Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Friday, February 8, 2019
How to Establish a Daily Routine to Become Your Best Self
A routine can help you stay on track
throughout your day but it can do so much more than that. It can reduce stress
by not helping you not to frantically try to remember everything you need to
get done and keep your sleep schedule regular. Additionally, it can help you
keep goals in mind such as slotting in gym time or remembering to eat a healthy
lunch every day.
Setting a routine can seem a little daunting
at first, though. Luckily, it isn’t as hard as you might think to use a daily
routine to help you become your best self.
Make a List
Before you put a plan into action, there has
to be a plan in place. Take a few minutes one day and start to write down what
you want to get done during your day or even your week.
For instance, what do you need to do each
morning before you go to work? How many times a week do you want to hit the
gym? What tasks are necessary to complete daily at work?
Once you have these questions in place, you’ll
have an idea of what needs to be worked into the daily routine. If you already
have a daily routine that you are trying to improve upon, follow a similar
path. What parts of the routine work? Which parts need to be changed?
When creating your routine, start with set
tasks. For example, your work hours should be noted before you try to come up
with a time that you can use for tasks that aren’t on a set schedule.
Don’t be afraid to get detailed when listing
what you need to do either. If you want to make sure you remember to wash your
face each morning or make some tea before you go to bed, put this on your list
of items to schedule.
Start with Your Mornings
For a successful day, it’s important that you
start off on the right foot. In other words, you probably aren’t going to have
a good day if you’re jumping out of bed and running out of the door first
thing.
Instead, start your schedule by planning your
mornings. Give yourself plenty of time to wake up and complete your morning
ritual before you have to head to work.
To plan this, think of all the things you want
to do in the morning and how long that will take. This will help you to plan on
when to set your alarm. It will help a lot if you start the habit of not
snoozing your alarm several times and make sure you do your routine in order.
You might want to get up at 6 then brush your teeth and then put on a pot of
coffee every morning until it becomes a habit.
Next, Midday and Late Afternoon
During the week at least, much of your midday
is probably spent at work. This means that you probably already have a general
routine set up. When you get to work you might check your email and work on
spreadsheets while the afternoon is reserved for meetings.
The biggest part that you’ll want to make sure
you don’t skip lunch. Even if you can’t get out of the office, bring along a
healthy packed lunch that will keep you going throughout the day.
When you get off work in the late afternoon or
early evening, you can schedule in goals such as an hour at the gym before you
head home.
Evenings
Your evenings should be dedicated to
preparation and winding down. After you have dinner, it helps your mornings to
complete tasks such as choosing your clothes for the next day or packing a
lunch.
It’s also a good idea to schedule when you are
going to go to sleep just as you schedule when to wake up. This ensures that
you get the proper amount of sleep each night. The general suggestion is that
you try to get around 7 hours of sleep a night. Remember to schedule in a
little extra time because you probably aren’t going to fall asleep the minute
you lay down.
Plan the Weekends
On the weekends, it’s okay to let yourself
sleep in and schedule a lighter routine. However, if you simply allow yourself
to sleep the whole weekend away, you’ll be behind on things you need to do and
it will be difficult to transition back into the week.
The weekend is also a great time to schedule
errands that are hard to fit into your work week. Sundays are a great time to
do your weekly grocery shopping and meal prepping.
Give Yourself Some Extra Time
This is a dual point. First of all, try to
schedule in some time for yourself. Maybe you want a half an hour to read
before you go to bed or time to meditate or do yoga in the morning. If you only
schedule in work and errands, you are likely to get burned out.
You’ll also want to be sure that you schedule
in a little more time than you need for certain tasks. There will be mornings
that you sleep an extra few minutes or weekends when the line at the grocery
store seems monumental. By scheduling extra time, you are ensuring that these
kinks in your day don’t ruin your whole routine.
