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Ways to reduce or manage stress will be discussed in this blog. Stress can be a major factor in an individual’s health and well-being. Stress can come from everyday things like work, family or school, but sometimes the cause is more serious like a mental illness or addiction. This blog post will explore various ways to reduce or manage stress.  Some of the topics include how to identify your stress, what causes it, coping mechanisms, healthy sleep habits, exercise routines and more. It will also discuss ways to help with stressful life events such as divorce or death of a loved one. The goal is for you to find strategies that work best for you personally so that you are able to live your best life!

Practice Deep Breathing Exercises to Relax the Body and Mind

Deep breathing is a great way to start the day. It has been proven that deep breathing exercises can reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure, increase immune function, and strengthen the nervous system. Try some deep breathing exercises with these three simple steps: take a long breath in through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth; put one hand on top of your chest and another hand on top of your stomach; breathe deeply for at least five minutes. With this exercise, you’ll notice an instant calming effect which can help reduce anxiety levels so that worries are easier to manage. This simple exercise will also help promote better sleep patterns

Get plenty of Sleep to Manage Stress

But did you know that getting enough sleep is one of the best ways to manage stress? Sleep is the time when our body repairs itself and restores energy levels. Yet, many of us are not getting enough sleep these days. Sleep deprivation can lead to physical problems, such as obesity and diabetes; mental issues like depression; and social troubles like family conflicts or difficulties at school. So how much sleep do we really need? Well it depends on age: infants 4-12 hours per day, preschoolers 10-13 hours per day, teens 9-10 hours per day, adults 7-8 hours per day. Think about what you could accomplish if you were to get more than an adequate amount of rest each night!

Eat Healthy Foods to Manage Stress

Habits determine our lives. They can also be changed to help us have a better quality of life. The food we eat every day will either give us energy or take it away. Eating healthy foods often will enable you to have more energy throughout the day and avoid stress, so you can do what needs to be done without feeling exhausted afterwards.  If these habits are difficult for you, don’t worry! There are ways that everyone can change their diet into a healthier one that they’ll enjoy just as much as their current diet – if not more! Here are some ideas for you.

• Make sure breakfast is ready-to-go in the morning
• Have fruit & vegetable snacks
• Prepare lunches ahead of time
• Create a weekly meal plan

Exercise regularly – it’s good for your health and can help you feel better about yourself.

Exercise is a great way to cope with stress and anxiety. It releases endorphins that help your body feel better while also reducing the risk of depression and other health problems. Exercise, in any form, is an effective way to manage the physical and emotional effects of stress. Even if it’s just 15 minutes, it can make a big difference! Check out these ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine: Take 10 minutes each morning before work for some light stretching or yoga poses. Walk home from work instead of driving. Find time after dinner each night for family game night which means playing games like Monopoly, Uno or Jenga together while sitting on the floor.

Take up a new hobby or try something new like cooking, painting, or playing an instrument

Having a hobby is a great way to manage stress. Even though there are many ways to de-stress, it’s always best to take up an activity that will make you happy or give you some kind of satisfaction. You can learn something new and expand your mind while having fun at the same time! There are lots and lots of things you can get into that will relax your body, mind and soul! Here’s just four – painting or drawing; cooking; knitting; and colouring.

This blog post has explored various ways to reduce and manage stress. If you’re looking for more information on how we can help, please call or schedule a session today.

Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, it is not uncommon to feel stressed. Sometimes we don’t always recognize it creeping up on us. This blog post will give you some signs that stress may be taking over your life. We hope this article helps you see these stressors before you begin to feel overwhelmed.

Stress can take many forms: being overwhelmed by everyday tasks or worries about work, school or family issues. It could also mean worrying about things like money problems, health concerns or relationship troubles. If any of these are happening in your life right now, don’t panic! We can help you!

The first step to managing stress is to see the signs before you are completely overwhelmed. We are all different and what triggers one person may not in another and that is OK! Once you know what the triggers are, you can work to avoid them or better deal with them. How do you know if someone is stressed? Here are some signs to watch out for.

