Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Burnout in Students: Spotting the Signs and Avoiding the Dangers

 

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We sometimes forget it as adults, but being a child is hard. It’s easy to look at the life kids have, or the one you had when you were younger, and think that you’d trade places in a heartbeat, but don’t forget - you have years’ worth of knowledge and experience that means you can see their problems as being minor. They are facing those problems for the first time, and it’s scary. So while a grown-up may hear of kids or teens experiencing burnout and react with cynicism, it’s important to recognize that it’s a real problem - and to know how to handle it.


What is burnout?


In the simplest sense, burnout is a form of acute exhaustion that results from excessive levels of demand placed on a person. In a younger person, this will most often be related to education and is particularly common around the time of exams and college applications.


What does burnout look like in a child or teen?


As the explanation above states, burnout is a form of exhaustion, primarily emotional, and if you are looking for warning signs then the most recognizable one will be a child who is more than usually withdrawn around the time of specific educational milestones. The signs are often analogous to depression and anxiety - so a lack of motivation in the things that they are normally enthusiastic about is a common sign, as are mood swings and tension.


Who is most likely to experience burnout?


Burnout can affect anyone; it is a particularly situational condition, so it is more a case of “when” and “how” than “who.” However, it is fair to say that kids who are educationally driven are more at risk. Teachers working for Teach for America might be particularly likely to see signs in kids who are particularly gifted and who feel they have to succeed for the sake of their families. In more exclusive schools, it may be particularly prominent in kids with high-achieving siblings or parents.


What can you do to prevent burnout?


Kids who are prone to burnout, and who show early signs of it such as excessive tiredness, loss of focus, or reporting physical ailments, need to be treated with care. Commonly, they will be subjecting themselves to excess pressure out of a desire to please adults who have high expectations of them - so make it clear that grades are not the be-all and end-all. Also, try to communicate to them that too much work can actually detrimentally affect their results, so scheduling in some relaxation, self-care, and simple fun is essential.


What should you do if it’s already gone too far?


While it is important to recognize that adolescent stresses are every bit as real as adult ones, there is a benefit to the younger age of kids with burnout. If the condition hits and affects them at school or at home, the fact is that they are still young, and they have plenty more chances to get things right. This can mean sitting make-up tests or doing other work for extra credit, or it can simply mean impressing upon them what’s really important - which is that a balanced, healthy life will always matter more than grades, and success in life comes from more than educational attainment.



Burnout can affect anyone at any age, and it’s essential to take the signs seriously. Try to keep kids focused on realistic goals and don’t let them define their entire lives by test scores.


Tuesday, July 20, 2021

What Happens When the Body Compresses

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When the body compresses unnaturally, it can cause a number of health concerns. For one thing, back problems can arise, but also joint pains in your knees and hips. Not to mention, your posture will be affected, which can cause the pelvis to tilt forward, creating more pressure on your lumbar spine. Compression that deals an injury is usually done during a sudden impact. Blunt force trauma in accidents and falling are on the list of things that cause major compression in the spine, joints and muscles. So what actually happens to us when we suffer this kind of action?

What a Good Career Looks Like

 Your career is one of the most important aspects of your daily life, and something that you need to make sure you are aware of if you are keen to look after yourself and make your life as positive as possible. Of course, some careers are bound to be better for you than others, and there are so many factors that might come into consideration here that you will want to think about.


Image - CCO Licence

In this post, we are going to take a look at just what a good career really looks like, so you can be sure to look out for it. As long as you have the following in mind, it’s much more likely that your career is going to be good for you and give you the best a career can give.

Saturday, July 17, 2021

#WorldsofFun — the Perfect Family/Fun Day! Find Your Amazing!

So I initially titled this post "Perfect Summer Day" ... but we've been to WinterFest and it was a Perfect Winter Evening. How about The Haunt? That would be a Perfect Autumn Evening! Carnivale? The Perfect Summer Night! We are so fortunate to have Worlds of Fun here in Kansas City, and it's no wonder people come from all over the country in all seasons and in all types of weather to enjoy it!

