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Becoming More Authentic

Jaclyn Baker
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It’s not too late to start living more authentically and go after what you really want.

Here’s how…

Keep Your Goals In Mind

Here are a few questions to ask yourself: 

  • What do you find meaningful?
  • Do you enjoy what you do?
  • Where do you see yourself five years from now?
  • If you could change one thing about your life right now, what would it be?

It’s so easy to get lost and caught up in other people’s goals that we can forget to pursue our own or put them at the bottom of our priority list.

Once you establish what you truly want right now – you can go after it. 

Remember – if you can dream it, you can do it.

Listen To Your Thoughts

If something out of the ordinary makes you feel sad, happy or confused, don’t push those emotions aside. 

Take a closer look at them and get to know them on a deeper level. 

The sooner we challenge our thoughts, the sooner we can understand them.

It’s common for goals, priorities and feelings to change over time. 

What seemed insignificant to you last year could have an entirely different emotional meaning today. 

When in doubt – listen to your instincts. 

“Authenticity, living your truth, kindness – these are necessary virtues.” – Merle Dandridge

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You Are Not Alone During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Jaclyn Baker

September is a month to remember those who have struggled with thoughts of suicide and have lost their lives. Suicide Prevention Awareness Month aims to send a message of change and of support as a reminder that you are not alone.

If you or anyone you know has struggled with these thoughts it can be helpful to hear from those who have experience.

This month also urges us to help prevent suicide by being there for others. 

According to 4 in 5 US adults (80%), they say that mental and physical health are equally important. Creating a safe environment to show that mental health is a priority starts by connecting with people who are going through a challenging time. 

It can make a significant change in their life.

Be There 

Offering to be there for someone and listen to them without judgement can be a contributing factor in them seeking out more help. When you show others that you are willing to lend a helping hand, it can give peace of mind that someone cares. 

If your friend or family member is working through their healing, show that you are willing to be someone they can lean on during this time. 

Stay Connected

Taking action to connect friends or family with helpful resources can also show your support. Often, people may not know where to turn or what’s available to them. If someone is at risk, you can guide them to the right places so they can continue to seek help. 

Letting them know that what they are facing isn’t something they have to carry alone can lighten the burden. 

Learn about more resources and helpful tools by following the links below:

Suicide Prevention Month

Learning The Warning Signs

Start The Conversation

Read Stories From Survivors

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line

An Open Conversation: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Jaclyn Baker

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September) is about making mental health an open discussion between family, friends, and peers. It’s important to highlight the voices and stories of those who are in recovery from suicidal thoughts, to spread messages of hope and resilience. 

When asked, more than 9 in 10 adults (94%) have said they would do something if someone close to them was contemplating suicide. 

Checking in on those around you and having these conversations can make an impact in their life. Keep an eye out for the signs and reach out to show your support by learning some of these conversation starters:

Phrases You Can Ask

“I’ve noticed you’ve been down lately? What’s going on?” 

“Hi, we haven’t talked in a while. How are you?” 

“Is there anything you want to talk about?” 

Offering A Listening Ear

Remember that you aren’t expected to have all the answers or be an expert. Listening and being someone people know they can count on, is a great place to begin. 

Just showing a friend that you care and want to understand them is enough.

Extending The Invitation

Even being in the presence of a friend, lets them know that if they ever want to talk they have the option to when they are with you. Whether you invite them to go for a walk, grab food together, or play games. 

Taking the pressure off and letting a heart to heart come naturally can also be helpful. 

For more resources, you can follow these links:

Learning The Warning Signs

Suicide Prevention Awareness Month Information | NAMI

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line

Navigating a Mental Health Crisis

We All Have Bad Days

Jaclyn Baker
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We’ve all had those days where it feels like nothing goes our way.

You know, those days where we forgot to set our alarm clock, or accidentally sent an important email with typos…

When something goes wrong, sometimes it can feel like you took a step back.

But you know what? It doesn’t have to feel that way. You have it in you to turn a bad day into a great one. 

Take Away The Power

The truth is bad days will come.

But they will also go. 

You don’t have to let a bad day weigh on your mind for days. 

Reminding yourself that these days don’t last forever can take that power away. 

Living in the present and taking each situation head-on can help you see that those bad days have some good in them too.

Escape Expectations 

High expectations and running into tough challenges are not exactly a winning combination. 

Meaning that a mistake or setback can feel even worse if you went into the day hoping for it to be perfect. 

Try reframing your expectations instead, and you will see that there isn’t an obstacle you can’t overcome. 

Accept that you are human, and there will be times when you fall. 

But you know what? You can still get right back up afterwards. 

Set your expectations around the phrase “I tried my best” and cut yourself some slack. 

Just be proud of knowing that you gave the day your all. 

