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Can you identify this delicate little flower?
For all you May babies, the delicate Lily of the Valley is your birth flower!
Memorable Ways to Celebrate Mom
The month of May wouldn't be complete without Mother's Day-which is Sunday May 14th this year. If you haven't already planned something special for Mom, consider one of these ideas as a fun way to spend time with Mom and shower her with a little love and attention.

1) Take a flower arranging class-just in time for Spring blooms!
2) Play a family board game favorite- may bring back some childhood memories...
3) Book her a weekend away- somewhere special for the two of you!
4) Get theater or concert tickets- maybe even a nice outdoor show with a picnic.
5) Go fruit picking and perhaps whip up a delicious dessert with the pickings!
6) Complete a jigsaw puzzle- you might be surprised how relaxing this can be and how much casual chatting can find it's way into the activity. Consider making a favorite photo into a puzzle to complete together.

If you have lost your Mom consider...

1) Making her favorite dish as a tribute to her
2) Share a favorite memory of your Mom with a friend or loved one.
3) Do one of her favorite activities
4) Light a candle in her honor and catch her up on all that has been going on in your life.
Love this Mindfulness Exercise!
If you are having a tough day with your child, or kids, pretend you are 80 years old.....and you have magically gotten to come back in time to hang out with your kid(s) again but only on this one day in this one moment. How will that change your perspective....your mood...your attitude as you deal with the day and the situation?

I had heard of this exercise earlier in life but in a slightly different way. I first learned of it as a way to advise yourself. The exercise was to pretend you are 80 years old and to write a letter to your current self. How would you advise your younger self? What would you share about the future?

I like that take on it but I think I like this new and slightly different angle better. I have already used it several times! It doesn't have to be related to children either- you can use it for pretty much any moment where you are not fully enjoying yourself or in a less than positive mood state. Give it a try this month!
If procrastination is one of your habits...
Let's begin by changing the dialogue you have with yourself or the way you have perhaps been labeling yourself. You are not a "Procrastinator" you instead have a habit of procrastinating. It may sound subtle but words matter.

And then let's talk about habits. All habits have three parts. The trigger, the pattern and the reward. If you have a habit of procrastinating, stress is your trigger, avoiding doing something is your pattern and stress release (temporary) is your reward. I say temporary because the stress always comes back with procrastination!

To break the habit of procrastination you need to deal with the pattern. You need to stop avoiding and start doing. The work or the thing you are avoiding isn't the problem. The avoidance is the problem so just start.

Step 1) Acknowledge the stress or stressor (the trigger)
Step 2) Count out loud "1,2,3,4,5" to interrupt the old pattern and break the auto-pilot of this habit
Step 3) Work for 5 minutes- just start- take the first step- set a timer if you like.
Step 4) Feel the reward, the stress release and the realization that you can do this!
Step 5) Repeat steps 1-4 as needed
Pet Therapy
Last summer a study was published in the Journal of Aging and Health that suggests growing older while living with a companion animal can play a role in preserving cognitive function. In the study, individuals who lived with a pet performed better on tests that measured long and short-term memory than did people of the same age but who did not live with a pet.

The results were more pronounced for those who had been with their pets for five years or more and the protective effect only seemed to show up in people who were 65 and older.

Health data from the study also showed that pet owners in the study tended to have lower body-fat percentages, better blood pressure and a lower incidence of diabetes than those without pets. This pointed to greater physical activity which has long been tied to improved cognitive health. The group with pets also reported lower levels of stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness.

H&W on the MBW App!
H & W has made it to the Mind Body Wellness App available on IOS, Google Play, Apple TV and Android TV. You can check Andrea out in the Mental Health section and also access dozens of other fitness and wellness classes and videos from your phone, computer, tablet or smart device such as your SmartTV. The MBW mission is to provide education, awareness, and support to help normalize conversations about mental health in both our personal and professional lives. 
Accute
Life in 5 Senses Quiz
For those of you who have worked with me, you may have heard me say at one point- "This will help you get out of your head and into your body" or "connecting with your 5 Senses is very grounding" or "people who take the time to connect with their 5 senses tend to be more present and happier in life". These are mindfulness techniques and turns out author and happiness researcher, Gretchen Rubin, is also a big fan. Check out her quiz to see which of your 5 senses might be most neglected with helpful hints to give it a little extra attention!
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Phone: (310) 968-2560