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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

What Scientists Have To Say About Boredom And The Brain

Jaclyn Baker
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Think about it. Your brain never gets a day off.  Every single day our brain works hard to listen, make decisions, and keep us safe. The brain is so devoted to protecting us that it never takes a break.

Even when we’re sleeping, our brain is still running. Keep in mind that getting enough sleep is extremely important for our brain, and it’s health. When we don’t get enough sleep, the brain can’t function properly, which can lead to problems down the line. Believe it or not, sleep isn’t the only gift you can give your brain. 

Wondering what the other gift is?

If you guessed embracing boredom, you are correct!

Benefits of Embracing Boredom 

The idea of sitting down and doing nothing can seem quite counterintuitive. However, it can actually work wonders on our productivity.

When we are constantly on the go, we are much more likely to experience burnout and decision fatigue.

Several studies show that boredom can increase productivity and creativity. 

Just Be

When life gets busy sometimes, we can forget to take a minute to just be and do nothing. 

Many famous writers have said their best ideas have come to them while taking a shower or organizing the house.  It just goes to show how powerful the brain can be, and how ideas can come to us anytime. So many of us have a daily to-do list. But, it may be time to think outside the box and start a to-be-list. 

Taking a casual walk around the block or stretching for as little as 5 minutes a day can make a huge difference! What are you waiting for? It’s time to embrace boredom and give your brain the rest it needs. Learn More

Changing The Way You Look At Online Dating

Jaclyn Baker
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Due to COVID-19, many people think that dating just isn’t an option. But that is not the case whatsoever. 

Online dating is a fantastic way to meet new people and step outside of your comfort zone. 

We live in a world that is constantly changing, and people all over the world have met their partners through dating apps and websites.  

Even though dating apps have not been around for that long, they have many strong success stories. 

Next Steps

Keep in mind that relationships can’t stay online forever. 

Sometimes it’s easier to open up and form a connection online. You’d be surprised how well you can get to know someone by instant messaging. 

The thing is, sometimes, text messages can get misinterpreted along the way and our emotions can play tricks on us. 

Even if you’ve been talking to someone online for months, actually setting up an in-person date can be scary. 

Your Attitude Matters

Go into every date with an open mind, and remember there is no such thing as a bad date! 

The first date can go one of two ways. Either the two of you have a good time and make a plan to go out again.

Or you realize that the spark isn’t there and you walk away with a new friend.

Set Reasonable Expectations

Sometimes we can go into dates with very high expectations, which can bring on a lot of pressure and anxiety. There is no such thing as perfection, and no one is expecting you to be perfect. 

Dating Takes Patience

Remember, dating is a process, and there is no set in the stone rule book.

The best thing you can do is put yourself out there, keep an open mind, and have fun!

Learn More

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

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

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. 

Learn More