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Anxiety

8 Tips to Overcome Emetophobia | If you or your kids have a fear of throwing up, it can cause all kinds of avoidance behaviors and problems and make life challenging. If you’re looking for tips and remedies to help you or your children from living in fear of sickness, this post has tons of ideas to help reduce the symptoms – and panic attacks – associated with vomiting. Recovery from emetophobia is possible – click to find out what you can do! #emetophobia #throwingup #stomachbug #coldandflu

The Fear of Throwing Up: 8 Tips to Overcome Emetophobia

33 Confidence Affirmations for Women | Do you suffer from low self-esteem? Do you struggle with self-confidence at work and in your relationships? Are you looking for a mantra you can use to shut down self-sabotaging thoughts and negative feelings you have about yourself so you can love yourself and live your best life? We’re sharing 33 positive affirmations for women to help you love and accept yourself, flaws and all! #confidenceaffirmations #positiveaffirmations #selfconfidence #selfesteem

How to be More Confident: 33 Confidence Affirmations for Women

30 Positive Mantras for Kids | If you’re looking for ways to teach mindfulness to your children to help decrease their stress and anxiety and boost their motivation and happiness as they grow and learn, this post is for you! Positive mantras are a great way to nip negative thinking in the bud and encourage positive self-talk. Check out our favorite positive mantras for kids in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school! #positivemantras #positiveaffirmationsforkids #mindfulnessforkids

30 Positive Mantras for Kids that Improve Happiness and Confidence

21 Self-Care Rituals for Women | From slow-paced morning routines to indulgent nighttime beauty regimes, self-care can be as simple or complicated as you want it to be. If you’re looking for tips to find time for your emotional and physical health, as well as self-care ideas you can enjoy on the daily, this post is your ticket to a happy life that’s balanced! #selfcarerituals #selfcareroutine #selfcareideas #selfcareforwomen

21 Self-Care Rituals for Women You Actually Have Time For

14 Self-Care Ideas for Mental Health | Whether you suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, or a combination of the 3, you’re probably looking for coping skills and tips to help you feel better and balance your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. While there is no ‘recovery kit’ per se for mental health challenges, these self-care activities are key to a happy life! #selfcareactivities #mentalhealthactivities #selfcareideas

Taking Care of You: 14 Self-Care Ideas for Mental Health

How to Be More Confident | Do you suffer from low self-esteem? Do you struggle to love your body? Do you want to know how to be a positive role model to the children in your life and teach them that beauty comes from within? Learn how to feel confident in yourself at school, at work, around people, around guys, and in relationships with these simple habits of confident people! #selfconfidence #confidence #howtobeconfident #selflove

How to Be More Confident: 9 Tips to Boost Your Self-Esteem

14 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Activities for Kids | Perfect for children and for teens who struggle with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and anger management, these CBT tips and tools can be used at home and in the classroom by parents and teachers to help kids recognize their negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. These activities offer a fun way to teach kids problem solving skills to gain control over their thoughts and behaviors. #cognitivebehaviortherapy #CBT #playtherapy

Helping Kids Cope: 14 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Activities for Kids

How to Stop a Panic Attack Fast | Looking for tips to stop the thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms of a panic attack? We’re sharing 11 techniques that help. While some people experience panic attacks in response to stress or as a result of PTSD, others cannot predict when their symptoms will occur, leading to panic disorder and other mental health challenges. Click for our best coping strategies and remember: never be afraid to ask for help! #panicattacks #anxiety #mentalhealth

How to Stop a Panic Attack Fast: 11 Tips that Work

87 Positive Affirmations for Women | From boosting your self-esteem and happiness, to improving your motivation and relationships, to helping mothers see their strength and the importance in everything they do, these inspirational affirmations and mantras are both beautiful and effective. Repeat these to yourself daily with meaning and intention and practice an attitude of gratitude to help change your perspective! #positiveaffirmations #positiveaffirmationsforwomen #affirmationsformoms

Live a Life You Love: 87 Positive Affirmations for Women

How to Help a Child with Selective Mutism | If you’re looking for ideas to help a child with selective mutism outside of therapy, this collection of tips is perfect for parents and teachers alike. What is selective mutism? We’re raising awareness of the disorder by sharing the signs, symptoms, and facts, as well as practical strategies to try at home and in the classroom to reduce anxiety and (hopefully) promote communication in children with SM. #selectivemutism #anxiety #mentalhealth