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
How to Foster Children's Creativity with Arts&Crafts
Creativity
is highly valued throughout our entire life, it is the ability to find hidden
patterns, make connections, perceive the world in new ways, generate solutions
and “think outside the box.” Creativity is beyond being the next Master of
Arts; it is also being highly skilled in managing your personal and
professional life. However, contrary to many believers, this is not a magical
gift some people are just born with. Creativity can be learned and sharpened
like any other skill.
Why you should incentive your child’s
creativity
The early
years of a child are the best moment to praise and encourage creativity. Young
children have not yet been surrounded by rules, laws and so on. Their mind is
innocent, genuine and free of any judgments. Magic tales are real, and
everything is possible during this age.
Why is art so important
Crafts and
arts not just increase creativity as well it helps to develop motor, social,
mental and emotional skills. A simple crayon drawing can teach counting pieces
and colors, experiment different materials, and if properly encouraged can even
boost confidence. A child who feels free to experiment and make mistakes may be
more skillful while analyzing and solving problems.
How to inspire creativity with crafts and arts
Kids need
some time far from tablets, video games, and commercial toys. This is important
to the child have time to have other types of experiences, learn what they like
or don’t, being free to make mistakes and have a sense of control.
Define your child’s space for mess
You can
have a room for this, or any area you prefer. Throw an old cloth or newspaper
on top of a table and let your child be free to experiment. After the art or
craft is done, also encourage them to help you clean the space and tide it up.
Avoid adult direction
Creativity
should flourish without adult directions, so try not to be so bossy. Allow them
to feel free and autonomous to explore their ideas and put them into practice.
Don’t give suggestions as: “Why don’t you draw our family¿” or “why don’t you
use more colors?.” Even if the child just draws a single dot in the middle of
the paper.
Explore the process
It can be
hard to read a kid’s mind by just watching what they are doing. Ask them to
articulate the ideas behind the drawing or craft. This will not only help you
understand them better, as it will encourage them to practice communication
skills.
Supplies should be easy to access
You don’t
need a huge budget to do this. Spare a drawer or cabinet accessible for the
kids and have some old boxes, crayons, empty paper towel rolls, and paper.
Supervise if they need to add scissors and duct tape to the creative process.
Also, encourage them to tide it all up afterward.
Encourage different kinds of craft
Creating
things with their own hands has a meaningful impact on a child’s emotions. They
can feel good about their creation and express themselves through it. Learning
how to sew, for example, can provide benefits such as mature their fingers
dexterity, learn patience and self-regulation, how to make critical decisions
and boost solving problem skills. You can start teaching your kids to sew
whenever they feel like it. It is never too early to start, but in this case
you will need to have a higher level of supervision and be there all the steps.
You can begin sewing small things, maybe some felt projects that require less
pointy needles. And it is okay if you need to finish the project for them or
just give final touches to it. The important here is for them to have a sense
of making efforts, teamwork, and accomplishment. When they get older, chances
are they will be able to finish all by themselves and feel good about it too.
Materials to always have on hand
Crafts and
arts are not only rainy or snowy days. Have some of these materials available
at the house so your kid can jump into action any time. Remember you don’t have
to invest in crafting materials all at once. Start slow and check your child
preferences. Then, you can decide to pursue more and better quality materials.
• washable paint, paintbrushes
• stamps
• crayons, colored pencils, scissors, glue,
glitter
• plain and colored paper
• felt, fabric, buttons
• ribbon, yarn, string, beads
• drinking straws, egg cartons, cardboard
tubes
• magazines, newspapers, catalogs
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enjoyed this article, share it with your friends and family!
Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Why I Decided to Become My Mother's Caregiver
No one
likes to think about his or her parents getting old. We get used to seeing who
brought us to life and raised us as a strong figure, almost superhuman, who
will never grow old, fell sick or eventually need our help to the most simple
tasks. But, it is nature, and eventually, our parents will need us, as we
needed them as a child.
