Warrior Women - Empowering Women, Writers, and Dreamers

  Knowing five simple steps can help you save a life. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/9/10/world-suicide-prevention-day ) September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day, providing the opportunity for people across the globe to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) shares that, according to multiple studies, asking at-risk individuals if they are suicidal does not increase suicidal thoughts or the incidence of suicide. In fact, findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce, rather than increase , suicidal ideation. They promote 5 action steps you can use to communicate with a family member, friend, roommate or co-worker who may be having suicidal thoughts. These include: ASK . Open the door for effective dialogue by asking “are you thinking about suicide?” in a direct, non-judgmental manner. Other questions you can ask include, “how do you hurt?” or “how can I help?” Listen intently ...

Find ways to recharge during the long weekend. (Written for  http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/9/10/make-the-most-of-your-day-off )  A "long" holiday weekend can be a wonderful chance to spend time with family, relax and take some time to boost your emotional wellbeing before returning to busy schedules of work or school. On this Labor Day, invest in some simple self-care activities to give yourself the gift of recharging: Work on getting more sleep . Visit the Sleep Fitness Toolkit to explore how to create an ideal sleep environment, the impact of light exposure, tips to get back to sleep and ideas to sync your sleep/wake cycle.  Try a mindfulness practice . Mindfulness, or becoming aware of what is happening in the present moment, has been used for several thousand years as part of self-care routines. Practicing mindfulness for even five minutes a day can lead to improved focus and memory, reduced stress and anxiety and increased relationship satisfaction and empat...

Implement simple practices to help reset your child's schedule before school begins. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/8/12/healthy-sleep-patterns-for-children ) Adequate rest can help a student focus better in class, recall subjects easier and cope better with navigating emotions and relationships. But transitioning back to earlier bed times and morning alarms for school after the luxury of sleeping in this summer can be difficult for kids.  You can help ease that process by implementing the 5 keys to better sleep: Body sync . Start the shift to your regular school schedule now by moving up your child’s sleep and wake-up times in15 or 30 minutes increments every few days. This helps their body adjust slowly and naturally. Adding a new element of evening or morning routines every time like bathing/showering, choosing outfits, pet care or reading time will reinforce the progression. Light . Encourage your children to play outside when the weather permits. Soaking in ...

Creative ideas for your next campfire. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/8/3/celebrating-national-campfire-day ) Did you know that National Campfire Day is the first Saturday in August and National S’mores Day is August 10th? Sitting around a campfire with family and friends can be a fun and relaxing experience. You can enjoy it nearly anywhere - a backyard, at a campout, in your local park, by the shore - anyplace you can safely build a fire on the ground or in a firepit. Make your campfire extra special with these activities: Cook a tasty meal over the fire.  Roast marshmallows for S’mores. Get creative by substituting peanut butter cups for chocolate bars or oatmeal raisin cookies for graham crackers. Or try adding a slice of bacon for a sweet and salty treat. Sing a few campfire songs or take turns telling stories.  If you’re far enough away from city lights, spend some time stargazing and see if you can find constellations . Play fun games like Charade...

Get extra support while caregiving. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/7/21/what-is-caregiver-stress-syndrome ) Caregiving can be very rewarding. However, it’s a reality that the extra responsibilities and time commitment are difficult to manage. Caregiver Stress Syndrome sets in when these additional demands leave you feeling chronically exhausted - physically, mentally and emotionally. Experiencing this condition is not uncommon.  The key is to make your own health a priority so you can continue to provide care to your loved one. To do this, it is likely you’ll need some assistance from others. Consider enlisting support from these groups:  Family : Help with tasks like cleaning the house, dropping off a meal or providing transportation to a doctor’s appointment can free up time for self-care.  Friends : Be intentional about connecting with your support network. It may not be possible to attend book group, but you could still call in for the first few min...

Easy practices to help your little ones prep for the upcoming school year. Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/7/19/getting-kids-into-a-routine ) With a new school year approaching, ease your children’s transition from lazy summer days to their regular fall schedule using the tips below:  Re-establish Sleep Patterns. After long hours of daylight, staying up late to game or binge watch TV or irregular schedules due to travel, kids may have gotten out of school-time sleeping mode. Start the process now by setting bedtimes and morning alarms, then moving both up in 15 or 30 minutes increments every few days. For every time change, add a new element of evening or morning routines such as bathing/showering, choosing outfits, reading time or pet care. Visit the Sleep Fitness Toolkit for resources to help you get better sleep. Reboot Eating Habits. Activities, meals on the go and special treats can impact healthy eating habits and if the kids have been home all day this su...

