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22Mar

5 Ways to Create More Freedom in Your Day as an SLP

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Journal Techniques for SLPs Stress Management
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When you are working as an SLP, whether at home or in your facility, it can be easy to feel that you are on someone else’s schedule, routine and daily needs. This can make it feel as if you have no control or freedom in your day, which can lead to an increase in stress and overwhelm, and that can lead to chronic stress and burnout. 

In my first few years, I often felt this. There was no room in my day to stop and breathe or not be productive constantly. Even if they were acceptable, taking a break was still seen (even if only from myself, due to what I learned in school and other experiences) as not acceptable. There was always something I could be doing And if I could do, it, then I should do it (hello, Perfectionism, something so many SLPs are faced with each day). And when I took my breaks – to eat lunch, read a blog or two, or just not do anything – I often kept it a secret and tried to hide. And that led to feeling guilty and a bit shameful, like I was doing something wrong by trying to mentally feel better. 

And when I came back after a 5 year break , I felt like I finally found my groove and enjoyed my work. So if I was asked to do more, I gladly accepted. “Bring it on! I’d love to help.” became my go-to. I added on more hours, had less time in my schedule to get up and move around between sessions, or at least not sit at my desk for hours in sessions, and started to feel that sense of stress and burnout creep back in. I was mentally and physically exhausted, again, and knew it was that sense of freedom that was missing and starting to wear on me. 

Can you relate?

As my best friend put it once “Of course you are stressed. You hate feeling like you are trapped”. Sometimes it takes someone else to help us see things more clearly. 

When you feel like you are trapped to a strict schedule, with absolutely no wiggle room or room for life circumstances, it can make you feel like you have no freedom or control to your work, and that things will always be this way. As this continues, it becomes more and more difficult to find ways to break away form work when you need to, and you often end up doing even more, in order to find a moment to breathe, and working endlessly, or mentally focusing on work, all there is left to do, and how to not be so stressed out from it, long after your work day has ended. 

If you are feeling like you are stuck in your schedule, or perhaps even trapped, you are not alone and there are some things you can do to create more freedom in your day. 

create more freedom in your day as an SLP

Here are 5 things you can do to make some changes and create more freedom in your day as an SLP:

  • Plan for space: It is really easy to forget to have some wiggle room in your schedule, even just 5 minutes here and there. I’ve done it (so I could have a bigger lunch break, but then felt so drained by the time lunch hit), and you probably have to. Tiny moments in your schedule are much needed. They give you space if you are simply running late or need to check on something or someone, but they also give you a moment to yourself to regroup and check in. Look at your schedule and give yourself at least 5 minutes here and there in your day, so you can get up and move, eat, pee, breathe, stretch, etc. It will make all the difference. 
  • Take actual breaks too: Breaks are not supposed to be negotiable. These are necessary and you deserve them. Plus, breaks will help you work better, be more efficient, and enjoy your work so much more. Taking a break of 10 minutes or longer (like for lunch) gives your brain the time to recharge and refresh, and it gives your body a chance to move differently. This helps to eliminate and ease up both mental and physical tension, which makes it easier for you to focus, make  less mistakes, process faster, and be more present to what you are doing. Plan for mental and physical breaks in your day for 10 minutes (more for a meal), aiming for a break every 90 minutes, so it is easy to schedule and remember. 
  • Create a routine or end of day ritual: This is so crucial, especially when you work from home. You are going to need something to help you mentally transition out of work mode and into “rest of life” mode. If you are used to a long commute, that might be your time. If you aren’t getting that anymore, you might notice that you are feeling like your work brain follows you into your home and you continue to think about work and issues that have come up or are planning for tomorrow. Have a routine or ritual that mimics your commute – go for a walk, stretch, sweep your office (if you like this kind of thing), listen to a podcast, read a blog post, etc. Take a moment for yourself, to do something each day at the end of the work day, to help signal to your brain that work is over. 
  • Spend time in your mornings and/or evenings that isn’t dedicated to the logistics/planning for the day ahead or next day. This is really difficult to do, but can set you up for a more relaxed, mindful, present day. If you tend to wake up and rush to get ready and make it to work on time, give yourself a few more minutes to lessen the rush, but also to have some downtime before you head in. This way, your day can start with some ease instead of instant panic and rush/stress. Same for the evening. If you tend to plan, prep and pack for the day ahead and then head to bed or check out for a bit, take 5 extra minutes (or more) to do something for you. Give yourself some space that isn’t about work or planning for work or thinking about work or purposely ignoring work. Take a few moments for yourself to start and end your day, so you start and end with more space and freedom. 
  • Leave work at work (or in your work space): It’s hard, but it’s necessary. If there is so much that you are constantly working late or bringing your computer from your office to the couch, it is time to reach out for support. Salary does not mean working all the time. Hourly does not mean working off the clock (I know some places only pay for direct time, and expect you to work out your hours around that. This is really hard as well. For this, you might have a set amount of hours you work, some billable, some non. Don’t work later than necessary on the non-billable hours). You can’t find freedom in your day if you are always working (mentally as well as actually doing work). 

