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Coping With Parenting Stress By Pressing The Pause Button

Jaclyn Baker
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Being a parent is a full-time job. Although it’s very rewarding, it can also be quite stressful.

These past several months have been a lot to take in for both parents and children.

And now that back-to-school is just around the corner, both you and your child may be experiencing additional stress.

Whether your stress levels are high or low, taking just a few moments to pause every day can help you live in the moment and decrease stress.

Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you get started…

Prioritize:

There are only so many hours in a day to get things done. When life gets busy, we can often put our hobbies and/or passion projects on hold. 

Never feel guilty about practicing self-care and doing things that make you happy. 

Self-Compassion:

As a parent, it’s common to put your child’s needs before your own and put yourself last. 

At the end of the day, you have to be your own best friend – not your worst enemy.

Be kind to yourself. Give yourself some credit. You are doing the best you can.

Focus On The Here And The Now:

No matter what we say or do, we can’t change the past and we can’t predict the future.

Sometimes we can spend hours worrying about what may or may not happen tomorrow, instead of living in the moment and focusing on the now.

No one knows for sure what the rest of the year has in store for us. All we can do is spend time with loved ones, appreciate life and hit the pause button when we need to. Learn More

Let’s Rediscover Your Motivation

Jaclyn Baker
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You have the ability to achieve anything you set your mind to! You just have to rediscover your motivation!

Set SMART Goals:

Regular goal setting is a fantastic way to increase your overall motivation.

Setting SMART goals can give you something to work towards on a day to day basis, and give you a sense of direction. You don’t have to set large goals right away. You can start small and work your way up. 

Just remember to keep your goals SMART: 

Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. 

Set Daily Tasks:

Of course, having a solid set of goals can help you stay on track and think about the future. However, sometimes that isn’t enough to keep you motivated throughout the day. 

When you have so many things to do, it can often be difficult to know where to begin.

Taking just a few minutes every morning to write down your most important tasks can help declutter the mind and prioritize your day. Whenever a task is completed, you can cross it off and move onto the next one. 

At the end of the day, you can look back on your list and celebrate how much you got done.

Build a Consistent Routine:

Writing out a to-do list is one thing. Following it in an appropriate order is another.

There will always be items on your list that ideally should be completed before others. Some people prefer to tackle the most complicated items first thing, while others prefer to take it easy and work their way up.

You know yourself best. If you want to succeed, you have to do what works for you. A great hack is to label your to-do list in order of priority.

An “A” task must always be completed before a “B” task, and a B task must always be completed before a “C” task.

Emphasize Self-Care:

Practicing self-care and listening to your body is one of the best ways to prevent burnout. When we’re constantly on the go and worrying about things, it’s easy for our motivation to slip away. 

We all have those days where we just don’t feel motivated – and that’s okay!

Continuing to work on a task when our energy levels just aren’t there can be very exhausting and counterproductive.

If you feel like you need a break, go take one!

Call a Friend:

Being around people can be very motivating and give you some much-needed energy. As you know, getting together with friends is not an option right now. But that doesn’t mean you can’t call or FaceTime the people you love.

The next time you catch yourself feeling unmotivated, call up a friend and talk about something you love and/or are excited about.

That simple change of mindset can completely transform your mood.

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4 Healthy Habits To Help You Deal With Stress

Jaclyn Baker
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Practice Mindfulness + Meditation:

Mindfulness is all about stepping back and truly observing how and what we are feeling in the moment. 

When it comes to dealing with stress, you need to accept and understand what’s happening and why. 

Practicing mindfulness can help you get to that realization. The next time you catch yourself feeling stressed, ask yourself the following…

What am I feeling right now? Why am I feeling this way? How can I move past this?

We can’t always prevent or predict stress. But there are several techniques and tools out there that can help us embrace and accept it.

Set Up A Relaxation Zone:

Setting up a little relaxation zone in your bedroom can be very therapeutic. 

There is no right or wrong way to decorate a relaxation zone. As long as it’s full of things that make you feel calm, that’s all that matters.

The next time you catch yourself feeling stressed, you can head on over to your relaxation zone and take all the time you need to unwind. 

You can play calming music, stretch or spray essential oils. 

Practice Self Care:

You know, yourself and your body best. If you feel like you need an extra hour of sleep, or have to turn down an invitation, go ahead and do it.

At the end of the day, nothing is more important than your health and wellbeing.

Being well-rested can help you better handle stressful events and prevent burnout. 

Know Your Triggers:

We all have our own definition of stress. What you find stressful, someone else may find fun and vice versa. 

Once you know your triggers, you can come up with a game plan! 

With a little creativity and willingness to think about the box, you can become more resilient and deal with stress in healthier ways. 

Learn More

Coping With Back-To-School Uncertainty

Jaclyn Baker
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It’s no secret that this school year will be far different than most. Children haven’t stepped foot in an actual classroom for many months now, and it’s been quite a unique summer.

