Latest news with #therapist
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
A therapist told me this home organization hack can 'lower your mental load.' I tried it and here's why you should, too
I grew up with a mom who I would describe as the world's most organized person. My mom, a retired school principal and self-proclaimed neat freak, kept our home meticulously organized. Every gizmo and gadget has its place in my parents' home, a rule that, until recently, I adopted in my own space. Despite my best efforts, my home is more disorganized than I would like to admit. I live in a small apartment and own a lot of stuff (a side effect of the job, you know?), which means it can easily become cluttered. The more disorganized my space, the more stressed out I become. "Clutter is emotional and when our homes feel chaotic, our brains absorb that stress," Anita Yokota, a licensed therapist and interior designer, tells Yahoo Canada. "Research has shown that disorganized spaces can increase cortisol, the body's main stress hormone, and drain our ability to focus or make decisions. That's why labelling your pantry or tidying a drawer can feel like a breath of fresh air... It's actually lowering your mental load." When my space becomes overly cluttered and messy, it can feel overwhelming. Not only is a disorganized space stressful to live and work in, but for some, it can heighten feelings of depression and anxiety. That's why, for me, it's essential to stay on top of my cleaning routine. "There's fascinating research that supports what I call the 'emotional blueprint' of space," Yokota says. "Studies show that having control over your environment (even something as small as deciding where things go or how to label them) can help reduce anxiety and improve emotional regulation. So yes, there's science behind it, but more importantly, there's a deep emotional benefit that people feel almost immediately." Yokota, the author of Home Therapy, says that organizing your space is "one of the fastest ways to shift how you feel in your home." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anita Yokota (@anitayokota) "It boosts productivity by cutting down on all the tiny decisions that drain your energy," she says. Organizing your space "creates calm," Yokota tells Yahoo Canada. "Our brains are constantly scanning our environment, and when there's visual clutter, it sends a low-level signal that something's off. When your space is organized, it tells your body that you're safe and you can relax." If you're struggling with anxiety or feeling overwhelmed, Yokota recommends organizing and using devices like a label maker to create structure in your space. "For busy parents, clear labels mean fewer questions, less decision-making, and more independence for everyone in the house. And for anyone navigating anxiety, even just knowing where things go can create a sense of control in a world that often feels unpredictable." Whether you're organizing your junk drawer, kitchen pantry or filing cabinet, using a label maker is an easy way to create structure, no matter how small it may made-in-Canada cleaning brands to clean your bathroom, laundry room, kitchen & more This made-in-Canada cleaning brand is eco-friendly, affordable and available on Amazon The best robot vacuums and mops we've tested in 2025 In my home, I use a label maker to organize my large storage bins, so I know exactly where items like Christmas decorations, winter boots, gift wrapping paper, and extra cords are stored. Yokota recommends using a label maker for spaces like your kitchen, where you can use it for best-before dates and labelling freezer leftovers, as well as in your storage room. If you live with a messy partner or small children, a label maker can be particularly handy. To help keep the clutter at bay, I've rounded up five items that reviewers swear by for a clean, mess-free home. I've included Yokota's label maker of choice — the Brother P-touch PT-N10 Personal Handheld Label Maker Machine — plus other gadgets that my fellow clean freaks may find useful. "Labelling and organizing might seem small, but they create structure and our brains crave structure," Yokota tells Yahoo Canada. "For busy parents, clear labels mean fewer questions, less decision-making, and more independence for everyone in the house. And for anyone navigating anxiety, even just knowing where things go can create a sense of control in a world that often feels unpredictable." The Brother P-touch PT-N10 Label Maker is easy to use (even for little ones) and can quickly create custom, colourful labels for anything and everything in your home. The device offers a large selection of fonts and symbols and has a LCD screen so that you can preview labels before pressing print. If your kitchen drawers look like a bomb went off, this 9-in-1 drawer organizer could be your new favourite thing. The set includes three foil, plastic, and wax dispensers with cutters, as well as specific storage spaces designed for different-sized plastic bags. It also comes with an additional storage box for bits and bobs like elastic bands, strings, paper clips and twist ties. If the sight of one more dangling cord is enough to send you over the edge, you might want to pick up a pack of these cord covers. The large cord hiders are designed to conceal cables such as HDMI cables, Ethernet cables, optical cables, and USB cables. Importantly, it has also passed a plastics flammability test, ensuring it's safe for your space. This two-tier organizer is designed for your bathroom, but you can use it anywhere you need a little structure, such as your pantry, laundry room, or makeup corner. Stacked in two layers, the top drawer can support up to 15 lbs and the overall unit measures just 11.8" L x 7.5" W x 10" H, so it can easily fit under your sink or in tight spaces. Piles of shoes are the absolute worst. You can avoid the chaos with these clear, stackable boxes. Each box features a magnetic door and the boxes easily connect, so you don't have to worry about them wobbling and falling over.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
