How to Be There for a Friend When You Can’t Be There

The older I get, the more important my female friendships are to me. It’s hard to make new friends as an adult, so I try really hard to maintain those friendships I already have. But as we’ve gotten older, we’ve spread our wings and moved farther and farther away from each other. Fortunately, long-distance friendships are possible to maintain.

However, when my long-distance friends are going through one of life’s battles (cancer, illness, death, divorce, etc.), there is nothing I want more than to be there with her and give her a shoulder to cry on. But it isn’t always possible to actually be there sometimes. When I want to be there for my friend, but I can’t physically be there, here are some of the things I do.

1. Give Her Space to Talk

Sometimes all you need is someone to listen to – especially if you are going through a tough time. I try to give my friends the space to talk. I call or video chat after the kids are in bed or during lunch break in private, so I can give her my full attention.

2. Order Food

Food is much-needed sustenance, but if your suffering friend lives far away, you can’t drop off a meal on her doorstep or take her to a restaurant. But there are still plenty of ways you can her with delicious, nutritious food from far away. Consider ordering a meal for her via UberEATS or DoorDash. Order grocery delivery to her home address.

3. Send Funny Notes and Texts

Let her know you’re thinking of her by sending her texts regularly. Try to lift her spirits by sending her funny memes or jokes. Snail mail is also a great option.

4. Brighten Her Day with Flowers

Flowers are a wonderful way to show someone you care. In addition to ordering from an online florist, you can also use delivery services like DoorDash to pick up flowers from local supermarkets.

5. Mail a Care Package

Take time to assemble a package of items that your friend either needs or things that will simply show you know her and love her. For example, if your friend is going through cancer treatments, prepare a package with items that will make treatments easier. If your friend is going through a divorce, send her a package of items that give her a reason to remember she will laugh and love again.

6. Hire Someone to Help

If your friend is overwhelmed and can’t do everything she needs to do, find a way to provide assistance from afar. Does she have a dog she can’t walk? Look into hiring a dog walker via Rover. Does she need help with cleaning her home? See if you can find a house cleaning service. Is mowing the lawn too difficult? Hire a landscaping company to do a one-time cleanup.

7. Create a Playlist

A simple and easy way to show your friend you are thinking of her is to create a Spotify playlist just for her. Find songs that will inspire her and encourage her to keep fighting. Every time she plays it, she will feel a little better and will be reminded of her long-distance BFF.

8. Enjoy a Shared Interest

Take her mind off what she’s going through with a shared distraction. Suggest watching a new show together using the Netflix watch party feature. Find a book you can both read and then plan a time to discuss it with one another.

9. Help Her Relax

While you may not be able to go on a girl’s spa weekend with your friend, you can still help her feel pampered from far away. Put together a gift package full of at-home spa supplies. Or present her with a gift certificate to visit a local spa or nail salon for some much-needed R&R.

10. Don’t Wait for Her to Ask

My final tip is to not wait for your friend to ask for help. Too often, we have good intentions and say something like, “Let me know if you need any help.” The problem is that it can be hard to ask for help when you are going through something difficult. Instead of putting it on your friend to ask for help, look for ways you can help her and do them.

End Video Game Battles with Your Kids Once and For All

Ask a parent what one of the biggest battles they have with their kids is about and I can guarantee video games will be a frequent answer. Kids are drawn to video games (mobile apps, computer apps, all of the above) like moths to a flame. And many of them have a really hard time stopping once they start playing.

According to the Center on Media and Child Health:

• 66% of tweens aged 8 to 12 play video games for an average of 2 hours per day.

• 56% of teens ages 13 to 17 play video games for an average of 2.5 hours per day.

• Over 80% of both tweens and teens have a gaming console.

If you are tired of video game battles with your kids, use these 8 tips to change your kid’s video game habit.

1. Make Clear Rules

Start by making clear rules about when and where your child is allowed to play video games. For example, no video games until all homework and chores are done for the day. You should also establish rules about where video games are allowed. Some families don’t allow kids to have video games in their bedrooms and others don’t like their kids bring their handheld devices to the dinner table.

2. Set App Limits

Most devices, such as iPads and Kindles, allow you to set limits for app usage. With the Kindle Fire, parents can set specific times when apps may be used, as well as time limits for apps.  