All photographs you see in this post that are of my family on a ride were taken while others were still loading onto the rides. We did NOT take any photos while a ride was being operated. You are not allowed to do this, and we did not do it!

*I need to start by sharing how great the Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun park app is. It stored all of our tickets and passes, including meal and drink passes. It showed wait times of rides and had a map of the park. It also made it quick and easy to get into the park.

3 Benefits of Using Landscaping Services for Your Home This Summer

 


Summer is the best time to work on home improvement projects. People like to do landscaping projects in summer so that they can enjoy a great time outdoors. It is important to work with a professional and reliable landscaping company because it can provide lots of benefits and convenience for homeowners. We are happy to share 3 benefits for homeowners to consider.

Benefits of Using Managed IT Services for Your Small Business

 


Business owners are seeing more changes than ever in the way their business is operating. Since the COVID-19 pandemic many companies are using more IT services to get their work done. This is especially true since many business owners have their employees working from home.

 

As the leading IT company in Hamilton, ITBizTek has so many IT consulting services that they want to recommend to business owners. They have been in business for over 20 years and have so many custom IT solutions to make day-to-day operations for any industry run more efficiently. 

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

What is Family Medicine?

Image by Elf-Moondance from Pixabay 


With more and more Baby Boomers entering retirement age, and with the COVID-19 pandemic upon us, there is an increased need for healthcare workers. Trying to get in to see a family medicine specialist is becoming increasingly difficult for many. Often, appointments need to be made several days and even weeks in advance. And those looking for a general practitioner often find that they have a full caseload and no longer accepting new patients. With all that is happening around us, it is more important than ever to stay on top of your health, and getting in to see your physician for a checkup, or to check on health issues is crucial. We have all heard from the CDC that COVID-19, is most serious for those that have underlying health conditions.

Those that live in the Huntsville and Athens area are in luck because doctors like Dr. Francene Gayle are currently practicing in the area and are taking on new patients. If you are in the area and are in need of a family medical practitioner, doctors are always available to see new patients and make sure they are healthy and fit.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Practical Steps To Approach A Career Change

 

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Approaching a career change can be scary, it can be difficult to move away from what you know and start a new journey. To help you navigate the road ahead, consider these five practical steps.


1 . What’s motivating you?


Before you approach a career change you’ve got to figure out what’s motivating you.  What is it that you don’t like about your current career? Establishing why you’re seeking to move on will help you to move in the right direction.


Think about what kind of career you’re looking for. Are you looking for a high salary, or are you more focused on an altruistic career? To follow the right path, you must be aware of what inspires you.

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

How To Avoid Burnout as a Busy Work-From-Home Parent

 Working from home is fulfilling because you get to earn while spending a lot of time with your family and have a more flexible schedule. You also save some money because you don't have to commute to work, eat out or maintain an expensive work wardrobe. 

Free stock photo of anxiety, bed, burned

Photo Credit

However, working from home has its challenges; apart from attending to job demands, you still have to run a functional house. There're kids to attend to, a home to tidy, homework to check, and other home obligations that you cannot ignore. When not careful, you can quickly burn out. Here are a few tips to help you prevent burnout.

Invest in an Ergonomic Work Environment

If you sit down for long hours, you can easily hurt your back and shoulders, especially if you don't have a comfortable chair and work table. Think of investing in a home office away from all the noises and distractions of a busy home. 

Critically think about the furniture and equipment you need to be productive. It pays to ensure that you are comfortable working and maintaining a healthy posture, reducing back pain, cardiovascular problems, and nerve constriction. If you already have health issues resulting from poor posture, check out obVus Solutions to improve your wellbeing.

Get the Blood Flowing

Sitting for long hours can lead to back problems. To avoid this, stand up every 20 to 30 minutes, take a 5-minutes walk around the house, then go back to work. Also, make sure that you get out of the house every day and take at least a 30-minutes walk, keeping you fit and healthy.

