Tag Archives: advice

Going Healthy, Health, Life, Lifestyle, Tips

Seasonal Depression: What Is It And How Can You Help

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Seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder, is often referred to as “winter depression” because a lot of the symptoms people experience worsen over the winter months. Many people report that the change in weather and the darkness of the sky can have serious effects on their mental health and can leave them feeling depressed and unmotivated. Often, people who experience seasonal depression also experience depression throughout the year too, it’s just that their symptoms become much more severe during wintertime. The change of seasons from the bright sunny days to dreary grey mornings can leave people feeling very low and it can affect their whole life. A lot of people tend to dismiss seasonal depression as they feel as if it isn’t a real disorder, but there is a lot of scientific evidence to back the effects seasonal change can have on our minds.

So, now that we have established what seasonal depression is, it is time to have a discussion about what methods you can use to help ease some of the feelings. Of course, depression is a very serious illness, and it is unlikely that any of the tips will cure depression, but they may be helpful even in just the smallest way. When you are feeling depressed, it is important to appreciate the little things and if even something small brings you joy, then focus on that and keep on doing it. This article will discuss a few things you can do help cope with your seasonal depression. As mentioned above, not all of them will be effective for everyone, but perhaps give them a try and see if they work for you.

Talk To Your Doctor

If you know that you suffer from seasonal depression every year or even if you have only just started to notice the effects, then it is always best to talk to your doctor. It is very reasonable to have stress during the holidays as there is an enormous amount of pressure to go to events or just to feel happy. The holiday season is synonymous with parties, presents, and happiness, which is why if you do not feel happy, you can suddenly take a sharp turn and start feeling as if you are missing out or ruining other people’s experiences. Feeling like this is a fairly common experience, so it is important to know that you are not alone in this and there are other people who feel the same way. Talking to your doctor will give you a good outlet as you can explain your feelings and they can give you ways to help. It could be that they recommend you see a therapist, or they may offer medication as another potential treatment.

Make Plans With Friends

One big part of seasonal depression can leave people feeling very isolated and removed from their loved ones. During the summer months, it is a lot easier to hand out and see people as the weather is so nice, so you just want to spend it at home. If you know that during the winter you start to feel isolated, then it could be a good idea to start making plans now. Get together with your friends and start organizing the different trips you can all do together in the winter. It doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant plans. It could just be something as simple as having a movie night together or watching your favorite shows. It is likely that during the winter, you won’t want to explore outside the house too much anyway, so planning some cozy nights in could be the way to go. You could even host the movie nights at a different person’s house each week, to make it a bit more interesting.

Light Therapy

Another good tip that could help with seasonal depression is light therapy. One of the big causes of seasonal depression is that there is a distinct lack of natural sunlight as the days are now much shorter. Sunlight is very important for people as it gives us Vitamin D and can help release serotonin. So, if you are starting to feel depressed during the summer months, then it would be a good idea to first try and get as much natural sunlight as you can. If you have a lunch break at work, then take that time to go out and just sit in natural light for half an hour or so. Another alternative to this is light therapy as this is a good way to get the effects of sunlight when there isn’t any in the sky. Light therapy involved sitting by a special lamp that is designed to mimic the effects of sunlight. Most people do light therapy for around 30 minutes every morning, to start their day off right.

Books, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

How To Turn Your Child Into An Avid Reader With These Tips

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Photo by Karolina Grabowska: 

It’s no secret that reading is good for children, but getting your kid excited about spending time with their nose in a book can be challenging. However, with a few simple tricks, you can turn the idea of reading—and spending time together as a family—into something they’ll look forward to every day. Here are a few tips on how to turn your child into an avid reader:

Read to them every day.

Reading aloud should become part of your daily routine so that it becomes something typical and expected—like brushing your teeth before bedtime. Reading aloud shouldn’t feel like work; instead, it should be relaxing and enjoyable for you and your child.

Make books accessible and enjoyable.

You should consider when choosing where to put books is whether or not they are easily visible to your child. For example, if you only have one bookcase in your living room, but it’s located on a wall opposite where your kid usually sits while watching TV, they may be less likely to see the books and choose them over electronic tablets or video games.

A better option would be putting several small shelves near where your kid regularly spends time (like their bedside table). It’s also helpful if these shelves can be moved around so that if one spot doesn’t work for whatever reason (too crowded with toys), there are other places nearby where they can go next time!

