How to Restore, Revive, and Thrive in 2021

Restore Revive

The New Year is a time most people associate with reflection, reinvention and, most importantly, resolutions. Each year, there is one resolution that tops most people’s lists — “Be my best self,” whether that entails getting organized, reading more or making healthier choices. Below, find our comprehensive guide to all things health and wellness to get you started on the new year.

Be Kind to Your Mind: 10 Groups and Individuals Tear Down Mental Health Stigmas

Covid-19 is taking a toll. Across the country, the strain of almost a year in a pandemic has manifested financially, physically and, for so many, psychologically. There was a time, not long ago, when it was taboo to bring up mental health struggles. Individuals and families concealed their confusion, loneliness and terror in the face of debilitating and life-threatening mental illnesses. Over the past decade, thanks to prominent and impactful leaders who have stepped forward to openly share their personal stories and to dedicated professionals who bring awareness and treat those with mental differences, the stigma surrounding mental illness here in the United States has diminished and help is more widely available. Below we pay tribute to the courageous leaders and effective institutions who are breaking new ground in the conversation about and treatment of mental health issues. 

Get Ready for a New You This Year With Sandy Greiner Pilates

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Reach your goals faster with personalized Pilates. Whether you are a desk warrior, athlete or recovering from an injury, every session is tailored to your body’s unique goals. We are an exclusively one-on one, private studio. It’s just you and your instructor with over fifteen years of teaching experience. Change the way that you look, feel and move by gaining more strength, flexibility and mobility. Our introductory offer includes two personalized sessions at a savings of 20%. Here are a couple of testimonials from past students:

“The training I’ve received has been a life-saver! Dealing with lower back pain and pelvic floor issues for years, their guidance and training has helped me strengthen and relieve pain. You’ll find a wealth of knowledge and experience in a safe and clean environment. I feel energized all day after my Tuesday sessions.” ~Suzanne

“My core has never felt so alive!” ~Kathryn

Schedule now by phoning (847) 507-1243 or visiting www.sandygreinerpilates.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

From Coffee to Alcohol, Adderall to Ambien: Disrupting Our Reliance on Stimulants and Sedatives—Naturally

Many Americans need a little help with transitions: a cup of coffee to wake up, a glass of wine to get social, some cannabis to wind down before sleeping. Often, it’s something a bit stronger: 16 million Americans rely on prescription stimulants to get productive in the morning, and 9 million turn to Ambien or other sleep aids to fall asleep. When it comes to meeting and recovering from a day’s whiplash-inducing demands on our energy, few of us do it without the help of some sort of substance.

The Best Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Activewear Brands to Keep You Moving in 2021

As we head into 2021, many people are adding climate resolutions to their list along with the usual health and wellness resolutions—so why not combine the two? With endless options to work out at home now, including through local businesses, there’s no excuse not to take care of your body during our continued isolation this winter. And while you may not be hitting the gym this winter and spring, some slick new workout clothes can help motivate you to break a sweat. Not only do these sustainable activewear brands deliver good-for-you—and the earth—fitness wear, they help you look good while you’re burning off those holiday calories.

Could Poetry Help Benefit Your Mental Health?

The Poetry Foundation Names Naomi Shihab Nye the New Young People's Poet Laureate

Could a poem a day keep the doctor away? Psychology Today asked the question back in 2011, exploring poetry as an age-old remedy for mental illness. The author cited a study from the National Association for Poetry Therapy, a group that spotlights a second-century Greek physician who promoted personal growth in his clients through the written word. He was not unique; the healing powers of poetry have been used through the centuries. It has united people in peril and given lovers words that they couldn’t quite come up with themselves, and provided an outlet for tangled emotions. In these uncertain times, here are a few ways you can pursue personal growth through poetry.

7 Simple Steps to Achieve Self Care

Self Care

How can we care for ourselves and feel emotionally strong while remaining aware and acting compassionately in the face of other people’s suffering? This is an especially complicated question in unsettled times. Over the past years, we have collectively been through significant social upheaval in the face of the #metoo movement, the COVID-19 pandemic and the death of George Floyd and the resulting Black Lives Matter social justice movement.