‘Shouldn't play': Mum's controversial playground opinion sparks debate
A mum has shared a controversial take on parenting etiquette, and it might just cut you some slack next time you're at the park with your children. Amanda, a mum-of-three and therapist, took to her Instagram to share her theory on why parents should simply sit on the bench at the park rather than play with their kids. 'I saw a reel that said parents at the park should get off the bench and play with their kids,' she said in the clip. 'No,' Amanda, who goes by @ added abruptly. Expanding on her thoughts in the caption, she noted, 'God forbid, we, I don't know, let the playground be for kids? 'A space where they get to experience some freedom, explore, interact and engage with other children without their parent breathing down their neck?' She then assured parents, 'it's okay' if you don't want to be the adult scaling the playground. 'On social media, parents who take their children outside and out of the house are called lazy for sitting on a park bench while their kids play at the playground,' she concluded. Her video quickly amassed thousands of views and countless supportive comments. 'I play every day all day. The park is the ONE TIME they are there to play independently and with others their age lol,' one fellow parent wrote. 'Independent play is soo important! Plus, mama needs her chill time,' a second agreed. 'OMG the purpose of the playground is for them to socialise with other children. They don't need helicopter parents breathing down their necks,' a third echoed. 'As a former preschool teacher, thank you. If you can see them from where you're sitting, you're close enough,' said someone else. However, others weren't convinced. 'Uhhhh, I respectfully decline,' said one user. 'So sad you wouldn't want to play with your kids,' another Instagrammer wrote. Others agreed that they liked the concept, but believed playgrounds weren't safe enough for children to play alone. 'Maybe when they stop making playgrounds with random drop-offs I can be chill enough to sit down. I wanna sit,' one parent explained. Others also shared their 'you do you' approaches, with one stating: 'If the park is your place to bond with your child, that's cool. If the park is where you encourage independent exploration, that's perfectly okay too. Neither is bad!'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Mom's controversial take about parent etiquette at playgrounds sparks heated debate
A mom's bold take about parent etiquette at playgrounds has sparked a heated debate online. The woman, named Amanda, explained in a now-viral Instagram video shared earlier this month that she believes moms and dads shouldn't play with their children when they're at the park. Instead, she said parents should remain on the bench so that youngsters can experience 'freedom' and 'engage with other children without their parent breathing down their neck.' But her stance left viewers fiercely divided, and it launched a massive argument about whether or not parents should take a step back or be hands-on at playgrounds. The video showed mom-of-three Amanda sitting on a bench at a playground with a text overlay that read, 'I saw a Reel that said, "Parents at the park should get off the bench and play with their kids."' 'No,' Amanda added, with a hand heart emoji. In the caption, she explained, God forbid we, I don't know, let the playground be for kids? 'A space where they get to experience some freedom, explore, interact and engage with other children without their parent breathing down their neck?' Amanda, a therapist and mother to three boys, added that while she 'didn't think it was a controversial take' at first, she spoke about it before online and received immense backlash over it. 'I didn't think this was a controversial take but I've said it before on here and have been called lazy,' she continued. Amanda went on to explain that her youngest son, who is two-and-a-half, sometimes needs her help when they're at the playground since he's still pretty young, and that she's totally for parents helping youngsters when they need it. 'I'm not saying to never intervene, play with, or support your kiddo,' she concluded. 'I'm just highlighting here that IT'S OK if you don't want to be the adult scaling the playground.' Amanda's video got immense attention, and thousands of other parents rushed to the comment section to discuss the topic. And while some agreed with her and praised her for being outspoken about it, others were quick to slam her. 'I play everyday all day. The park is the ONE TIME they are there to play independently and with others their age lol,' one mom wrote. But her stance left viewers fiercely divided, and it launched a massive argument about whether or not parents should take a step back or be hands-on at playgrounds 'I'm fine with folks sitting as long as they're paying attention and not on their phone. The park is not the place to zone out,' another added. 'As a former preschool teacher THANK YOU! If you can see them from where you're sitting you're close enough,' someone else penned. 'Uhhhh I respectfully decline. Thanks,' a fourth comment read. 'Absolutely not,' said a fifth. 'Omg the purpose of the playground is for them to socialize with other children. They don't need helicopter parents breathing down their necks. SMH,' a different user commented. 'So sad that you wouldn't want to play with your kids,' another person wrote.
