s Eve for months, if not longer.
January 1st is the start of a brand new chapter and can give us the inspiration and motivation to step outside our comfort zone.
Let’s also not forget about all the celebrations and the ever so famous countdown.
Even though we can’t host or attend parties this year, we can celebrate in a safe and fun way!
Host a Virtual Event
None of us are strangers to virtual events. Since March, millions of milestones have been celebrated via video chat. Weddings, birthdays, graduations, you name it!
New Year’s can be celebrated virtually as well.
You can easily celebrate with all your family and friends from the comfort of home. Even though you will be at home, you can still dress up and decorate.
Host a Virtual Game Night
If you have kids, a virtual game night could be a lot of fun!
There are several websites and apps out there that allow you to play games virtually with a group of people.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can even make up your own games and put a New Year’s spin on them.
The Countdown
Whether you are spending New Year’s home alone or with immediate family, you can still countdown and make it fun!
You can even record your virtual hangouts and take screenshots for memories! Just be sure to ask everyone on the call if they are okay with that.
Reflection
Self-reflection doesn’t have to be a chore. There are tons of ways you can make it fun!
At the end of the evening, everyone can share what they’ve learned in 2020 and what they are grateful for.
The Vista family is very grateful for each and every one of you. We can’t wait to make new memories with you all in 2021.
Accepting Cancelled Holiday Gatherings
Life is unpredictable, and there are so many events and situations we can’t control.
The good news is, we can control how we react to those events and how we look at them.
You Can’t Force Feelings
Even though we can try and change our mindset and attitude, we can’t actually prevent feelings or turn them off in the blink of an eye.
“You feel how you feel, and your feelings are real.” – Sven
It’s one thing to try to challenge negative emotions.
But it’s quite another to ignore them and pretend they don’t exist.
If you’ve been feeling sad or disappointed over not being able to spend the holidays with loved ones in person, that is completely okay.
Never be ashamed of how you feel. We all experience negative emotions and it’s completely normal.
Acceptance + Compassion
We get it. Accepting a negative event isn’t always easy, but it is possible.
Practicing self-compassion may not be able to eliminate pain, but it can build resilience and boost optimism.
Looking For The Silver Lining
Several studies show that it can be beneficial to look for silver linings during difficult situations.
Here are a few silver linings of having small a Christmas this year…
1) You won’t have to spend hours on end cooking and cleaning.
2) You can spend quality one on one time with your immediate family.
3) You can create new traditions.
Final Thoughts
As we stated earlier, there are plenty of things in life we can’t change. But we can change the stories we tell ourselves and look at things differently.
From our family to yours, we’d like to wish you all a very Happy Holidays!
Letting go of Perfectionism During The Holidays
Perfectionism and anxiety go hand and hand and are very common during the holidays.
Let us know if any of these scenarios sound familiar…
“What if my holiday party isn’t perfect?”
“What is my cousin hates her gift?”
“What if my holiday cards get lost in the mail?”
If any of those thoughts sound familiar, you may be experiencing holiday perfectionism.
The good news is, perfectionism does not have to last forever, and it can be significantly reduced.
Now, this won’t be an overnight transformation. It will take work and dedication, but you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Nothing in Life is Perfect
No matter how talented you are in any given field, it is absolutely impossible to be perfect.
Life is full of ups and downs. Our days don’t always turn out as planned, and that is okay!
Memories Don’t Have to be Perfect in Order to be Special
Many of us tend to plan several activities throughout the holiday season.
There is nothing wrong with having an itinerary and plan for the celebration. In fact, actually writing things down and working from a list can make things a lot easier.
You just have to remember one thing.
Chances are at least one thing on your list may get forgotten about.
We completely understand how that can be a little disappointing.
You just have to remind yourself, that everything will be just fine.
Being Perfectly Imperfect
You know what they say. Great things come when you step outside your comfort zone.
This holiday season, challenge yourself to do a few things imperfectly and see what happens.
