During the winter months, I usually notice a significant downward shift in my energy level and motivation to get out and socialize with friends. The cold, dark, snowy weather often makes me want to curl up on the couch to watch a movie or read a book in my free time.
Can anyone else relate?...
As the oldest child of three, and also having a child of my own, I can say first-hand that children are going to argue, not get along, and even fight sometimes. When facilitating parenting classes, the topic of how to prevent children’s arguments was brought up often. Fortunately, getting along...
According to Google’s English Dictionary, the word “resolution” means a firm decision to do or not do something. So many of us feel that the beginning of a new year is a great time to set resolutions or goals to work on, but how successful are we? A...
The American Psychological Association has conducted a nationwide survey in its Mind/Body campaign since 2007. The focus is to examine the state of stress nationwide and understand its impact. The study in 2023 indicated that 55% of Americans are stressed during the day. Managing stress can help...
The holiday season is approaching, and many families are feeling the pressure building. How can everything get accomplished? Do I have a low-fat recipe for pumpkin pie? Instead of trying to do it all, set aside a “family night in” to enjoy the season.
In previous articles, I have...
Families are often the primary source of support for older adults and people with disabilities. In fact, today in America, more than 53 million family caregivers provide unpaid care. That's an economic value totaling more than $470 billion. The caregiving population is greatly diverse...
“A good friend is a connection to life – a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." – Lois Wyse.
Friends are people we can rely on, talk to, and spend time with. Think about your own friendships, how does that person(s) make you feel? Now take a second...
Having just observed National Falls Prevention Week (Sept. 18-22), I thought it would be good to discuss falls and how to prevent them. Chances are you know someone who has fallen or who is afraid of falling. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is seen in an emergency department for a fall-related...
With many families in back-to-school busy mode, it can sometimes be difficult to enjoy having meals together. However, research shows that having meals together is beneficial for individuals as well as the whole family. Family members who eat together tend to eat healthier – they eat more fruits...
School will be starting before we know it, and with the start of school, we see preschoolers and even older elementary school-age children having a difficult time with the transition and being away from home and loved ones. The Illinois Early...