1) Change in Sleep Patterns

Sleep has many different functions, such as restoring energy and improving moods. However when we are under pressure it becomes difficult for our brains to “turn off”. This leads us into staying up later than usual, waking throughout the night or getting up earlier than we ought.

2) Difficulty Concentrating

It’s important to be aware of signs your child or teen may be getting stressed, but these can apply to anyone. One way you can recognize this is by looking at their ability to concentrate. Inability to focus could indicate they have too much on their minds. This may flow over in other ways such as mood swings or poor school performance.

“It can be hard to concentrate when you’re feeling stressed. All your thoughts are racing and it feels impossible to focus on anything in particular. Your mind may wander from one thought to another, or you may find yourself unable to remember things that should be easy.”

“Stress doesn’t just affect how we feel, but also has an impact on our cognitive abilities. When we’re feeling stressed, our cognitive functions such as attention span and memory suffer because the brain’s prefrontal cortex is too overwhelmed by stress hormones like cortisol.”

3) Change in Mood

The stress that we experience can negatively influence our mood. Changes in mood are a reaction to the pressures faced daily. You often see this manifest in outbursts of frustration or anger. They could also be an indicator of an underlying problem that needs attention. Mood changes often overlap with unhealthy eating habits, manifesting in things like headaches and stomach issues.

4) Changes in Appetite – Either Increased or Decreased

It is normal for people to experience changes in appetite when they are stressed or experiencing other mental health issues. Some may have an increased appetite while others could see a decrease in their appetite. Triggers may include feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities at work, home, school and more; feeling disconnected from friends, family members or loved ones; struggling with body image issues; having unmet needs such as lack of sleep; feelings of not being heard or respected enough among other things. These changes can happen unexpectedly so it is important to take notice of any sudden change in your own eating habits.

5) Loss of Interest in Hobbies or Activities you used to Enjoy

Loss of interest in hobbies or activities you used to enjoy can be a difficult and confusing time for both the person experiencing the loss and those who care about them. Understanding what might cause this sudden change in behaviour is key to getting help and moving on. This is a common indicator of depression and should not be taken too lightly. It may be that one has simply taken on too much and may need to re-evaluate their daily schedule.

It’s important to know if you or your loved one has had any recent life changes affecting their ability to participate in hobbies they once enjoyed. Has there been a change in responsibilities at work or school, relationship problems, financial difficulties or health issues? If there are no life changes it may be worth checking out other reasons for the change like depression.

6) Feeling Restless and Agitated

Feeling restless, including a sense of dread about the future as sign of stress is not uncommon in today’s society. Stress is a major issue for many people, and it can lead to feelings of unrest that may be difficult to shake. These feelings can include a sense of dread about the future or an unwillingness to participate in everyday activities. It’s important not only to identify these symptoms, but also take steps toward reducing stress so it doesn’t get out of control and affect your life.

The signs of stress are different for everyone, but there are some commonalities. If you recognize any of these 6 signs of stress in yourself or someone you know, its likely your body needs to be relieved of excess pressure. If making these changes on your own seems too much, we are here to help. Call today or schedule an appointment!

Emem Iniobong, is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor who helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

The 3 stress responses are fight, flight or freeze. When we experience stress, our body goes into a state of alarm and this is what causes these three responses.  Stress is normal part of life as we know but becomes a problem when it affects our daily functioning, last long, and affects daily. Parents, caregivers, teachers, children and teens are all experiencing the same stressors these days.

Sometimes it’s hard to know how best to respond when you or your child are feeling stressed. Understanding that there are three different types of responses can offer some clarity. Here is a quick summary of each type: “fight-or-flight” response, “freeze” response and the “tend-and-befriend” response. The flight response is most often experienced as an adrenaline rush in which heart rate increases and blood pressure soars while trying to escape from danger; the freeze response is going blank, stuck or stays in place in the face of perceived threat or danger; finally, the fight helps calm down before becoming aggressive and fight back.

In this blog post, I explored the 3 types stress responses, fight-flight-freeze responses.

