9 Reasons We Love Spring in Michigan!
Spring sneaks up on you when you live in Michigan. Suddenly, there is a fresher feel to the air – birds are tweeting, warbling, and chirping as you amble to your car in the morning. And miraculously, the barren trees are sprouting a riot of flowers. The grass is lush and green. I have to admit, […]
Spring Fever? 10 Ideas to Inspire Anticipation (and Mental Health)
I am already preparing for the family Easter egg hunt. An extravaganza that attracts new participants each year. It means dragging bins of plastic eggs from the attic, buying candy and trinkets, and planning brunch. Looking forward to the gathering of family and friends, children running on the grass, and the inevitable sighting of the […]
Early Risers & Reduced Risk of Depression
The old saying, “The early bird catches the worm,” underscores the benefits of taking action early in the morning. Motivational speaker Mel Robbins uses the “5-second rule” (counting backward from 5 to 1) to get you out of bed and start the day. She also espouses getting up at 5:00 am with a powerful routine […]
It’s Hard to Photograph Awe – When to Leave the Phone at Home
My family had an incredible experience recently. We were on a boat in Tampa Bay, and we saw the familiar dorsal fin and sleek flank of a dolphin in the near distance. We slowed the boat, and suddenly, a pod of dolphins surrounded us. A mother and calf performed in tandem; they leaped from the […]
A New Record in Super Bowl Monday Absenteeism? It’s a Hangover Thing
Are you going to a party for the big game? UKG’s longtime Super Bowl survey finds that an expected 22.6 million American workers will miss work on Monday, a record number compared to the previous record 18.8 million who missed work in 2023. Interestingly, that game also featured the Philadelphia Eagles vs. the Kansas City […]
Why Not Try Dry January?
An interesting thing happened to me this holiday season. I had a late-night Target pickup, and as I exited the parking lot and headed to the highway, I made an honest driving mistake. My Target has one of those go-right-to-go-left situations where you must cross four lanes of fast-moving traffic to get to a U-turn […]
Dopamine Rush – 27 Things to Do Instead of Scroll
These days, there are studies, marketing campaigns, and warnings about excessive scrolling on smartphones, but many of us reach for our phones the moment our eyes open in the morning or a beep tells us we have a message. Grabbing the phone can be practical, such as checking the schedule, weather, and time. However, according […]
Election Anxiety? 10 Tips from the Experts to Outlast the Onslaught!
There is a familiar adage that states, “This too shall pass.” It means both good and bad situations don’t last forever, and one may be tempted to use it when a loved one or colleague says they have election anxiety. After all, the onslaught of slogans and requests for donations will pass. A presidential term […]
Lake Michigan – 8 Mental and Physical Benefits
Why do we gravitate toward water? Why is it so hypnotic to watch the waves? There is a reason every stretch of the waterfront is laden with houses and parks – it’s where we want to be. In fact, those who live near the ocean swear by the healing powers of the salty sea. […]
Glimmers – the Antidote to Triggers
I had a friend say to me this weekend, “Everything is hard.” We were talking about technology (the ever-changing virtual landscape triggers her anxiety), but it could apply to almost any subject in the year 2024. There is a reason why 1 in 5 U.S. adults live with a mental illness. As a person in […]
