empower
J
Moms Agenda
SPRING 2018
maskmatters.org
87
Rx for Families
LIFESCAPE PREMIER
8757 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale
480-860-5269
lifescapepremier.com
SUSAN S. WILDER, M.D.
CEO & FOUNDER OF
LIFESCAPE MEDICAL
ASSOCIATES &
LIFESCAPE PREMIER
W
hen did busy-ness become a badge of honor?
Seriously, who in our lives benefits from us
being stressed to the point of being frenetic,
irritable, exhausted, anxious, depressed or completely
burned out? And do we want to model this for our kids?
There’s no doubt we live in a world constantly
vying for our attention, triggering “fight/flight/fright”
responses with every ping of our blessed devices;
and pressuring us to keep up with the latest, greatest
everything; or documenting every spare moment on
social media.
How do we find a shred of peace amid the
cacophony of demands? The answer is to simplify. Take
every complicated process and make it simpler with the
help of these easy and doable tips:
J
BREATHE.
Practice meditation, mindfulness, yoga,
Pilates, or tai chi, or try meditation apps like Calm or
Insight Timer. Just taking a few deep breaths in the
little time bytes life gives you can reap huge rewards.
J
UNPLUG
from anything that isn’t serving you or
your family, or improving your efficiency.
J
SAY NO.
Eliminate any activities that don’t serve
your family’s core needs at a high level.
J
LET GO
of the need to keep up with everything,
including social media. Live in the moment and enjoy
simple pleasures.
J
DELEGATE.
Decide what your time (and sanity)
is worth. Hire a housekeeper (if your budget allows) or
teach your kids to cook, clean and do laundry. Consider
a meal delivery service to cut down on grocery
shopping and cooking.
J
FOCUS ON GRATITUDE
, the secret sauce for a
happy life. Every day, make note of something that
inspired you, touched your heart, or made you laugh.
Share this with your family and watch positivity flourish.
By incorporating these simple practices in your life,
you’ll give yourself and your family the gift of handling
stress in healthy ways.
KEEP IT
SIMPLE
possible, and use
ear plugs to muffle
out most noises.
BE SOCIAL
REACH OUT AND
GET CONNECTED
Whether it’s to
your mom or your
cat, it’s healthy to
vent. According
to the American
Psychological
Association (APA),
getting social
support is essential
to dealing with
stress. Regardless
of whether you
call a friend or
send an email,
sharing concerns
or feelings with
another person can
help relieve stress.
SMILE &
LAUGH
TURN THAT
FROWN UPSIDE
DOWN
According to the
APA, our brains are
interconnected with
our emotions and
facial expressions.
When people are
stressed, they often
hold a lot of the
stress in their face.
Fortunately, laughing
or smiling can help
relieve some of that
tension. Plus, it’s
another reason to
own those permanent
lines on our faces—
all worth the
laughter and smiles
to last a lifetime.
Sources: LetEmJealous.
com, VeryWell.com,
DailyNaturalRemedies.com,
ParentsMagazine.com