Do you relate to or struggle with any of these? Share your triumphs or challenges in the comments. 

Want to journal through this on your own? Download the “Create More Freedom in Your Day” worksheet/journal, available in the SLP Toolbox, a resource library full of tools to help SLPs reduce and manage stress.

You can sign up for access, it’s FREE, below. (No spam ever. I promise!). 

Much Love, 

Jessi

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5Mar

Yoga as Magic, A Simple Anytime Flow: Mindful Movement for SLPs

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Mindful Movement Stress Management Yoga
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simple anytime flow

There are times when you just need a little break to get up and move around, especially after sitting for so long at your desk, or focusing really hard on something. Even when that work is enjoyable, it can create tension and brain fog. Getting up to move around, whether to take a walk outside or to stretch at your desk, can help you to feel refreshed, recharged, and refocused. 

One way that helps me, is to practice yoga. The combination of breath and movement, especially in a simple anytime flow-style class, for me, is a tiny bit magical. There have been a few times that I was incredibly stressed and felt like everything was falling apart (often related to work and feeling like I was in the wrong field or job or just wanted a little relief). My head was full of what-if’s, how can’s, and why this way, and my body felt tired and stiff. Once I made the decision (usually with some prompting from loved ones to get to a class), I immediately felt better, like a switch had been flipped and I was reset. 

  • There was the time I was crying over finally having a placement for the year (I had secretly hoped they wouldn’t have one, so I would have a real excuse not to go back), and I was contemplating over crawling into my bed at 3pm in the afternoon or going to my favorite yoga class. At the prompting of my loved one, I went to yoga. The teacher said everything I needed to hear (it was kismet), I cried. And I left feeling better, stronger, and ready to accept the position, even if I knew it wasn’t my forever goal (I left the field of SLP 6 months later). 
  • There was the time in more recent years where I had doubled my work hours and felt incredibly stressed and that burnout was creeping back in. I knew it was due to a lack of time for myself and some self-care. I was sitting far too much during the day and didn’t have enough creative time, nevermind time to move. Winter break was coming up and I was excited to have time (and some childcare for a bit) to head to a yoga class or two. But we all got the flu instead (hard) and I had one day before work started, and still had not gone to class. At the prompting of a family member who was visiting, I took time for myself and I went. And I felt an immediate weight lift off of me as I sweat, moved and breathed. It was my first yoga class in almost 2 years (motherhood, moving, new job), and it felt like coming home again. 

This feeling didn’t last forever, but each time it gave me a moment to breathe, to see a parting in the gray clouds that had taken over, and to feel that everything could be ok again, if I just took a  moment to breathe and move and tune in to what I really needed. It helped me see the magic of yoga again, and to feel empowered and more balanced for myself. 

Over the years, I have found that, when I am stressed about my job or life in general, yoga, especially a simple anytime flow type of practice, helps me to concentrate on something other than my work (this is also really helpful when I am having stressful or spiraling thoughts). When needed, it also helps to get back into my body, and less in my head, so my thoughts have a moment to pause and reset, and I can work out any tension that might be building from sitting to work all day. After yoga practice, I usually feel ready to get back to my work, at least for a little while. 

If you love yoga or are looking for a simple practice to help you when you are stressed, you can download a short, audio, 20 minute “Simple Anytime Flow” yoga practice in the SLP Toolbox, a FREE Resource Library full of tools to help you better manage and reduce your stress.

This “Simple Anytime Flow” is designed to help you connect your movement to your breath, so you can get out of your head, ease some tension, and find power within your body and mind. 

Sign up below to access this download and more.

What has your experience been with yoga? How has it helped you when you are stressed? Share in the comments below!

