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Changing The Way You Look At Fear

Jaclyn Baker

Remember this. You are in control of your fears. Your fears are not in control of you. If you’re ready to change the way you look at fear, you are in the right place. Keep on reading to learn more.

Commitment:

Facing a fear is something you need to commit to. Once you’ve committed to it, there is no turning back.

Keep in mind; you don’t have to completely overcome your fear today, this week, or even this year. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. Every small step is one step in the right direction. 

Here’s an example. Let’s say you are afraid of dogs and are ready to overcome your fear. 

Chances are, you wouldn’t want to walk into a pet store and start petting dogs today.

But you can visit a local dog park and stand outside the fence for a few minutes a day. Once you get comfortable with that, you can set another goal for yourself. 

Play Out Your Fears:

When we’re afraid of something, it’s very normal to exaggerate and jump to unrealistic worst-case scenarios.

Writing down worst-case scenarios can help us put things in perspective and look at the facts instead of focusing on negative feelings. 

This exercise can also help you realize that your fears aren’t as scary as you played them out to be in your mind. 

Change The Situation:

Fear doesn’t have a set definition. We all think about, and experience fear in our own way. Some of us see fear as this scary thing that gets in our way. While others see fear as a learning opportunity. Feelings are not facts, and you have the power to change the way you look at fear. Learn More

Distance Learning Advice For Parents

Jaclyn Baker

Distance learning doesn’t only impact kids. It also impacts parents. Right now, so many parents are working from home and watching their children at the same time.

We know it’s hard. We know it’s stressful. But the best thing you can do is take it one day a time and remind yourself that you are doing the best you can. 

Reach Out To Other Parents:

We know you’ve likely heard this hundreds of times. 

But we are going to repeat it because it’s true! Millions of parents all over the world are in the exact same boat as you. Everything from school emails to help with homework can be a lot to take on by yourself. 

In fact, it’s more than a lot. It’s exhausting. Reaching out to other parents and bouncing ideas off one another can be extremely helpful. It’s always nice to talk to someone who knows what you’re going through. 

Laugh:

Have you ever felt guilty about laughing or having fun when times are tough? It’s very normal to feel that way. But the truth is, laughing is not a bad thing. Laugher can help decrease blood pressure, soothe tension and release endorphins. Exactly what everyone needs during times of stress. 

Say Goodbye To Perfectionism:

If you aren’t careful, it’s easy to fall into the “I’m not good enough trap.” 

Parenting is not easy, and there is no ultimate secret handbook. So many parenting lessons are made through trial and error. There is no such thing as a perfect parent. There will always be things you wish you could improve upon.

But you can’t forget to celebrate all the victories. Give yourself credit where it’s due. Learn More

These Techniques Can Help You Cope With Work-Related Stress

Jaclyn Baker
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Just because the vast majority of us are working from home now, doesn’t make the workday any less stressful.

Deadlines still need to met, customers still need support, and proposals have to be approved. 

Even though stress can keep us motivated and on top of our game, no one wants to constantly feel stressed.

Here are a few techniques that can help you cope with work-related stress.

Start Your Day Right:

Our morning sets the tone of the entire day. Feeling rushed in the morning is not a pleasant feeling. Everything from making breakfast to checking homework can be a lot.

Waking up just 20 minutes early and relaxing can help you start your day on a positive note.

Stay Organized:

Have you ever had one of those days where you just couldn’t find any important documents or emails? 

You know it’s on your computer somewhere, you just can’t remember where. 

Properly labelling files and having some sort of an email system can prevent several problems down the line. 

Embrace Imperfection:

We are all human mistakes do happen.

Instructions get misunderstood, important emails get lost, presentations have typos, the list goes on.

The next time you make a mistake, don’t panic! Instead, take a step back and remind yourself that you are only human and even though you made a mistake you are doing the best you can.

You have two choices. You can either look at your mistakes as setbacks or learning opportunities. It is all about perspective. Learn More

How To Become More Resilient And Embrace The New Normal

Jaclyn Baker
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Adjusting to the new normal is definitely easier than done. The new normal is constantly changing and our days are full of uncertainty.

Everything from school to work to home life is like something we’ve never experienced before. When life is so uncertain, it’s normal to experience stress, exhaustion or burnout. 

Now, you may be wondering how you can adjust to an ever-changing situation. Keep on reading to learn more. 

Accept That Life is Different Right Now:

It’s no secret that 2020 has been far different than 2019, and so many things that used to be easy, now feel so hard.

Remember, accepting a tough situation does not mean you are giving up. It simply means you are accepting reality instead of fighting it.

Do What You Love:

When life gets busy, sometimes we can forget to take the time to do what we love. Even though we may not be able to go to restaurants or spend time with friends, that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun at home.

Instead of attending your favourite restaurant on Friday night, you can order takeout and dress up.

Instead of going out with your friends on Saturday night, you can have a group zoom call.

It may not be the exact same, but it is much better than nothing.

Build a Resilience Bank Account:

You are so much more resilient than you give yourself credit for. You just may not know it yet. 

It is never too late to start implementing resilience-building habits. Getting enough sleep, eating right, exercising and practicing compassion are all great places to start. 

You also don’t have to make significant changes in one day. You can start slow and work your way up. Starting slowly is far better than not starting at all. Learn More

How To Survive a Family Members Suicide

Jaclyn Baker
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Losing a friend or family member to suicide can be extremely painful. It can bring on guilt, shame, anger, depression or anxiety.

