Many of us step into the roles as caregivers for our loved ones who may have a disability. Some of us may have older parents who are no longer able to care for themselves or a child with a developmental disability or a spouse who has become chronically ill. Being a caregiver can be rewarding and fulfilling. At the same time, it can be stressful and overwhelming and can lead to emotional and physical burnout. Dr. Amen tells us this can show up as fatigue, increased impatience, lowered resistance, moodiness, insomnia, sleeping too much, lack of interest in activities, feeling hopeless or worried about the future. He also shares with us ways to heal from caregiver burnout and stress.

“When burnout symptoms take over, it’s much harder to function in an already demanding role, in addition to other important responsibilities you have. Fortunately, there are some straightforward and accessible strategies you can use to recover your mental, emotional, and physical vitality so...

Does your life seem overwhelming at times? Personal responsibilities, taking care of family and managing a career, all at a non-stop pace that can get the best of even the strongest person. Fortunately, there is a way to prioritize yourself without diminishing the commitments you have to others. It all starts in your brain by working on your mental hygiene—a daily practice that is just as important as washing your hands.

We are huge fans of Dr. Daniel Amen and his wife Tana! The decade we spent working together on the Daniel Plan left an imprint that when it comes to our health, change is possible and with intentional effort, long-lasting results can be our reality.

We loved their focus on brain health and mental well-being, with the emphasis that we are not stuck with the brain we have. There is always room for improvement! As we jump into our week, we thought we’d take a deeper dive into Dr. Amen’s daily practices to protect and revitalize our...

Happy Monday!

We wanted to kick-off the week with some goodness from our dear friend Dr. Daniel Amen. In his newest book, You, Happier: The 7 Neuroscience Secrets of Feeling Good Based on Your Brain Type he reveals how to improve your overall brain health to consistently enhance your mood and elevate your happiness. We love this excerpt on creating more micro-moments of happiness…

“The big “H”— happiness—doesn’t require major life-changing events, accomplishments, or milestones. Start finding joy in the smallest things you can: hearing a bird sing outside your window, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face when you step outside, petting your dog or cat, taking that first sip of your favorite brain healthy smoothie, or cracking open a new book.

I call these micro-moments of happiness.

Most of us gloss over these little things, searching instead for the big experiences. I want you to savor these precious times because, when your brain...

A question was posed out of Yale University: How long does it take to get a dose of nature high enough to make people say they feel healthy and have a strong sense of wellbeing? Stress and anxiety are common experiences for many of us. Minimizing the chronic stress of daily life as much as possible is important for overall health.

10 WAYS TO ENGAGE WITH NATURE AND REDUCE STRESS

1. Add plants and nature pictures to your space.

Whether you’re at the office or home, adding plants and/or pictures of nature may calm your stress. In one study, people who looked at real plants or posters of plants experienced less stress waiting for medical procedures.

2. Listen to nature sounds.

Listening to the sounds of nature may reduce your stress, whether that is live or a recording. One randomized controlled trial recognized stress-reducing effects from listening to water sounds.

3. Take a walk in the park.

Yes, believe it or not, a simple walk in the local park can take your stress levels...

Welcome to a new week of freshness and rejuvenation with our thoughts and mind. We thought it would be encouraging to check-in with one of our amazing RISE Expert Faculty… Dr. Amen! Today, we want to share with you a special acronym coined by Dr. Daniel Amen called ANTS (Automatic Negative Thoughts) which can create an ant infestation of the mind, ruin your day and make you feel bad. Become an Anteater and learn how to control the negative thinking and self-talk eliminating one ANT at a time.

“I have a terrible ant infestation in my house, and there’s a terrible ANT infestation in our country that’s driving anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. ANTs are the automatic negative thoughts that ruin your day, steal your happiness, and prolong grief. These days, ANTs are everywhere.Do any of these thoughts sound familiar?

“Nothing will ever be the same.”

“Everyone’s going to get COVID and die.”

“The economy is ruined....