What are the things you do for your self-care? How do you make time for self-care? On a scale of 1-10, how important do you feel self-care is important to your well being? For me self care is very important, it is something that I put on my ...

What are the things you do for your self-care?

How do you make time for self-care?

On a scale of 1-10, how important do you feel self-care is important to your well being?

For me self care is very important, it is something that I put on my schedule.

In this video, we will be talking about some tips on how you can do self-care.

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July 17, 2019February 5, 2020

6 Steps to Building Better Study Habits This Spring

When you think about building new habits, you probably think about the New Year. After all, this is the time where we all take a good look at our lives and see things that we want to change. However, most people drop out early and do...

So, how can you change this? How can you ensure that you build good habits on any occasion and not only think about them in when the New Year rolls around? Learn the best ways to stay productive on the go with good habits.

The Step-by-Step Process to Building Good Habits

Step #1: Define And Focus On Just One New Habit

Most of us have different habits that we want to change. However, if you try to change them all at the same time, you’re more likely to end up failing. With this in mind, it is a much better approach to simply focus on one new habit that you want to build.

The key to determining the first new habit you want to implement in your life is to think of something that you can do all the time and that fits your daily life. That could be a 15-minute walk every lunch break, swapping soda for flavored water, or going to bed 30 minus earlier.

Step #2: Make A Commitment:

One of the most important things that you need to do when you are building a new habit is simply commit to it. You can even tell your friends that you will do this or that for the rest of your life. If you don’t mean it, it won’t do you any good. Besides, building a habit is more about doing than it is about telling. So, commit to your new habit for at least 30 days.

Step #3: Connect Your New Habit To An Established One:

Motivation rarely lasts. So, what you should do to help make a new habit stick is that you should anchor your new habit to an established one. Unless you do that, you will see your motivation decrease day after day. On the other hand, if you focus on continuing the habit without fail, it will come to a point where it is simply natural. Try pairing your desired action with a habit you already have to improve your motivation.

Tell yourself something like “after dropping kids off at school, I will take a walk around the building.”

Step #4: Take Baby Steps:

Even though you may be eager to build a new habit, the reality is that it will take you time for your brain to see this new habit as natural. So, the best thing you can do is to take baby steps. This way, you will be introducing the new habit in your life slowly but consistently. Just think of things such as waking up each morning 5 minutes earlier or eating one serving of vegetables each day. While these might seem to be very simple, this is exactly why they work.

Step #5: Dealing With Obstacles:

When you think of building a new habit, you are incredibly motivated. However, your motivation tends to start decreasing unless you keep focusing yourself on committing to this new habit every day.

The truth is that you will always end up dealing with obstacles and the best way to deal with them is to prevent them. Some of the most common obstacles include space, weather, time, pain, self-consciousness, and costs.

So, the best approach is to be prepared to deal with them when they come. Let’s say that you decided that your new habit will be to run outdoors every single day for 30 minutes. Everything is going well until the day it rains. Instead of skipping your run, you could plan that you will go to the gym instead.

Step #6: Reward Yourself:

When you want to make sure that you build a new habit, there is nothing better than rewarding yourself when you reach the target. Remember that you don’t need to break the bank to treat yourself. It can simply be doing something you love or going out with your loved one.

Are you working to improve your study habits? UniversityWriting911 is here to help with resources for creating and polishing A+ worthy essays and more.

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Productivity Tips

July 3, 2019

How to Plan for a Successful New Semester

When most students think about planning for a successful semester, they immediately think: "that's a lot of work."

While we agree, it's that kind of work that ends up paying off at the end. Bet...

When most students think about planning for a successful semester, they immediately think: “that’s a lot of work.”

While we agree, it’s that kind of work that ends up paying off at the end. Between assignments, breaks, and so many other things, it’s important to consider them all when you’re planning your semester.

In fact, a bit of planning can help make the rest of the semester a success! If you’ve already ended a semester successfully, or you want to ensure you get off to a good start, here’s how.

Here’s how to plan a successful semester:

#1: Put It In Writing:

When you are planning your semester, you need to put it in writing. It doesn’t matter if you use a student-specific planner, agenda, a regular old calendar or a digital calendar or planner. The important thing is to write down your plans.

