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Ways to Reduce or Manage Stress

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.

Movement for Children

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.

4 Healthy Habits for Teens

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

variety of 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

anonymous women soccer players in training

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

person holding game pad

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

wood typography photography luck

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.