Fight Stress Responses

Fight response to stress is one way the body responds to stress. When a person can choose to face their problem rather than running away from their problem is called a fight response. With the fight response the primary emotion is anger. The fight response is an automatic reaction that happens in a split second without any conscious thought. When this happens, your brain sends signals throughout your body for it to release hormones like cortisol and adrenaline into your bloodstream which gives you energy needed for survival during stressful events such as physical danger or emotional distress.

These hormones help prepare us for quick action by increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and muscle tension while decreasing nonessential functions like digestion and immune system activity so we are ready for anything! However, if these responses happen too often they may lead to long term damage such as high blood pressure, anxiety disorders and depression among other issues over time which makes managing stress even more important than ever before!

Flight Stress Response

Flight response to stress is another way the body respond to stress. The flight stress response involves running away from the problem. The primary emotion for flight response is fear. With the flight response the person simply wants to avoid and flee as quickly as possible.

Freeze Stress Response

The freeze response happens when the amygdala sends signals to our brain stem which then controls muscles in our body including heart rate, blood pressure and breathing patterns. In other words, it’s an autonomic nervous system reaction that helps us protect ourselves from danger or threat.

There are many ways that we can recognize when someone might be experiencing a freeze response, including feeling numb or frozen, difficulty speaking or thinking clearly, feeling rigid or shaky and having an increased heart rate. These symptoms often come up in reaction to perceived danger but not always- sometimes they happen during times of high excitement!  Being aware of these symptoms may also lead you to identify behaviors that need your attention without waiting for them to progress into something more serious like chronic stress.

A stressful event can bring out one of these responses, but not all three. Having a better understanding of the stress response is important to managing your own stress levels and mental health as well as helping others. If you are experiencing emotional distress or feeling overwhelmed by how busy life has become, please connect or call me for help with therapy sessions in person or online – I want to be there every step of the way on this journey!

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

3 ways stress affects the body will be discussed in this blog. Stress is a normal part of life. We all experience stress from time to time, and as such, it’s important to know the signs of when your body is under too much. Stress can make you feel anxious or irritable, affect how you sleep or eat, and even cause physical symptoms like nausea. Knowing how stress affects the body is vital in learning how to cope with stress in a healthy way.

In this blog I will explore how stress affect our body physically, emotionally, and behavioural.

Physical Symptoms of Stress

Stress is a natural response to danger or threat. It’s the way that our bodies protect themselves from harm! When you feel stressed, your brain sends signals to release hormones like adrenaline and cortisol into your bloodstream. These hormones are supposed to help you survive by making sure that blood flows quickly through the body so it can deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells. Unfortunately, when they’re released too often or in large amounts, these hormones have some serious side effects on how we think and behave.

Stress can affect our physical health in many ways, including increased blood pressure, heart rate, weight gain or loss, digestive issues, fatigue, nausea, back pain, headaches, chest pain, and sleep disturbances. It can also cause mood swings which might lead to depression or anxiety.

Emotional/Cognitive Symptoms of Stress

Stress can be defined as an emotional or cognitive symptom that is experienced when you are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your life. Stress is a normal response to certain events, but it becomes problematic when it’s too intense and lasts for too long. The symptoms of stress vary depending on the person, their age, the type of event that has created stress, and other factors. There are many ways to reduce or eliminate these symptoms altogether!

The teenage years are a challenging time for individuals, parents, teachers and caregivers alike. The adolescent brain is still developing which means that cognitive-emotional development is not complete or mature. The prefrontal cortex of the brain, responsible for reasoning and emotion regulation, doesn’t fully develop until around age 25. Which may make adolescent susceptible to stress and depression than adults because many parts of their brain don’t work together as well as they should.

Stress can affect our emotional and cognitive health in many ways, including worry, anger, mood instability, memory issues, and difficulty in concentrating/focus, irritability, and lack of motivation.