#2: Annotate All Due Dates And Big Events:

Make sure that you annotate all due dates and big events for the upcoming semester. One extra tip that may help you is to use a different color to signal the due dates. This will allow you to know what’s coming at a glance.

#3: Break Your Work Into Daily Tasks:

One of the main benefits of planning your semester is that you can schedule your own time. If you have to deliver an assignment in one month, you don’t need to start working on it right now.

But you don’t need to leave all the work to be done on the previous day of the due date. When you plan your semester, you can easily dedicate a couple of hours each day, among your daily tasks, to work on this assignment. Just make sure that you have enough time to complete every task without rushing.

#4: Be Flexible:

The truth is that no matter if you create the best plan in the world for the next semester, there will always be distractions and interruptions. You want to reduce stress in college with ease. So, it’s always better to allocate more time than the one you believe you need for each task.

#5: Learn To Say “No”:

Sometimes, we just get carried away. You may like to paint and join a painting class and you also like to dance and you join a dancing class. Before you know it, you won’t have the time to do it all.

So, be sure to prioritize. Before you commit to any other extra activity, make sure that you really have the time and energy that it takes.

#6: Don’t Forget To Say “Yes” Too:

While getting good grades should always be a priority for you, your personal life is also important. So, if you feel like going out for dinner, watch your favorite television show or simply spend time with your friends, don’t feel guilty.

These are the kinds of activities that will allow you to relax and get the extra motivation to keep working hard. We all need a break sometimes.

#7: Keep Monitoring:

Planning your semester is incredibly important. However, you need to ensure that you monitor how you’re actually doing and if your grades are at the level that you were expecting.

By looking at what you have done and the results that you get, you’ll be able to adapt your behavior to improve your efficiency and productivity!

May 23, 2019May 24, 2019

50 Productive Things to Do on a Long Weekend

It's not very common to have a long weekend. From work holidays to Monday Mental Health days, taking a long weekend can be a great opportunity to get stuff done. So, you want to make sure that you make the most out it, Diva.

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It’s not very common to have a long weekend. From work holidays to Monday Mental Health days, taking a long weekend can be a great opportunity to get stuff done. So, you want to make sure that you make the most out it, Diva.

Productive Things To Do

As you can imagine, both indoors and outdoors, there are always things to do. Nevertheless, you also want to ensure that you should some activities that you can do with your kids as well.

50 Ways To Increase Productivity On A Three Day Weekend

#1: Visit The Family:

In case your family lives a bit far away and you don’t have a chance to see them often, a three day weekend is perfect.

#2: Go Shopping:

There are always things that you need to buy for your home and for your kids. So, you can take some time to go to the shopping mall.

#3: Read A Book:

One of the best pleasures in life is enjoying a good book. So, why not take the afternoon off and read a book for your kids? You can even leave the end of the story out and make them imagine it.

#4: Visit A Museum:

There are always museums that don’t charge an entry fee, especially if you’re taking kids. And even if they do, this is a great option when the weather is bad. Besides, learning new things is always interesting.

#5: Watch A Movie At Home:

If you’re feeling a bit lazy and you don’t feel like getting out of the house, you can rent a movie to watch with your kids. It can be an animation movie or an old one.

#6: Do Some Gardening:

Gardening is a great hobby and you have so much space in your backyard that you aren’t really using. So, why not grow some vegetables or fruits? In case you live in an apartment, you can also do it. Just get some vases and plant some herbs.

#7: Day Trip To State And National Parks:

If you want to spend the day out with your family, you have the option to do a day trip to state and national parks. You will all be able to enjoy the fresh air and be in contact with nature. It can be pretty refreshing and stress relieving.

#8: The Zoo:

Kids love going to the zoo and most adults love it as well. So, you can definitely use a day (or an afternoon) and check the new animals at the zoo.

#9: Take On A Project At Home:

Remember that project that you keep postponing because you don’t have the time to do it? Well, just take this long weekend to take care of it. You can get your kids involved as well. While you may not be able to complete it as fast, it’s a great opportunity for kids to see how you use tools and try them out for themselves as well.

#10: Have a Board Game Day:

In case your kids are always spending their long weekends glued to their computer playing games, why can’t you host the board game day? Most young kids have never even tried board games and they can be quite fun. Just choose one of the classics (depending on your kid’s age) such as Battleship, Cluedo, Scrabble, Risk, Snakes and Ladders, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, checkers or Chess.

