In those early months, I, along with most of the rest of the country, was using “surge capacity” to operate, as Ann Masten, PhD, a psychologist and professor of child development at the University of Minnesota, calls it. Surge capacity is a collection of adaptive systems — mental and physical — that humans draw on for short-term survival in acutely stressful situations, such as natural disasters. But natural …more
8 Techniques to Help You Master the Art of Relaxation
August 18th, 2020 - By Jen in Anxiety, UncategorizedLife is stressful. From health and safety worries to balancing work and family, we have a lot on our plates.” What I hear from my clients the most is that it’s hard to turn off their minds. They’re constantly going, which prevents them from relaxing,” says psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD. “But we need to think of relaxing not as a stopping point, but as a necessary …more
HOW TO FIND JOY IN AN UNCONVENTIONAL SUMMER
June 17th, 2020 - By Jen in UncategorizedThough it may seem trivial in the face of the momentous challenges we face right now (and some of you have told me that you may feel guilty experiencing joy when others are struggling), moments of joy provide a necessary rest — physically, emotionally, and mentally — making us more resilient over the long term. And summer, even an unconventional one like this one, offers …more
7 Ways to Change Negative Self-Talk
June 4th, 2020 - By Jen in UncategorizedLet me be the first to tell you that there’s nothing wrong with you. You may have some patterns to unlearn, some self-love to embrace, and some new behaviors to embody, but seriously, there’s nothing wrong with you. If you want to change your negative self-talk, you’ve got to first understand where it comes from. Read full article: Mark’s Daily Apple, “7 Ways to Change Negative …more
Covid-19 Testing Options
May 6th, 2020 - By Jen in UncategorizedSEVERAL TESTING FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO PERFORM MOLECULAR PCR NASAL SWAB TESTING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19: Read full article: Helios, “Covid-19 Testing Options”
Why some kids are happier right now, and other unexpected effects of quarantine
April 29th, 2020 - By Jen in Uncategorized(CNN) — Like most parents, Seagal Hagege, a mom of three in Irvine, California, wasn’t exactly looking forward to sheltering in place. Together all day? In one house? How would the kids respond? Much better than she could have ever imagined, it turns out. Over the course of the past month, she said her kids, ages 8, 7 and 4, have become better behaved, kinder to …more
Zoom Exhaustion is Real. Here are Six ways to Find Balance and Stay Connected
April 7th, 2020 - By Jen in UncategorizedSteven Hickman, Psy.D., executive director of the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, offers this timely perspective on managing our new virtual reality. Read full article: Mindful, “Zoom Exhaustion is Real. Here are Six ways to Find Balance and Stay Connected”
Learning Through Play: 101 Ways To Keep Young Minds Occupied At Home
March 31st, 2020 - By Jen in UncategorizedParents, right off the bat, let me say that there is no right way to be feeling about the current situation. Relief, anxiety, excitement, dread are all normal. We’re all figuring this out as we go along and doing the best we can. Virtual high-five! This is not a homeschooling post per se. This is about the importance of play as learning, and letting our kids …more
Meditation in an Emergency
March 21st, 2020 - By Jen in Anxiety, UncategorizedListen to full podcast: Waking Up by Sam Harris, “Meditation in an Emergency”
Mindfulness during the coronavirus: Harvard professor’s tips to help lower anxiety
March 15th, 2020 - By Jen in Anxiety, UncategorizedThe coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, continues to disrupt life as we know it. As the World Health Organization officially declared the virus a “pandemic,” cities across the country are implementing preventative measures, like “social distancing,” to try to mitigate the number of cases. To combat the scary news and anxiety around it, meditation and mindfulness can be your best friends. Read full article: ABC Action News, “Mindfulness during …more