Behavioural Symptoms

The stress behavioural symptoms of children are often overlooked. They can be difficult to spot, but there are some tell-tale signs that you might be able to recognize if you know what to look for.  Here is a list of behavioral symptoms that may signal your child is experiencing the effects of stress. Withdrawal from family members, loss of appetite, lack of interest in hobbies or activities they used to enjoy, difficulty sleeping. In addition, increase in alcohol and substance, hitting, kicking, biting, nail biting, and irritability.

Today, I explored the physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms of stress. If you found this blog post interesting or helpful in any way, please share it with your friends! You can also email me anytime to discuss how we can help you reduce levels of stress through our preventative wellness programs. Thank you for reading!

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-ful life.

Stress is a way the brain and body reacts or response to situations, demands, or events. In most cases the stress could come as a result of external and internal demands. Stress can come in many forms, but it’s typically caused by outside factors that are difficult to control. The feeling of being overloaded with responsibilities and the inability to find time for you are examples of this type of stress.

Stress is a normal part of life, but it can be difficult to manage. Stressful events can take an emotional toll on the body and brain. The good news is that you don’t have to go through this alone! You’ll find some stress-relieving tips below that will help get your mind off of things so you can focus on what’s important in your life.

Why does Stress Happen?

Stress is a natural response to life’s stresses and pressures. It can be caused by work, family, money, school or other things that we deal with in our everyday lives. Stress can also come from feeling too much pressure on yourself and it might make you feel like the only thing you’re doing wrong is not good enough. Stress impacts everyone differently; some people may find they are more stressed than others because of their lifestyle choices or who they hang around with; but there are ways for all of us to reduce the amount of stress we experience every day such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods and practicing self-care.

How much is too much?

We all feel stressed at times, but when does it become a problem? Stress can be caused by many things. Sometimes the cause of stress is out of our control and sometimes we’re contributing to our own stress. It can be tough to know what causes us to feel stressed, but once you figure it out, you may find that there are steps you can take to reduce your level of stress. Â The good news is that there are ways for adults and children alike to manage their levels of stress so they don’t have as many negative effects on their lives. What works for one person might not work for another so finding what works best for them.

Our website has information about what causes stress, signs and symptoms, healthy coping strategies, tips for managing daily life with less stress, research studies about the effects of chronic stress on the body and mind, ways technology may affect our ability to cope with stressful situations (and more). You’ll find all kinds of helpful resources here that will help you learn how best to handle different types of stressful events so they don’t negatively impact your mental or physical health. And if you need additional support beyond what we have available online – we are always happy to connect people with other services as needed. We hope this site helps empower everyone who visits us by providing them with valuable tools for managing their own personal experiences with stress. Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you!

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

If your child or teen struggles with attention span and self-regulation, you may be wondering what to do. You are not alone!

We all know what it’s like to have a hard time paying attention. But for children with ADHD, this problem is more intense and frequent. They may be easily distracted, fidgety or impulsive, which can cause problems in school or at home. For parents of these children, the toughest part might be knowing how to help your child maintain their focus when they are struggling with self-regulation skills on their own.

In this blog we’ll talk about ways you can support your children with ADHD who struggles with attention span and self-regulation skills so that they can succeed in school and life!

1. Identify your child’s strengths and interests

Parents or caregivers ability to identify their child’s strength and interests is an important way to support your child with ADHD who struggles with attention span and self-regulation skills so that they can succeed in school and life!

Identifying your child’s strengths and interest can be difficult because they may not always show up on tests or grades. But there are some signs that can help you find out what makes them unique! You might notice that they love playing video games for hours at a time, or maybe they like building things from scratch. Maybe they’re really good at sports, but hate practising the drills over and over again. Whatever it is, don’t ignore these signs of talent! They could be the key to helping your kid excel in school later on down the road if you know how to use their talents as motivation for success instead of something negative that holds them back from reaching their full potential!

2. Create a routine that works for them

It’s important to create a routine that works for your child. This is because routines help children with ADHD who struggle with attention span and self-regulation skills succeed in school and life! As such, you can do this by creating clear expectations for your child, using visual cues to support them, providing positive reinforcement when they follow the routine, and giving them opportunities to practice following the routine on their own. By doing these things consistently over time you will be able to see improvements in your child’s ability to follow routines. It may take some time but it will be worth it!