3. Enable Parental Controls

Likewise, parents should enable parental controls across all the devices their child uses. This means establishing what games your child is allowed to access and play based on ratings, blocking chat features, and setting time limits. Fortunately, there are ways to enable parental controls on the major game consoles. Check out PC Mag’s How to Enable Parental Controls on Every Video Game Platform for instructions.

4. Enforce Time Limits

Your kids need to limit their video game usage, and the best way to do so is to enforce time limits. According to the Child Mind Institute, “The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests time allotted should be under 30 to 60 minutes per day on school days and 2 hours or less on non- school days. The group recommends even lower limits of under 1 hour of total screentime per day for children under 6 years old […].

5. Do Your Research

Sadly, there are a lot of video games and game-style apps that aren’t safe or appropriate for kids. That’s why parents need to do their research. I recommend looking up video games on Common Sense Media to get descriptions, ratings, age ranges, and reviews from fellow parents.

6. Ask to See What They are Playing

Have an “open doors” policy with video games – as in, you can ask to see what they are playing at any time. Since so many of today’s video games include chat options, this is one way to make sure your kids are staying safe online.

7. Give Clear Consequences

Talk to your kids about your family’s video game rules and the possible consequences. If kids know the possible consequences ahead of time, they will be less likely to break the rules or fight you when they have earned a consequence.

8. Encourage Balance

It is also important to encourage your kid to find a healthy balance between playing video games and playing in the real world. Encourage social activities and extracurriculars. Invest in other toys and games.

12 Tips to Help You Go to Sleep Faster

If you are like many moms, going to sleep isn’t always easy. As tired as we are, we lay in bed tossing and turning before we fall asleep. And we need all the sleep we can get! Sleep is important for our overall physical and mental health. So, if you struggle with falling asleep, implement these 12 tips to help you go to sleep faster.

1. Make Your Bedroom Relaxing

Your bedroom should be designed to be a place of rest. You should feel soothed as soon as you enter it. Opt for soft colors and subtle patterns rather than anything bold or flashy. And, keep it clean. A cluttered and messy bedroom will only increase your anxiety, making it more difficult to fall asleep.

2. Wind Down

Every evening before you head to bed, do something relaxing. Take time to wind down. Whether you choose to take a nice bath, read a book, or listen to quiet music, do something that makes you feel a bit sleepier.

3. Disconnect and Say No to Blue Light

If you are anything like the rest of America, then the last thing you look at before you go to bed is your phone. This is the exact wrong thing to do if you want to go to sleep faster! Not only will the scrolling keep you alert, but our cell phones use blue light which messes with our body’s natural sleep rhythms.

My advice – Put your phone in a different room out of reach, such as your master bathroom. Not only will this prevent you from looking at it before you go to bed and as soon as you wake up, but it will also force you to get up to turn off your phone alarm in the morning.

4. Invest in Quality Bedding

Yes, those high thread count sheets are worth it. So is the fancy mattress topper and the expensive pillow.

5. Follow a Sleep Schedule

Teach yourself to fall asleep faster by going to bed around the same time every night and waking up around the same time.

6. Avoid Caffeine in the Afternoon

Most of us need a morning jolt of caffeine, but if we drink it throughout the day (such as stopping at Target for a mid-day latte), we will feel it when we try to go to bed. Experts recommend avoiding caffeine after lunch.

7. Dim the Lights

A little before your regular bedtime start to dim the lights. For example, close the curtains and switch from full lights to dimmer lamps.

8. Block Out the Noise

If you are not already using a white noise app or machine, now is the time to start. These things are amazing with blocking out noise so you can sleep soundly.

9. Keep a Notepad on the Nightstand

One reason many moms have trouble going to sleep is that we have so much on our minds. Our brains are so full of stuff all the time! A fix for this issue is to keep a notepad on your nightstand where you can jot down your thoughts before you go to bed (such as tomorrow’s to-do list).

10. Lower the Temperature

According to Healthline, “If your room is too warm, you might have a hard time falling asleep. Setting your thermostat to a cool temperature between 60–67°F (15.6–19.4°C) could help.”

11. Take Melatonin

The supplement melatonin can help regulate your sleep. Healthline explains, “Doses of 0.5–5 mg taken 2 hours before your desired bedtime, which is usually around 8 to 9 p.m. for most individuals, might improve sleep quality.”

12. Watch What You Eat and Drink

Be careful about what you eat and drink before bed. For example, if you eat something heavy before trying to go to sleep, you’ll struggle. Likewise, if you eat something like chocolate, which has caffeine, you’ll struggle. Also, some people think drinking alcohol will help them sleep. This is false. It may make them fall asleep faster, but they will wake up throughout the night.

