Modern life requires many of us to be on our phones a lot—and the addictive nature of them often causes us to stay hooked even longer than necessary! Going phoneless for a day can help us reconnect with ourselves and our sense of inner peace, and help us feel more present in the world around us. It may help your…
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Music has the power to touch us deeply, to move us to tears, and to lift our spirits. It can make us nostalgic, sad, happy, motivated, relaxed, reflective, etc. Science shows music activates regions of your brain involved in movement, planning, attention and memory. It can release the brain chemical dopamine, which relieves anxiety and improves mood. Thus, music has…
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Most people know that the foods we choose to eat affect our physical health, but overlook the effect they have on our mental health. If you learn how foods affect you, you can be more strategic about what to eat when in order to keep you in a better state of mind. Carbohydrates release the “feel good” hormone serotonin. It…
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You have a free evening, your pizza was just delivered, and you decide it’s the perfect night for a movie night. You suddenly forget every movie you’ve been wanting to watch, so you go on your streaming site to browse, watch about 15 different trailers, and still come up with nothing. Now your pizza is cold and you’re not so…
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Many people like sipping on something throughout the day, but what we choose to sip on can have negative versus positive impacts on our health. Choosing tea can help you steer away from unnecessary sugars found in juices and sodas, while still giving you lots of flavor, and providing many health benefits! You can choose your tea based on what…
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Sometimes we need to take a step back and soothe ourselves. Maybe after work, before bed, or after a frustrating conversation. It can be helpful to have either a mental or physical list with some soothing activities on it so you can easily draw from it when needed. This list could include lighting a candle, putting on some relaxing music,…
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Maybe you have to work from home but you wish you could spend more time outdoors. Maybe you are looking for a way to brighten up your home. Maybe you’ve always wanted a pet but can’t commit to taking care of it. We have a solution for you–become a plant parent! It may sound silly to think of a plant…
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Theodore Roosevelt said “comparison is the thief of joy,” and science has supported his claim; comparing yourself to others can hurt your self-esteem and lead to depression. There are billions of people in the world with jobs, relationships, houses, possessions, looks, and lives different from our own. There is no way to have it all, and comparing ourselves to others…
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There are many reasons we bottle up our emotions; we may be scared of being judged by others, we may be trying to “keep the peace,” we may not understand our emotions or how to deal with them, or we may be scared of our own emotions. Many people learn as children that their emotions are not safe to share;…
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Lewis B. Smedes said “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner is you.” By holding a grudge, we think we are holding someone accountable. But more often than not, we are just holding onto hate or anger in our own hearts, and it only hurts us. If someone has hurt you, you can remember…
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Have you ever thought about what you would do in your hometown or city if you visited as a tourist? Would you finally go to the art museum or the celebrated bookstore, or hike that popular trail? Would you try new restaurants? Maybe you’d sit in the park and take in the scenery around you, and passively observe the people…
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“So…what exactly is a forensic psychologist?” This is one of the most common questions we receive at Lepage Associates when clients or attorneys are looking for the best kind of support for their legal cases. Though the title “forensic psychologist” often conjures up misleading images from crime shows, psychologists can genuinely play a pivotal role in multiple parts of the…