3. Consider medication as an option if they are struggling with ADHD symptoms

If your child is having trouble focusing, staying organized, and completing tasks at home or in school, you may want to reach out to your family doctor. Because ADHD can make it difficult for children to succeed in school and maintain friendships. However, there are treatments that can help them manage their symptoms. Parents or caregivers should consider medication as an option if their children are struggling with ADHD symptoms where and when necessary.

Medication can be a great way to manage your symptoms and help you focus on the things that matter most. It’s important to work closely with your doctor when considering medication for ADHD so they can make sure it is right for you.

4. Set up a reward system for behaviours you want to see

A reward system for behaviours you want to see more of in your child (without being reminded), such as staying focused on homework or chores without being reminded can be helpful. For children with autism and ADHD, who struggle with attention span and self-regulation (ADHD), this might help them stay motivated to complete tasks that they find challenging otherwise. Children need positive reinforcement too!

5. Have patience and be patient

It takes time to learn new skills and habits. More so, it can take time to make changes stick! It may help to start small and work up from there, like setting a timer when doing homework or making one chore their responsibility each day.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurological condition that affects about some children and teens. Children with ADHD struggle to pay attention and control their impulses, which can make it difficult for them to succeed academically or socially. There are many treatment options available today that have been shown to be effective at managing symptoms and improving quality of life for those diagnosed with ADHD. We’ve talked about some general tips on how parents can help their child who struggles with these symptoms in this blog post, but if you want more information schedule a free consultation so we can chat further. Thank you

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-ful life.

Movement for children is so important for children because it helps their brains grow and develop. The more they move, the better their brains can learn how to make connections between neurons that are necessary for everything. Your child’s movement is the result of their curiosity and desire to explore. Movement is a natural way for your child to learn about themselves, others, and the world around them.  It helps children develop motor skills, coordination, balance, strength and endurance. The more time they spend moving freely – especially when supervised by an adult – the healthier their bodies will be now and later in life!  This blog post covers what you need to know about how movement can help your little one thrive as they grow up.  Join me on this journey as we explore how adults can encourage healthy habits in young ones with fun games that promote physical activity!

Why is Movement Important for Children?

Movement is important for children. It helps them to develop their coordination, balance and social skills. Children also need exercise to help their bodies grow strong and healthy. Your child is exploring and learning about his world through play. Movement helps children to grow physically, cognitively, socially, emotionally and intellectually. Children need a lot of movement for healthy development so it’s important that you provide lots of opportunities for physical activity every day!

Some ways you can help your child get more movement include: playing games like “tag” or “hide ‘n’ seek,” running around outside in the backyard or taking walks together in the park. You could also do some dance moves with them too! If they’re older, keep up with their favorite TV show while doing squats – a great way to burn calories!

And don’t forget this one–it may seem silly but kids love bubbles which involves lots of movement.

Types of Movements for Children

The most common types of movements for children and teens are rolling, crawling, creeping and walking. It’s important to know the differences between these four stages of movement so you can help your child or teen develop his/her skills in each area. We’ll go into detail about what happens during each stage below!

These types of movements a child can do, and growing up increases their abilities. Rolling is the first type of movement that babies start doing when they’re learning to control their limbs. Rolling is a reflexive type of movement that helps babies learn to turn over when they’re lying on their stomachs. Once infants get stronger, crawling starts becoming more natural for them as well as creeping. Moving on all fours with elbows bent and knees straight in order to move quickly or stealthily (or both). As children grow older enough to walk upright without assistance, walking becomes another way they learn how best suit themselves through mobility. While running may not be quite so necessary but it does allow kids an excellent opportunity for exercise!

Let’s talk about how you can create more movement for your children and teens. Call me for more information or to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help!