How to Use Sunday to Get a Jump Start on the Week

Before Sunday Funday became a thing and everyone was brunching, Sundays were known as the day of rest. Unfortunately, in our busy society, we have a hard time slowing down and resting- even on Sunday. When you work five days a week, you try to cram as much as possible into your weekends. But, if you push yourself too much on the weekend, you are already starting the next week exhausted. Instead, use Sunday to get a jump start on the week.

Really Relax

As much as possible, try to make Sunday a day of rest. I understand that this isn’t always possible – especially for working moms. So, here’s what I do. I try to incorporate a little relaxation time in each Sunday. This may look like a nice, long bath or some time hiking outdoors. Do something that relaxes you, body and spirit.

Reconnect

Use Sunday to reconnect with the ones you love. Do something fun with your family or meet up with your girlfriends for brunch. If you can’t find to go and do, then set aside time to call a long-distance relative. By reconnecting on Sunday, we don’t have feelings of guilt for not spending enough time with others throughout the week.

Review the Week Ahead

Spend time on Sunday reviewing your week ahead. Pull your calendar out and clearly mark all your important dates and appointments. When reviewing your calendar, think about how your schedule will be different this week and what things you need will need to do differently (such as dinner). Then, call a family meeting to discuss the week’s plan, such as who is responsible for which meal and school pickup. Divvy up tasks fairly.

Do Some Meal Prep

I know meal prep feels like such a chore to some people, but it is so worth it! If you do an hour of meal prep on Sunday, you will feel less stressed throughout the week. Plus, you will eat healthier! You won’t have to rush around to find something to cook or eat fast food. You’ll have ingredients ready to go.

Tidy Up

I don’t think you should use your Sunday Funday to do any deep cleaning (unless you are the type of person who really enjoys cleaning). However, I do think it is wise to spend just a few minutes on Sunday to tidy up your focal points, such as clearing the counters or desk of clutter. There is something so nice about starting your week to a clean-looking house.

Plan Out Your Outfits

Did you know that Mark Zuckerberg has a very limited wardrobe? He wears an identical grey shirt all the time because it saves him from having to choose clothes every day, which means he can be even more productive. Now, as a fashion lover, I am not about to tell you to do the same thing. Ha! However, I do see the wisdom in pre-selecting your clothing for the week. You can save so much time, stress, and brain space by having your clothes picked out ahead of time

Go to Bed Early

Lastly, get your week off to a great start by going to bed on time on Sunday. This will help you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to go on Monday. If going to sleep is a struggle for you, try to prepare yourself for bed ahead of time. For example, dim the lights, put on cozy clothes, turn down the noise, and do something calming (such as reading).

What do your Sundays look like?

Back to School Mom Worries

After six months, my girls are heading back to school half day. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t feeling worried about it. In addition to the normal back to school jitters, moms have so much more to feel anxious about this school year. No matter what you have chosen, virtual, hybrid, homeschool, five-days-a-week, I know it was not an easy decision. I know you struggled with the decision and lost sleep over it. I know because I did too.

Even after making that decision, I am still not 100% at peace about it. So, I’ve been doing what I can do. Research and read what those smarter than me suggest for this year’s back to school mom worries.

Validate Your Feelings

First things first, validate your feelings. Here’s a start – if you are feeling anxious and unsure about what to expect this school year, this is totally valid. If there was ever a year to feel worried, it is 2020. Your feelings are valid. Plus, you are not the only mom feeling this way. Moms all over the world are feeling worried for many of the same reasons.

Recognize Your Stress

Next, recognize your stress. It is completely understandable to be stressed about the normal back to school gauntlet, but this year’s new normal can elevate your stress levels. If you find yourself acting unlike yourself, try to decipher if your actions are stress related. By recognizing when your stress level has entered unhealthy territory, you can start to ask for help.

Control the Things You Can

Listen, we’ve learned that quite a bit is out of our control this year. And that can exacerbate our mom fears. That’s why it is so important to control the things you can. For example, you may not be able to control what your kid does in the classroom, but you can control what happens in your home. You may not be able to control how often your kid washes her hands when she is at school, but you can make sure she washes her hands when she is with you.

With that being said, if you start to try to control things to an unhealthy degree, get help.

