Cristina Hlusak

Remember when we were taught in school how to brainstorm to generate ideas and resourceful solutions to solve problems? Since then, you’ve probably relied on your brainstorming skills once or twice without even realizing it. Yet, in order to harness the true power of brainstorming, you need to learn how to use it effectively. In this post, we’ll look at why brainstorming is useful and how to use it to plan out your future. Let’s get started. Why Is Brainstorming Important? Alex Osborn was one of the first ones to develop the original approach. He then went on to publish …

Everyone has a natural rhythm to their morning routine. Regardless of what time you get out of bed, morning is an important part of your day. It sets the tone for everything you do. When you understand what your rhythm is, you can use it to your advantage.  The Early Bird The moment you hear the alarm, your brain kicks into high gear. You tend to start the day with a to-do list already in hand that you prepared last night. You use mornings to get things done, and by lunchtime, your to-do list has more than a few checkmarks. …

Any parent can tell you all it takes to ruin a morning is one person getting up on the wrong side of the bed. Within just a few minutes, the mood in your house can shift from joyful and excited to grumpy and overwhelmed. That’s why it can be helpful for parents and kids to begin the day together with morning affirmations. Try starting with some of these: I am loved. When kids know they’re loved, they carry that knowledge with them. It comforts and supports them throughout the day. You can have your child say, “I am loved,” then …

Imagine this: you’ve been given one cup of water. Throughout the day, you’ll meet other people who are thirsty. They’re going to ask you to drink from your water. Most of these people will be loved ones, like your friend who needs you to listen as she talks about her difficult day or your child who needs help with homework. Without morning self-care, you start the day with a cup that’s only half full of water. Now, you have to carefully ration your time and attention so there will be enough for your loved ones and for you. This can …

Everyone experiences a stressful morning occasionally. It might be that your alarm clock didn’t ring or your car wouldn’t start. Maybe you forgot the report you needed at the house, or you left your grocery list on the kitchen counter.  If your mornings always feel stressful, then it’s a sign something needs to change. The good news is most morning stress can be eliminated by creating new habits. It can take a while for a habit to become routine, but once it does, your morning will be so much smoother. Here’s how you can reclaim your mornings:  Prepare the night …