Author name: Mary Joan Brinson

Traditionally each year one word is chosen to sum up the shared experiences of the year. Collins Dictionary chose lockdown – defined as the imposition of stringent restrictions on travel, social interactions and access to public spaces. Merriam-Webster Dictionary chose pandemic, with runners-up quarantine and asymptomatic. Oxford Languages chose unprecedented – defined as never done […]

2020 was a hard year. Many people are relieved to see it come to an end. As we begin a new year, we want to hold the hope for better days ahead. Instead of the typical New Year’s resolutions that are typical for the kick-off of a new year, I encourage you to instead ask

New Year’s resolutions are tricky business. They are obligations we put on ourselves to behave. And research shows they are not effective. By February more than 80% of people have abandoned their resolutions. And subsequently, they feel a sense of failure.  What Is a Resolution? We set resolutions based on things we want to change or

This will be a unique holiday season. Navigating the holidays during a pandemic creates a challenge we have never faced. You may feel a heaviness in your heart as you consider time honoured traditions that will need to be adapted or perhaps even cancelled. Feeling sadness and grief as you consider this is normal. Some

Hope is an emotional state that promotes the belief in a positive outcome. Clearly, we need hope, especially in our current world. Can hope really make a difference? The answer is YES. There is increasing evidence that hope changes us psychologically and physiologically. Hope helps us manage anxiety, stress, and cope with adversity. It contributes to

We are a nation of tired people. Many adults suffer from some type of sleep problem – too little sleep, broken sleep or poor quality sleep – leaving us exhausted. The impacts of poor sleep are significant: Increased irritability Reduced pain threshold Poor memory and concentration Increased blood pressure Reduced immune system More prone to

Sleep is important to mental and physical wellbeing. And when we do not get enough good quality sleep, we suffer the consequences. Sadly, many people do not notice the negative effects of poor sleep because they rarely get enough quality sleep and they simply get used to feeling this way. But there is hope to

Start using this strategy now! Having a baby is hard work. If you have recently given birth, you know this to be true. You are likely exhausted in a way you could have never imagined. We are not talking about being tired – we are talking about a level of exhaustion that is unimaginable – until

Becoming parents is often an exciting time for a couple. It is a life-changing experience for each parent individually but also for their relationship together. Before baby, it is easy to have time and energy to invest in your relationship. However, your relationship will often take a backseat to the demands of parenthood. It is

Preparing for winter can be challenging under the best of circumstances for many of us. However, this year, as we face the ongoing realities of COVID-19 we may be anticipating the coming months with heavy hearts. And maybe even a sense of dread. Christmas celebrations will very likely look quite different. Looking forward to a brief