The unknown can often be scary, and right now, no one knows for sure what this school year will look like.

Most children love the first day of school. It’s always so nice to catch up with friends, play games and chat about summer. 

This year, children can still have an amazing first day; it’ll just be done virtually. 

Every child is different, and there is no right or wrong way to feel about the first day back. If your child is experiencing some back to school nerves, here’s what to do! 

Talk About It:

Remember, your child has never experienced a first day back quite like this one. 

They may be feeling a little confused, anxious, or scared. 

Talking about our fears and worries can help us better understand and come to terms with them.

Getting Used To The New Normal:

If your child is young, they may not fully understand what the “new normal” means. Sit down with them and let them know exactly what they can expect this year to look like, and encourage them to ask questions.

Once they have a better understanding of what’s going on, you can create a game plan together.

Focus on the Positives:

Whether your child is nervous, afraid or confused, it’s so important to focus on the positives.

You and your child can sit down together and make a list of all the things they are looking forward to this school year. Remind them how fun it will be to experience a new grade, learn new things, and spend time with family. 

Establish a Daily Routine:

Kids thrive on structure. Even though your child will be learning online, it’s still incredibly important for them to go to bed on time, have fun, and connect with friends. 

Now, it may take some time to get back into a routine, but they’ll get there.

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Healthy Lunchtime Habits

Jaclyn Baker

How many times throughout the workday do you catch yourself feeling stressed? 

Maybe you missed a deadline, found a typo in your email, or had a disagreement with a co-worker. Those are not uncommon events and happen to the best of us. 

When work gets busy, sometimes we can forget to take a break and just breathe.

Your lunch hour truly is one of the best times to unwind and de-stress.  

Here are a few tips that can help you get started. 

Eat Mindfully:

Chances are you eat during your lunch break. But are you eating mindfully?

How you eat can completely transform your overall experience. 

Mindful eating can help you relieve stress and better appreciate your meal. Eat slowly, put the phone away, and enjoy every bite. 

Take a Short Walk:

Exercise is a very effective stress-relieving activity since it allows us to release any frustrations in a healthy way. 

It’s a common misconception that physical activity can only take place at the gym. 

But that’s not the case at all! Walking is fantastic exercise that can be done almost anywhere for free!

Whether you’re working at home or from the office, taking a 15-minute walk around the block can be very relaxing and therapeutic. 

Listen To Music:

The right music can completely transform our thoughts and mood. 

Fast music can help give you some much-needed energy, while slow music can relax the mind and body.

If you’re feeling a little stressed out, a relaxing tune or white noise can help calm you down.

Gratitude Journaling:

Maintaining a gratitude list is a great way to boost your mood and prevent stress. Sometimes when we’re so stressed out, it’s hard to think clearly. When you get to that state, simply pull out your gratitude list and jot down whatever comes to mind.

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Finding Your Purpose

Jaclyn Baker
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Looking to find your purpose, but aren’t sure where or how to start? Well, you’re in the right place. Keep on reading to learn more. 

Know What You Care About:

Identifying what you truly care about is one of the first steps to finding your purpose. 

You may not know the answer right now, and that’s okay. After a little brainstorming and reflection, the answer will find you.

Here are a few personal questions that can help you get started. Feel free to write down your answers in a notebook so you can look back on them. 

1) What are you good at?

2) What do you care about?

3) When was the last time you felt proud of yourself? 

Reflect On What Matters To You:

Many of us have a long list of things we care about, which is great! However, landing on one or two things that matter to you the most can help you realize what’s important in life. 

It can also help you gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the little things.

You can start by writing out a list of things that matter to you in no particular order. Once the list is complete, you can organize the list in order of importance.

Keep in mind that your values may slightly change over the years, so feel free to re-arrange or add items to the list as needed.

Recognize Your Strengths:

Every single one of your strengths and talents helps make you, you!

When we’ve been good at something for so long, sometimes we can underestimate just how talented we are.

Opening up to people who know you the best, like friends, family, or colleagues, can help you recognize and appreciate your talents.

Here are a few great questions you can ask the people in your life. 

1) What do you think I’m great at?

2) What do you think I love doing?

3) How do you think I’ll make a difference in the world?

Find People You Admire:

Having someone to look up to can help you in so many ways. Remember, you don’t have to know someone personally to admire them. You can admire authors, public speakers or people in your community. Learn More

Understanding And Dealing With Stress During Uncertain Times

Jaclyn Baker
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Learning how to accept and embrace stress can make you more resilient and motivate you to succeed both in business and in life. 

However, too much stress can do much more harm than good. It can prevent us from seeing the bigger picture and come up with realistic solutions to life’s day to day problems. 

There are several tried and tested methods that can help you keep your stress levels at bay. However today, we are going to be talking all about mindfulness. 

