You have probably heard about the dozens of benefits time outside provides, including improved physical health, calmer moods, better eyesight, expanding one's worldview, and many more. But one age group is having a harder time getting outside than any other and this is the tween and teen years. This is partly because of their age... Continue Reading →
Empathy is the kindling, but compassion is the long burning wood stoking the fire of real change. The first time I learned that there was a difference between empathy and compassion was in Sharon Salzberg's book, Real Change, where she talked about how empathy can drain social justice fighters and they have to be careful... Continue Reading →
Do you ever find yourself sitting down to read, with every intention to focus but you find yourself re-reading the same few sentences over and over again? This happens to me far too often. But I'm getting better and you can too. Photo by Sam Lion on Pexels.com I am a big believer in the... Continue Reading →
There's no better time to be generous. So many people I know are going through rough patches and the most prominent advice they are receiving is to focus on gratitude and help others where we can. This advice can be tough to swallow when you're in the thick of a crisis, but when the clouds... Continue Reading →
One of the best life hacks I've ever learned about was implementing a habit tracker into my daily routine. Habit trackers give me an instant mindfulness boost. I'm not sure there's any other thing I've tried that's been better for my mindfulness practice. Dare I say it's been even better than traditional meditation for my... Continue Reading →
I'm compelled to share my favorite blog with you because this author has helped me live a more mindful life in countless ways for over a decade. David Cain started Raptitude to help humans "get better at being human". As we all know life can be tricky and at times overwhelming, so he gives his... Continue Reading →
I recently downloaded the affirmations app - "I AM" and I'm finding a lot of value in it as it helps me navigate stressful times. I am someone who struggles with ruminations over all kinds of problems, big problems, small and everything in between. I tend to go straight to worst case scenarios when negative... Continue Reading →
When I first came across the 1000 Hours Outside challenge a few years ago I found it overwhelming. As a mom wearing many different hats and an ever busy schedule, it just seemed unrealistic to aim for 4 hours outside every single day. But the more I tried to get the kids outside, the more... Continue Reading →
With nicer weather upon us, we have more opportunities to get the kids outside which is a breeding ground for natural mindfulness. Mindfulness, especially outside, has been shown to reduce stress, increase concentration, and improve our overall well-being. How can you encourage mindfulness in nature with your children? Here are 7 quick tips for simple... Continue Reading →
Breathing exercises are one of the most effective natural stress relief tools. Studies have shown that controlled breathing reduces stress hormones, relaxes muscles, calms the mind and improves overall health. Photo by VisionPic .net on Pexels.com These exercises influence both physiological factors (by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system) and psychological factors (by taking attention away from... Continue Reading →
