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All About Resting Your Mind

Our everyday activities can be both physically and emotionally draining.

Exercise, meditation, and animal therapy can help ease stress and refresh the mind.

Exercise:

Exercising energies the body and clears the mind.

Remember, a workout doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. Sometimes the best exercises take place outside the gym.

You just have to get your body moving and your heart raising.

Meditate:

Mediation has a handful of physical and mental benefits.

Several studies show that meditation can help with depression, anxiety, and chronic pain.

There is no one size fits all mediation technique.

There are several apps, websites, and even classes to take advantage of.

You just have to experiment until you find the technique best for you.

Animal Therapy:

Spending time with animals is very therapeutic.

Even if you don’t own a pet, there are plenty of ways you can still interact with animals.

You can visit your local zoo, offer to walk dogs, or volunteer at an animal shelter.

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It’s Time To Turn Those Negative Emotions Into Positive Ones

Want to learn how you can transform your emotions? Keep on reading to learn more.

Be Aware:

Before you can start changing your behaviours, you have to be aware of them.

Think about it – you can’t change a habit you don’t realize you have.

Keep in mind, changing bad habits can be hard, but not impossible! You just have to put the work in.

Listen To Your Body:

Anger and anxiety don’t only affect our mind. They also affect our body.

If you’re having a hard time controlling your thoughts, the secret is to control your body. A great way to calm the body down is by practicing deep breathing.

Deep breathing sends a message to your brain that it’s time to relax.

Question Your Thoughts:

Remember, just because you think something doesn’t make it true.

Make it a habit to question your beliefs on a regular basis.

It will take discipline and practice.

Just remember, you have the power to master your behaviour.

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Time Management Tips For Kids

It’s time to teach your kids all about time management. Let’s get started.

Encourage Self Talk

It’s so important to regularly check on your progress no matter what you’re working on. The thing is, kids don’t always know where to start.

These three reflection questions may be able to help…

1) Am I on track?

2) What do I need to do before getting started?

3) Am I halfway done?

Use a Timer

Here’s an activity you can do with your child.

Have them estimate how long something will take to complete.

Then, go ahead and time them completing the task. This can be anything from homework to making their bed.

The results may surprise both of you.

Practice

Mastering time management as a child or adult definitely doesn’t happen overnight. It takes a lot of practice.

The good news is, the more you practice the better you get.

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How Texting Can Impact Relationships

Never underestimate the power of face to face communication.

Conflict

Texting is a great way for couples to connect throughout the day.

But texting can also be used as a way to avoid dealing with conflict.

If you and your partner are in an argument, don’t text about it!

Instead, set aside some time to talk about everything in person.

Face to face communication is the way to go.

Texting When You’re Angry

It’s common to say something you don’t mean in the heat of the moment. Exactly why it’s never a good idea to text when you’re angry.

You can easily type something you’ll regret, or something can get misinterpreted along the way.

The best thing you can do is step away from your phone and take some time to calm down.

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We Can All Benefit From Some Alone Time

Believe it or not, there are many benefits of spending time alone.

Improves Concentration

It’s a common misconception that working as a team is more productive than working alone. But that’s not always the case.

When you work alone, the task at hand is all on you. If you miss something, it’s your responsibility to find a solution.

Or, if something is completely new to you, it’s your responsibility to do your research.

You Get To Know Yourself

The people we spend the majority of our time with have a huge influence on us.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with that at all.

But at the same time you can’t be who you are without knowing who you are.

Being alone can help you realize what you’re truly passionate about – not what your friends are passionate about.

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Preventing Future Stress

There are plenty of habits you can implement as soon as today that can help prevent future stress.

Buy a Spare or Two

When is the right time for something to break or get lost? Trick question – there is no right time.

It never hurts to have backups of items you use daily such as keys, chargers or batteries. Your future self will thank you.

Learn Something New

Get ready because it’s time to learn something new.

We all have that one chore we always delegate.

Of course, it’s okay to ask for help when you need it, but at the same time, it’s important to learn how to do things yourself.

One day your friend or spouse may not be available to fix that funny sound your car makes or reboot the wifi.

Now, you don’t need to master these skills overnight. Just take it one day at a time. You’ll feel confident before you know it.

Boost Your Retirement

Worried about your retirement fund? You’re not the only one.

On one hand you want to be prepared for the future.

But you still want to live comfortably.

Remember it’s better to start slow today than to never start at all.

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Find Work Holiday Parties Stressful?

You know yourself best. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at a work holiday party, don’t be afraid to leave early, or step out for some air.

Don’t Over Commit

Even if you love parties, attending too many can be stressful.

Remember, the choice is yours. If you ever feel like you have too much on your plate, don’t be afraid to say no to an event or two.

Now, some work parties may be mandatory. This is where you’ll need to pay attention to your instincts.

