I was interviewed recently by Mystic Mag. I hope it helps you get to know me a bit better and that you find it enjoyable.
Cindy Interviewed by Mystic Mag
5 Realistic New Year’s Resolutions
Do you find yourself setting New Year’s resolutions each year, only to forget about them months, weeks, or even days later? If so, you’re not alone. According to statistics published by Forbes, the average resolution lasts only 3.74 months. In fact, so many people abandon their resolutions that January 17 has been declared by many sources as “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day.”
If you want to stay committed to your New Year’s resolutions this year, you may want to consider setting more realistic goals. Rather than attempting lofty resolutions that will require you to overhaul your entire life, decide to slowly incorporate smaller habits and routines. For example:
- If you want to start exercising more, resolve to take walks three or four times a week (rather than saying you’ll hit the gym every day).
- If you want to get more organized, resolve to clean each room one by one (rather than tackling your whole house all at once).
- If you want to save money, resolve to eat out only once or twice a week (rather than saying that you’ll cut out restaurants entirely).
- If you want to read more, resolve to finish one book each month (rather than one each week).
- If you want to get more sleep, resolve to start going to bed a half hour earlier each evening (rather than saying you’ll go to bed at 9 p.m. every night).
Notably, action-oriented resolutions tend to be more successful than avoidance-oriented resolutions. So, if your goal is to eat healthier this year, you may want to resolve to cook one new nutritious meal each week rather than saying that you’re going to stop eating sweets.
Bonus Resolution: Start Attending Therapy
Everyone can benefit from speaking to a therapist, so if you don’t already attend therapy, now’s the perfect time to start doing so. I can help you identify areas where you may have room for improvement, show you how to set realistic goals, and guide you toward achieving those objectives. Contact me today to schedule your first therapy session.
Stress Baking? Yes, It’s a Thing!
If you’re often overwhelmed by worry, you’ve probably looked into steps you can take to relieve your anxiety, and you might have come across something known as “stress baking.” Does baking really help reduce anxious thoughts? For many people, it does! Here are a few reasons why baking can be a great stress reliever:
- Baking forces you to focus on step-by-step instructions, which can help take your mind off the thoughts that are causing you stress.
- Many people with anxiety feel that they lack control over the world around them, and baking helps them regain a sense of power.
- Baking often requires repetitive motions—for example, stirring batter or kneading dough—which can be calming.
- If you baked with your parents or grandparents as a child, making the same recipes as an adult can help you recall those happy, soothing memories.
- Many people share their baked goods with loved ones, and the resulting social interaction can also help reduce anxiety.
Of course, it’s important to remember that stress baking isn’t always an answer to anxiety. If you’ve tried baking or other stress-relieving techniques and you’re still experiencing anxious thoughts, it’s important to consult with a professional.
Are You Living With Anxiety?
If anxiety has taken a hold on your life, we may be able to help. We have extensive experience treating anxiety, and in addition to stress baking, we can recommend other steps you can take to feel less anxious. Contact us today and let us know a date and time when you’ll be available, or book a Discovery Call here.
Coping With Grief/Loss
If you’ve recently lost someone or something, you may be going through the grieving process. Below, we explain what grief is and how long the grieving process can be expected to take. We also offer some tips on how to cope with loss.
What Is Grief?
The emotional pain that you feel after a loss is known as “grief.” Someone who’s grieving may feel a combination of shock, disbelief, sadness, anger, fear, and guilt, which can make it difficult to eat, sleep, and engage in other routine activities. It’s common for people to lose or gain weight, become sick, and feel achy.
Many people think of grief only in terms of the death of a loved one, but it can also occur when someone loses their:
- Health (their own health or a loved one’s health)
- Marriage, engagement, or dating relationship
- Friendship
- Job
- Money
- House or personal property
- Dream
- Sense of safety (this often occurs after someone experiences a trauma)
Grief can be divided into numerous categories, including anticipatory grief, complicated grief, and disenfranchised grief.
How Long Does the Grieving Process Take?
There’s no easy answer to this question, as the grieving timeline varies from one person to another. Some individuals heal within weeks or months, while others continue grieving for years. Many people go through the five stages of grief—which include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—but it’s possible to heal without experiencing all (or any) of these stages.
How to Cope With Loss
Many people who are grieving a loss find it helpful to speak with a therapist. In addition to therapy, you may want to try:
- Talking to your loved ones
- Joining a bereavement support group or another type of support group
- Writing in a journal
- Turning to your faith (if you’re religious or spiritual)
- Eating a nutritious diet
- Exercising
- Participating in your regular hobbies
The Help You Need to Heal From Loss
If you’re having a difficult time coping with loss, you should consider speaking to a therapist who specializes in grief. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Managing Work Life Balance
Do you have trouble balancing work and your personal life? If so, you’re not alone. According to Mental Health America (MHA), almost 40% of U.S. adults who are employed full time reported working 50+ hours a week, and 18% work 60+ hours.
Despite how common it is for people to work long hours, having a healthy work-life balance is critical. Working too many hours—especially if it bleeds into your evenings, weekends, and holidays—can cause you to:
- Feel stressed and burnt out
- Strain your relationships with your loved ones
- Neglect your hobbies and self-care activities
All of this, in turn, can negatively impact your physical, mental, emotional, and social health.
How to Achieve a Healthy Work-Life Balance
Creating a healthy work-life balance can sometimes be difficult, but it’s certainly doable. Here are some steps you can take to balance work and your personal life:
- Manage your time. There are various time management techniques—such as Pomodoro timers—that can help increase your productivity, meaning that you’ll get more work accomplished in a shorter amount of time.
- Multitask. If your job allows it, try to get some work done while simultaneously engaging in a self-care activity. For example, you could listen to a seminar while you go on a walk or do some laundry.
- Set boundaries. Decide what times you’ll be starting and stopping work each day and stick to that schedule as best you can. Also be sure to set aside time for vacation days even if you’re not planning an out-of-town trip.
Get Help Balancing Your Work & Personal Life
Work-life balance plays a crucial role in our overall health and happiness, so if you’re struggling in this area, we invite you to contact us and schedule a therapy session. We look forward to helping you take the steps needed to balance work and your personal life.