Travel tips as pandemic restrictions begin to ease. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/7/8/traveling-safely-this-summer ) With nearly 50% of the U.S. population fully vaccinated, COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to ease around the country. The opportunity to travel again is exciting but staying safe is still important, to protect your health and those around you. Here are travel tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you are fully vaccinated: During : The CDC recommends wearing a mask while traveling in public transportation areas. Follow all state and local recommendations for wearing masks and social distancing.  After : When you return home, you do not need to get tested or self-quarantine if you’ve been fully vaccinated but do self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms. Breakthrough cases, while rare, are still possible - the top five most common symptoms among fully vaccinated people are headache, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and los...

  Ideas for a fun and festive holiday. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/6/30/family-fun-for-the-fourth ) Here are a few fun and festive suggestions to help you make the most of the upcoming holiday with your family and friends. Get Creative in the Kitchen : Start the day off in the holiday spirit with a make-your-own red, white and blue breakfast . Or turn your favorite dessert recipe patriotic by decorating a cake, brownies, cookies or chocolate covered pretzels together.  Go Hiking : With many pandemic restrictions lifted, take advantage of spending more time outdoors. A great way to celebrate the 4th is a group hike to get out and enjoy what nature has to offer.   Honor Military Members : Creating a care package for troops currently serving can be an easy and fun activity for the whole family. Everyone can also help craft a thank you card to a veteran that you know.  Build Your Own Water Park : Beat the summer heat and celebrate the holiday ...

  Help get your fur babies prepared for you to leave the home again. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/6/23/preparing-pets-if-youre-headed-back-to-the-office ) Though you may be excited to head back to your workplace and get out to do more activities, after all the time you’ve spent at home during the pandemic, your pet may be less than thrilled. There are several easy things you can do to start preparing your pet for longer periods of time by themselves. Establish a New Schedule . Pets thrive on routine so begin the adjustment as soon as possible. Start the day earlier to re-establish your dog’s morning walk time or play with your cat indoors to wear them out. Reduce outdoor breaks and stretch evening feeding time later and later. Creating a new, consistent timetable will make pets more resilient when you begin to leave the house more often or for full days. Create Routines . Pets recognize details in your daily schedule, like when you’re getting ready to make food...

Simple tips to help children be more accepting of others. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/5/26/celebrating-diversity-with-children ) Diversity is part of what makes the world beautiful. Some differences can include age, race, religious beliefs or gender. Celebrating diversity means learning from and respecting others, valuing differences, finding common ground and rejecting stereotypes. It is critical to teach children the importance of appreciating differences, so they can have positive interactions with others and build them up.  Here are some simple ways that you can help them value diversity: Set a Good Example . Remember that kids are always listening and watching. Set a good example and model kindness in your own daily life. Be aware of the way that you talk to other adults or make jokes that encourage stereotypes. Even though it may seem like harmless fun, it can undo what you’ve taught them about respecting others since your actions speak louder than words...

  Learn two easy ways to cope with worry and feel a greater sense of calm. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/5/20/two-tips-to-break-the-worry-cycle ) It is common for people to worry about things. Worry can stem from trying to eliminate uncertainty in the future by attempting to problem solve for every possible outcome. It can become a frustrating cycle, however, when your worries, anxieties or doubts become excessive, intrusive and constant.  The worry cycle can begin with a small “what if?” concern popping into your head. You then immediately start to focus on the thought and turn your mind’s attention to predicting possible scenarios so you can find solutions, even if you know the situation is irrational. The longer you think about the worrisome idea, the harder it becomes to view things from a realistic perspective that hasn’t been blown out of proportion by your fears. Fortunately, there are tools available to break the worry cycle, so you can better cope....

  Get ideas to commemorate the holiday. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/5/19/celebrating-memorial-day ) As the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day weekend can be an excellent opportunity to spend time with family and friends, as well as remember those that have sacrificed and given their lives for freedom.  Even though this year’s activities may be smaller in scale than in the past, there are still plenty of things you can do to celebrate with loved ones and honor and show gratitude to those who have fallen.  Tune in to the National Memorial Day Concert . Watch the moving tribute to America’s servicemen and women from the comfort of your own home. PBS is live streaming the event on Sunday, May 30th, at 8:00 EST.  Decorate Your House or Create a Sidewalk Mural . Creating patriotic decorations or drawing on the sidewalk can be fun activities for kids of all ages and provide them with a creative approach to show their appreciation for those who’v...

  Discover how you can take action to improve your emotional wellbeing. (Written for http://www.wellbeing.place/home/2021/5/18/mental-health-action-day ) MTV Entertainment Group and nearly 200 leading brands and nonprofits have partnered together for the first ever Mental Health Action Day. With one in five people being affected by a mental health concern, it is more important than ever to take action to support your emotional wellbeing.  There are simple and small steps you can take to strengthen your mental health. Some ways you can celebrate Mental Health Action Day and take care of your emotional wellbeing include: Self-Care . Putting yourself first can take many forms, including getting enough sleep, making a healthy meal, going for a walk, listening to music, exercising or taking a soothing shower or bath. Make sure to schedule in a few minutes of “ me time ” every day to help you relax and recharge. Support Network . Talking about difficult situations won’t make them go...