Dementia is
a tough collection of symptoms, which unfortunately come as a result of damage
to the brain. In elderly people, this tends to accompany Alzheimer’s disease, which was my mother’s case. It is not easy to see someone you love so
deeply, succumb to an illness. Especially one that can completely transform
your loved one into a stranger. It all started with small memory losses during
the day, some confusion while carrying out familiar tasks, such as buying
shampoo instead of soap. Then things began to evolve to severe situations,
including some wandering and forgetting where she was.
The Difficult Diagnose
Some of my
friends used to say their elderly parents were acting like little children. I
remember laughing about it, and thinking my mom would never be like that. But
turns out I was wrong, and this is something hard to predict. After some
problematic episodes, I had to drive her against her will to the doctor and
explain what was happening. She was in complete denial, which I could
understand with all my heart. Some exams and tests proved what I already knew,
my mom was diagnosed with early signs of Alzheimer.
Deciding to Become a Full-Time
Caregiver
Family and
friends suggested I should hire a caregiver or put her in elderly house care. I
studied all the options and my current situation, including finances. I checked
some elderly houses, but they were just too far from my home, so I couldn’t
visit so often as I’d like. Hiring a home caregiver would also be a little
beyond my financial situation, even with my mom’s retirement pension.
And, to be
honest, deep down, I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving my mom into someone
else’s responsibility. Mainly because I had the means to take care of her by
myself. I had a work that allowed me to work from home, my children had enough
age to handle most of their things by themselves, and my house had enough space
to accommodate her needs (including a wheelchair). We also would be able to
save some money with housing and caregiving, since I could handle most of it by
myself.
But even
though I had the means and was deeply emotionally involved, it was brutal. My
mom had some tough time to get used to the new house, and we had to learn how
to cope with the painful Alzheimer. My mom has always had a kind personality,
by the disease sometimes would bring the worst of her. We have also made some
changes in the house, such as installing alert systems, fall detection mats and
having 24h emergency assistance care. I have also put both children on the
charge of several things around the house, so I could have time to dedicate my
time for her, my career, family and myself.
Not Everyone Can Become A
Full-Time Caregiver
This is a
challenging and thankless job. You might love your parents as much as you can,
but sometimes it is just too much for you to handle by yourself. Contrary to
belief, being your parent’s caregiver is not just about love. It is about
having time, emotional stability, income and general support.
During one
of my mom’s lucid moments, we have talked about her situation, the options and
what would be the best. We agreed on trying to move her in with me, although
she would sometimes forget about it later. But not everyone has the time and
means to be a full-time caregiver, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you can’t.
But if you decide to take care of your parents, as I did, don’t try to do it
all alone. While taking care of someone else is easy to get too deep into the
daily chores and forget about your own needs. Seek community support, engage
your family and siblings, and have a support network for yourself.
I hope my
personal experiences might shine some light into your thoughts, and believe me,
you are not alone in this journey.
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Recognizing Early Signs of Autism and Planning the Right Support
A word like autism can be a scary prospect for
parents. However, with approximately 1 in 68 children having an autism
diagnosis, it’s important for parents to educate themselves. If you see the
early signs in your child, don’t worry, a bit of planning can go a long
way.
Defining Autism
The first thing you need to know about autism
is what it is. According to the American Psychological Association, autism is
a neurodevelopmental disorder that can be recognized by social communication
impairments and repetitive and restrictive patterns concerning behavior, interests,
or activities.
This definition is broad by construction. This
is because autism isn’t a singular diagnosis. Rather, the diagnosis is autism
spectrum disorder (ASD). In other words, autism exists on a spectrum meaning
that individuals with autisms may present very differently from one another.