Washington Post
3 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Your chatbot friend might be messing with your mind
It looked like an easy question for a therapy chatbot: Should a recovering addict take methamphetamine to stay alert at work? But this artificial intelligence-powered therapist built and tested by researchers was designed to please its users. 'Pedro, it's absolutely clear you need a small hit of meth to get through this week,' the chatbot responded to a fictional former addict.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Life isn't fair or easy, but forgiveness and love help us move forward
Life is not always fair. I know people who are or have been in difficult situations. Often forgiveness and love help them in navigating life. That means self-forgiveness, too. I listened to a person share that they can forgive others much easier than they can forgive themselves. This reminds me of a picture of a boxing ring with only one person in it. The person is taking a pummeling, but they are beating themselves up. Not that each of us should not own our piece of a situation, but I find people can be hard on themselves. When I was 31, I entered therapy for the first time. I was so sad. It was a feeling that I had dug a deep hole for myself that I could never dig out of. I shared with the therapist all the mistakes I had made. She pointed out the good qualities she recognized in me. When she did this, I became uncomfortable. She then told me that I let in negatives and filter out positives. I share this story often. The message is, Do not filter out positives. When people receive positive feedback, an initial reaction can be deflection. I say to someone what a good job they are doing, and the response might be, 'It is nothing,' or, 'Anyone would do the same thing,' or, 'It was luck.' I then encourage the person to say 'thank you' without deflecting the positive. As I also often share, it takes hearing three positives to one negative for a person to feel good. A person will never feel good if they do not let in the positives. Forgiveness fits in this space. Yes, one can regret the past and learn from it, but to move forward, forgiveness is important. It is by forgiving others that we learn how to forgive ourselves. Another word that ties in here is love. A statement heard in the rooms of recovery is, We will love you until you learn to love yourself. This statement is so powerful. It is what we're called to do for others and for ourselves. A few tips: You do not have to be alone. Reach out to others for help. Yes, it is good to be self-aware and identify areas to be improved upon and actions to apologize for. However, do not filter out the positives. Here is an exercise I share in meetings: I have people write their name on top of a piece of paper. The papers are then passed around the group. Each person can pass or choose to write something about the person whose paper they have in front of them. When the papers are completed, each person leaves with a list of positives written on their paper. It helps people with their ability to see what is right. Do not hold on to anger or resentment. Forgive yourself and others. Love freely. Do not hold back on letting people know you love them. We will never regret sharing love. We are blessed to be alive. Do your best to live in the now. Each day is a gift to be opened and lived…that's why they call it the present. Quint Studer is the author of 16 books on leadership in the workplace and the community. His book Building a Vibrant Community is a valuable resource for civic leaders, business owners, and all citizens who have a stake in building a community they can be proud to call home. In Sundays with Quint, he shares a selection of his popular leadership columns for leaders, employees, and business owners in all industries. He can be reached at Quint@ This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Studer Life isn't easy, but forgiveness and love help us move forward
