Photo by Alisa Anton

Podcasts are a great way to help do your work between counseling sessions! Podcasts are internet based radio shows or casts that are not only informational, but also fun to listen to! If you are new to podcasts, there are a few that we’ve found to be helpful for our clients including: The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast, the Food Heaven Podcast, Black Girl in Om Podcast, A Date With Darkness Podcast, The Friend Zone Podcast, Fireflies Unite Podcast, and Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations Podcast.

Here are a few episodes that may be helpful to listen to between sessions. Please check these out!

The Food Heaven Podcast

Get Better Sleep with Dr. Tiffany Lester

Self Care and Wellness with Black Girl in Om

Therapy for Black Girls Podcast

Session 107: Am I Doing This Right?

Session 108: Finding Your People

Session 98: Showing Up When You Want to Lay Down

Session 77: The Truth About Self-Care

A Date With Darkness Podacast

Stop the People Pleasing and Teach People to Respect Your Boundaries

Understanding and Healing from Psychological Abuse

The Friend Zone Podcast

We Can’t Be Friends

Attachment Theory

The Soundtrack to Your Life

Oprah Super Soul Conversations Podcast

Iyanla Vanzant “You Matter”

Glennon Doyle “First the Pain, Then the Rising”

Black Girl in Om Podcast

Episode 39: Activating Awareness

Fireflies Unite Podcast

How To Set Boundaries: Self-Care, Unlearning & Doing Your Soul Work Featuring Yesenia Villalta

The Power Of Living Your Truth & Thriving With Bipolar Disorder Featuring Jenifer Lewis

Owner, Brandi Lewis, was included in the article in Thrive Global , “ 9 Ways Your Work Rival Can Actually Make You More Successful.” The article was published on May, 22, 2019 and written by Marina Khidekel . Please check it out below.

Are you a book nerd? Would you like titles for books to read between sessions? Please check out our Pinterest Board. See the link below:

It has been said many times that “I can sleep when I die,” “team no sleep, “ or even “we ‘be up all night,” as simple phrases, but it’s also true that some of us take these words to heart and leave little time for rest. The American way is to work hard and produce results. All work and no play can cause not only exhaustion, but also many other health problems including gastrointestinal problems, anxiety, depression, and heart disease. In the busyness of life, it can be hard to find ways to incorporate rest more into your life. Research has found that some people even gain more weight when they are less rested because stress can cause stress eating and weight gain. More rest is not a hindrance to progress or production, it can, in fact, add more to your life.  Here are three ways to help you to get more rest.

Photo by Cassandra Hamer on Unsplash

1. Use the “Do Not Disturb” feature on your phone and turn off the notifications on your phone after hours.

   The Do Not Disturb or DND feature on your phone is a great way to preserve your time at any point of your day, especially in the evenings. You can select for specific hours to be blocked off each night so that you will not hear calls or notifications from any apps you may have. You may option to only allow people on your favorites list to contact you during the hours that you select.This is a great way to make your rest time a priority instead of responding to notifications or calls that you may be able to respond to during working hours.

2. Try going to bed earlier and monitor how you feel. Do you notice a difference?

   Consider going to bed the same time each night for two nights and make that time a little earlier than you currently go to bed. Monitor how you feel. Do you feel happier? Do you eat more or less? Are you irritable with other people? Do you feel more productive at work? Are you more available for your family and friends?

3. Create a nightly ritual.

   Rituals are a good way to allow yourself to gradually relax. A great cup of tea and a good book are nice simple ways to wind down for the day. Journaling or watching your favorite TV show can also be good ways to wind down. Whatever you choose, consider putting down your phone while trying to wind down. Studies have shown that cell phone use just before going to bed can keep people from feeling very relaxed and can even lead to insomnia.

If you feel that you struggle with sleeping or resting in a chronic way, please contact a medical professional or a licensed therapist as you may have a more serious condition. These tips can be helpful for anyone, especially those who want to relax after a busy day. Please give it a try!  If you are looking for a counselor, please check out the link below.

By: Brandi Lewis, M.Ed, LPC

Owner, Brandi Lewis, was featured on the Convos with Petra Podcast Episode 17: Joy, Peace, and Purpose on May 15, 2019. Check out the link below. It is a great conversation about Faith and Mental Health!