#11: Head To The Playground:

Do you remember the last time you took your child to the playground? Well, he pretty sure misses it. So, just make him a surprise.

#12: Host A Dinner Party:

Most people believe that spending a good day with the family deserves a celebration. So, instead of going out to dinner or ordering food, you can host a special dinner party just for the family. Just think about something that each one of the family members loves and ask kids to help you out.

#13: Make A Paper Fortune Teller:

Besides spending quality time with your kids, you will be also developing their skills. Besides, you will find it incredibly funny.

#14: The Movies

In case your kids mentioned a movie they would like to see, just make them a surprise. Don’t forget about the popcorn.

#15: Visit A Local Farm:

When the weather is good, you should consider taking your kids to a local farm. Besides the contact with nature, they will be able to learn a lot about animals and plants.

#16: Watch Wildlife:

If you like to be in contact with nature and you usually don’t have the time to do it, just grab your kids and head onto the countryside or to a local park.

#17: Play Pen And Pencil Games:

There are many classic games that can be played with a simple pen and a piece of paper. Besides, they can be a lot of fun. Some ideas include Battle Ships, Hang Man, and even Noughts and Crosses.

#18: The Arcade:

If you decided to take a walk with your family but it’s too much hot, why not visit the arcade? Your kids are going to love it and so will you.

#19: Bake A New Cookie Recipe:

Anxious to try out that new cookie recipe your friend gave you? Take the three long weekend and the help of your kids and head to the kitchen.

#20: Play the Sentence Game:

This is a great game to be played by the entire family. You just need to write a sentence in a piece of paper and fold it. Then, supply one word of the next line for the following person. You won’t believe the stories that will come up.

#21: Make Finger Puppets:

If you have young kids, making finger puppets is a great idea. In the end, you can even write down a story or two.

#22: Ten-Pin Bowling:

In case the three day weekend is in winter or it is raining outside, you need to think about something you can do indoors. So, why not take the family for a ten-pin bowling?

#23: Origami:

Origami is a perfect activity to do with kids when the weather is not inviting to go outside.

#24: Go Swimming:

In case the weather is good, just find the nearest leisure center.

#25: Arts & Crafts:

If your walls are a bit empty at home, why not taking this long weekend to create some painting with the kids. You can then frame them and display them.

#26: Laser Tag:

When you are looking to have fun as a family, you need to try out laser tag. Most venues rent the equipment so you just need to get ready for action.

#27: Play Hide and Seek:

In case you’re just in the mood to be a child again, why not play the “old” hide and seek?

#28: Indoor Sports:

While most sports need to be done outdoors, you also have plenty of indoor sports. Just find one that suits you. It’s always a good time to exercise.

#29: Create A Time Capsule:

One neat idea that you can convert into reality in a long weekend is to create a family time capsule. Then, bury it in your yard.

#30: Play Indoor Volleyball:

When you want to keep moving and don’t know what to do, just grab a balloon and play indoor volleyball.

#31: Go To An Adventure Park:

An adventure park is a great way to exercise and to spend time with the family as well. You’ll be able to enjoy a wide range of challenges without any phones nearby.

#32: Print Your Best Photos:

A perfect craft to do with your kids. Just choose the best photos and make a beautiful collage with their help.

#33: Build A Fort:

No matter if you build one in the backyard or in the living room, your kids are going to love it. And you will too.

The chances are you have a duvet or sofa. Cardboard boxes are also useful. Construct a mini-fort for yourself and your family and enjoy being childish for a day.

#34: A Picnic In The Park:

When the weather is great, it just feels like you need to be outside. So, why not have a picnic in the park?

#35: Check Out The Stars:

One of the things that you can also do at night is to simply enjoy the stars. Buy a telescope and take the time to teach your kids how it works and tell them what they are observing.

#36: Go To An Amusement Park:

There are many different amusement parks so you just need to pick the best one for the entire family to have fun. It will be a blast.

#37: Build A Garden Labyrinth:

When you are looking to improve your kid’s skills, you should try to create a garden labyrinth. All you need is unmowed grass, twigs, and stones.

#38: Make Bubbles:

Making bubbles can be extremely fun. Besides, you just need to use some household products that you already have at home.

#39: Go To A Play:

When you are raising a child, it is important to give her the space to play, have fun but also to show her as many different things as you can. And going to a play is one of those activities.

