How to Start the New Year Right!
2023 is going to be your best year yet; we know it! The New Year provides us with the perfect opportunity to set new goals for ourselves and make changes for the better. The critical reminder is not to expect it to happen quickly or all at once. Give yourself time to develop these new habits and set multiple, smaller goals. Below are some ideas to help you kick off the year in the right rhythm.
- Make a detailed plan
- Focus on one step at a time
- Keep a journal to help you organize and stay on track
- Expand your thinking with new experiences
- Write out a personal mission statement or mantra
- Try something new and exciting that you've never done before
- Write a not-to-do list
Winter Car Emergency Kit
Winter conditions can leave drivers with white knuckles from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. Driving is stressful enough; then add snow, slush, and ice to the mix. It is essential to prepare for the worst-case scenario in the cold. Here is what we recommend keeping in your car for emergencies, especially in winter.
- Blankets, mittens, socks, and hats
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Flashlights
- Jumper Cables
- First-Aid Kit
- Multi-tool, such as a Leatherman or Swiss Army knife
- Road flares or reflective warning triangles
January 20th- International Day of Acceptance
International Day of Acceptance encourages society to embrace those of all abilities. January 20th is recognized as a day to support those with disabilities to realize they are not living disabled; they are living.
15% of the world's population lives with some form of disability. That is approximately 190 million people. In most cases, people are seen for what they cannot do instead of what they can do.
How to Observe #DayofAcceptance
- Learn ways to embrace and empower people of all disabilities
- Teach your children to be inclusive of those who might be different than them
- Donate to an organization that protects the rights of those with disabilities
- If you have a disability, share how acceptance from others makes you feel
Be Aware of SAD
Yes, we all know what sad is. It's an emotion. But it is also an acronym for a type of depression; Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD is related to seasonal changes and flares up during the fall and winter. This rids you of your energy and leaves you feeling moody. Symptoms can include:
- Having low energy and feeling sluggish nearly every day
- Sleeping too much and feeling like you can't get enough
- Experiencing overeating and weight gain
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Feeling hopeless, worthless, or guilty
Lifestyle and Home Remedies for SAD
In mild cases, you can take matters into your own hands and make some changes at home.
- Make your surroundings sunnier and brighter - open your blinds or sit closer to windows while at home or in the office
- Get outside- even on cold and cloudy days getting some kind of sun and fresh air is better than none at all!
- Exercise regularly- physical activity can help relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can decrease your SAD symptoms
- Normalize sleep patterns- schedule reasonable times to wake up and go to bed each day. Try to reduce or eliminate napping and oversleeping
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Key to Meal Planning Meal planning can be intimidating; planning, cooking, and organizing all your food for the week! But think about it this way- a half day of prepping food instead of a couple of hours every night? We'll take it! Start small with your snacks for the week, then move on to breakfasts/lunches, and then eventually dinners when it becomes easier to manage. Find meal prep ideas here: | Organized home, organized mind! Keeping a clean and organized home can also reduce the clutter and stress in your head! Create a schedule to help keep cleaning a breeze. Organize by how often a chore should be done; every day, once a week, once a month, every season. | Substitutes for your Guilty Pleasures Let's admit it, one of the hardest parts of the holidays is saying no to a sweet treat. Some only come around once a year! Give yourself a break, and then after the holidays are over, try these substitutes to satisfy your sweet tooth!
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Key to Meal Planning
Meal planning can be intimidating; planning, cooking, and organizing all your food for the week! But think about it this way- a half day of prepping food instead of a couple of hours every night? We'll take it!
Start small with your snacks for the week, then move on to breakfasts/lunches, and then eventually dinners when it becomes easier to manage.
Find meal prep ideas here:
Organized home, organized mind!
Keeping a clean and organized home can also reduce the clutter and stress in your head! Create a schedule to help keep cleaning a breeze.
Organize by how often a chore should be done; every day, once a week, once a month, every season.
Substitutes for your Guilty Pleasures
Let's admit it, one of the hardest parts of the holidays is saying no to a sweet treat. Some only come around once a year! Give yourself a break, and then after the holidays are over, try these substitutes to satisfy your sweet tooth!
- Fruit (nature's candy!)
- Yogurt- dress it up with some granola, fruit, nuts, or a little honey
- Low-sugar Popsicles
- Baked Pears or Apples- top with a little brown sugar or maple syrup!
- 'Nice' Cream
January 31st- National Hot Chocolate Day!
A seasonal delight gets its very own recognized day! Give Hot Cocoa the appreciation it deserves by making your very own homemade batch, or creating hot cocoa bombs! Put your skills to the test to see if it compares to Judy's; extra chocolate and shaken, not stirred of course!
Crock-pot Hot Cocoa:
Hot Cocoa Bombs:
https://www.thecreativebite.com/how-to-make-hot-cocoa-bombs/
Meet Chelsea!
Chelsea has been a counselor at Pivot Employee Assistance Services and a parent educator at Seaway Valley Prevention Council for about four years. She has a bachelor's degree in Public Health and Human Performance from SUNY Potsdam. She has a passion for helping individuals through difficult times and assisting them to find positive notes in life.
When not at work, Chelsea enjoys relaxing with her husband, daughter, and two dogs in her free time.
Pivot Employee Assistance Services
The Pivot Employee Assistance Services program is designed to help you and your family with personal problems that may be too large or complex for you to handle alone. Sometimes these problems can interfere with your ability to be successful at work. Employee Assistance Services provides free, confidential assessment, counseling and referral services in a professional setting. We believe that having healthy, well-adjusted employees results in improved job performance and productivity.
Call us today for a FREE counseling session!