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

3 reasons why your teen should drink water will be discuss in this blog. Drinking water is an important healthy habit for teens because drinking water is essential to a healthy body. It helps maintain a balance of minerals and fluids in the cells, aids digestion, transports nutrients, and maintains skin moisture. Drinking water is a healthy habit for teens because it keeps teens energized by replenishing your energy stores with oxygen-rich H2O. Likewise, the average teen drinks about 1.5 liters of water per day, which is less than adults. As teens go through puberty and grow their metabolism increases so they should drink more water to stay healthy and hydrated. Not only that, but drinking plenty of water can help prevent headaches and migraines. As well as, helps maintain a healthy weight, prevents constipation, kidney stones, diabetes and other illnesses. The best way to stay hydrated is through drinking plenty of clean glassfuls throughout the day; not just when you’re thirsty or it’s hot outside.

This blog will discuss 3 reasons why your teen should drink water

1) Weight Management

One reason your teen should drink water is because can help with weight loss by suppressing your appetite – Drinking plenty of water aids in digestion and metabolism, which leads to less food intake and more calories burning. The body needs water for digestion and metabolism. But with so many delicious beverages out there that are high in sugar and calories, it’s easy for teens to get caught up in the hype of these other options. More so, water has zero calories! It’s also free and easily available – all you need is a tap or bottle! The best part is that by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, you’ll actually suppress your appetite because your brain will think that you’ve had more food than you really have!

2) Flushes Toxins

One reason your teen should drink water is because it can help with flushing toxins of the body. The liver is the most important organ in your body, but it can’t function properly without enough fluids. More so, your organs will work more efficiently to remove waste products from your system.  When you drink less than eight glasses of water every day, toxins build up and may even cause damage to this vital part of your health! This is especially important for teens that are constantly growing and developing new cells- they need lots of fluids to help clean up old cells so their bodies can keep going strong!

3) Reduce Acne

One reason your teen should drink water is because it can help with preventing acne on the body. Drinking water prevents acne because acne develops when pores clog up with oil, dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells. There is a common misconception that drinking water can worsen acne breakouts, but it’s actually the opposite. Drinking plenty of water can help clear up acne and prevent future breakouts from occurring.  Research shows that an increase in fluids may reduce stress hormones which are known to aggravate symptoms of acne. It also helps flush out toxins through sweat glands and urination. It’s important for people with skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis to drink more water because their skin may be dryer than average due to a reduction in oil production caused by these diseases. 

I call my blog post “3 Reasons why your teen should drink water” because it has three important benefits for teens. Drinking plenty of water can help with weight loss, prevent acne and flush toxins from the body. What are some other reasons that drinking water is good? Comment below!

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

Healthy habits for teens are important to develop because the teen years are a time for growth and exploration. From school to extracurricular activities, it’s hard to find time for the things they need most like sleep and healthy eating habits. And as such, the demands on their bodies often lead them to make unhealthy choices that can have long-term consequences. But with a little bit of guidance and education, parents can help their teenagers develop healthy habits that will last them well into adulthood. These four habits not only provide benefits for teens but they also reduce stress levels which can affect moods and grades! Start today by implementing these simple steps into your daily routine and see how much healthier, happier, and more productive your child becomes!

1) Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables

Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is a healthy habit for teens. Just like a teen’s brain and body, their gut is a developing system that needs to be nurtured. Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables is important for teens. Fruits provide the body with carbohydrates for energy while veggies offer vitamins that strengthen bones among other benefits. This is because they contain many nutrients that are essential for your health, such as fibre, potassium, vitamin C, and folate (vitamin B9). Fruits and vegetables also provide antioxidants which protect cells from damage. Eating a variety of colours provides you with the most benefits.

2) Exercise Regularly

The importance of a teen exercising regularly as a healthy habit cannot be overstated. Teens are constantly bombarded with messages from friends and family about what to eat and how to stay fit. It can be hard to know where to start or who is telling the truth! Luckily, there are many resources available for you that will help you get started on your fitness journey. Exercise helps reduce stress levels by releasing endorphins into the body which makes us feel good. This is especially helpful during stressful times like exams or breakups when we may not be eating well or sleeping enough! Exercise also releases serotonin which boosts moods while reducing anxiety levels. Regular exercise has been shown time and again as an effective treatment option for depression because it increases energy levels while decreasing feelings of sadness or hopelessness. In fact, studies show that regular physical activity can alleviate symptoms of depression just as much as antidepressants do without any side effects! Physical activity improves sleep quality by helping regulate hormone production throughout the day (i.e., cortisol).

