Today, I took a giant leap of faith and booked flights for Thanksgiving. Like most of you, going to the grocery store has been my big “travel opportunity” lately. So, booking airfare ten months from now was a big step. Almost immediately, I felt a little better and began to imagine what it would be like to travel without fear and anxiety. Reflecting on how my plans boosted my mood, I wondered if there was research on this topic. Here’s what I found…

Habits, Looking Forward, Positive Habits, Travel, COVID-19Saundra SchrockJanuary 25, 2021Positive Habits, Anticipation, Travel, COVID-19

Finding Gratitude in Crisis

With Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, we are constantly reminded to turn our attention toward celebrating the good things in our lives with family and friends. However, this year will be different. Most of the things we have done in the past will drastically change. Because of this, many of us might be having difficulty finding reasons to feel grateful. With this in mind, I decided to share a personal story to offer a little inspiration.

Positive Habits, Gratitude, COVID-19, PandemicSaundra SchrockNovember 23, 2020COVID-19, Gratitude, Crisis, Mindfulness

How Are You Spending Your Extra Time?

Many of us are now attending classes or working from home, saving hours of commuting time. To find out just how much time we’re saving and what we’re doing with this time, researchers surveyed 10,000 Americans earlier this year. What they found out was quite interesting.

Having Memory Problems?

Do you find recently that you struggle to find words or names? Are you having trouble focusing, thinking, planning, and getting things done? If so, you are not alone. It is highly likely this is a result of pandemic-related stress. Let’s learn how mindfulness can help.

Positive Habits, Stress Management, MemorySaundra SchrockOctober 26, 2020Mindfulness, Memory, Stress, COVID-19

Doing Good Boosts Our Health

Dealing with today's enormous challenges may have led us to act out in ways that are not characteristic of our behavior, especially toward others. We may find that we are a little more impatient, irritable, and intolerant of others. However, allowing ourselves to go down this path is not good for our mental or physical health. It is certainly not good for our relationships. A powerful antidote for these feelings is injecting kindness into our thoughts and deeds.

Healthy Living, Kindness, Positive HabitsSaundra SchrockOctober 19, 2020Kindness, Healthy Living, Positive Habits

I'm Having a Bad Day!

Even those of us who are usually upbeat and positive have bad days occasionally. These bad days may be prompted by something that happened or for no apparent reason at all. So, what can we do about it? How can we turn these bad days into something more productive and positive?

Sleep: More Important Than Ever

Research shows that only about half of us are satisfied with either the quality or amount of sleep we get (Lau et al, 2018). And this was before Covid-19. With so much going on in the world and in our personal lives, it is understandable that we may be experiencing even more difficulty with our sleep habits. So, what can we do about it?