Consider the Worst

This may not work for every mom, but some moms find it actually calms them down to consider the worst things that could happen. By thinking through worst-case scenarios, you can prepare. For instance, what if there is an outbreak that forces the school to go virtual this year? By mentally preparing for the possibility, you can alleviate some stress.

Practice Self-Care

When you start to feel frazzled, take a few minutes to be still, and breathe. Sometimes that is all it takes to calm yourself down. Additionally, it is so important for moms to take time to practice self-care. This will look different for every mom, so you do whatever you need to do to make yourself feel at peace.

Celebrate Small Victories

Lastly, celebrate small victories. This school year will be challenging, but we can do it. For every accomplishment, give yourself a pat on the back. When the kids make it through a week, celebrate by doing something fun When you survive at-home teaching without losing your patience, reward yourself with a treat.  

How to Prepare Kids for New School Rules

In less than two weeks, my girls will be back to school following a hybrid model. It’s nerve-wracking, to say the least. I realized that if I am feeling this anxiety about what this new school year will look like, then I am sure my girls are also worried. Especially when you consider all the new school rules. Here is what I am doing to ease their fears and prepare my kids for new school rules due to COVID.

Wear Masks Now

I wrote a blog recently about how to prepare your kids for wearing masks to school. My main tip was to start wearing masks now. I cannot emphasize this enough. Don’t leave mask enforcement up to the teachers. See my blog Preparing Your Child to Wear a Mask at School for tips.

Demonstrate Social Distancing

Let’s be honest. Social distancing is hard – even for adults. When kids get to see their friends in the classroom after being apart since March, it is going to be extremely hard to practice social distancing. Take time to demonstrate what social distancing with friends looks like, such as not hugging, sharing, or whispering. (it’s pretty sad to actually write those examples though.)

Teach Healthy Habits

Talk to your kids about the importance of healthy habits, like washing their hands and sneezing or coughing into their arms. Go ahead and purchase mini hand sanitizers they can keep in their bookbags and cubbies. We’ve also started having our girls sanitize their hands every time they enter a vehicle after being in a public space and plan to stress this rule when it comes to school.

Talk to Them About What to Expect

You absolutely must talk to your kids about what to expect. If they show up to the school to see plexiglass dividers around desks and no toys lying around, they will be heartbroken. Instead, spend time talking about the differences they should expect and do so in a positive way. A psychologist from Boston Children’s Hospital suggests talking about things like: “What will the classroom look like? What will lunch and recess be like? What extracurricular activities or clubs will your child have or not have? How will they access extra supports, like tutoring or counseling? Walking through the specifics can give your kids something concrete to hold onto.”

Start Screening for Symptoms

Most schools are implementing some sort of screening for students. Whether you will be responsible for taking temperatures or your child’s school, it is a good idea to start screening for symptoms now. If kids are used to doing it at home, then they will be more prepared and unafraid at school.

Explain the Risks

It’s also important to explain the risks of COVID-19 to kids in a language they can understand. They need to know why these new school rules are in place so they will be more inclined to follow them.

Keep Your Opinions to Yourself

Lastly, keep your opinions to yourself. It’s not going to be perfect. And there will be plenty of times when things do not go according to plan. But, keep your frustrations and opinions to yourself and avoiding spewing your feelings to your child. This will only make kids feel more anxious about school.

What other tips do you have for the upcoming school year? Let me know in the comments!

How to Deal with Self-Doubt as a Mom

As much as I can appear on social media to have it all together, I struggle with self-doubt just like any other mom. I think the world has set women up to doubt themselves – mothers, especially. According to Psychology, “Self-doubt has  been  defined  as  uncertainty  about one’s abilities, potential for success, or competence in performance situations.”

How many times have you questioned your abilities as a mom? But, even though it is common, it doesn’t mean we should just accept it. Self-doubt is unhealthy and can actually make it harder for us to succeed.

Here are the 6 things I am trying to do when self-doubt starts nagging.

1. Treat Yourself Like a Friend

Be honest with yourself. You are much harder on yourself than you would ever be to one of your friends. You say things to the face in the mirror that you would never utter aloud to someone you care about. When you start to think bad thoughts about yourself, try practicing self-compassion instead. If you wouldn’t say it to a friend, then don’t say it to yourself.

2. Change Your Thought Pattern

Along those same lines, you need to change your thought pattern. If you tend to think negatively (especially about yourself and your abilities), you need to stop. When those thoughts cross your mind, don’t let yourself go there. Instead, change your train of thought and don’t dwell on the negativity.

3. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

A huge problem for moms is that we spend way too much time comparing ourselves to other moms. The comparison trap leads to self-doubt. Speaking of comparing yourself, don’t compare your mothering to someone else’s highlight reel (as seen on social media). Instead of focusing on what someone else does better, remind yourself what you do well.

4. Get to the Root of It

I think it is important for you to get to the root of the issue, too. There are times when it is important to think about why you may be feeling the way you are. Is this an ongoing feeling or something new in this season of life? Could you just be hungry or tired? Is it something you need to talk to a therapist about?

5. Surround Yourself with Positivity

Negative thinking is contagious. If you spend time talking with negative people, it won’t be long until you start thinking negatively, too. In the same way, if you are listening or reading negative things, then your mind is going to be full of negativity. Instead, surround yourself with positive people and ideas.

6. Be Proud (But Not Prideful)

One more thing. Women are taught to be modest, but too often, that means not acknowledging our accomplishments. We’ve all done something that we are proud of. Own it. Hang that certificate on your wall. When thoughts of self-doubt start trickling in, remember what you have accomplished. Begin with the basics – you’ve kept your kids alive. Good job, Mom!

Healthy Teeth – What to Pack in Kids’ Lunchboxes

If your kids are heading back to school in any capacity this school year, you are likely feeling anxious. One issue that is apparently keeping parents awake at night is school lunches. We already know that our school cafeterias will be shuttered, and many kids will be eating in their classrooms according to the new CDC guidelines. This means cafeteria meals will be delivered to our kids’ classrooms at lunch time. Whether or not you are a fan of school cafeteria food before, this year you may be feeling a little more hesitant.

According to The Grocer, “Our research shows 57.3% of parents of school-aged children are now more inclined to give their kids lunches packed at home to avoid the risk of contamination and have more control over what their children are eating.”

However, many parents don’t know how to pack a good lunch for their kids. And even more, parents don’t know what types of food are good for their teeth. I mean, we all know sugar is bad for their teeth, but we still pack their lunchboxes with pre-packaged foods that are full of sugar. I’m guilty of this one myself.

The Grocer claims, “A 2016 University of Leeds study that found just 1.6% of kids’ packed lunches meet the nutritional standards set for food served in school canteens. It revealed just 17% of children’s packed lunches contained vegetables and 52% featured more than the recommended number of sweet snacks.”

Only 1.6% of kids’ packed lunches meet nutritional standards. Yikes! If you are guilty of just tossing in whatever pre-packaged food makes your mornings easier, here are some foods you should pack in kids’ lunchboxes instead.

Crunchy Veggies

Did you know that crunchy veggies work like toothbrushes for your kids’ teeth? It’s true! Since you have to chew more to eat these veggies, you produce more saliva. This helps you wash away food particles and bacteria on the teeth. So, throw some carrots, bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, and celery in the lunchbox.

Crisp Fruit

Along these same lines, crisp fruits like apples, also help you produce more saliva. Along with the chewing, their natural water helps to clean the teeth. Plus, sweet fruits like strawberries are a great alternative to sugary snacks and treats. Add some yogurt, which is high in calcium and great for your child’s teeth, to help them embrace fruit as dessert.

Yummy Cheese

Kids love cheese, so this is an easy one for parents. Cheese is high in calcium and phosphorous, so it helps your kids have strong teeth. Plus, parents don’t have to worry about spreading germs since it tends to be pre-packaged.

Water

Finally, go ahead and invest in some reusable water bottles for your kids this school year. Not only will they keep your kid from exposing themselves to germs at the school water fountain, but water is the healthiest thing for their teeth.

What do you pack in your kids’ lunches?

5 Ways for Kids to Stay Connected with Their Social-Distance Friends

In a summer following the longest and weirdest school year ever, there are no traditional summer camps or extracurricular activities for our kids. According to The Conversation, “Over the last 30 years, children’s friendships have been largely forged in the classroom and during extracurricular activities. That’s because, on average, children spend 6.5 hours a day in school, and 57% of children spend every day or most days involved in extracurricular activities.”

It's not surprising that our kids are lonely and suffering. COVID-19 essentially took away their main access to their friends. Since friendship is important for our kids' social-emotional development and their mental health, it is our job to do what we can to help them stay connected with their friends while social distancing. Here are five things we’ve been doing with our girls.

