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Archive for category: O-Tip of the Week

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O-Tip of the Week: Make Time for “Me Time” Every Day

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of February, our O-Tip of the week series will talk about Self-Esteem, which is defined as confidence or belief in one’s own worth or abilities.  Self-esteem issues affect more than just teenagers and encompass more than physical insecurities.  Follow along this February to learn more about self-esteem, its importance and some simple ways give yourself a boost! 

Put yourself first by doing something kind for yourself every day.  Practicing self-care is not selfish, it is a necessary activity that needs to happen in order to support both mental and physical health.  Be sure to take time each to do something just for you (take a walk, have a warm bath, enjoy a special delicious treat).  You deserve it!

The following care of Psychology Today discusses the importance of self-care and provides tips to get you started!

Psychology Today:  Self-Care: 12 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself

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O-Tip of the Week: Self-Improve by Showing Gratitude

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of February, our O-Tip of the week series will talk about Self-Esteem, which is defined as confidence or belief in one’s own worth or abilities.  Self-esteem issues affect more than just teenagers and encompass more than physical insecurities.  Follow along this February to learn more about self-esteem, its importance and some simple ways give yourself a boost! 

Another proven way to boost your self-esteem is by practicing gratefulness.  Keep a daily (or weekly) gratitude journal where you take a few moments to reflect on 3 things you are thankful for.  Learn more about how the practice of gratitude can boost self-esteem and more in the following care of Forbes.

Forbes:  7 Scientifically Proven Benefits Of Gratitude That Will Motivate You To Give Thanks Year-Round

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O-Tip of the Week: Give Yourself a Pat on the Back

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of February, our O-Tip of the week series will talk about Self-Esteem, which is defined as confidence or belief in one’s own worth or abilities.  Self-esteem issues affect more than just teenagers and encompass more than physical insecurities.  Follow along this February to learn more about self-esteem, its importance and some simple ways give yourself a boost! 

This week we invite you to reflect on and record your accomplishments.  Big or small, past or present, make a list of all the things you have achieved and refer to this when you are feeling down or need a boost. 

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O-Tip of the Week: Life’s too Short to Keep Up with the Jones

Our O-Tip of the week series we will be providing valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of February, our O-Tip of the week series will talk about Self-Esteem, which is defined as confidence or belief in one’s own worth or abilities.  Self-esteem issues affect more than just teenagers and encompass more than physical insecurities.  Follow along this February to learn more about self-esteem, its importance and some simple ways give your self a boost! 

One way you can harm your self-esteem is through constant comparison of yourself to others.  However, putting a stop to this is, in fact, a difficult ask – magazines, tv shows, movies, social media… all of these things serve as channels to fill your mind with false images of how you “should be.”  Check out this great article care of Psychology Today which provides some great ways to get you to stop comparing yourself to others and see the amazingness within!

Psychology Today:  How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

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O-Tip of the Week: Out with the Old and In with the New

Our O-Tip of the week series delivers valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of January, our O-Tip series will provide you with ways to kick bad habits and establish good ones.

A helpful way to put an end to a bad habit is by replacing it with a good one.  Out with the old habit and in with a new healthier one.  This printable worksheet (below) will help you identify up to 10 healthy things to do more of in place of something you should do less of.  Some examples include:

  • more physical activity, less screen time
  • more taking the stairs at work, less taking the elevator
  • more homecooked meals, less fast food

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O-Tip of the Week: Stay Hydrated with These Helpful Hacks

Our O-Tip of the week series delivers valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of January, our O-Tip series will provide you with ways to kick bad habits and establish good ones.  This week we talk about hydration and how to get your 8 glasses (or more) each day!

We all have heard of the “eight glasses a day” rule, but is this the right amount for everyone?  The answer is not as simple as you think.  Depending on your age, overall health, and activity level you may actually require more.  At the least, this year, create the habit of ensuring you consume at least 8 glasses of water each day.  Try one or more of the following strategies to see what works for you:

  • Track the habit!  Use our habit tracker to stay accountable to your goal of drinking 8 glasses per day.
  • Set alerts on your phone, fitness tracker, and/or smart home device to remind you to have a glass every 2-3 hours.
  • Always have a glass of water before you eat something.  Thirst can disguise itself as hunger, so try water first!
  • We love the simple hack of using a permanent marker to indicate times of day on your water bottle to remind you how much how much to have and when.  Like the one pictured here care of musthavemom.com.

If you would like to learn more about the importance of hydration and your unique requirements check out our previous post, Help with Hydration – How Many Glasses Do You Really Need?

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O-Tip of the Week: Get in the Habit

Our O-Tip of the week series delivers valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of January, our O-Tip series will provide you with ways to kick bad habits and establish good ones.  This week we discuss how to create lasting lifestyle changes by forming healthy habits. 

Did you know it can take three weeks or more to develop a new routine or habit?  And following the formation of habits, it can take up to four months to fully change your lifestyle.  Making positive change is a commitment, and with commitment comes accountability.  We recommend using a daily habit tracker, like our free printable below, to help you stay accountable to yourself and your goals.  Ensure you tick the box each and every day and you will be well on your way to creating lasting change!

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O-Tip of the Week: How to Actually Achieve Your New Year’s Resolutions!

Our O-Tip of the week series delivers valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of January, our O-Tip series will provide you with ways to kick bad habits and establish good ones.  This week we look at how to set yourself up for success with New Year’s resolutions.

The start of a new year brings with it the opportunity to start something new or make positive changes by setting goals or resolutions.  Many start the year with exciting plans to achieve these goals, however, research shows that most people “give up” before the month of January is over.  How can you achieve resolution success?  Take a look at our OT-approved tips to help you accomplish your New Year’s Resolutions.

The Complete Guide to New Year’s Resolution Success

 

 “Today is the first blank page of a 365-page book.  Write a good one.” 

 

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Holiday Survival O-Tip of the Week: Not Everyone Enjoys the Holiday’s – And That’s Okay

Our O-Tip of the week series delivers valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of December, one of the busiest months of the year, our O-Tip series will provide you with OT-approved ways to not just “survive the holidays,” but actually enjoy them!  This week our O-Tip reminds you that we need to realize not everyone enjoys this time of year — and that’s okay.

For some, the Holiday’s will bring terrible or sad memories, guilt, pressure, stress, financial hardship, anxiety, and loneliness. Respect that not everyone can manage this season as they would like, and if that means you are missing a card, an email, present or phone call from someone you expected to hear from, let it go. We all have different capacities to manage stress and our emotions, and the holiday season is no exception.

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Holiday Survival O-Tip of the Week: Enjoy a Good Laugh!

Our O-Tip of the week series delivers valuable “OT-Approved Life Hacks” to provide you with simple and helpful solutions for living. 

For the month of December, one of the busiest months of the year, our O-Tip series will provide you with OT-approved ways to not just “survive the holidays,” but actually enjoy them!  In this week’s O-Tip we remind you that although December is, legitimately, the most stressful month of the year, you can overcome your stress by stepping back and taking time for yourself.

How?  Never underestimate the value of a good laugh.  Time with friends or a good movie can do wonders for the psyche during this hectic time.  My favorite holiday movies are Christmas Vacation and Elf, and of course the timeless A Christmas Story.  Grab some eggnog or a warm cup of tea, curl up with a blanket and laugh for a while.