- Spread the icing on the cupcakes a little unevenly.
- Skip the place cards at dinner this year.
- Don’t worry about decorating every single room in your home.
Those are just a few examples, but feel free to tweak them to fit your needs.
One of the best ways to overcome perfectionism is to embrace imperfectionism.
The more you practice the easier it will become.
Keep in mind, you don’t have to implement all of these changes in one day. You can start slowly and work your way up.
Brave with Balance: K-5 Movement and Mindfulness With Jen Champion
Welcome back to movement and mindfulness with Jen Champion. Today we are going to explore being brave and bold in our balance. Hope you enjoy the class!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3s0WK0hLwI&ab_channel=VistaCounseling%26WellnessCenter
Coping with Loneliness During The Holidays
The holidays are all about spending time with loved ones and making memories.
As you know, this holiday season will be far different than most.
Even though social distancing is keeping us safe, it can be a little lonely at times.
You may not be able to erase your feelings of loneliness, but there are plenty of things you can do to make yourself feel better.
Be Good to Yourself:
We’ve talked about this on the blog a few times in the past. But we are going to repeat it since it is so true!
Whether you’re having a good or bad day, it’s so important to be your own best friend.
You’ve got to listen to your body and give it what it needs. Doing something special just for you is a form of self-care.
You Are Not Alone:
Feelings are not facts. Just because you may be feeling alone doesn’t mean you are alone.
Even though loneliness can be an uncomfortable feeling, it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Don’t be afraid to open up to someone in your life and let them know how you feel.
You never know – they may be feeling the same way and can offer some words of encouragement.
Rethink Your Expectations:
So many of us are guilty of setting high expectations for the holidays and want everything to be perfect.
A holiday does not have to be perfect in order to be special.
A virtual dinner with friends and family can be just as much fun as an in-person event.
It all depends on how you look at it.
Posture Practice: K-5 Movement and Mindfulness With Jen Champion
Welcome back to movement and mindfulness with Jen Champion! For this class, you will need your yoga mat, and a blanket.
Picking Yourself Up After a Breakup
Every person we meet has something to teach us. Instead of thinking about all the things you could have done differently – think about all the things your relationship has taught you.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
Of course, it’s normal to want to feel better right away after a breakup.
But at the same time, you don’t want to deny what you’re feeling.
Acknowledging how you feel is part of the healing process.
So many of us often try to put on a brave face and hold back tears.
Crying does have a soothing effect, helps relieve pain and can even help improve our mood.
There is no right or wrong way to feel after a breakup. The sooner you accept and embrace your feelings, the sooner you can move past them.
Take Care of Yourself
Practicing self-care is key all year round – but it is that much more important during challenging or stressful events such as breakups.
Think about the things that make you happy and do more of them!
Connect With Others
Although it may be tempting to spend time in your room alone and reflect, you should be around people who love you.
We may not be able to spend time with our friends and family in person, but we can certainly connect with them via video chat.
Talking about your feelings can help you come to terms with them and better understand them.
Accept The Breakup
The sooner you accept the relationship has ended, the sooner you can move forward.
Every person we meet has something to teach us. Instead of thinking about all the things you could have done differently – think about all the things your relationship has taught you.
Recovering from a breakup doesn’t happen overnight.
We all have our own way of healing and grieving.
Don’t rush the process. Take your time. Allow yourself to feel. You will be okay!
4 Things to do When You Can’t Sleep
Have you ever had one of those days where you just could not wait to go to sleep…
But as soon as your head hits the pillow, you find yourself wide awake?
There are a lot of things that can interfere with our sleep. Everything from stress to our environment can play a role.
If you’re ready to get your sleep routine back on track, these tips and help.
Change Your Environment
Your sleep environment may not feel significant – but it is!
When it comes to pillows and blankets, we all have our own personal preferences. Some prefer weighted blankets, while others prefer something light.
The less time you spend trying to become comfortable, the more time you can spend relaxing and unwinding.
