As the winter months drag on, many of us tend to experience a dip in our mood and energy levels. In some cases, this can develop into a more serious condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). However, there are some ways to overcome the winter blues, and one of them is through mindfulness. In this blog post, we will explore how you can use mindfulness to boost your mood, and also touch on the role of vitamin D levels in relation to seasonal affective disorder and/or the winter blues. Practice mindfulness meditation Mindfulness is the awareness that emerges from paying attention, on ..read more

As a psychotherapist, I have seen the devastating effects of stress, mental health symptoms and burnout in the workplace. In our fast-paced, high-pressure work environment, it's essential that we prioritize our mental health and well-being. One of the most effective tools for reducing stress and improving our overall well-being is mindfulness. In this blog, we will explore the benefits of mindfulness in the workplace, including increased focus and productivity, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved mental health. We will also discuss strategies for incorporating mindfulness into our daily ..read more

As we commemorate Bell Let’s Talk Day, it’s the perfect time to think about what mental health is all about. Mental health is obviously a complex thing. It’s not simply the absence of mental illness symptoms but it’s about feeling balanced physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually. But each individual is so different and what’s right for one person might not be right for another. That being said, there are some general tips that can help improve our overall mental health. Your attitudes towards yourself, life, loved ones, community, your home, your career (if you’re engaging in pa ..read more

Although at this time of year, many people are talking about trying to make things different, there is actually significant value which exists in accepting reality just as it is. “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change” ~ Carl Rogers Accept myself…as I am??? (yikes!) This is a challenging concept for so many and for others it can feel impossible. Self-criticism and self-loathing are, unfortunately, common things in our culture. Messages of our need to change ourselves in every which way surround us, especially at this exact time of year. Not to say that t ..read more

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. ~ Buddha Letting Go of Anger and Resentment Everyone has been wronged by someone else at some point in their life. Sometimes, the physical and emotional scars caused by this trauma can begin to feel unbearable. While it can be difficult, letting go of anger and resentment can be an extremely freeing experience. Why Should I Let Go? While being angry at the person who hurt you might feel good at first, continuing to be angry can lead to adverse physical and emotio ..read more

Summertime is here and for many people, it has a natural way of boosting our mood. How has your mood been in the last couple of weeks? If it has been quite good, then definitely savour that and bring curiosity to how that feels inside.  If you’ve had some extra stress lately, maybe some anxiety or overwhelm, you’re not alone. You might’ve had some low mood symptoms, as it’s not uncommon, even when the weather is warmer. From a mindfulness perspective, all of these mood states and emotions are welcome and viable moments to which to bring mindful attitudes of non-judgment, gentle curiosity ..read more

If you are one of the many people who finds themselves overthinking things, then it would be helpful to take a pause and slow down, because there's a good chance that you're negatively impacting your mental health with your habitual thought patterns. Most people don't know the signs of overthinking, so they don't realize they're doing it. Here are some red flag signs that your mental health could be impacted by overthinking. You have trouble focusing on the task at hand. If you are constantly thinking about other things, it's hard to focus on the task at hand. While you're trying to work ..read more

We live in a time where productivity and determination are needed to succeed and accomplish the things that are important to us. That applies whether you're self-employed, volunteer, work for someone else or are achieving goals around the home. All of these require you to maintain healthy work habits. That means knowing when and how to take a break to prevent burnout. Luckily, there's a perfect way to destress and sharpen your mind so that you'll be ready to work when the time is right. It's a little something called meditation. There are numerous ways to do it and it can be done at any time d ..read more

I have been fascinated with the plethora of new Mindfulness apps on the market and all the value propositions that come along with them. I actually have downloaded most, if not all, of the Mindfulness apps out there so that I could try each of them myself and gain an informed perspective on them.  I am not surprised that the tech industry has taken notice of the practice of Mindfulness, after all it has been noted that the majority of successful people have a mindfulness or meditation practice. The scientific benefits of Mindfulness have been proven again and agai ..read more

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” ~ Albert Camus We are starting the most colourful season of the year and it comes and goes in a flash. Most of us recognize the changes in our scenery but how many of us truly immerse ourselves in the changes we see in nature at this time of year? So many of us are overwhelmed with our day-to-day responsibilities that we end up defaulting to autopilot just to survive. For those of us with kids, we try to get through the back-to-school transition, get the extra-curricular activities going again, try to keep up with all of the household t ..read more