1. Virtual Playdates

Technology has truly been a lifesaver throughout this pandemic. We have encouraged our girls to have virtual playdates (or meetups for older kids). Essentially, this has meant relaxing some of our screen rules, such as time limits or chatting with friends, but we’ve still maintained safeguards (such as only chatting online with people we know in real life). Give your kids time on your phone, computer, or device to video chat with their friends through Skype, Facebook Messenger, or Zoom. Simply seeing their friends through the screen will make their day! For example, my youngest daughter had an absolute blast having an online dance party with her elementary classmates.

2. Online Gaming

Personally, I don’t get the whole online gaming thing, but my girls love playing online games like Minecraft and Roblox. But what they love even more is when they get to play with friends. Fortunately, most online games provide ways for you to play and chat with friends. Additionally, there are online game sites, like Pogo, that make it easy to play board games like Monopoly with socially-distanced friends.

3. Netflix Party

Are you tired of watching your kid’s favorite shows? Let them watch their favorite shows or movies with their friends online using the Netflix Party tool. Our Children explains, “Anyone with a monthly Netflix subscription can add this free Google Chrome extension. You can synchronize video playback with your child’s friends and add group chat so kids can ‘talk’ during the movie. Anyone in the group can pause, play, fast forward and rewind the movie so everyone is in the same spot.”

4. Write Old Fashioned Letters

Have your kids ever written a letter to a friend? I’m not talking about a thank you note after a birthday party. I’m talking about an old-fashioned pen pal letter. I’m betting the answer is never. Now is the perfect time to introduce your kids to the joy of getting a letter from a friend in the mail. Get them some cute stationery, stamps, and their friend’s addresses and watch them connect the old-fashioned way.

5. Physically Distanced Neighbors

This last one is going to vary depending on your family’s unique situation. If you feel comfortable allowing your kids to have an outdoor playdate with your neighbors, then just remember to enforce physical distancing. While playdates are still frowned upon, outdoor playdates are deemed more acceptable. Harvard Medical School suggests, “Something like going for a bike ride, or a hike, allows you to be together while sharing fewer germs (bringing and using hand sanitizer is still a good idea). You need to have ground rules, though, about distance and touching, and if you don't think it's realistic that your children will follow those rules, then don't do the playdate even if it is outdoors.”

2020 Mid-Year Check-In

Here we are midway into 2020. It is crazy to think back in January we were making resolutions for the new year and being the best goal setters we could be…and then March rolled around. COVID-19 has made the first six months of 2020 feel like an eternity. And, sadly, it has demolished many of our goals for the year.

Instead of beating yourself up over all the things that haven’t gone your way this year because of the pandemic, give yourself some grace. Let’s take some time to reflect on the year so far and consider how we can make the second half of the year better than the first.  

How’s It Looking 6 Months into Your New Year Goals?

Let’s be honest. At the start of 2020, we made some big goals for ourselves. We were motivated and ready to be goal crushers. You might have even stayed on track until March. And, then the coronavirus happened.

Now, some of you took to the first few weeks of the quarantine, making new goals. You were at home, so you were going to work out or cook healthy meals more often. But, then quarantine got old and those goals didn’t seem so important either. Before you knew it, half the year was over.

It’s okay. Do not beat yourself up for not achieving your goals. 2020 is not a normal year. If there is any year you get a pass on goal crushing, it is 2020. With that being said, it is still wise to do a mid-year check-in.

• What have you achieved? Think about what you did achieve pre-quarantine and pat yourself on the back. Consider what you have achieved since the world changed. You might not have achieved what you set out to at the start of 2020, but I’m betting you have done something to be proud of (such as overseeing your kids' virtual schooling while you work from home).

• What challenges have you faced? Obviously, the coronavirus has been a huge challenge for everyone. What coronavirus-specific challenges did you face? For example, did you have a fitness goal that had to be revamped because your gym was closed?

• What goals are now irrelevant? In some cases, the goals you made me now be irrelevant. Unfortunately, the pandemic has put many people in situations they never dreamed they’d be in, such as losing a job or getting a pay cut. Since you could never have predicted this would happen, you might have set goals related to your job that are no longer relevant. If this is the case, let the goals go and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Goals to Prioritize to Finish 2020 Strong

While the year has been a rough one, it isn’t over yet. There is still plenty of time to achieve your goals (or make new ones). Given the circumstances, it is important to make goals that will improve your quality of life and your overall health and wellness. For example, try to think of one goal to make for each of the following: career, mental health, physical health, and family.

How are your goals looking mid-year? What are your plans for the rest of the year?