#40: Go Camping:

If you love nature, then there is nothing like a good camping trip to reconnect.

#41: Go On A Road Trip:

The best thing about a road trip is that you don’t even need to have a specific destination. Just think whether you prefer to head towards the country or towards the beach. Just take the time to breathe, to relieve the stress, and to enjoy yourself.

#42: Ride A Bike:

Riding a bike can be incredibly fun and is great for your body and mind.

#43: Create a Dress-Up Box:

In case it’s raining, you can take the day to check all the wardrobes at home. Just pick the shoes, hats, dresses, and everything that you don’t wear anymore and take them to a thrift shop.

#44: Go For A Hike:

A good hike is perfect to reconnect with your kids and get some exercise your body will appreciate. Besides, you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful surrounding environment.

#45: Be A Card Shark

Just choose to turn off the TV and the computer and head onto a classic card game.

#46: Go For A Walk:

Sometimes, a simple walk is revigorating.

#47: See An Outdoor Art Installation:

In case you like art and the weather is good, you don’t want to go to an art museum. However, you can definitely opt to see an outdoor art installation.

#48: Go To The Beach:

Soaking up the sun and swimming in a beautiful sea is a great way to take advantage of a long weekend.

#49: Frame It:

While you’re at the beach, just gather some beach glass, seashells, pebbles, sticks, and create a beautiful frame.

#50: Get To Know Your City:

While you keep moving around your city, most people don’t even know if. So, just head to the places that tourists usually see.

Want to get really productive over your long weekend? Download the Back to School Divas planner to put together to-do lists, manager your projects, make grocery lists and more!

African American woman reading a book peacefully on couch

Work/Life Balance

April 24, 2019

Saying “No” to Stress with Priorities Check-In

We know it’s hard to successfully navigate family, work, politics, health, chores, and studying. Life seems to be going too fast, and to be honest, it’s not slowing down any time soon. But that doesn’t mean you have to succumb to the stress, eat comfort food for every meal, and give up on all the fun extra things that make life awesome.

Stress — and more importantly, how you deal with it — all come down to you. Even a simple mindset shift can help you view stressors in a new light. Think about all the advice you’ve heard about saying “I get to …” instead of “I have to …”. And it doesn’t stop there. You have the power to remove stress from your life, too.

Don’t believe us? Let’s breakdown 4 strategies you can use to reduce stress levels and set priorities in your life.

Rule 1: Set Aside all the “Nice to Haves” for Later

No doubt about it, college stress is on a whole new level. You’ve got essays, and tests, and pop quizzes, group assignments, speeches … you name it. And it’s all happening at once. There’s no “one and done”: rule for how to handle it all, but it can be helpful to remember to simply put first things first.

Ask yourself: “will what I’m about to do have an immediate effect on my most important goal right now?” Think about this in terms of short-term goals. You have dishes to do, laundry to fold, and an essay to write. Your biggest short-term goal is to get an A in your class for the semester. Which task helps you get there?

That doesn’t mean that the dishes won’t ever get done, or that the laundry will sit there forever. But always, first things first.

Rule 2. If it Works Without the Change, Then Let the Change Wait

Multi-tasking can seem like the easy way out of pressure, but try to avoid it if you’re really serious about reducing stress and increasing efficiency.

We all get distracted by a few new tasks here and there. The reality is that you may not be able to stop all these tasks from coming at you, especially as a college student. You may find yourself shuttling between school work and family tasks, only halfway showing up for either one.

Why not try out a more efficient way to deal with this situation? You can reduce stress, manage your time well and still remain fully present in each moment. Here’s the simple secret: as soon as a new assignment is given to you, listen to the instructions carefully and determine how much time you need to complete it. Then ask yourself if it’s really a priority that day or if it can be done tomorrow or next. Those dishes are annoying (and frankly, kinda gross) but leaving them one more day won’t be the end of the world.

On the other hand, leaving your assignment until tomorrow could cause serious issues. You just never know what might pop up tomorrow, right?

Rule 3: Focusing 100% on One Assignment is the Fastest Way to Complete It

Managing your time is a huge part of prioritizing your life, too. This means allotting a time block to complete certain tasks. Let’s say you’ve decided to complete that essay assignment that’s due in a couple of days. You sit down with a goal to get it done, then find that you spend three hours digging through research papers, bouncing around on Facebook, and staring at the ceiling. Or, you get distracted in 15 minutes and walk away.