Much Love, 

Jessi

PS Have you checked out the SLP Stress Management Course? It’s an in-depth look at practical ways to manage and reduce your SLP Stress, and gives you the background into the stress you face, how and why it happens, and what will actually work to help it out (not looking at the brightside, ignoring the stress, complaining, wishful thinking, but real strategies that help your brain and body rewire the response to the inevitable stress you face.

This Self-Paced 8-week course is now available, but won’t be for long! (The LIVE version will be coming back soon).


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23Feb

How to Use an Anchored Breathing Meditation: Mindful Meditation Practice

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Meditation Stress Management
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anchored breathing meditation

One thing that will always be true, sometimes unfortunately so, is that stress and overwhelm will be a part of life. Even when you have tools to manage and reduce them, they will show up and you’ll have to put what you’ve learned into practice, or try to find a resource to help you better manage. It can be challenging (sometimes in a good, growth-filled way), and it can also be an opportunity to try out some new skills, or come back to some tried and true ones. For me, it is usually a reminder or indicator that I have stepped away from my routine and my daily habits or self-care, and that is when I know I need to come back to it, to feel better and work through whatever its going on or is off balance. 

When things start to get overwhelming and stressful, one thing you can do is to anchor yourself with your breath. It is a technique that is often used in mindfulness practices, such as meditation and yoga (more info here). 

This practice helps in a few different ways:

  • It drops you into the present moment, rather than spiraling about a past situation or future issue. 
  • It helps you to focus on one thing, rather than the multiple thoughts and “what-if’s” that overwhelm can bring in. 
  • It helps you to find more calm and turn down the stress response you are experiencing. 

Anchoring your breath is a simple practice of focusing on your breath, in a certain place on/in your body, to help you stay present and focused during a meditation (or yoga or even walking/running/cycling) practice. You pick a spot that you can feel or sense the breath, such as the tip of your nose or nostrils, or the ribcage or belly, and try to maintain your focus as you breathe and sit. Your mind will wander, and the practice helps you to have a specific place to come back to, and focus again, when you notice your thoughts have wandered. 

Here are a few ways to use an “Anchored Breathing” Meditation Practice:

  • Self-Guided Meditation:
    • To do this practice, take a seat, close your eyes and start to pay attention to the breath in a specific spot. 
    • Stay there for about 5 minutes, or go for longer (I like to set a timer if I am doing a solo meditation). 
  • Yoga and Movement:
    • You can also try this during a yoga practice – taking the given pose or shape and then anchor into your breath as you hold or flow through. 
    • You could try this while running, walking, cycling, etc. Find a place to notice and anchor your breath, and then keep that your focus as you move. 
  • Guided Meditation Audio:
    • Sometimes you need some guidance and support to practice. You can always use a guided meditation practice, like the one(s) in the SLP Toolbox or on meditation apps.

Next time you are looking for a tool to help with the stress and overwhelm you are feeling, try an “Anchored Breathing” meditation or mindfulness practice. 

To download an audio version of this, make sure to sign up for the FREE resource library, the SLP Toolbox. You’ll find this meditation practice, plus many more and other resources, to help you better manage and reduce the stress you face as an SLP (and human!). You can sign up below for access:

How do you like to anchor your breath? Nostrils, belly, ribcage? Leave in the comments below!

Much Love, 

Jessi

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11Jan

Connecting to Your “Why” as an SLP: SLP Stress Management Podcast Interview with Phuong Lien Palafox

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Podcast Stress Management
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connecting to your why as an SLP

There are things that are incredibly stressful about being and SLP and they are often not fair. SLPs get into that work to help people and do good in the world, spread love and light, but instead are often worn down and feel dispassionate, overwhelmed and downright cynical after a few years in the field. It is not a setting thing, as it happens in each setting, and it is not an SLP-person specific thing, as it happens to SO many people.

These things are stressful, and it takes a LOT to change them. These are things like caseload and workload sizes (because those two things are not the same), paperwork, productivity standards, and, at times, the underpayment and cost of being an SLP. And, in 2020, jumping into new ways of being an SLP in the midst of a highly stressful global pandemic. 

The thing is, these stressors may go away at some point, but the stress never will. It will always be there and, as an SLP, you need ways to better manage it. BUT you also need ways to advocate and people who will help you do this. That way, things DO change and shifts start to happen, and we can all get back to changing lives for the better, doing more good, and creating more love and light in this world, while helping others thrive in their lives. 

That is where people like the wonderful Phuong Lien Palafox come in. I have the joy of talking to Phuong during the Fall of 2020 for an episode of the SLP Stress Management Podcast.

