#routines

#routines

My father was a Marine during WWII. He was a tough taskmaster in the home and always insisted we be awake and dressed by 8:30 a.m. on weekends, weekdays without school, and during the summer (unless we were legitimately sick). While a bit harsh at times, I've kept this habit as I've aged. It gets you up and moving, productive and prepared in case someone pops by or a service tech is expected. I schedule all my appointments as early as possible. The end of the day is another story. Bring on the soft pants and relaxation!

If you were in love, the next 12 weeks can be considered a recovery process. You will be recovering from a relational bond reinforced with dopamine and lots of other beautiful neurochemicals. You will be making meaning. I challenge you to focus on the following five strategies: Daily and weekly routines: It will be very important that your life doesn't fall apart if your romantic relationship ends.

Tardiness is a common issue and one that is often confused with ethics or character. "You'd be on time if you cared," or, "You're so unprofessional showing up late," may be phrases we tardy folks hear, reflecting the assumption that our arrival time reflects our personal values. I'm here to challenge that notion; showing up on time, or even early, does not necessarily reflect that you are a more virtuous person, just as being late does not indicate the opposite.

Virtual assistants will soon be as commonplace as smartphones -- in many parts of the world, they already are. Most smartphones have a built-in assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI), whether it's Siri in iPhones or Google Assistant (now Gemini) in Android phones. Inside our homes, though, Amazon Alexa has become the most popular virtual assistant in the US and even around the world.

Brain fog can happen to anyone and it's not a personal failing or a sign that you're not coping. Often, it's simply your brain's way of saying it's tired, stressed or overstretched. Remind yourself that brain fog is usually temporary and it's okay to slow down, delegate tasks or ask for help when you need it. If you are concerned then you should contact your GP.

Rising less than 12 hours after the sun shifts into earthy Virgo, this lunation kicks off the final month of summer with the motivating vibe of new beginnings to come. This is actually the first of two back-to-back new moons happening in Virgo this summer - the latter of which will double as a solar eclipse. The cosmos are giving all zodiac signs twice the opportunity to work with this clarifying and clear-minded energy,

Back-to-school season can bring excitement as well as anxiety. Research consistently shows that transitions-whether starting a new grade, entering high school, or moving away to college-are major stress points for children and young adults. For kids already coping with depression or anxiety, these changes can feel especially overwhelming. As parents, we cannot prevent every stressor, but we can buffer our children against them by offering support, structure, and understanding.

Routines are repeated actions, like morning rituals or workouts, that create structure and predictability in your day. They improve productivity, reduce stress, and encourage self-care by cutting down on decision fatigue.