Psychologist Kristin Neff, an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology is a preeminent researcher and speaker in a field of psychology called Self-Compassion. Neff has written numerous academic articles, book chapters, books and created a popular workshop series on the subject of Self-Compassion. She believes that the practice offers guidance in both accepting difficult circumstances and taking positive actions in the context of those difficult circumstances. Neff and colleague Chris Germer developed the notion of the “Yin and Yang” of Self-Compassion, based on the ancient Chinese concepts of yin, a more passive, internal energy and yang, an active, more outwardly-focused energy.

Advice to Help You Turn Things Around in 2021, from ‘Aim High’ Author Sydney Sadick

When it comes to blank slates, we could all use one after this crazy year. New Years is a time to reset, reevaluate your path, refresh your goals, and start anew. 

While we’re all ready to say goodbye to 2020 (even as the future remains uncertain) we should strive to let go of all that has passed and welcome 2021 with confidence and grace. Many of us are still working from home, but simple things like planning on dressing up a few times a week or treating yourself to a healthy meal now and then can help improve your outlook on this new year. 

Organizing Tips for a Multi-Tasking and Eco-Friendly Living Room

The verdict is in and big, sprawling houses are out — at least if you want to be energy efficient, that is. The Pew Research Center reports that while we’ve made some considerable energy gains since the 1970s, a lot of that progress has been lost to the bigger houses homeowners have favored in the intervening years.

That means going smaller could potentially have a big impact. But living in a tinier space doesn’t come without its unique challenges. Rooms here often have to do double or even triple duty, transforming from a living room into a dining area, home office and back again in the span of a single day. Of course, that’s nowhere near impossible — just ask any New Yorker. Multifunctional furniture and storage units, plus a few genius layout tips, can make even the most cramped spot sing. Many of these items are manufactured with environmentally-friendly materials, meaning your cozy home will be extra green as well. Take a look!

Tips, Inspiration and Resources to Help You Prioritize Your Emotional Well Being

2020 was quite the year, full of heartache, uncertainty and loss. And for those who struggled with mental health issues before the pandemic hit, these feelings were intensified by the constant bad news cycle and social isolation.

Take some time to take care of yourself, and those around you. Here are a few ways to do so, according to health experts, and those who have struggled themselves.

6 Books That Will Help You Escape From Reality Right Now

5 Must-Read Books by Chicago Humanities Festival Speakers

The news of the COVID-19 virus is constantly evolving and in this uncertain time, a good book can be the perfect escape. When social distancing is in place, engaging with characters can make you feel less alone. Check out a collection of new releases, from lighthearted dramas to humorous essays that will help ease the stress of life during the pandemic.

Michael Fine Lost His Arm 10 Years Ago: Here’s His Advice For Facing Change With Courage

There are two questions I’m going to bet almost every single person is asking themselves these days: When is this awful pandemic going to end and how am I going to get through it?

The answer to the first one is, no one knows. But Michael Fine has advice for the second: If you have your breath, you have everything you need. “This is a change; a new normal that we are going to have to face,” he said. “If you can be comfortable with whatever it is and be filled with hope and faith, you are going to be OK no matter what.”

Fine knows all about change, and how painful, scary and devastating it can be. Ten years ago, the 52-year-old Glenview dad got into a devastating car accident in which his left arm was ripped off his shoulder, leaving him in chronic, debilitating pain to this day.

I sat down with Fine, an attorney turned yoga instructor who calls himself a “Transformation Facilitator,” to hear his powerful story of rock bottom to better-than-ever new normal, along with his thoughts for those struggling to cope with life during Coronavirus.

10 of the Best Physical and Mental Health Apps to Keep You Connected Right Now

Are you feeling anxious or stressed right now? You aren’t alone. COVID-19 and the uncertainty it brings is affecting everyone. But there are ways to ease your worry, even from home. Take advantage of the many ways you can connect with a therapist, meditate through a challenging time, monitor your sleep, and more with these 10 apps.


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