Here is a little more about Phuong:

Phuong Lien Palafox, MS, CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist, author and advocate.  Currently, her time is meaningfully spent serving clients and their families, SLPs and educators across the United States. Her work has been featured in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and publications for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She specializes in advocacy (for students, clients, families and speech-language pathologists), supporting students/clients through a social-justice foundation, the comprehensive needs of under-resourced communities and narrative-based interventions.  She is the author of The Heartbeat of Speech-Language Pathology. You can find more information at www.phuonglienpalafox.com.

In this episode, we talked about:

  • Phuong’s journey as an SLP and SLP Advocate
  • The importance of connecting to your “Why” as an SLP
  • Building boundaries when you are always wanting to help
  • The power behind saying “No” and asking for help
  • Connecting to your families/clients needs and wants
  • Importance of research AND connecting to people
  • Naming what you are feeling and going through 
  • Daily coping strategies to help reduce burnout and stress

You can tune in on your favorite podcast apps or listen below (or catch up on all other episodes of the podcast here) to “Connecting to Your Why as an SLP”:

How are you connecting to your “why” as an SLP?

If you are ready to dive into deeper stress management, and start thriving within your work and life, Personalized SLP Stress Management Coaching is now available and booking for 2021. Check out more details and sign up for a free 30 minute consultation/q&a session here: 1:1 Coaching or fill out the contact form below.

There are only 10 spots available at a time, so sign up before the waitlist opens 🙂

Much Love, 

Jessi

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29Dec

5 Moves to Practice Barre Anywhere: Mindful Movement for SLPs

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Mindful Movement Stress Management Uncategorized
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practice barre anywhere

When you are stressed out, as an SLP or just as a human, it is easy to start to let go of the things that actually help reduce and manage your stress. You might find that you:

  • sleep less and work later (or earlier)
  • grab convenient and/or comfort foods
  • stay stationary to work instead of moving around
  • skip exercise in order to save time
  • no quiet, reflective time or meditation, instead continuing to push and do more

The things that help you (and your brain) to process, take a break from, and let go of stress are usually the things that seem ore negotiable when you are feeling overwhelmed and short on time. In the short term, this seems like the best idea, it gives you more time to get done the things that are stressing you out and are taking over. In the long run though, this only allows the stress to build up more, your stress response to stay fired up, and for you to continue doing more and more of the things that are stressful It also allows the stressors to affect you more deeply, instead of building up a resilience and having strategies that reduce the stress.

It helps to work with someone or join a program or listen to a course of podcast that can help you make a plan to start doing these things again and using them, even when you are stressed. This can be a way to help you figure out what strategies you currently are using, which ones you are letting go of, and what might work better for your long tern ad short term goals and lifestyle.

These typically include things like movement, meditation, creating more sustainable and nourishing routines, and taking care of yourself throughout the day with better food, quiet moments, and time to move mindfully.

Movement is a great way to help manage your stress, and is often one of the easier things to include or come back to when you have been stressed. You can feel the benefits right away, it helps you to step away from the stress, and helps you to get out of your head and into your body. Plus you might already have a routine to fall back on, a gym membership (hopefully with online offerings), or some streaming services.

One of my favorite workouts, since I can sneak it in with minimal equipment, space and time, (and not a lot of sweat) is a barre workout. The smaller moves really pack in big results, you maintain a mental focus on your body during the workout, and you don’t need much space, so you can do it pretty much anywhere. For years, this has been one of my go-to workout styles to teach and take (along with yoga and getting outside).

Here are a few moves to help you practice Barre anywhere, anytime:

  • Wide Plie
    • Stand with feet wide, toes and knees turned out. Inhale as you reach your arms overhead, exhale as you sweep the arms down and bend your knees. Repeat 10 times.
  • Narrow Plie
    • Stand with your heels together, toes and knees turned out. You can bring hands to your hips or reach your arms out to the sides. Bend your knees as you exhale (it’s a small move) and inhale as you straighten the legs. Repeat 10 times.
  • Single Leg Reach Back
    • From your Narrow Plie, sweep your right leg to the back corner, flexing your foot. Your hand can stay on your hips. Engage the core as you slowly lift your leg up and then tap it down. Repeat 10 time and switch sides.
  • Knee to shoulder
    • Reach the right leg back again and hold on to a chair if needed for balance. Point the toe this time as you lift your leg and hold it up. Bend your knee, so your leg aims towards your shoulder/elbow/side, then lengthen. Repeat 10 times and switch sides.
  • Narrow Plie Reach Across
    • In your Narrow Plie stance. bend into your knees (you have the option of lifting your heels slightly, but keeping them pressed together). Start with your hands on hips or on a chair. Slowly reach your right arm across to the left corner, twisting through the core but keeping the legs still. Then switch, reaching the left arm to the right corner. Repeat 10 times on each side.