It's also refreshing when you are out of the house, helping you unwind, relax and admire the beauty of the landscape, flowers, people, trees, and the greenery.

Learn To Keep a Balance

Running a household can be overwhelming because there's a lot to do, and attending to a business or job gives you little time to take care of yourself. Instead, have a work schedule and allocate enough time to relax, spend with family, enjoy a hobby or the outdoors.

When you feel overwhelmed, get someone to help with the house chores. More importantly,  make sure you get enough sleep every night. It also helps to employ people to help with some of the work demands if you run a business. The more you delegate, the more time you'll have to relax, avoiding burnout.

Take Breaks

Taking breaks helps to unwind, re-energize and focus on the core tasks. Take one day every week to relax and unwind. Ensure you're resting- this is not a day to handle house chores such as general cleaning, but it's a total rest from all responsibilities as you allow someone else to take care of the tasks. Also, learn to listen to your body. When you're tired with low energy levels, rest, take a nap or go to the spa. 

If you are continually finding it hard to stay motivated when working from home, create a reward system. For instance, if you are struggling to keep up with your workout schedule, reward yourself every week that you consistently workout, motivating you to do the same the following week. As a result, regular exercise will significantly reduce or prevent burnout.


Thursday, July 1, 2021

Why Homeschooling Is the Way to Go

 


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Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

For several years, parents have been educating their children in the comfort of their homes. According to scientific research, years of homeschooling your little ones gives them a better moral, educational, and psychological foundation and improves their chances of succeeding in their future academic endeavors.

Today, most parents have substituted traditional schools for homeschooling. This is particularly common among those parents concerned about school safety and quality. The National Center for Education Statistics, in their 2016 study, revealed that the U.S has more than 1.7 million homeschooled children, and the number is expected to continue rising.

Are you wondering whether to enroll your kid at the school down the street and create more openings for Teach for America jobs or homeschool them? Here are some of the advantages of homeschooling to steer you in the right direction.

Personalized Learning

With the homeschooling educational structure, teachers and parents can join forces to tailor the student’s learning. All this depends on the learner’s needs. 

One characteristic of traditional classrooms is the big student-to-teacher ratio. This isn’t the same for homeschooling as it allows an individualized and one-on-one learning environment for learners. Parents report that compared to traditional schooling, the bonds that homeschooling tutors form with their students are closer, thanks to the one-on-one interactions.

In addition, homeschooling allows instructors and parents to evaluate learners and identify what works for them and what doesn’t. After getting their facts rights, they could use a different approach or make some adjustments to the teaching methods to accommodate the learners. This way, no one is left behind.

College Preparation

Another benefit of homeschooling your child is the fact that it readies them for college. How? By impacting in them core values such as responsibility. Homeschooled students are more likely to take responsibility for their learning compared to their traditional-schooled counterparts. 

Schedule Flexibility

Another aspect that makes the prospect of homeschooling your child even more attractive is the flexibility in schedules. With homeschooling, your kid’s routine isn’t rigid and robotic. They do not have to run at the ring of the bell or change to other subjects when a period expires. There is no fixed time for recess or lunch.

Homeschooling allows your kid to complete whatever work they have in their own time and rest for the remaining time. There is no need to put unnecessary pressure on them.

Classes Can Happen Anywhere

Because it doesn’t require a physical classroom, homeschooling can be done anywhere and at any time. Whether you are taking a one-week vacation or a two-month trip, you can always carry the curriculum with you wherever you go. This way, you need not worry about falling behind.

Even more convenient is online homeschooling, thanks to virtual classrooms. Although this system should align with a conventional school calendar, all will be well if students stay in touch with their teachers and complete their assignments and lessons.

Self-Discipline

The truth is homeschooling instills some invaluable values into your child early in their development. Rather than the sole focus being grades, homeschooling encourages students to enjoy learning. Skills such as self-motivation, time management, and being accountable for their education are what will give your kid a head-start in their lives and careers.

From the points above, it is evident that homeschooling plays a massive role in your child’s life. If you were looking for a sign to start homeschooling your little ones, this is it!