Use the library often.

Libraries are fantastic resources, and they’re free! In addition to all the books you could want, there are movies and audiobooks. Libraries also have computers for kids to use in the library or at home. There are programs for all ages so no one will be left out.

Have dedicated reading time every day.

Make reading a priority and make it fun. This means setting aside time for your child to read every day, even if it’s just 10 minutes. It also means putting the book away when they finish reading so they can relax or take a nap or play with friends after they finish reading.

You want to ensure that your child connects reading with relaxation and fun, not work or stress. If this is how they see it now, then you’re doing something right! Use this opportunity to talk about how much you enjoy spending time together, whether it’s by talking about a story or just sitting quietly together on the couch while enjoying each other’s company while one of them reads aloud from our favorite book.

Check out audiobooks together.

There are tons of audiobooks for kids out there, and some of them even have downloadable versions. If your child is not keen on reading but loves listening to someone else read (like many kids do), this can be a great way to get them started. Even if they don’t enjoy the book, listening might make it easier for them to stay engaged in the story and see what the fuss is about.

This also allows you to bond over something that interests both of you—plus, audiobooks are great for bonding time!

Going Strong, Life, Lifestyle, Parenting, Tips

6 Ways To Avoid Dad Burnout

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Being a dad is a rewarding role but it can also take a lot out of you. Working hard and trying to care for your family may leave you feeling exhausted at the end of the day.

If you have a busy life then it’s all the more reason why you need to put measures in place that help you to remain energized and in a good mood. What you don’t want to do is ignore how you’re feeling and hope that your anxiety goes away. Here are six ways to avoid dad burnout so you can get your health and happiness back on track.

1. Identify Your Stressors

A wise first step is to create awareness around what stresses you out the most. For example, it may be working long hours, having young kids who need you, lack of sleep, or having poor time management skills. Identify your stressors so that you can work with them and hopefully not let certain aspects of your life get in the way of you feeling your best. Once you know the causes you can better cope and take good care of yourself as soon as you notice your stress levels rising.

2. Find Time to Relax & Put Your Feet up

It’s also important that you find time to relax and put your feet up every so often. Rushing around and being on the go all the time will drain your energy and you might feel worn down. Avoid dad burnout by making it a point to rest and calm your mind and body. There are many ways to spend your time such as watching a movie, reading a book, or sitting on your patio and enjoying some of the best cigars and pipes on the market. You’ll feel refreshed and more like tackling your to-do list when you’re good about incorporating downtime and not always being connected and busy.

3. Set Boundaries at Work

Avoid dad burnout by not overdoing it at your job. Set boundaries at work so people understand your limits and your availability. Learn to delegate tasks to others so that you have a manageable workload and aren’t the one staying at the office late each night. Ask for help when you need it and set up a home office that will provide you with greater flexibility when it comes to your work hours and schedule. Make lists and set priorities so you know what needs to get done first and foremost each day. Take time off, eliminate distractions, and learn to say no when you don’t have availability.

4. Have A Personal Life & Hobbies

Another way to avoid dad burnout is to have a personal life and hobbies. This will keep you happy and engaged in life. It also provides you with the opportunity to have a social calendar and activities that help you build relationships with others. Hobbies enrich your life and leisure time allows you to take breaks from your responsibilities and work duties. There are many options out there to give a try so start by experimenting with different hobbies and see what you find the most rewarding.

5. Exercise & Break A Sweat

One of the best ways to stay healthy and beat stress is to exercise. Not only move more but also find ways to break a sweat regularly so that you sleep better and have less anxiety. You’ll feel more energized overall and will love the way you look which will boost your confidence. Work daily exercise into your routine and you’ll feel great and have a positive outlet for managing your stress. You’ll like the way you look and it’s an effective way to boost your mood and mental health. Even if you don’t feel like exercising you should try to because you’ll feel better once you’re done.

6. Open up & Talk

It might also help to confide in others when you’re feeling overwhelmed or need advice. Open up and talk to your spouse or friends and extended family and use them as sounding boards. Let them know what you need from them such as just to listen or if you want advice and suggestions for certain problems you’re facing. The more you get in the habit of opening up and talking about how you’re feeling, the more likely it is that you’ll avoid burnout and be able to navigate the future with a more positive and optimistic outlook. There are also dad support groups and other fathers out there who are going through what you are and would likely be happy to listen and converse.