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5 Things Working Moms Should Let Go
With so many responsibilities we have to worry about on a daily basis, it seems like we are always rushing from one thing to another. We never have time for ourselves to do what we love. And, we eventually feel tired, anxious, and stressed. That’s no way to live. So, maybe we all need to start letting go of some things to live a more enriched, fulfilled, and healthy life. 1. Trying to get everything done by yourself. While there are things that have to get done, sometimes we just need to let the dishes or laundry go for a night. We don’t always have to be the sole chef,…
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Teaching Your Kids to Talk About Taboo Topics
While taking a recent weekend trip to Orlando, my daughter just had to visit the Magic Kingdom, I caught up on a couple of TED Talks. Obviously, I wasn’t able to watch as many I wanted, but there one talk that really stood. It was educator Liz Kleinrock discussing how she approached the topics of racism in her fourth-grade class after one student asked, “Why are some people racist?” This prompted another student, to respond with this, “Maybe some people don’t like black people because their skin is the color of poop.” As a parent or teacher, there will be times when we’ll have these uncomfortable conversations with children. And,…
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10 Health & Wellness Podcasts That Will Get You Motivated Today
Making health and wellness a priority is challenge for anyone. But, this especially true for working moms who are constantly balancing their career and family. I mean who wants to workout or cook a healthy dinner after putting in a full day at work, chaperoning the kids around town, and running errands like going to the store or dry cleaners? However, we need to make our health a priority so that we can stay in-shape physically, mentally, and emotionally. And, when we are healthy, we can be more productive at work and present with our children. To help motivate you to put your health and wellness front and center, here…
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How To Ask For Help (And Get It)
We all have those moments in our lives when we need a helping hand from someone else. It could be something minor, such as asking your mom for a family recipe, a neighbor to watch your child for an hour, or a coworker to show you how to use a new program. Other times it could be something more severe, like asking for financial assistance as a single mom or talking to someone about postpartum. No matter how big or small our request is, it’s never easy to ask for help. A lot of that is dictated by fear. You’re afraid that your request will be rejected. You’re afraid that…
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How To Finally Manage Your Inbox Using Email Triage – Infographic
Did you know that the average worker spends 28 percent of their work week just on email? That’s more then 11 hours per week! Just think about what we working moms could do with that extra time! Even worse, when left unchecked, email overload can increase our stress levels and decrease everything from focus to productivity to morale. That’s not good for work or home. One possible solution is something called email triage. Named after the term emergency room triage, this productivity technique encourages you to view your inbox from an urgency perspective. This way you aren’t constantly clearing your inbox throughout the day. Instead, you only focus on the…
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Stressed and Anxious? Just Breathe
Between your career, family obligations, and whatever else life decides to throw at us, it’s no surprise that we’re overwhelmed and stressed. When stress continues to pile-up, however, it can negatively effect your mind, body, behavior, and mood. In fact, chronic stress can be so harmful that some have begun calling it the “silent killer.” As I’ve previously written, there are several different ways that you can de-stress. But, what if you don’t have time for a 60-minute workout or can’t wait until the weekend to decompress? The answer is to just breathe. Breathing techniques can be done anywhere and at anytime. Even better, deep breathing is extremely effective because…
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9 Simple Ways to De-Stress
Although it shouldn’t come as any surprise to us working moms, recent research has found full-time working moms have 40% higher stress levels than women without kids. “Work-family conflict is associated with increased psychological strain, with higher levels of stress and lower levels of wellbeing,” the researchers said. “Parents of young children are at particular risk of work-family conflict. Working conditions that are not flexible to these family demands, such as long working hours, could adversely impact on a person’s stress reactions.” Of course, not all women have the luxury of flexible working hours. And, even if you do, that doesn’t always help alleviate the stress that comes with being…
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Episode #17: Understanding Trauma in the Family
This week’s podcast focuses on a heavier, yet necessary topic, on how trauma can show up in the family. I’m joined by licensed therapist and mom of 3 Brandy Myers to discuss her work as a trauma therapists. She offers tips on how to talk to your children about tough topics, prevention of trauma, and how to navigate trauma should it occur with one of your children.
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It’s Time to Stop and Smell the Roses
Although it’s a cliché, there’s actually some truth behind the saying “stop and smell the roses.” In a study conducted by Rutgers University psychology professor Nancy Fagley, it was found that people are happier when they take the time to appreciate the people and things in their lives. But, what exactly is appreciation and how is it different than gratitude? Appreciation is defined by Fagley as “acknowledging the value and meaning of something—an event, a behavior, an object—and feeling positive emotional connection to it.” It involves being present so that you recognition and enjoy the good qualities of a person or item. Gratitude is the result of appreciation. It’s being…
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Episode #16: Improve Your Communication Today
This week I’m joined by licensed therapist, new mom, and someone I consider a sister Mattie Costill to discuss the different kinds and forms of communication. We’ll also go over the various ways to shape and guide the way we communicate with others.