Practice a Calming Ritual
Not all of us can walk through the front door and immediately go to sleep.
Most of us need to engage in a relaxing activity for at least 30 minutes.
When it comes to activities, the list is endless. You can take a hot shower, read a book or stretch.
Now, this is important. You don’t want to engage in an activity because you think you’re supposed to. You should find an activity you actually enjoy and look forward to every evening.
Turn off Electronics
Watching videos and texting friends is completely fine during the day, but not so much at night.
It’s so easy to lose track of time while scrolling through social media.
Ten minutes of scrolling can easily turn into 30 minutes of scrolling if you aren’t careful.
Manage Anxious Thoughts
Have you ever been up at 2 AM, worrying about all the things that may or may not happen the next day?
Those evenings are never fun – and they happen to so many of us.
Although it’s much easier said than done, you have the power to change your thoughts.
Instead of thinking about that essay due tomorrow, you can think about how comfortable you are or things you’re grateful for. It may take some practice, but it’ll be well worth it.
Peaceful Forward Folds: 6-12 Movement and Mindfulness With Jen Champion
Thank you so much for being part of this practice for grades 6 – 12. Please find your comfortable seated position and let’s get started!
So Many Tasks, So Little Time
Do you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in a day?
Do you ever feel like no matter how hard you work, your to-do list never seems to get finished?
You are not in that boat alone.
Here’s what to do.
Change The Stories You Tell Yourself
The next time you catch yourself, thinking “I have so much to do…”
Hit the pause button, and change the story you tell yourself.
Instead, try something more like this…
“I have a lot to get done today. I have had busy days in the past, and I will have more busy days in the future. I know I have what it takes, and I will succeed.”
Prioritize
We all have 168 hours a week to sleep, work, spend time with family and relax.
If you feel like your lists never get complete, you may be taking on too much.
You have to recognize what tasks can be delegated and which tasks need not be done at all.
Write It Out
You know that feeling when you have a task hanging over your head?
Yes, that is not a fun feeling. It makes it much harder to actually get things done because we’re so worried about what we may or may not forget.
No need to worry – there is an easy fix.
Whenever you’re feeling anxious by all your to-dos, pull out a piece of paper and jot down everything you’d like to get done that day.
There does not need to be any real order or structure. Your thoughts don’t even have to be written in full sentences.
You are basically just getting all of your thoughts out of your head, and onto paper.
Once you’ve finished your rough notes, you can re-arrange them in order of priority.
5 Ways to Feel More Motivated at Work
We all have those days where our job can make us feel bored, overwhelmed or even a little bit of both at the same time.
Of course, you shouldn’t stay at a job that makes you unhappy.
However, sometimes quitting isn’t the best option – at least not right now.
There are plenty of hacks that can help keep work exciting and fun!
Step Outside Your Comfort Zone
It’s always fun to mix things up and experiment.
When you’re in a rut, challenging yourself and stepping outside your comfort zone can amp up your energy levels and motivation.
There is always more than one way to do something. It’s just a matter of coming up with a game plan.
Start Your Day off Right
Our mornings set the tone for our entire day.
Sleeping in an extra hour and starting work right away may seem like a good idea in theory – but it is not.
The first thing you do every morning should be something you want to do, not something you have to do.
You could read a book, prepare a healthy breakfast, listen to a podcast, the list goes on.
Reward Yourself
No accomplishment is too small.
We all have those days where it feels like our to-do list just never ends.
Whenever you finish a task, don’t just move onto the next one.
Instead, take some time to celebrate your accomplishment and acknowledge all that you’ve done.
Laugh
Finding humour in a tough situation can completely change the way you look at it.
Laughter reduces stress hormones and increases endorphins.
At the end of a tough day, watching a funny movie may be the best thing you can do!
Relieve Stress In Healthy Ways
As you know, going to the gym is not an option right now, but there are several other ways you can relieve stress.
You can go on a bike ride, walk around the block, meditate, or go on a long drive with the windows open.