Posts in Helpful tips
Three Ways to Help your Child Manage Anxiety

All kids get stressed from time to time. Most kids will complain, perhaps get upset, and ultimately move on. But for the one in five children in the United States who suffer from an anxiety disorder, it can be a major challenge to manage their worries. If you are a parent or caregiver to a child who tends to worry or exhibit anxiety, your first instinct is to try to quell his or her fears. Although it will be comforting to your child in the moment, it may not necessarily make the fears or worries disappear. Here are some tips to help your child address his or her anxiety.

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Using Consistency to be a Calmer Parent

Parenting is not an easy task. It may be tough to reinforce rules that your children will actually follow, or to get your kids from one activity to the next. You might be wondering, how can I make changes in the household that my family will live by?  Instead of struggling to enforce the routine, try using consistency and the CARES parenting skill...

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Getting Through the College Acceptance Process

Every year around this time, there are high school seniors all over the world anxiously waiting to hear back from colleges. Just like you, they’re all anticipating that email or letter in the mail from their top choice school. Think about it—you are not alone! This process sometimes feels endless, stressful and tiring, but the most difficult parts are already over! As your decisions roll in, whether they are acceptances, referrals, waitlists or rejections, it is important to stay positive!  Here are some tips to help you through this crazy time…  

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How to Maintain Healthy Relationships

We form so many bonds in our lives: with our partner, with our children, with our family, and with friends. However, sometimes bonds become strained. You might know someone whose relationships are suffering–or maybe your own relationships are suffering too. Maybe you two don’t see eye to eye lately, or maybe you are too busy to maintain the connection. If you could use some advice in supporting yourself and others in your relationships, consider these tips...

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Recognizing the Warning Signs of an Eating Disorder

Today marks the first day of 2018 NEDAwareness Week (National Eating Disorders). Eating disorders are serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses and so it is essential to understand the recognize the true warning signs and symptoms. Our culture values and applauds a particular body type and it is cherished and celebrated on social media as well. It is imperative that you recognize the difference between a healthy and appropriate approach to food and weight and a compulsive and unhealthy one. Here are some signs and symptoms of an eating disorder...

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Three Tips to Calm Your Mental Clutter

Did you know that the average person has between 50,000-70,000 thoughts per day? Imagine if we each believed every thought we had. We would swing from one thought to the next every two seconds, and attempt to determine our states of being and potential action steps over 50,000 times a day. Sounds crazy, right? There’s a reason why Buddha called this “monkey mind”! Buddhists believe that if we tame the “drunken monkeys” or racing thoughts in our mind, we will achieve more inner peace. Here are 3 simple ways to calm your overactive (monkey) mind:

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Using PLEASE Master Skills to Maintain Emotional Control

When people neglect their self care, they may become more emotionally vulnerable—meaning that more often, they get overwhelmed by negative emotions, engage in negative coping skills, and lash out at others impulsively. PLEASE Mastery is a practical skill that helps reduce emotional vulnerability. It enables people to better regulate their emotions and make positive choices. If you work on leading a balanced lifestyle, you are more likely to maintain emotional control during times of stress! This is how PLEASE Mastery Skills work:

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3 Mental Health Boosters for 2018

At the end of each year, many people like to reflect on accomplishments and potential improvements for next year. They take note of what they've succeeded at and what they can improve upon moving forward. Whether you call them goals or intentions, here are 3 tips that can benefit your mental health for the start of a new year...

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4 Tips to Prevent Holiday Stress

The holiday season can be merry for many people, but it can also be very stressful. All of the plans to make, gifts to give, and growing to-do list items can make life seem overwhelming! Or maybe this season reminds you of unpleasant memories from the past. Here are some helpful tips to reduce your holiday stress...

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Reduce your Teen’s Stress in the New Year

According to a survey by the University of Phoenix, high schoolers spend an average of 3.5 hours on homework each night. Add in time for extracurricular activities, part time jobs, and a social life, and your teen likely has a jam-packed schedule. Excessive stress can lead to sleep deprivation, headaches, feeling anxious, and procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities altogether. Here are some helpful tips to reduce your teen’s stress in the upcoming year...

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Tips to Transition your Student Home for Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving break often marks the first time that college students return home since the beginning of the fall semester; this can often be an anxiety-provoking and emotional experience for parents. Often, conflicts may occur when expectations collide and there is minimal communication about plans for the long weekend. Here are some tips to help make the Thanksgiving break a stress-free and enjoyable experience for everyone...

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How to Eat Mindfully this Thanksgiving

The holidays are just around the corner! They’re the time for great food, good times with family, celebration, and perhaps some stress as well. One thing that many people struggle with during this time of year is eating mindfully on Thanksgiving. With the abundance of delicious food at your family gather, it can be easy to overindulge and overeat. Here are some tips to help you keep yourself in check and be more mindful during this year's holiday meal...

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Fighting the Winter Blues

As the clock rolls back and as it gets darker earlier, many people begin to feel “down” and gloomy. It’s so easy to give in to the coldness and darkness of winter. But don’t lose hope! There are ways to fight your depressive symptoms in the wintertime. Whether you have seasonal affective disorder, or you just feel blue during the winter months, you should take a look at these simple suggestions...

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4 Tips for Monitoring your Teen’s Online Life

Today, teens are constantly on their phones.  They text friends, post to Snapchat, like each other’s Instagram posts, and scroll through their Facebook feeds.  It’s like their phones are attached to them—they simply cannot disconnect!  It’s hard for parents to keep up with their app profiles and online activity when there are so many apps that they use to connect to their peers and friends.  Parents want to make sure their teens are safe online, but it’s difficult to stay updated with the latest online trends.  Here are some tips to help you monitor your teen’s digital life.

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Three Simple Tips to Help your Child Overcome Bullying

October is National Bullying Awareness Month. According to Merriam-Webster, bullying is defined as abuse or mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger and more powerful. Unfortunately, bullying occurs far too often—according to the National Center for Educational Statistics, 20.8% of students reported being bullied, but 64% of children are bullied and do not report it. Bullying can make a child or teen feel isolated, shamed, anxious, or depressed. If you are worried that your child is struggling against bullies, read more about some simple tips for you to help...

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4 Simple and Quick Self-Care Strategies

When life gets very busy, you may feel like you can't take time to de-stress—there’s so much to do! However, ignoring your self-care routine can make you feel run down and burnt out. Instead, you should make time for simple strategies to improve your overall well-being, even if it just for a few minutes each day. Here are some quick and easy ways to practice self-care for when you are on-the-go...

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3 Tips to Tell the Difference Between Typical and Unhealthy Teen Behavior

It is sometimes difficult to distinguish normal adolescent mood shifts, reactions or rebellion from verifiable symptoms of depression, as they often mimic each other.

Read more for three quick ways to tell the difference...

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Finding the 'Right' Preschool

Sending your child to preschool is an exciting experience. Many parents feel overwhelmed about which school to choose, especially when there are so many options nearby. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the preschool search and find a school that suits your family...

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Adding a Dose of Mindfulness to Your Life

Mindfulness is living in the moment and focusing on your current experience. Although it seems like a trend or buzzword, mindfulness is evidence-based and has been studied to reduce negative physical and mental symptoms as well as improve overall well-being.  Here are some tips and tools for integrating mindfulness into your routine....

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4 Tips to Get your Teens on the Right Track this School Year

It’s September and everyone is excited for a great school year!  You might want the transition to go smoothly, however there might be some obstacles on the road. Here are some tips to help your teen get started on the right foot this year....

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