coronavirus

4 Healthy Habits To Help You Deal With Stress

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

Tapping Into Your True Authenticity

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

Self-Care 101 : Parenting Edition

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?

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

Getting Used To Your Old Office Environment

Now that some public establishments are starting to re-open, more people are slowly returning back to their offices. 

If you’ve been working from home these past several months, chances are by now you’ve established a pretty solid routine. 

Even if you’re excited to go back to work, everything from the commute to waking up early likely will take some time to get used to.

Here are 3 tips that can help you adjust!

Connect With Your Team:

No matter what industry you’re in, connecting with your team is so important.

Establishing relationships with coworkers both face to face and virtually can help provide you with a sense of belonging and community. It can also make it easier to work together towards common goals. 

Plan Your Days In Advance:

Setting aside just ten minutes every evening to plan the following day can work wonders on your overall performance.

We all have our own focus style. Some of us get our best work done first thing in the morning, while others thrive in the evening.

Independent high-value tasks that require intense concentration should be done during your peak times. 

On another note, high-value tasks that require collaboration will require some flexibility and compromise. 

Be sure to ask your teammates what their peak hours are. If you have the same schedule, that’s great! If not, you’ll have to land on a happy medium. 

Take Some Time To Relax:

It’s no secret that commuting can be exhausting at times. When you get home from work, it’s not uncommon to dive into housework or prepare dinner. 

However, doing so can be very overwhelming and draining. 

Instead, give yourself some time to relax and get out of work mode. Proper and consistent relaxation helps us stay productive, energized and motivated! Exactly what we all need after a long day at the office. Learn More

Dealing With Stress One Step At A Time

The past several months have not been easy. We are dealing with a global pandemic, uncertainty, change and confusion.

When our days are full of so many unknowns, it’s common for our mind to get stuck on worst-case scenarios. 

No matter what you want to accomplish or move past, you just have to take it one step at a time. Here are 4 strategies that can help you get started.

Get Creative

Everything is figure-outable. Just because you haven’t landed on a solution yet, doesn’t mean it isn’t out there. You can call up a friend and ask for their input, do some research, or journal.

Practice Gratitude

There is always something to be grateful for. When life gets busy, we can forget how lucky we are.

Here’s some homework. Grab a pen and paper and write down five things or people you are grateful for.

Don’t stop there.

After that, go ahead and write down why you are grateful for those things/people.

Doing so can help you form a deeper appreciation for the little things.

Think About What You’ve Learned

Every stressful situation can help you see things in a new way. Every learning experience, no matter how big or small, is something to be grateful for.

Take a Time Out

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, sometimes you need to take a step back and spend some time alone.

Go somewhere quiet, sit down and close your eyes. Practice your breathing and think positive thoughts. Once you’ve taken the time to calm down, you can re-enter the situation and go from there. Learn More

Adapting To Life After Quarantine

If you’ve been feeling anxious about what life will be like after Coronavirus you’re not the only one. Right now, more businesses are starting to re-open, and life is beginning to feel a bit more normal.

Most of us have been spending the vast majority of our time at home for many months now, and have established a “new normal.”

In fact, some people now prefer working, shopping, and connecting with loved ones virtually. 

There is still so much we don’t know about Coronavirus which can bring on stress and anxiety. 

If you’re feeling anxious about getting back out there, here’s what to do…

Go At Your Our Pace:

Just because some restaurants are open, doesn’t mean you have to go to the most popular one today. Do some research and see which restaurants have little – no foot traffic. Once you get more comfortable spending time in smaller establishments, you can slowly work your way up.

Chances are the first few outings will make you feel awkward or uncomfortable. But as time goes on, it will get better.

Focus On What You Can Control:

It may feel like you have little – no control right now, but you do! You have control over how often you wash your hands, what establishments you go to, who you associate with, and much more.

Talk To Someone You Trust:

Simply getting your worries and anxieties off your chest can make you feel so much better! When we get so worked up, it can be hard to think logically. If you’re feeling anxious right now, the best thing you can do is talk to a friend, family member, or healthcare professional. Who knows, your loved ones may be going through the exact same thing. If so, you can support one another along the way. Learn More