Enjoy The Detour 

Each day is a new beginning that allows you to grow further into the person you are. 

So, think about a bad day more like a mini detour on your path to success rather than a roadblock.

Even if you don’t get to your destination today, you can still take time to enjoy the view. 

It’s when you look at the bigger picture that you start to take joy in the detours. 

Every bad day comes along with a life lesson and can help you appreciate the good days even more. 

There is strength in every struggle!

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Do We Really Thrive On Structure?

Jaclyn Baker
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Let’s talk about structure, shall we? 

Having structure is more than just staying organized. 

Maintaining structure can build confidence and help you stay on track throughout the day. 

Have you ever had one of those days where you had a list a mile long and had no idea where to start?

We all have! 

Adding structure to your day may not be able to eliminate those moments completely…

But it can certainly help dial them down.  Remember – your entire day doesn’t have to be perfect. 

All you can do is start slow and work your way up at your own pace. 

Your Sleep Schedule

Shortcuts aren’t always a bad thing. But they do have their time and their place. 

Your sleep is one of those things that needs your undivided attention and should be taken seriously. 

When we are overtired, it is difficult to think clearly and put things in perspective, which can make it harder to make decisions throughout the day. 

Going to sleep and waking up at the same time can help take out the guesswork and keep your body on track. 

It all comes down to changing your mindset. Instead of telling yourself, you have to go to sleep, tell yourself it’s time to go to sleep. 

Sleep shouldn’t feel like a chore you have to do. It should feel like a treat! 

Reflection/Quiet Time

None of us are superheroes, and we all need some quiet time throughout the day. 

An uninterrupted moment free of distractions or overstimulating environments can help you to unplug and reflect. 

Let’s be honest. It can be difficult to relax and enjoy the moment when your phone is buzzing every 5 minutes

You deserve to have that time for yourself where you can think about what you’re grateful for and highlight all the ways you’ve made a mark on the day.

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Changing The Way You Look At Goal Setting

Jaclyn Baker
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How many times have you started a goal just to end up forgetting about it a few weeks in? 

Instead of waiting for a special occasion, like New Year’s or your birthday to start that new project – just start and see what happens. 

Be Intentional 

Hitting the refresh button and starting all over again can be tempting, but often, it isn’t as easy as it sounds. Creating a habit or a routine takes more than hoping that things will change once that day comes. 

Instead of resolutions, try setting intentions. 

Intentions give you some more wiggle room and can take some of that pressure off.

An intention like “I will be more patient with others” gives you a less strict guideline that you can grow on more and more each day.

Put a Plan In Place

Making a solid plan could be the secret to making your goal become a reality. 

Take your intentions even further by breaking them down into small steps.

For example, if you want to learn a new language, you will need to get familiar with the basics first. 

After all, anything worthwhile doesn’t happen overnight. 

Prepare For Distractions

As much as you plan, sometimes life can get in the way. 

When plans pivot, let them!

 It’s okay to skip a day or two when you need a break as long as you don’t lose sight of the end game. 

“By recording your dreams and goals on paper, you set in motion the process of becoming the person you most want to be. Put your future in good hands – your own.” – Mark Victor Hansen

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3 Secrets to Sleeping Better at Night

Jaclyn Baker
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Ever have one of those nights where you spend more time staring at the ceiling than you do sleeping?

Yes – those nights are not fun.

We all have tough nights from time to time, and that’s okay. But you know what they say. Tomorrow is another day. 

Go Easy On Yourself

When you can’t sleep, it’s so easy to get nervous and start calculating how many hours/minutes you have before your alarm goes off.

Even though it’s much easier said than done, the best thing you can do is try and relax and see where the night takes you.

Even if you don’t end up getting as many hours of shut-eye as you’d like one evening, there is always tomorrow.

Ditch The Devices

Texting, watching a video or reading the news before bed can take a toll on your sleep.

It’s so incredibly easy for time to fly by while texting a friend or playing on your phone. A few minutes of intended before-bed screen time could easily turn into an hour or more. 

On another note, watching or reading something stressful can make it that much harder to relax and unwind. 

If you’ve gotten into the habit of spending time on your phone before bed, that’s quite alright. All you need to do is replace that with another habit.

You practice light stretches, read an easy book or journal. 

Listen to Your Body

Paying attention to the tell-tale signs of tiredness can work wonders for your sleeping patterns. 

If you feel your eyelids starting to get heavy or a yawn coming on a couple of hours before you typically go to bed, don’t try to fight it.

Even if your mind is still awake, lean into what your body is trying to tell you. Get comfortable, lay down and let your muscles relax. 

This technique also works in the opposite direction. 

If one evening you don’t feel tired, respect that. Trying to sleep when you aren’t tired can be very frustrating.

Instead of hopping into bed, you can participate in a relaxing activity until you start feeling tired.

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