While I’m a huge sucker for Valentine’s Day, a good Rom-Com, and sweet love notes, I also think it’s the perfect time of year to acknowledge all matters of the heart, including heart healthy foods, stress management and exercise habits. The past year has been even more stressful than “normal” years, which means our hearts have taken a few hits in more ways than we know! This year, for Valentine’s Day, explore the dangers of stress and the magic of meditation for a healthy heart.

This will be my last post before Christmas Day 2020. How better than to end this Holiday Rally with Gratitude?

I find it amazing to think that such a simple practice as writing down three things you are grateful for everyday can change your life!

Today I wanted to take a time out from organizing, thinking, running around like crazy, overthinking, and planning to really focus in on the JOY of the holidays.

We often get sucked into the stresses of the holidays and forget to sink in to the opportunities for joy, family, celebration, happiness, reminiscing, etc.

Another Saturday, another style of journaling!

We’ve talked a little bit about using Morning Pages and List Journaling to brain dump, but today’s type of journaling is a more organized and specific way to brain dump.

You can use this method for to-do lists, but also studying for tests, learning a new skill or organizing tasks.

What makes you laugh - like serious gut-ache, cheeks hurting, tears streaming laugh? I love the rush of relaxation I feel after a good laugh, but sadly, I don’t feel like I’ve laughed that hard in a while.

They say, “Laughter is the best medicine.”

Scientists have done research to discover that laughter, humor and even just smiling have a number of benefits that support your physical and mental health, including:

-        Reduction of stress and anxiety

-        Improving optimism

Christmas is so close, yet so far away. Here’s where I’m at today:

Stresses of shopping, deadlines and planning are starting to pile up. Time seems to be running out while my list continues to grow. My kids’ focus in remote learning is dwindling by the minute, which means my focus and attention is being sucked into 5th and 8th grade. The holiday blues seem to be tugging at my heart strings.

Can you relate?

For me, a big part of journaling is to brain dump.

I’m like a computer with way too many windows open on my browser. What happens to your computer when you have too many windows open? It starts to run slower, process slower, glitch out, and make you angry, right?!

I feel that journaling has the effect of closing some of my open windows in order to create optimization.