Stress Less Week by Active Minds
By Kris Powers | April 8th 2014
April is Stress Awareness Month and April 21-25th is Stress Less Week, a program of Active Minds in partnership with BeyondOCD and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL). According to the Active Minds website, the objective of Stress Less Week is to not only spread awareness about stress and anxiety disorders but also to work towards the creation of supportive communities where one is encouraged to speak up about struggles.
"All People Matter" Social Worker's Month
By Kris Powers | March 25th 2014
“All People Matter”
The National Association of Social Workers’ (NASW) goal for Social Work Month 2014 (March) is to educate the public about the profession’s commitment to improving social conditions and opportunities for increased quality of life for everyone. The NASW believes these values are essential to improving relationships within families, making social support systems more effective, and building stronger communities.
As part of their campaign to raise awareness, the NASW is providing social workers as well as the public with education materials outlining ways in which Americans can benefit from social safety net programs. According to the NASW website:
1) NASW is expanding its expert referral program to 1,000 contacts. A new interactive tool will allow journalists and others to quickly locate knowledgeable social work sources.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month by Ingrid Herrera-Yee
By Guest Blogger | March 18th 2014
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month is an opportunity to learn more about developmental disabilities and how to support those who have them.
Alzheimer's Awareness Month
By Kris Powers | November 26th 2013
The holidays are a wonderful time to share family stories and memories. If we're honest with ourselves, some of us might be secretly dreading having to sit through another one of Uncle Bob’s “winter of 1966” tales. But for those with a family member suffering from Alzheimer’s, the loss of memory can be devastating, and many would give anything to hear their loved one share a story with them once again.
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and the facts are staggering. According to the Alzheimer’s Association:
- Alzheimer's disease is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
- More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease.
Twenty-four Hours in a Day
By Kris Powers | October 1st 2013
In this time of crazy schedules and always trying to cram more things into a busy day, I keep coming back to the saying, “there are only 24 hours in a day”. We all have the same 24 hours, but for many people that just does not seem like enough time to get everything that needs to be done, well…… done.
When we look at all of the things vying for our attention; family, work, school, home, etc. the daily “needs” can seem overwhelming. When you feel overwhelmed, it might be time to take a step back and evaluate where you are.
The Problem with Multitasking
By Kris Powers | July 30th 2013
Multitasking? No problem. Or so I thought. Juggling two jobs, two children, two offices and a husband gives me ample opportunity to stretch my multitasking muscles. I used to brag about how much I could handle at one time. And I always thought that I was saving time by doing multiple tasks at once. However, I’ve learned that multi-tasking actually makes me less efficient in the long run, affects my short term memory and honestly creates quite a bit of stress in my life.
The Art of Forgiving our Mistakes
By Kris Powers | July 16th 2013
I remember when my oldest son was in elementary school and I was selected to chaperone a fieldtrip to see the play, “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day”. To be honest, I remember nothing of the play (I was probably busy separating pack of 7 year old boys and begging them to be quiet), but the title has stuck with me over the years and I frequently refer to it when I, myself, have a bad day.
Bring More Happiness into Your Daily Life
By Kris Powers | June 18th 2013
We all know that stress can affect our bodies and our health, and research suggests that stress can negatively impact chemical reactions in the brain’s learning and memory region.
The challenge then is to introduce new ways to reduce levels of stress in our lives while increasing levels of happiness. Sounds easy, right?
Try these simple tips to bring more happiness into your daily life:
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Laugh. Whether it’s watching a funny video, reading a funny story or even telling a joke; find time to add a bit of humor to your day.
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Set small, attainable goals for yourself. The sense of accomplishment will feel great and will provide motivation.
Tips to Reduce Stress
By Kris Powers | June 4th 2013
Some really great articles have come across my desk recently about how to deal with and reduce the amount of stress in our lives. Stress in and of itself can take a toll on our health, and let’s face it - when we are stressed we may not make the healthiest decisions for ourselves (in the food and drinks we consume, etc.). While most of us are familiar in dealing with the normal day-to-day stressors, there are moments where stress can challenge us beyond our normal coping ability – and we are left feeling anxious, irritable, and overwhelmed.
After recounting a recent stress-filled moment in her blog, (http://madelinelemon.com/how-to-easily-reduce-stress/), Madeline Lemon states, “What I learned from this is that we must take time to care for ourselves.”