Instead, get focused by setting a timer. 30 minutes will do. Set a timer, open your document, and get to work. Knowing that you’re in a time crunch, you’ll likely get more done in 30 minutes than you would in 3 hours, and you can walk away satisfied with your progress (even if you don’t finish it 100%).

Rule 4: Ask for Help When You Need It

Being productive and being stressed don’t need to go hand-in-hand. Ask for help when you need it:

task your kids with household chores while you study
ask a neighbor to pull in trash cans or check mail while you’re working late
use a delivery service for food from a local restaurant while you write an essay
hire help for everyday tasks while you enjoy time with family

Just be sure to ask for help from the right person. Having the wrong person, or someone who’s not up to the task, can end up causing more work for you down the line.

If you want to reduce stress and stay productive, focus on prioritizing what’s really important. If you want more help, join the Back to School Divas Facebook group for motivation and inspiration from women just like you!

woman wearing red polka dot shirt at cafe on smartphone

April 17, 2019April 17, 2019

3 Ways You Can Use Your Devices To Maximize Productivity

Your digital devices don’t have to be a place for distraction. Take advantage of these productivity tools for students. Did you know that the average person spends ...

Your digital devices don’t have to be a place for distraction. Take advantage of these productivity tools for students.

Did you know that the average person spends four hours a day on their devices?

How much of that time is used being productive? Technology has made our lives easy and interesting but unfortunately, while some people use these technological innovations to maximize productivity, some others just use it to get too comfortable and unproductive. Our phones, laptops, computers, and other devices can either help us to maximize our productivity or make us lazy and unproductive.

As a student, there are tools that you can have on your device to make studying, doing assignments, and projects easier for you. But as helpful as your devices are, they can also be a source of distraction for you especially when you have a lot of gaming apps and social apps installed.

Luckily, there are productivity tools for Mac and productivity tools for Windows for students that can help you get more done, faster.

How To Maximize Productivity With Your Devices

Set Schedules

The first step to being more productive is arranging schedules and setting alarms. Wake up on time, get where you need to be on time, and you’re halfway there, Diva! There are many built-in apps that can help you plan your day, week, and year. Take advantage of your Calendar, Notes, Alarms, and Reminders to keep track of appointments, assignment deadlines, and even to try calendar blocking or other productivity time hacks.

Time Management

There are so many productivity tools for Mac as well as productivity tools for Windows devices designed to help you manage your time. Banking apps make it easier for you to carry out transactions at home and make good use of the time you would have lost going to the bank. Location apps make it easier to locate where you’re going without wasting time asking people around and getting lost. You can even incorporate other time management systems like the 10-3-2-1-0 method into your phone to help you better maintain your schedule.

Performing Difficult Tasks

One major thing that our devices help us with is the performance of difficult tasks. For example, use an app to proofread documents like essays or even emails to your professors so you’re sure to sound professional. Explore apps that help with calculations, language translations, and other things that you might not be able to do on our own. Productivity tools for Mac and productivity tools for Windows can help you manage difficult tasks.

Productivity Tools For Your Devices

Productivity Tools For Students:

As a student, these are some major tools that will help you to be more productive.

Tools for Mac:

Schoolhouse
iRecorder
Knowledge NoteBook
Flashcard Hero
Studyper
Gigi

Tools for Windows:

Word Web
Typing Trainer
My Study Life Chrome
Rosetta Stone Free Trial

Other helpful tools:

Sticky Notes
Office Lens
Microsoft To-Do
Todoist
PDFpen
MindNode
Grammarly

Want to REALLY get productive? Download the Back to School Divas printable planner for FREE and track your to-dos, assignments and meals like a pro.

Sources:

https://www.inc.com/melanie-curtin/are-you-on-your-phone-too-much-average-person-spends-this-many-hours-on-it-every-day.html

April 10, 2019April 2, 2019

Get Calm with These Mindfulness Apps

Are you familiar with the term mindfulness? It’s gained popularity in the past few years and many people swear they have gotten their lives together, lost weight, learned to be happier and relieved stress by practici...