You can find an audio for these barre moves (and more) in the “Barre Anywhere” practice, a flowing barre movement audio, available for free in the SLP Toolbox.

The SLP Toolbox is a free resource library, full of practical tools to help SLPs manage and reduce their stress. It is updated monthly with meditation audios, movement audio practices, as well as an archive of journal templates, self-care checklists and more.

Not a member? You can access the library (for subscribers only) by signing up below:

Looking for more ways to manage your SLP Stress? Make sure to check out the following:

Much Love,

Jessi

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26Dec

How to Unwind with a Deep Relaxation Meditation: Mindfulness Meditation for SLPs

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Meditation Stress Management
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deep relaxation meditation for slps

It can be really challenging to fully relax when you are used to go-go-going all the time, trying to be productive, and get it all done. As an SLP, you are used to trying to hustle to finish the work you have and still have time for other aspects of your life. You are often under strict protocols and productivity standards that give you little downtime or time to pause, so when you do have a chance, it can feel unsettling. You might even find that it takes you a lot of time (which you are already lacking) to switch out of that constant “going” and “pushing” mode, and to simply relax.

That means that time off, weekends, vacations, breaks, and even just the evening after work, might make you feel uncomfortable or you might have a hard time not being productive. It is often easier to just keep going, finding things to fill up the time.

This also keeps your stress response going (which is what makes it so hard to stop rushing in the first place), and builds upon the stress and overwhelm you feel each day.

When you give yourself time to fully relax, you might find:

  • you sleep better
  • you are able to “let go” of stress easier
  • you feel less rushed
  • you have more time (or feel like you do)
  • there is more ease in your life

One way to help you start to move away from constantly going, and to start fully unwinding is through meditation, specifically a deep relaxation meditation for SLPs, where you focus on fully relaxing and releasing tension in the body and mind.

In addition to a deep relaxation, you could try to incorporate some of these to help further relax:

  • Meditate or stretch before going to bed
  • Watch/read something soothing and less action-packed (or mentally stimulating)
  • Brain Dump journal practice
  • Take 10 deep breaths to reset between “tasks” or switching environments throughout the day (or to shift out of a mindset or headspace)

You can access this meditation “Deep Relaxation Meditation for SLPs” in the SLP Toolbox.

The SLP Toolbox is a free resource library full of practical tools to help SLPs reduce and manage stress. Each month, you get a new tool, as well as access to any previously uploaded resource, such as meditation audios.

Not a member? You can join this free resource by subscribing below. You’ll get access to this meditation and more including additional meditation audios, mindful movement audios, and journal and self-care templates.

If you are looking for more ways to put these stress management tools and more into practice, 1:1 coaching is now available and booking for 2021. You can schedule a session here, or fill out the form below to request more info.

Much Love,

Jessi

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11Dec

Steady Yoga and Meditation Practice to Reduce Stress: Mindful Movement for SLPs

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Mindful Movement Stress Management
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yoga and meditation for SLP stress

Stress has a funny way of making everything seem as if it is moving at a faster pace, with a lot of components, and no time for any of them. As an SLP, this stress looks like too many extra tasks, too big of a caseload, too much productivity rates and way too much paperwork. And in 2020, it’s also too many changes thrown at you in a split second.

When stress hits, it can be tempting to try to speed up with it, in order to get more done and have more – more time, more freedom, more ease. But this usually ends up doing the opposite.

Speeding up feeds the stress mode you are stuck in and pulls you deeper into the “Cycle of Stress” (something we discuss within the SLP Stress Management Course).

You end up moving faster, which can lead to mistakes in your work and missing key pieces, mental exhaustion from constant multi-tasking, and feeling more stressed from the rush of trying to do it all. And once you are feeling stressed, it’s harder to turn down the response and switch into a more natural, less-stressed way of life.

One thing that can help you to slow down, when you are feeling more and more rushed, is a steadily-paced yoga practice. And one other thing that can help you even more is pairing it with a meditation practice. This combination of mindfulness practices allows you to tun into your breath, body and mind, so you can unwind, check in, and take care of yourself. The yoga and meditation for SLP stress combo help to reduce and manage it, while dropping you back into the present moment, your body, and out of ruminating or stressful thinking.