How to Help a Child with Selective Mutism: 11 Tips for Parents

Art Therapy for Kids | Perfect for emotional healing, anger management, helping kids deal with feelings related to trauma, grief, and divorce, and for kids with mental health challenges and special needs like autism, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety, this collection of simple and creative art therapy projects and crafts will help your child deal with their emotions and heal. #arttherapyforkids #arttherapyprojects #arttherapyactivities

Art Therapy for Kids: 22 Activities to Help Your Child Cope and Heal

How to Help a Child with OCD at Home | If you’re looking for tips to help children with mental health disorders like OCD, this post covers it all – the signs, symptoms, therapy and treatment options plus parenting tips to help families of kids with OCD. Perfect for moms and dads who want to understand their special needs child’s obsessions and compulsions, these tips will inspire you to stop negatively reinforcing your child’s fears. #childhoodOCD #specialneeds #anxiety #anxiouschild

How to Help a Child with OCD at Home: 11 Tips For Parents

27 Play-Doh Games or Kids | Play-doh mats are a great way to teach kids their numbers, letters, and shapes, and there are so many free printables for different themes, like the weather, the seasons, and various holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter. They also help develop a child’s fine motor skills! Check out our favorite play-doh activities for fun in the classroom and at home. #playdoh #playdohactivities #playdough #playdoughrecipe #playdoughactivities #finemotoractivities

27 Play-Doh Games & Activities to Develop Fine Motor Skills [& More!]

How to Be Happy with Yourself [Even When You're Not] | Want to know how to be confident with yourself and your relationships, even when you're feeling insecure? We’re sharing 5 daily habits of happy people, 5 simple tips to give your self-confidence a boost, 4 ways to be happier in your relationships, and 15 self-love quotes all in one post! #happiness #selfimprovement #selflove #selfcare #momlife #dailyhabits

How to Be Happy with Yourself (Even When You’re Not): 13 Tips to Try

Autism and Noise Sensitivity | Whether your child suffers from noise anxiety due to autism, sensory processing disorder, or as an anxiety disorder, this collection of tips and products is designed to help children with misophonia. From noise cancelling headphones to white noise machines to music streaming options, these ideas will help with exposure therapy and ensure your child is prepared in emergency situations. #autism #sensoryprocessingdisorder #misophenia #specialneedsparenting #ASD #SPD

Autism and Noise Sensitivity: 7 Tips for Kids with Sensory Anxiety

How to Get Over Your Fear of Flying | If you suffer from aerophobia, this collection of 17 tips and ideas will make overcoming your anxieties and phobias related to airports, airplanes, and flying more manageable so you can travel more comfortably without medication. #fearofflying #aerophobia #aviophobia #phobias #anxiety #mentalhealth

How to Get Over Your Fear of Flying: 17 Tips to Overcome Aerophobia

If your kids are prone to after school temper tantrums, this post explains why they occur, how to identify triggers, and the best coping strategies to prevent an after school emotional meltdown. Perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, included special needs kids with autism, sensory processing disorder, and ADHD, these parenting tips will also help your children with self-control and self-regulation! #tantrums #meltdowns #backtoschool #autism #SPD #ADHD #specialneeds #parenting #parenting101

The After School Emotional Meltdown: 15 Preventative Tips for Parents

17 Tools to Include in a Calm Down Kit for Kids | Does your child suffer from anxiety that makes self-regulation difficult? Perfect for children in preschool, kindergarten, middle school, and beyond (even for teens!), we’re sharing 6 coping skills and 17 calming tools to help your child with anger management and explosive feelings at home, in the classroom, and while on the go. #anxiety #mentalhealth #selfregulation #selfregulationactivities #zonesofregulation #selfcontrol #autism #calmdownkit

23 Tips for Creating an Effective Calm Down Kit for Your Anxious Child

Journal Prompts for Women | If you’re looking for inspiration to help you get started with journaling, we’ve got 90 daily journal prompts! Some are fun while others are serious, so you can pick and choose depending on your mood. Whether you prefer a ‘this is me’ approach, need a guided journal, or prefer freestyle writing in a blank notebook, there are 3, 30 day lists to keep you motivated to get your thoughts on paper. #journal #journaling #journalprompts #writingprompts #mentalhealth #selfcare

Journal Prompts for Women: 90 Journaling Prompts for Self Discovery

Therapy Toys for Special Needs Kids | 19 easy and fun occupational therapist approved toys for kids with developmental delays like autism, sensory processing disorder, and cerebral palsy. Perfect for use in speech therapy, play therapy, occupational therapy, and at home, these products and activities help kids develop their gross motor and fine motor skills, aid in language development, and help improve cognitive skills.