Still, some people have yet to catch up with the mindfulness train and if you’re one of them, then today our goal is to help you get started! Let’s start living a much more calm, aware and stress-free life by identifying some of the best mindfulness apps to help you get in on it.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a state of being more aware, living in the present moment and being conscious of your feelings, emotions, and thoughts as well as your physical presence.

encourages you to let go of the past and mistakes you have made and focus more on living life to the fullest in the present. It’s a powerful therapeutic technique that can help you feel more at ease.

Focusing on the past or future instead of the present can make you anxious and stressed out which reduces your quality of life and productivity. If you’re looking to cut out those negative thoughts that make you feel stressed, and become more present in the moment, or if you already actively practice and want to enhance your practice, mindfulness apps can help.

Could relief be as close as your smartphone?

Let’s find out.

Calm

The Calm app lets you customize your experience by selecting soothing tracks to accompany your practice: the sound of the outdoors or rain, chirping crickets, or whatever sounds soothe you and puts your mind at ease. Calm features an exercise that helps you refocus your mind when it wanders, build awareness and learn to “snap out of it” when your mind goes into autopilot mode.

There are a series of 10-minute long videos on mindful movements and sleep stories that are read to you in a calming voice, like a bedtime story to put you at ease and help you sleep better.. There are also guided sessions for “daily calm” to help you relax and unwind. It has a wide selection of up to 100 music tracks to relax and sleep peacefully.

The app is free, but you can access even more helpful features with a premium subscription. It’s available on the Google Play store and iTunes App Store.

Headspace

Headspace is one of the most popular and best mindfulness apps available today. Creator Andy Puddicombe makes meditation and mindfulness a breeze with guided sessions based on what you want to achieve from your practice.

The app’s interface is bright and cheerful with animations and even has sessions for kids and short mini sessions to help you incorporate a bit of mindfulness into your daily life. You can track your progress as you meditate more and set reminders for days when you might forget to get a session in.

There are a variety of guided sessions to choose from like sleep sounds, emergency meditations, and short meditations. There is also an option for you to save some of these sessions for when you’re offline so you can access your favorite guided meditation sessions when you are off the grid.

The Headspace mindfulness app is available for free, but to access all of the available courses you’ll need to subscribe to a monthly plan. You can download the app from the Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

Stop, Breathe & Think

As the name suggests, this mindfulness app encourages you to breathe and think by giving you a handy timer for mediations and breathing exercises while a soothing soundtrack plays in the background. What’s really unique about this app is that it tailors each session to you by letting you check in and answer questions about your physical and mental health to decide which meditation or yoga session would work best for you.

There’s a wide selection of sessions—from forgiveness to short stories and acupuncture videos that help you focus on living more in the present. This beginners mindfulness app has a guide on mediation for those who need more help getting into mediation as well. At the end of the week, you get a review of what your week was like, based on the moods you checked in before each session.

You can enjoy using this app for free but for full benefits, sign up for a monthly subscription. The app is available on Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

10% Happier

This app is one of the most helpful mindfulness apps available for first time meditators. It’s based on the popular bestselling book by Tv Host Dan Harris with the same name and provides practical exercises you can follow, as well as sessions and talks by world-famous scientists, writers and psychologists. This app gives you the chance to communicate with a real-life coach if guided sessions simply aren’t doing it for you.

10% Happier takes a no-nonsense approach with its guided sessions on mindfulness, which is great for people who prefer a practical approach. The sessions and talks cover a range of topics including the benefits of practice on your brain and mind, mindful eating, and learning to be kind.

Take advantage of a 7-day free trial period after which you will have to pay for a yearly subscription if you decide it’s the best mindfulness app for you. The app is available on Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

Insight Timer

What’s really special about this mindfulness app is that it’s more like a community or social network of meditators from all around the world. Insight Timer gives you information on how many people are currently mediating with you around the world and even gives you the option of inviting friends to meditate as well. Because you’re so connected to other like-minded people there are group discussions on meditation and mindfulness where users can share ideas, ask questions and learn from each other.

This app offers a wide range of guided meditation sessions—from sessions on self-love to overcoming addictions. You can also time sessions and choose soothing background sounds.

Insight Timer is free to download but you’ll need a premium subscription for access to more courses and content. Because of the wide range of users, there’s a lot of content that can be overwhelming for beginners. The app is available on Google Play store or iTunes App Store.