One great way to do this is through a “body scan” meditation, followed by a slow and steady flowing yoga class. This combination helps you to start slow, where you can tune into the body and breath, and then use movement to help stay connected to the breath and the present moment. This way, your brain is focused on “now”, you are reducing tension in your body, and you are turning down the stress response as you slow down.

Here is a quick yoga and meditation for SLP stress, available now in the SLP Toolbox, along with other meditation and movement audios, journal page templates, self-care checklists and more.

You can subscribe to this FREE resource library and access this Yoga+Meditation practice below:

If you are looking to dive even further into understanding and managing your stress as an SLP, make sure to check out the SLP Stress Management Online Course, now available in a Self-Study version. It includes the 8-module course, as well as bonus meditation and movement audios. You can find out more details here: SLP Stress Management Course.

Much Love,

Jessi

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30Nov

Gratitude Journaling for SLP Stress with Marie Muratalla: SLP Stress Management Podcast

Posted by: Jessi Andricks Categories: Gratitude Journal Techniques for SLPs Podcast Stress Management
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gratitude journaling for SLP Stress

Stress and overwhelm are some of the main reasons that so many SLPs are leaving their current job setting or leaving the field entirely. As an SLPs, you have more than likely experienced some level of stress, and perhaps have either contemplated leaving or have made the leap and left, with no other option to combat your stress.

This stress seems to build and build, getting worse as you stay where you are, or can even seem to follow you to the new job. One of the reasons is that you brain will try to stay stuck in “stress-mode” looking for more and more things that are stressful, negative and, overall, not working. And once you start looking for these, you end up staying stuck in this mode, what we call the “Cycle of Stress” in the SLP Stress Management Course.

There are a lot of different ways to help reduce stress, bring you out of the constant searching for it, and give you some relief. These practices are things that can help you to rewire the stress response (make it so you aren’t as affected by the stress around you) and shift your brain’s focus away from looking for stress (and to notice some other things). One of the simplest, and most concrete, ways is to have a gratitude journal practice.

Gratitude Journals help you to train your brain to see what is working for you and the positive pieces of your day, instead of being fixated on the things that are not going well or that are stressful.

Gratitude journaling for SLP stress can be as simple as writing down 3 things that are going well for you that day. It could be something like bullet points.

For example:

  • I am grateful for my hot coffee
  • I am grateful for talking to my mom
  • I am grateful for snuggles from my dog

Or it could be something more elaborate:

I am grateful for my hot coffee today. I was able to find a few moments of quiet to sip on my coffee and reflect on my intentions for the day, before having to get to work or help anyone else get ready for the day. It was the perfect temperature and really helped me ease into my day.

Your gratitude doesn’t have to negate the stressful things, or be the opposite of them (aka I am grateful for my hot coffee, because usually it is cold by the time I drink it) or be in spite of it ( I am grateful for my job, no matter how stressful, because at least I have one and get paid regularly. It could be worse. I need to smile and see the bright side. This is bordering on toxic positivity).

If you need some help getting started with gratitude journaling for SLP stress, there are some really great journals, including the one from my latest podcast guest, Marie Muratalla, on her site, Thank Morris.

Here is a little more about Marie:

“Hello & Welcome! I’m Marie, although some call me Morris. I am an adventurer, speech therapizer (in a preschool setting), magic seeker, and comedy improv-er. Oh! Also, I like to sing, play piano, take photos, and cook healthy meals (and that’s not all). Yes, I wear many hats throughout my days and I wouldn’t change a single thing. In fact, I tend to gladly add to the list as exciting things come my way. This site is a way for me to bring some areas from my world together as I share the things I find magical with you.”

In the episode, we talk about things like:

  • Maries’ journey with journaling
  • Marie’s experience with stress in grad school and how she found support
  • How to start and keep going with a daily gratitude journal practice
  • Prompts to use for your journaling practice
  • The practice of ongoing gratitude for stress management
  • The “Say Thanks More” movement and journal

You can tune in below, or in your favorite app, or at the SLP Stress Management Podcast page.

If you are looking for more ways to manage stress, make sure to sign up for the free resources in the SLP Toolbox (such as meditations audios, mindful movement audios, journal templates and more). You can subscribe to this free resource below.

And if you are ready to dive deeper into your stress management, you can check out the SLP Stress Management Course, enrolling now.

Much Love,

Jessi

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