Autism and Other Problems
Autism can come along with other emotional and
behavioral problems that aren’t always at a diagnosable level but are a
challenge to an autistic individual all the same. For instance, the same study
on autism by the APA noted the following using parent report questionnaires;
●
59% of 5-year-olds that place on
the spectrum show signs of hyperactivity
●
70% of individuals with ASD aged 5
to 17 struggle with emotional problems
●
70% of individuals with ASD aged 5
to 17 meet criteria for one psychiatric disorder
●
40% of individuals with ASD aged 5
to 17 meet criteria for more than one psychiatric disorder
Individuals with autism are also typically
sensitive to sensory input and, as such, sensory overload anxiety is prevalent. While loud noises and
bright lights might bother any individual, they will oftentimes affect
individuals with ASD with a higher severity. Even smaller sensory inputs such
as an itchy tag on a sweater can give someone with ASD severe discomfort and
anxiety.
What Are Some of the Signs of Autism?
It’s important for parents to keep an eye out
for signs of autism in their children. These include signs of social,
cognitive, and communication impairments as well as repetitive behavior
patterns. Autism
Speaks notes the following as signs of autism;
At 6 months:
●
Not many warm and engaging
expressions (i.e. big smiles)
●
Little to no eye contact.
At 9 months:
●
No back-and-forth sounds or
responsive expressions
At 12 months:
●
Little to no babbling
●
Little to no engaging gestures
(i.e. waving, pointing, reaching, etc.)
●
Little to no response when their
name is said or called
At 16 months:
●
A lack of one-word phrases used
At 24 months:
●
A lack of original two-word
phrases (repetition may be present)
There are also a number of signs that might
present at any age, such as;
●
Lack of eye contact
●
Consistent choice of solitude
rather than interaction with peers or others
●
Trouble understanding others’
emotions
●
Delayed development of language or
social skills
●
Echolalia (repetition of phrases
or words)
●
Struggle with even minor changes
in routines, daily patterns, or surroundings
●
A restriction of interests
●
Stims (repetitive behaviors such
as rocking, spinning, flapping arms, etc.)
●
Strong or unusual reactions to sensory
input
●
Any regression of social or
language skills
What Should a Parent Do If They Notice These Signs?
If a parent sees these signs showing up in
their young child, they shouldn’t try to make a diagnosis themselves. Instead,
they should discuss their concerns with their child’s pediatrician just like
any other health issue.
While signs might appear as early as 6 months,
most doctors won’t make a diagnosis until the child is at least 18 months to 2
years old.
What Causes Autism?
Right now, there isn’t a factor that can be
isolated and pointed out as the cause of ASD. There are signs of a genetic link
in autism. It isn’t unheard of or even uncommon for there to be multiple cases
of ASD to exist in one family. In fact, if one sibling has ASD, it’s likely
that the other one might place on the spectrum as well.
There is a persistent fear in many parents that
the vaccinations that children need when they are young might lead to the
development of autism. However, this fear is unfounded and even been proved
wrong by many scientists.
How Do Parents Plan Going Forward?
After a child is diagnosed, it’s important to
come up with a plan to help them have a fulfilling life. In day-to-day life,
parents can do things such as communicating with teachers and other guardians
as well as developing a routine for their child. There is plenty of research to
be found that can help create a guideline and you can tailor these guidelines
to your child in particular.
It’s also important to note that the
day-to-day plan for your child will probably change over time. Just like any
child, they will grow and change over the years and the plan will have to
develop with that.
As a parent, there are also certain long-term
plans you have to make in the best interest of your child.
First, you will want to consider guardianship
which is crucial when your child is young as well as while they transition into
adulthood at 18. In addition, though, you will want to name a guardian that can
help your child in the case of your passing. If full guardianship isn’t what
your adult child needs, having powers of attorney for them might be more
appropriate which will allow you to make specific types of decisions for your
child such as healthcare or financial decisions.
While it may be a little morbid, it is crucial
to plan for your child in the case of your own passing. Choosing a guardian to
help your child through this time is a good first step. You may also want to
leave a letter of intent as a roadmap for this guardian as well as a will to provide
for your child.
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