Which app will you try? Have you ever tried mindfulness or meditation practice? Let us know in the comments!

stressed African American woman sitting in front of laptop at work

April 3, 2019April 2, 2019

How to Deal with Stress: Doctor’s Advice

With the crazy world that we live in and the hustle and bustle of each day, getting stressed out is not exactly a strange experience. Still, some level of stress has in fact been proven to be healthy! A little anxiety ...

Just like every other thing in the world, if stress goes unchecked or is too frequent, there can be frightening consequences. Your body could experience a decline in the central nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular and neuroendocrine.

And honestly, what is scarier than a trip to the emergency room? Doctors and scientists have gone out of their way to discuss tips for dealing with stress—so you can avoid health scares and feel your absolute best.

How to Deal with Stress in a Healthy Way

Beat Stress with Exercise

Hitting the gym or going for a walk comes first on our list because it’s one of the most fantastic ways to get your body and mind relaxed. Ironically, most of us who would love to experience these exercising benefits hardly ever find the time to make it happen!

Dr. Edward Group, Founder of Global Healing Center, stated that exercise helps you to feel stronger and better energized. It emits neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine which leaves you strong and feeling good thereby curbing stress.

Get in a regular sweat session at home with free YouTube workouts, DVDs, or other options. Doctor’s orders!

Fight Mental Overload with Meditation

Cutting off every distraction and finding that peaceful space to meditate and pray can be all you need to deal with stress. Research shows that it helps your body relax and keeps your mind focused. What’s more, meditating and mindful prayer help you get rid of negative emotions which could contribute to physical stress.

Meditation is so potent that the American Psychological Association recommends it to individuals, adding that it assists in generating self-compassion, forgiveness and other instant benefits.

Experience Renewal with Muscle Relaxation

With stress comes the feeling of tension and uneasiness. For this reason, taking actions to relax your muscles can help you get over such stress and exhaustion. To experience deep relaxation in your body, try:

enjoy a massage
stretch with a foam roller
take a hot shower
soak in a hot bath with Epsom sales

Gain a New Outlook when You Change Your Attitude

Stress usually originates from demands for your time and energy that you find difficult to handle. The most logical way to get out of stress is to avoid the situation that got you worked up in the first place. Easier said than done, right?

Maybe not. If your job gets you stressed to the point that Sunday afternoons are full of intense dread of Monday morning, consider updating your resume with a professional and start looking for something new.

Also, don’t work yourself up over circumstances that you can’t change. Focus on things you can control: your attitude, your time, and your thoughts.

Diva, daily living can be so crazy that it’s no wonder stress pops up every now and then. If your stress is ongoing, or leading to physical ailments, please visit your doctor.

If you’re looking for a simple way to enhance your productivity, get organized, and feel less overwhelmed by all your to-dos, download the Back to School Divas Planner! This beautiful free template includes weekly schedules, assignment lists, grocery lists and more.

2019 planner with checklist for goals, plans, and actions

December 27, 2018December 27, 2018

How to Set Resolutions For School, Work & Family That Stick: Make 2019 Your Year!

We all want to set resolutions and kick butt when the new year comes around. The end of the year is a time when most of us reflect on what we've accomplished, and start to think about what we’d like to achieve in the following year. Se...

We all want to set resolutions and kick butt when the new year comes around. The end of the year is a time when most of us reflect on what we’ve accomplished, and start to think about what we’d like to achieve in the following year.

Setting New Year’s resolutions is something human beings have been doing for over four thousand years! Although we’ve been doing it for a while, it doesn’t mean we’ve managed to get the hang of it.

How many times have you set the resolution of eating healthier in the new year and a month or two later, found yourself at the nearest fast food restaurant after work? How many times have you promised yourself to start that side hustle you’ve been dreaming about, only to get to the end of the year with no progress made?

The truth is, setting resolutions that stick doesn’t come naturally to many people. In fact, most people need a little help. If you’re tired of not accomplishing your new year’s resolutions and want to finally set resolutions that stick, you’ve come to the right page.

Start by Setting Small, Achievable Goals

Setting small, achievable goals will help to ensure that you reach your target and stay motivated to keep going. For instance, if you’d like to get fit, aim for 3 to 4 gym sessions a week. For an unfit person who hardly goes to the gym, this is much more achievable than aiming to the gym 6 to 7 days a week.

