Category Archives: Tip of the Week

Create a Positive Affirmation List

Posted in General Health, Tip of the Week by

Why not design a new year’s resolution that’s healthy, manageable and helps promote positive self-esteem.  Create a positive affirmation list. All you need is a notebook or note pad and add one positive trait that you possess to the list daily. These can be physical qualities, as in liking your smile.  Or personality traits, as in thinking you are smart, funny, and/or friendly.  Also you can share talents, like singing or drawing as well as sharing acts of kindness like helping a brother or sister with his/her homework.  Before you know it, the list will grow and by the end of the year you will have 365 amazing qualities that you have realized about yourself and cannot forget. Get your friend’s involved and challenge them to create a list as well. This is a great activity for teens and tweens. I’ll do it too and post to twitter daily @drcarollanglois. If you like, you can share on twitter with me!

I think the first word for my positive affirmation list will be “determined.”

Happy writing.

Breathing Properly to Release Stress & Anxiety

Posted in Tip of the Week by

Tip of the week:

Obviously, we all know how to breathe, but are we doing it right? When we get stressed we tend to breathe very shallow. Small short breaths that really aren’t doing our brain and heart any good. Instead, when we feel stressed we should be doing just the opposite. So before your next class presentation, debate or exam— think about your breathing. There is a very simple formula that everyone can do.

Sit straight with both feet flat on the floor. Close your eyes and breathe in through your nose for the count of 4 (literally count in your head 1234) then release the air through your mouth for the count of 8. Repeat 3 to 5 times, open your eyes and surprisingly you’ll feel more calm and ready for the task ahead. If the anxiety continues, you can repeat these breathing exercises during the debate, exam or task at hand. If you can’t close your eyes that’s okay. Still, breathe in for 4 through your nose and out your mouth for 8.  It works every time.

How to Help Your Teen Succeed in College

Posted in Articles for Parents, Tip of the Week by

My parents taught me many skills in life to prepare me and keep me on the right path.  As the youngest of seven, I had the advantage of observing trial an error by my older siblings.  By the time I came around, my parents had fine tuned their parenting skills.  Among the most important skills I learned were responsibility, hard work and dedication.  My parents did not believe in handing out money simply on demand. I had an allowance that I earned, was always told ways in which I could earn extra money around the house and I had my first job at thirteen. As a family, we had weekly responsibilities within the house that were to be completed on time or evening/weekend activities were forfeited. There was no whining or questioning, we knew the rules and simply obeyed or disobeyed and paid the consequences that were enforced on a consistent basis.

More importantly, from that responsibility, hard work and dedication came a sense of “independence” which I feel was the glue that truly helped me (and my siblings) succeed in college.  I could balance my check book, change a flat tire, get the most bang for my buck at the grocery store, think quickly on my feet and maintained an emergency fund all before freshman year of college. All thanks to my parents. That way the only unknown factor that I really needed to adjust to was the level of work expected of a new college student.  I watched many students and friends crumble around me because they couldn’t manage their time, money, relationships, and the daily pressures of day-to-day college living.  I truly think teaching children to be independent by way of responsibility, hard work and dedication is part of that check-list of life skills necessary for a successful transition to college.