3) Less Time on Screen

With the introduction of technology, a lot of teens are spending more time on their screens than they do in front-of-a mirror. Some parents believe that this is hurting both physical and mental health as well as social skills. Avoid sitting at the table while watching TV or playing on Social Media: This may keep you in “mindless mode” which means that when it comes time for dinner, all you’ll want is something simple like fast-food instead of working towards cooking an actual meal.

4) Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is one of the most important healthy habits for teens. Sleep is important for your health and well-being. It helps you stay alert, improves your mood, and can even help prevent obesity. But it’s not always easy to get the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night. A lack of sleep can lead to health problems, such as obesity and diabetes. It also affects your grades in school and moods. Get Enough Sleep will help you get a better night’s rest so you can be more productive during the day!

We hope these four tips will help you get your teen to start their day off on the right foot. If they’re struggling with grades, moods, or stress levels. Then, make sure your teens are eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables; exercising regularly. As well as, limiting screen time so it doesn’t interfere with homework or socializing; and getting enough sleep. It may seem like a lot but each one is simple to do! Contact us, if you have any questions about how we can support your family’s needs.

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.

Healthy eating habits for teens are very vital as they are at a crucial stage in their life.

The teenage years can be a difficult time for teens and their parents. Teens are going through so many changes physically, mentally and socially. One of the most important things to remember is that teens need healthy food choices in order to help them grow strong, physically and mentally. They are transitioning from childhood to adulthood; they need more guidance than ever about how to make the best decisions for themselves. It’s important that for parents/caregivers to start by letting your teens know that it’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay not to be perfect, and help them build good habits early on so as to avoid dealing with these issues later.

Following these three tips, your teen will be one step closer to becoming an independent adult who knows how to take care of themselves well.

1) Eat Breakfast

Eating breakfast is the best way to start the day for teens. The first meal of the day should be nutritious and filling, giving you energy for your morning activities. In fact, research has shown that eating high-quality proteins at breakfast leads to better cognitive functioning in children by lunchtime! More so, adding fresh fruits with breakfast like watermelon or bananas provide high levels of energy. In addition, when eaten first thing in the morning which will prepare kids’ brains for learning throughout their day at school! Plus it helps cut down on sugar cravings later during the course of their busy schedules.

2) Drink Water

Drinking water is important for teens because are at risk for dehydration, which is a serious condition. The importance of a teen drinking water daily can’t be stressed enough. Drinking the recommended amount of eight 8 ounce glasses per day will keep your body hydrated, which is important for maintaining good health. Dehydration may make you feel tired and lightheaded because it impacts concentration levels and causes headaches. As well, it slows metabolism! It is important for Teens to stay properly hydrated because helps prevent kidney stones which is pass through your urinary system. This also reduces pain associated with passing small amounts urine frequently without noticing too much discomfort.

3) Limit your intake of sugar and processed foods

Teens limiting your intake of sugar and processed foods is important and healthy. Processed food can lead to a lot more weight gain than natural, unprocessed foods because they typically have high levels of calories from fat or refined carbs with little nutritional value. As teens grow up, it becomes harder and even scarier for some people (especially those who are predisposed) to maintain the same body type that they had in high school due to hormonal changes caused by puberty; this makes dieting an important factor into maintaining your ideal self-image.

The challenge of getting your teen to eat healthy can seem daunting and overwhelming. It’s important that you start by letting them know that it’s okay not to be perfect. Help them build good habits early on so they don’t have to deal with these issues later in life. If you need more guidance in teaching a teenager about living healthier, please contact me for an appointment or consultation.

Emem Iniobong is a Brandon MB, Canadian Certified Counsellor that helps children, teens, young adults, parents, and families in dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, parenting support to live a more fulfilled and bliss-full life.