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Month: March 2022

National Sleep Awareness Week

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National Sleep Awareness Week

What is Sleep Awareness Week? Sleep Awareness Week was launched in 1998 and is the National Sleep Foundation’s public education campaign with the aim to spread awareness about the importance of sleep as it relates to physical and mental health. This year, Sleep Awareness week will fall on Sunday, March 13th through Saturday, March 19th. Prepare your pillows and blankets! The Importance of Sleep. Many of us don’t recognize the importance of sleep until we discover the difficulties we face when we are sleep deprived. We may not acquire enough sleep due to staying up late cramming for an exam, staying up late to finish work, or struggling with sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea. Lack of sleep tampers with our mood, memory, and health in very impactful ways. In terms of mood and mental health, studies have discovered that lack of sleep induces heightened levels of anxiety …

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Adopting a Growth Mindset

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adopting a growth mindset

Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, researcher, and professor at Stanford University, uses the term “mindset” to describe how people view their abilities and talents. Dweck describes two mindsets that exist on a continuum, the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.  Fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is inflexible in that it assumes one already possesses the talent and knowledge to succeed. Thus, people who have fixed mindsets are not as open to learning new perspectives and skills. Someone with a fixed mindset believes that their abilities are innate and unchangeable. Those working from this mindset also tend to believe that failure is permanent and that any form of feedback is a personal attack. are likely to give up when faced with challenges. Those with fixed mindsets are likely to give up when faced with obstacles, choosing easier tasks that they know they can accomplish with ease. A fixed mindset focuses on …

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Women’s History Month: Recognition and Celebration

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women’s history month

Celebrating All Women. March is Women’s History Month, an annual celebration of contributions countless women have made throughout history in the United States. Women’s History Month originated from a weeklong celebration organized by school districts in Sonoma, California in the late 1970’s. International Women’s Day is also observed in March, occurring earlier in the month on March 8th.  Sexism and Discrimination. It is imperative to recognize the ways in which systemic sexism impacts women’s daily experiences. As of February 2022, nearly two million fewer women were in the US workforce than in early 2020, with notably higher rates of unemployment among women of color and women with disabilities (National Women’s Law Center, 2022). Fourty two percent of women have faced gender discrimination at work (Pew Research Center, 2020). One in four US women have experienced severe physical violence, sexual violence, and/or stalking by a partner (CDC, 2021). Eighty one percent …

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Daily Affirmations for Mental Health

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daily affirmations for mental health

The power of positive thoughts. The dialogue we allow in our minds has a profound impact on our mindset and success. Like a growing plant, our mental growth is dependent on the energy and intention we put into ourselves. Proper sunlight, water, and nutrients are much alike positive thoughts that we foster. According to Psychology Today, “People who are more optimistic have better pain management, improved immune and cardiovascular function, and greater physical functioning. Optimism helps buffer the negative effects of physical illness and is associated with better health outcomes in general” (2022). This is why it is crucial to pour into our minds positive and empowering thoughts. Having a daily affirmation helps us focus our thoughts on our goals. You can choose which affirmations to feed your brain, encouraging positivity and optimism. Here are some examples of daily affirmations to consider and start out with: I dream. I believe. …

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Trauma and ACEs

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Trauma and ACEs

What is trauma? When many people think of and conceptualize trauma, they may immediately think of trauma as an event that occurs; for example, one may explain a near-death experience as trauma. However, such situations are traumatic events. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0-17 years) and may include experiencing violence, abuse or neglect, violence in the home or community, or having a family member attempt or die by suicide; aspects of a child’s environment that can undermine perceived safety are also included on this list, specifically environments riddled with substance abuse problems, mental health problems, and instability due to parental separation or household members being incarcerated (CDC, 2021). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) describes a traumatic event as requiring actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence (APA, 2013). Trauma is a response to a deeply distressing or …

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