19 Therapist-Approved Therapy Toys and Games for Special Needs Kids

Visual Schedules for Children with Autism | Looking for daily routine charts to use in the classroom? Need free printables to use at home? Looking for DIY daily and weekly visual schedules for autistic children? From simple charts that teach life skills, to behavior support ideas, to portable PECS pictures, learn how to make your own visual routines and where to buy ready made communication boards that last.

Visual Schedules for Children with Autism: How and Why They Work!

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‘STOP TRYING TO CALM THE STORM. CALM YOURSELF, T ‘STOP TRYING TO CALM THE STORM. CALM YOURSELF, THE STORM WILL PASS.’ —Unknown
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My daughter went back to school virtually today, and while the Type A in me is excited we’re back in some kind of routine, I had forgotten just how chaotic and impractical distance learning is. A province-wide internet outage took down her teacher within 2 hours, shattering any hopes I had of grabbing a little time to myself to get caught up on all of the work stuff I’ve been putting off for the last 3 weeks. I’ve dried tears, prepared snacks, provided new Zoom logins, helped with grade 4 math, and I even made paper plates out of construction paper for a last minute craft.
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Wash, rinse, repeat.
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All is good in our world again, and soon we’ll dive back into those math problems and whatever else is on tap for homework before I retreat to my office to print off tomorrow’s agenda and worksheets. We’ll all play Roblox before dinner to help us unwind after a crazy day, and I’ll stay up later than I want to tonight trying to get caught up because I know tomorrow will bring more unforeseen challenges, and I hate starting my day feeling behind schedule.
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Parenting in a pandemic is extra messy, and if this sh*t storm has taught me anything, it’s that we need to give ourselves a hell of a lot of grace right now. There will be days where we’re super productive and get through everything on our never-ending ‘to do’ lists, but there will be many more days where we feel like we’ve accomplished absolute nothing.
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It’s on these difficult days that we need to remind ourselves that our most important job right now is making sure our kids are healthy and happy, and that they feel safe and loved. When they look back on this time, they won’t remember if the house was clean and the laundry was folded, how often we ordered takeout, or if we gained weight. All they will remember is how we showed up for them - even on the days we were struggling to show up for ourselves.
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If the return to reality has you feeling overwhelmed today, stop trying to calm the storm. Take a deep breath, get present in this moment, remind yourself what’s important, and focus on that instead.
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We’ve got this. 💙
BACK TO REALITY… . Are you ready to get back at BACK TO REALITY…
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Are you ready to get back at it?
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While we’ve certainly been busy organizing, packing, and getting our new home ready and didn’t really relax as much as we’d hoped to over the holidays, I’ve enjoyed operating at a slower pace the last couple of weeks. We’ve stayed up late, slept in a little bit each morning, had too much to eat and drink, and enjoyed a break from routines and schedules. 
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Toronto is currently under lockdown, so my daughter is going back to school virtually tomorrow while my husband and I continue to work from home. It’s not ideal, but we’ll make it work and I’m excited to get back into a routine. The time away from my computer helped me reset and recharge, and I feel like I’m starting 2021 with more realistic expectations of myself. And that feels good.
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2020 was definitely not my favorite year, but when I look back at the last 12 months, a lot of really great things came from it. It gave me more time with my husband and daughter and brought us much closer than our busy, pre-2020 lives would’ve ever allowed. It helped me reconnect with friends I had lost contact with due to the craziness that is being a working mom. And it helped me form amazing new friendships that I will cherish forever.
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I know 2021 is likely going to be just as challenging - if not more so - as 2020 was, but for the first time since becoming a mom, I finally feel like I have a tribe of people around me. I feel less lonely than I’ve ever felt in my life, which is hilarious since we have been holed up in our house for ~10 months, but it feels pretty amazing.
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I’m not sure where I was going with this post, but suffice it to say I’m ready to caffeine and conquer! ☕️
‘ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE. KNOW THAT ‘ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE. KNOW THAT IT IS YOU WHO WILL GET YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO GO, NO ONE ELSE.’ —Les Brown
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I think we can all agree that 2020 was the absolute shits, and I know we’re all looking forward to a chance to start fresh in hopes that the universe will be a little kinder to us in 2021. 
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Of course, our lives aren’t going to magically go back to the way they were at 12:01 am. It’s not easy to be positive right now, but instead of getting stuck in the suck, remember that the only thing you have control over is your attitude.  You can continue to feel sorry for yourself and mourn all the ways your life has changed, or you can straighten your crown and focus on all of the good things happening in your life.