Implementing a daily mindfulness practice can help you deal with your current stress as well as prevent it. 

The next time you catch yourself feeling stressed, here are a few practices that can help…

Hit The Pause Button: 

If you can, try and go somewhere quiet, close your eyes, and work on your breathing. When we’re experiencing high levels of stress, every distraction adds up. Even ten minutes of silence can make a huge difference!

 Ask Yourself Questions:

Sometimes when we’re experiencing so many intense emotions at once, it can be hard to understand them. Asking yourself questions about your feelings can help you come to terms with them and move past them. Here are a few great sample questions to help get you started.

1) What am I feeling right now?

2) What would I name this feeling?

3) How can I accept this feeling and let it go?

Release Tension:

Taking long deep breaths can help you gradually release any tension you’ve been holding onto. 

Once you’ve completed your breathing exercise, be sure to check in with yourself and see how you feel.  

Like most things in life, practice makes perfect. If practiced regularly, mindfulness can help you better respond to life’s challenges and bring you greater clarity. You’ve just got to take it one day and one breath at a time. 

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Tapping Into Your True Authenticity

Jaclyn Baker
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Remember when you were a child and your teachers and parents would tell you to be yourself?

Now, think about it – did they ever tell you exactly how to go about it? 

Chances are probably not, since there is no set in stone authenticity rule book. If there were, we’d all be reading it. In order to be yourself, you have to know yourself which is easier said than done. It requires ongoing self-reflection since we are constantly changing.

Authenticity truly is a personalized journey. We all have our own core values and unique definition of what is right and wrong. 

How To Be More Authentic:

Before we get started, here are some questions for you to think about… 

1) Are your core values functional?

2) How do your values impact your relationships?

3) Are your habits working for or against you?

4) What would make you feel more authentic?

If you’re having a difficult time answering any of the above questions, try thinking about past life experiences. When was the time you felt like the best version of yourself? What activity were you doing, and how did it make you feel? Authenticity is all about identifying what’s important to you and embracing who you are. 

Final Thoughts:

There is only one you. Figuring out who you are and what makes you tick may take some time. But if you do your homework and regularly practice self-reflection, the answer may find you. Take risks, step outside your comfort zone and embrace the journey. 

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Self-Care 101 : Parenting Edition

Jaclyn Baker
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It’s a common misconception that self-care activities have to be well thought out and extravagant. But that is not the case. As a parent, practicing self-care can be simple if you want it to be. 

You can treat yourself to a cup of tea while reading your kids a book, or practice deep breathing while watching them play.

Practicing self-care and monitoring your moods can help you stay on track of your overall wellness.

Here are a few tips that can help you get started. 

Regularly Check In With Yourself:

When life gets busy, we can often forget to check on ourselves and reflect. 

Keep in mind that checking in with yourself doesn’t have to be complicated. Simply breathe in the calm and breathe out the stress. 

Paying attention to your breathing can also help you become more present. 

Ask Yourself What You Need Right Now:

We all have our own way of dealing with frustration and overwhelm. Some of us may need a glass of water, while others may need ten minutes of alone time.

Being a parent is a full time job. If you can’t take a time out right now, no need to worry. Once your children go to sleep you can start implementing your favourite self-care activities. Again the actual activity is up to you. Listen to your body. It knows what it needs.

Be Kind:

When things get tough, it’s so important to talk to yourself like you would to someone you love. No one expects you to be perfect. Remind yourself that you are doing the best you can and every accomplishment should be celebrated. You never fail. You either live or you learn. Learn More

Ready To Stop The “Doomscrolling” Cycle?

Jaclyn Baker
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How many times have you jumped into bed and couldn’t fully relax without checking your social just one more time? If you answered yes, you are not alone.

Right now, social media and various websites are full of anxiety-provoking articles about Coronavirus, the economy, schools, etc. 

For many of us. scrolling through social media is a bad habit. Breaking the habit may be tough – but it is possible if you put the work in.  Here are 3 tips that can help you get started.

Set a Timer:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending time on social media. In fact, it’s a great way to connect with loved ones and keep up with what’s going on in the world. However, too much of anything is not healthy – social media included.

When we are so used to scrolling, we can often lose track of time. 

Ten minutes of intended scrolling can easily turn into 1 hour if you aren’t mindful. 

A great tip is to set a social media timer. As soon as the alarm goes off, put the phone down and move onto something else. 

Remind yourself that your social media accounts will still be there for your next check-in.

Scroll Mindfully:

When we have so many apps on our phone, it’s easy to get distracted. Before opening up any apps, take some time to think about what you are looking to accomplish. Once you have found what you’re looking for, stop the scroll and call it a day!

Immerse Yourself In New Hobbies

Now that most establishments are closed, many of us have a lot more free time, but don’t know how to spend it wisely. 

It is never too late to try new things and explore new interests. All you’ve got to do is keep an open mind. 

Learn More