Share your 2019 Goals with Others

Speaking to your close family and friends about your resolutions will help to keep you motivated and focused because you won’t want to let them down. If you’re planning on quitting smoking, joining a support group can help you be around others who are going through similar struggles and help give you the strength that you’ll need to keep going.

Be open to sharing your resolutions as you never know where you can find strength that will motivate you to strive harder.

Take it One Day at a Time

You’re not going to achieve your resolutions overnight. Remember that whatever unhealthy habit you’re trying to kick developed over a long period of time and being patient with yourself is the only way you’re going to change it.

For instance, if you’re trying to eat healthier, you can start by aiming to drink more water, instead of cutting out all the unhealthy foods from your diet in one go. Once you’re comfortable with drinking lots of water daily, you can then start by cutting out unhealthy carbs and replacing them with whole grains, for example.

You can aim to cut out one unhealthy habit per month or per week and slowly, you’ll begin to develop that healthier lifestyle you’ve always wanted.

Reward Yourself

Giving yourself small rewards is a great way to encourage yourself to keep going, especially during the difficult days. Your rewards don’t have to be grand at all, they just need to be small things that will put a smile on your face as you reach your milestones. Reward yourself with a trip to the movies, going to a comedy special, or just a simple massage or bubble bath when you’ve achieved what you want.

There is no better time to start setting your new year’s resolutions than right now. Sit and think about them carefully. Decide on what you really want to achieve in the new year and then apply the above.

Want to learn even more tips and tricks on becoming your best self on your back to school journey and beyond? Join our email list and become a member of our Back to School Divas Facebook group!

group of friends having dinner together in a holiday setting

December 18, 2018

How To Juggle Family, Friends and School With Holiday Priorities

Having holiday cheer is always one of your holiday priorities, but how many times does the stress of the season leave you feeling than "in the spirit?" Rather than stressing about all the things you have to do, spend time this holiday se...

Having holiday cheer is always one of your holiday priorities, but how many times does the stress of the season leave you feeling than “in the spirit?”

Rather than stressing about all the things you have to do, spend time this holiday season doing things you care about with people you love (and still get things done!)

Here are some of our best tips for juggling family, friends and school with your holiday priorities.

Set Priorities.

Do your best to remain focused on your end goals. Make a list of what matters most to you (family, travel, earning a 4.0 GPA, health & fitness) and keep it handy when you have to choose whether or not to add another holiday cocktail party to your holiday priorities agenda.

Ask For Help.

The American Psychological Association noted in a poll that 25% of Americans reported being “extremely stressed” during the holidays. 69% of those participants noted a “lack of time” as being the culprit. Help curb stress by asking for help when you need it. Stressing over hosting the annual holiday party? Ask a friend or two to help decorate or bring food. Struggling with your workload? Ask a coworker to help cover some of your projects. Make your mental health one of your holiday priorities by asking for help when you need it.

Be Proactive.

Life’s full of craziness (like unexpected overnight guests), but when it comes to things like deadlines, appointments, and expectations, think ahead. Don’t let small things turn into big, scary stuff due to procrastination.

Get Enough Sleep.

“Easier said than done,” you might think. When there’s family, friends, and plenty of eggnog involved, it’s easy to start feeling like you’re running on empty by the time real life strikes. Make rest one of your holiday priorities by setting a bedtime for yourself and sticking to it.

Be Ok Saying No.

For some, this is one of the hardest holiday priorities to put into practice. When another coworker or friend invites you for a White Elephant, don’t feel the need to say “yes” right away. Take a moment to consider if you have the time, the energy, and the funds to attend. If the answer is “no,” you can say it. Try “oh man, I already have something planned!” If you’d rather be more honest, say “I can’t make it.” No hurt feelings for them, no anxiety for you.

Leave Yourself Room for Error.

No one’s perfect. No matter how much you plan, things can always get a little wild during the holidays. Cut yourself some slack and self-care one of your holiday priorities. Even just a few hours a week can make all the difference to your sanity. Try to be fully present in your moments to recharge (AKA Netflix bingeing doesn’t count.) Get lost instead in an activity that promotes full presence, like doing a crossword puzzle, taking a walk, or cooking a healthy, delicious meal.

Make time for others and take care of yourself with these tips! To learn even more about holiday priorities from other Divas like you, join the Back to School Divas Facebook group!