We all deal with loss in our own way, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Losing someone you love is never easy. However, losing someone you love to suicide can be a little more challenging.

It may take you some time, but you will get through the pain. Here are some tips that can help you cope with your loss. 

Find A Support System:

Losing someone you love is extremely painful. But you don’t need to experience the pain alone.

Opening up to a friend, family member or mental health professional can be very therapeutic. Talking about our feelings can help us better understand them and feel less alone.

You can also do some research and see if there any support groups in your area. Even though you may feel alone, you are not!

Be Patient:

Some days may be harder than others, and that’s okay. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself to feel. 

It’s Okay to Laugh And Cry:

You know what they say – laughter is the best medicine. Participating in fun activities with friends and family can act as a healthy distraction and help take your mind off the pain. 

Every day is a new day. And every day will get a little bit easier.

If you or someone you love are struggling with thoughts about harming themselves or others, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

You can also text the Crisis Text Line at: 741741

Text Line is free and available 24/7 to support those in crisis anywhere in the U.S.

Learn More

Preventing Suicide In Older Adults

Jaclyn Baker
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Social distancing is designed to keep us and our community safe. However, social distancing is increasing loneliness for people all over the world – especially in older adults. Older adults who are disconnected from others do have a greater risk for committing suicide. 

However, there are plenty of tools and resources out there that can help us prevent suicide in older adults.

Understand The Risk Factors:

Several studies show that the following factors can contribute to suicide in older adults.

1) Mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression.

2) Being alone for long periods.

3) Pain.

4) Illness.

Warning Signs:

If you think someone you love may be contemplating suicide, here are a handful of warning signs you should look out for.

1) Significant life changes, such as the death of a loved one.

2) Preparing for death. 

3) Isolating from friends and family.

Afraid To Say The Wrong Thing?

Talking about suicide can be scary. So many people are afraid to say the wrong thing, so they don’t say anything at all.

It may be scary, but talking about our feelings can help us better understand them.  If you’re not sure what to say, here are a few questions that can help you get started:

1) How often are you alone?

2) Have you had thoughts about harming yourself?

3) Do you ever feel like just giving up?

If you or someone you love are struggling with thoughts about harming themselves or others, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

You can also text the Crisis Text Line at: 741741

Text Line is free and available 24/7 to support those in crisis anywhere in the U.S. 

Learn More

Why Working Parents Are Angry, And What They Can Do About It

Jaclyn Baker
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Calling all working parents… this article is for you!

If you’ve been working from home these past six months and have little kids at home, you know how tiring it can be.

Having conference calls and watching a toddler at the same time can be challenging. 

By this point, almost all of us have been interrupted during important meetings at least once!  So many parents have been struggling to entertain and educate their children at home while also working a 9-5 job. 

All that additional responsibility can be frustrating and lead to anger. Anger is not a fun feeling. But it is completely normal and can even be useful. 

Anger is designed to keep us safe and encourage action! However, too much of anything is not healthy.

There are plenty of mindset shifts that can help us deal with anger in healthy ways. But today we are going to talk about acceptance! Accepting anger does not mean ignoring it. It means coming to terms with situations out of our control.

Remember, not every problem can be solved, and that’s okay. The sooner we understand that, the sooner we can move on.

We can also try and listen to what our anger is telling us and challenge our thoughts. Just because we can’t change a certain situation doesn’t mean we can’t change the way we think about it. If you’ve made it this far, you’re already on the right track! You may be feeling a little apprehensive or angry right now, but every day will get easier. Learn More

Helping Your Child Succeed And Have Fun While Distance Learning This Year

Jaclyn Baker
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Want your child to have a successful and fun school year while distance learning? Well, it’s easier than you may think. Keep reading to learn more. 

Set Up A Distraction-Free Workspace

If your child’s study room turned into yet another playroom, there is no need to worry. Transforming it back into a study room is an easy fix.

Having a designated school zone can help your child concentrate, be creative, and have fun!

Keep in mind; they don’t need an entire home office space to themselves to be successful. You can set up a desk for them in the hallway, guest room, or bonus room. When they take a break, encourage them to step away from the desk and go into another room.

This will help their brain better understand that their desk is designed for homework and other areas of the home are designed for play.

Encourage Conversation 

Sometimes kids and teens can have a hard time opening up and coming to terms with their emotions. It’s like when you ask your child how their day at school was, and they reply with “fine.”

A great way to work around this is by asking them open-ended questions.

Here are a few examples.

1) How are you feeling about distant learning this year?

2) What are you most looking forward to experiencing this year?

3) How prepared do you feel for this year?

Say Goodbye to Multitasking 

No matter how simple or complex the task at hand may be, multitasking is not the answer.

When we multitask, we are much more likely to make careless mistakes along the way, which can significantly slow us down in the long run. 

Having multiple tabs open at once, texting, or listening to a podcast may feel like a good idea at the moment, but it can actually be very draining and stressful.

Be Flexible

The truth is, even the most thought out plans aren’t always a success. And that’s okay!

Of course, it’s always a good idea to set up a game plan at the start of the school year. 

But at the same time, none of us know for sure what this year will look like.

Every day is a new day, and we need to roll with the punches. It may be a challenge at first, but your child is resilient and they’ve got this! Learn More