Enjoy your day!

Take some time out of your day to enjoy the things around you, even if it is just for 5 minutes! It might be a moment of silence, a nice view outside, or your favorite song on the radio. Spring is here and what a better time to SPRING your mood and well-being into a forward direction. Take Care!

Getting out of bed

Ever have those mornings when getting out of bed is a chore?

I think everyone does but there are those days that may be a little more powerful than others.  A day when you just can't face what the world has to bring, your boss and his/her demands, getting the kids ready, or even the simple task of finding something to where.  These daunting tasks get in the way of experiencing and enjoying life. If you just had a bad day and didn't want to get up, well maybe you can choose to call in sick and take a day to rest and relax and you will be fine tomorrow.  But maybe you have no vacation days to waste or maybe tomorrow comes and that feeling is still there.  Self care is an important task that takes balance and effort.  If you are experiencing a lot of life stress and/or depressive symptoms, it is better dealt with sooner than later.  Seek support from a friend, close one, or if you are teetering on calling a professional, remember this, you aren't alone! Make today the day to take care of yourself.

Keep calm and carry on

"Keep Calm and Carry On"
I have seen these postings all over Pinterest these days. I think it is a loaded statement assuming that one can "calm down". Easier said than done huh? Well it takes some practice. There is one general thing that get in the way of this, well its LIFE! Everyday we experience stress and sometimes we do not even realize. With kids running around the house, the news in our face, and the everyday hustle and bustle with little free time, well, its easy to forget about the self care we need to "calm down".

Generally speaking, most persons may find it hard to relax. But it is important! You might not always have the money or the time to bring calmness into your life.  Its time to start. Well to start, what is calming to you? Is it music, peace and quiet, a massage, a movie, hot bath, really take some time to think about what is calming.  A lot of time throughout the day we feel our body getting tense, our teeth clenching, fists balled up.....really, you say, "No"? Think again! You do it more often than you think but then how do you know when you are stressed? Well, if you are not sure, ask others around you? Start getting to know yourself by others observations.

Awareness is important of knowing when you are stressed and may need some time to calm
Tips:

• Try new things: yoga, you tube relaxation videos, music, a new coffee flavor, new scent, a new routine or really any routine. Something small you enjoy, it doesn't need to be expensive or take a lot of time. Just something to slow you down for a few mins.
• Use your senses: Often we aren't taking time to "smell the roses". Next time you are cooking take a moment to be mindful of your experience in the kitchen, what are you smelling, do you enjoy it, or does it taste better than it smells, when you are in the shower, SMELL your shampoo, soap, etc. 
• Breath: Yes we do it all day, but it is different when you focus on breathing. There is a reason people love yoga, it is a lot of breathing. Slowing down breathing is calming and cleansing to the body. Don't know how? Google YouTube videos of relaxation breathing and find one that is right for you. Or even better your local yoga studio might even offer a free week of yoga.  Its FREE....how can you say no?

The love/hate New Years Resolution....

Its the end of January and you might be thinking, "Where did the month go?" Each year you may start off with new goals in mind, new adventures, challenges planned out. The infamous New Years Resolution doesn't have to ruin the way you feel about yourself. Whether you set out to loose weight, spend more time with family, make more money, spend less money, get a new car, keep your house clean, spend more time with the kids.... (and the list goes on), you were determined to achieve your goal.  But it is not everyday that you are a Superacheiver! It takes practice and sometimes, a lot of bumps in the road. So hang in there! At the first sign of "failure", be sure to take a step back. 

Here are some tips to keep in mind to stay focused on your goal. 

1. Make room for the improvement- Yes this means that you get to pat yourself on the back. You must acknowledge your victories! Even if you only did a little bit.  For example, you made avoided pulling into the Starbucks drive-thru one time. Remember the sacrifices you are making. A caution, don't get too ahead of yourself.  Each time you have to raise the bar just a little. This will keep you moving forward. 

2.  Keep moving Forward- Yes, even when you get sidetracked, cheat on your diet or skip the gym,  you must get up the next day with intentions of continuing. Measuring your progress in a great way to make sure that your goal is obtainable and realistic. Of course you want BIG improvements for yourself BUT, you can't carry the world on your shoulders. 

3. Set time frames-Are you giving yourself enough time? Maybe, maybe not. Take a look at your lifestyle, finances, motivation, time, and resources, are they in line with your goal? If not re-evaluate! This is the worst thing you can do is not put enough time into planning a sound goal. You will set yourself up for failure, that is no good for the self-esteem. Set long term and short term goals. For example, In the next two weeks I will...... or By next month I will...... Remember plan, plan, plan and have a backup plan!

4. Support- Find persons or things in your life that support your new goal! There are so many technologies out there to help, Facebook groups, Pinterest, google images, phone apps, online forums, ect. Photo boards on Pinterest may keep you motivated with healthy meals, style, vacation adventures and so much more. Photographs help inspire creativity and may give you a new perspective on your goal. Or maybe when you are feeling like you can't do it....you can find people who do and re-inspire your motivation. Don't forget about friends and family! If you need a bit more you might want to consider a group focused on the same goals, a counselor, therapist, or life-coach to help you through. 

Be sure that you made your goal with the idea in mind that it is truly important to you! Overall, change is difficult! No one wakes up and wants to change without a darn good reason or motivation. Be healthy and best of luck with your New Years Resolution!

Disclaimer: This post is to help inspire and support, there are some goals that you may set that are much more complex. This post is not professional guidance and is created for leisure reading.

Welcome to the blog

In Focus Counseling will be accepting clients in August of 2013. We will serve the Denver metro area with affordable counseling and mental health services.
Specialty areas will include, but are not limited to:
Depression
Anxiety
Addiction/Substance Abuse
Work related stress

Stay tuned for additional posts, updates, helpful tips, and reflections on mental health.

Lori
denverinfocus@gmail.com
720-295-9522