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If you dig deep enough, you’ll see that there is so much to be grateful right now.
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And if you can’t think of anything that you feel proud of or that brings you joy, then it’s up to you to create it. Accept responsibility for your life. Stop making excuses and be the change you want to see. 
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Instead of thinking of 2021 as another year of lockdowns and restrictions while we wait for vaccinations to take place and herd immunity to take hold, look at it as an open book. 
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12 new chapters. 365 new chances. 🥂
‘BE PRESENT WHERE YOUR FEET ARE.’ —Unknown . ‘BE PRESENT WHERE YOUR FEET ARE.’ —Unknown
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What do you do when you have downtime?
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I haven’t had time off since last Christmas. We hit the ground running in January as we were planning a 2-week family vacay in March and wanted to do ALL THE THINGS beforehand so we could unplug and enjoy the trip. Our vacation obviously got cancelled, and we’ve been on autopilot ever since. I feel like the pandemic has either made people really busy, or extremely bored. There’s no in-between!
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My team and I have been busy working ahead over the past couple of months as I really wanted to unplug and unwind for a few weeks over the holidays and now that the craziness of Christmas is over, I don’t know what to do with myself!
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I’m caught up on This Is Us, we finally watched The Undoing, I’m almost done Open Book, I’ve done a lot of drawing on my iPad, I’ve had a lot of wine, I’ve eaten a ton of chocolate, we’ve played games, I’ve done my nails…and I’m bored, lol. But unless I find something else to do, I have to face packing up this house (we’re moving, ya’ll!) and I can’t face that just yet.
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👇🏻how do you unwind?
‘WHAT IS CHRISTMAS? IT IS TENDERNESS FOR THE PAS ‘WHAT IS CHRISTMAS? IT IS TENDERNESS FOR THE PAST, COURAGE FOR THE PRESENT, HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.’ —Agnes M. Pahro
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The holidays are going to be extra hard for many this year. Whether you’re living under a lockdown with travel restrictions, voluntarily cancelling plans to keep yourself and the ones you loved safe, or dealing with heart-breaking loss, please know that you are not alone. 
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While we are all navigating the same storm right now, remember that we’re not all in the same boat. If you are lucky enough to be surrounded by excitement and chaos, enjoy the insanity of it all. Embrace the mess and be grateful for all your blessings, and don’t forget to check in with those who are less fortunate than you are. 
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And if there’s an empty chair at your table due to distance, sickness, or loss, remember that it’s okay to not be okay right now. The holidays can be hard at the best of times, and this year is unlike any we’ve ever experienced. Feel the feels, reach out to others, and be kind to yourself.
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Merry Christmas my beautiful friends! 🥂
‘WORRYING IS LIKE PRAYING FOR THE OUTCOME YOU DO ‘WORRYING IS LIKE PRAYING FOR THE OUTCOME YOU DON’T WANT.’ —Denis Morton
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This is your Monday morning reminder that no amount of anxiety can change the future, and no amount of regret can change the past. Worrying about something you have no control over does nothing but interfere with your ability to be fully present in this moment. So, inhale the good shit, exhale the bullshit (also a Denis Morton quote), and have faith in your ability to handle whatever life throws at you. ☺️
Is this thing on? . It’s been a MINUTE since I p Is this thing on?
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It’s been a MINUTE since I posted here, and I’m not even sure I’m the same person anymore, lol, so I figured I’d re-introduce myself.
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My name is Gwen and I’m the founder and managing editor of Meraki Lane - a website dedicated to sharing all of the latest tips and trends to help you be the best version of yourself in the least amount of time. 
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I’m 43, married to the man of my dreams, and the proud mama of a feisty 9-year-old who has an infectious personality and love for life. I grew up in Singapore, live in Toronto, and have an unhealthy obsession for clothes, shoes, peanut butter, makeup, and my Peloton bike.
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I’m also anxious AF. I’ve struggled with high functioning anxiety since I was 9, but you probably wouldn’t even know if you met in IRL. I grew up at a time when mental health challenges were something to be deeply ashamed of and it took a global pandemic for me to finally realize that it’s okay not to be okay.
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I’ve been thinking a lot about this little account of mine and how I want it to evolve. I’m never going to be a beauty influencer, I suck at taking photos of my food, and no one on the internet wants to see videos of me working out. While I love seeing other people do these things, they fall way outside of my skill set and comfort zone.
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What I can offer is a candid look at my life with anxiety - the things that help me cope, the quotes that make me think, the mantras that keep me grounded, the products I love, and the memes that make me laugh and remind me not to take life too seriously.
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My experience with anxiety probably won’t look like yours, but even though I may not be able to relate to your struggles, my hope is that I make you feel a little less alone. 💙
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