Back to Business?
As summer starts to fade, many of us now turn our attention to getting back into regular routines, like going back to school, sending our kids back to school, and returning, in some capacity (maybe?), to the office.
 
But what are things going to look like this fall, now that we are 18 months into Covid-19? And how do we best navigate it all?
 
Here are three tips to help:
 
1. Be Flexible
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from Covid-19 it’s to expect swift changes, like the fairly recent and highly contagious delta variant.
 
To that end, it’s critical that we adopt a flexible mindset to dealing with Covid-19. So, for example, while it may be frustrating to have to wear a mask again, it’s what the current situation dictates. Simply put, we must accept changes and pivot accordingly, not bemoan the fact that things should be different.
 
2. Be Safe
Above all, it’s important to be smart and put your safety first. In addition to getting vaccinated, that means doing all the usual things – wearing your mask, social distancing and staying away from crowded places. It also means not assuming that everyone in your orbit has been vaccinated.
 
At school and at work, make sure you’re aware of the safety protocols. If you think they’re not robust enough, communicate that to those in charge. That may mean you continue to work from home for longer than anticipated.
 
3. Be Gentle With Yourself
Some amount of anxiety is perfectly normal right now when it seems that new, and often unsettling, information about the virus comes out nearly every day. Don’t beat yourself up over it.
 
If, however, you spend so much time worrying that it impacts your daily activities, it’s time to ramp up good self-care activities like exercise, yoga, meditation, journaling and spending time in nature. Or reach out to us and schedule a session with a therapist.
Tip of the Month
In a partnered relationship, we often focus on what’s missing or what’s not going well. There’s some value to that, but we need to balance that with what’s going well. Otherwise, we run the risk of creating a distorted view of the relationship.
 
That’s why it’s important to thank your partner for small things like cleaning up after dinner or taking out the garbage. Another good one is saying “I like it when you…(fill in the blank)” on a semi-regular basis.
Podcasts We're Listening To
Where Should We Begin?

Each episode of this popular podcast consists of a recording of an unscripted couples therapy session between noted psychotherapist Esther Perel and a real couple in her counseling office in New York City.
 
Perel has a direct and confrontational style that helps couples quickly and effectively get to the feelings that underpin their behaviors. Each episode is 50-55 minutes.
 
The podcast, which began in 2017, takes on issues like open marriage, racism inside an extended family, coming out in a religious home, and chronic infidelity. Perel also devoted several episodes this season dedicated to Covid-19, entitled Couples Under Lockdown.
 
Perel, who also hosts the podcast ‘How’s Work?’, is the author of two New York Times bestselling books, ‘Mating in Captivity’ and ‘The State of Affairs’.
 
Available on Spotify, Apple and Stitcher.
Apps We Like
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Dreamful

This app was started by Jordan Blair, the mother of two young daughters who were having trouble falling asleep. Each episode is a bedtime story accompanied by soothing background music.

A few recent selections include ‘Black Beauty’, ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Rapunzel’. Dreamful was developed for children but it’s appropriate for adults, too. One reviewer recently wrote, “Fell asleep before the story ended.”

Pro tip: Skip the first four minutes or so of each episode to bypass introductions and information about sponsors.

Available on Google and Apple.
What We're Watching
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White Lotus

A six-episode miniseries that just ended, it was written and directed by Mike White, of “Freaks and Geeks” and “Enlightened” fame. The show examines some meaty topics such as wealth, privilege, race and sex, as it follows several wealthy Americans vacationing at a ritzy Hawaiian hotel.
 
The show is at times hilarious, heartbreaking and painful to watch. The most poignant scenes are the ones that involve the hotel guests interacting with the staff, exposing strong feelings each group has for the other.
 
There’s also plenty of dysfunction with the Mossbacher family, but perhaps the greatest character is the clueless Tanya, played to the hilt by Jennifer Coolidge.
 
Available on HBOMax.
Our Clinical Team
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