If an event ever feels like too much, you can always leave a bit early or take a step outside for some fresh air.

Your me-time matters.

Be Mindful

Have you ever spent an entire event glued to your phone?

It’s more common than you think – especially if you tend to feel uncomfortable in social situations.

Here’s a tip. Make a list of ways you can practice mindfulness at every event.

Try your best to appreciate the moment and of course, have fun!

Change Your Thoughts

You know that negative voice in your head that pops up at the worst times?

Well, it’s time to turn that voice off.

This step does require some homework, but it’ll be well worth it in the long run.

Take some time to challenge your thoughts before every party. That way, if any negative thoughts do pop up, you’ll know how to deal with them.

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How to Calm Down Your Anxious Child

Do you ever feel like nothing you say or do can help your child calm down? If so, you’re in the right place. Here are a few ways you can help manage your child’s anxiety.

Breathe

When a child is anxious, it’s typical for them to take fast and shallow breaths, which can actually make their anxiety worse.

Now, if your child is having trouble with their breathing, you can practice with them.

Show them how to breathe in through their nose and out through their mouth at a slow pace.

Narrow Focus

If your child has a great imagination, this may be the technique for them.

Simply ask them to imagine their happy place.

What is a happy place, you ask?

It’s a place they feel comfortable, relaxed and of course happy.

If they want to go the extra mile, they can even draw their happy place! Your fridge can never have too much artwork, after all.

Embrace Humor

Never underestimate the power of a good laugh.

Whether your little one likes to tell jokes, play games, or watch a funny show, every bit of laughter helps.

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How to Embrace Failure

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could finally embrace failure? Here are a few ways you can fail your way to success.

Identify as a Beginner

Every expert was once a beginner just like you! When trying to learn something new, questions will be your best friend.

There is no such thing as a stupid question, so don’t be afraid to ask many.

Criticism is a Good Thing

We get it, not a lot of people enjoy being criticized.

But it’s actually one of the best ways to learn.

Think about it. Just because you’re doing something “the right away” doesn’t mean there isn’t a better way.

Don’t be afraid to go out there and encourage others to criticize you.

There is always more to learn. You just have to be open to it.

Don’t Expect Overnight Success

Just because you’re having a hard time learning something new, doesn’t mean you’ll never get there.

Take a few minutes to brainstorm 5 things you’re already great at!

Now, be honest with yourself. Did you master those skills overnight? Or did it take time and dedication?

Take Breaks

Staying up all night working may sound like a good idea in the moment – but it’s actually far from the truth
You have to listen to what your body is telling you.

When you feel overworked – take a break. If you’re angry – walk around the block. When you’re ready, you can come back to the task with a new attitude.

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What to do When You’re Frustrated

We get it. No one enjoys feeling frustrated.

You just have to remember that feelings are not facts and are only temporary.

There are also several learnable skills out there that can help turn the frustration dial down.

Practice Patience

Patience isn’t something we can force. It’s one of those skills that takes time to master.

Don’t ignore your frustration. Instead teach yourself to understand it.

If you’re having trouble getting in the right headspace, focus on your breathing instead of your frustration.

Vent to a Friend

Even if nothing gets resolved right away, venting to a friend or family member can be very therapeutic.

When you’re frustrated, it’s not easy to think logically. Sometimes we just need someone to listen and remind us that everything will be okay.

Knowing you have someone on your side, can help you feel at ease.

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Therapy Dogs 101

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Therapy dogs aren’t ordinary dogs. They’re trained to provide emotional support, and deliver unconditional love.

What Makes Them Different

Most household dogs can get hyper around crowds…

Not therapy dogs!

They’re trained to stay calm and gentle around strangers. So, you don’t need to worry about them getting worked up.

How They Help Recovery

Several studies show that interacting with animals can help patients recover faster from surgery or accident.

How to Get a Therapy Dog

So, now you may be thinking to yourself, “Okay, I would love to get a therapy dog. What are the next steps?” Well, there are a couple of options.

You can either adopt one through an organization. Or, if you already have a dog, they can be trained.

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What it Takes to Forgive

Forgiveness truly is a gift you give yourself. It may not be easy. It may make you feel uncomfortable at first. But it’s one of the best ways to move forward instead of backward. Here are a couple of attributes it takes to forgive.

Know How to Deal With Others

Learning how to deal with people is such an important skill. In life, we won’t always see eye to eye with everyone, and that’s okay!

Life would be pretty boring if we all had the same opinions, right?

The sooner you learn to resolve conflict, the easier it’ll be to forgive.

Empathy

Having trouble forgiving someone?If so, try putting yourself in their shoes.

Maybe they’re going through a tough time, or maybe something got misinterpreted along the way.

Seeing and understanding a situation through someone else’s eyes can help you forgive and forget.