Jenny Maenpaa
Supporting Yourself and Loved Ones Through ...

May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the significance of mental health and the support systems needed for those of us who are grappling with negative aspects of it. Mental health struggles can be isolating, overwhelming, intensely confusing, and often invisible to the naked eye. Yet, amidst the darkness, there can be light in the form of empathy, understanding, and unwavering support from loved ones. When we speak about mental health, we often only highlight the down sides of mental health struggles, and forget to mention the incredibly positive impact taking care of and supporting our mental health can have. 

Supporting Yourself and Loved Ones Through Mental Health Challenges: A Guide for Mental Health Awareness Month
Jenny Maenpaa
Navigating Climate Anxiety: Acknowledging Fear ...

Navigating Climate Anxiety: Acknowledging Fear and Taking Action

In recent years, a new term has entered our collective vocabulary: climate anxiety. This phenomenon reflects the growing concern and fear many people feel about the current and future state of our planet. As the consequences of climate change become increasingly apparent, more of us are experiencing heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and despair. The sense of impending doom can be overwhelming, so we’ve gathered some info and tips on how to acknowledge these feelings, support yourself through them, and find ways to cope and take action.

Navigating Climate Anxiety: Acknowledging Fear and Taking Action
Jenny Maenpaa
Unraveling the Misconceptions: Understanding ...

Unraveling the Misconceptions: Understanding Neurodivergence in ADHD and Autism

April 2nd is World Autism Day, and since we work with many adults with diverse diagnoses, we wanted to shed some light on neurodivergent conditions like Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and how they’re commonly misunderstood. You probably know plenty of neurodivergent people and don’t even realize it, or maybe you’ll see some of your own traits in this blog! The term neurodivergent is an umbrella term that describes people who have different neurological abilities from those who are considered “typical” (though we don’t love that terminology since everyone’s brains are wildly different from one another!), which includes both ADHD and ASD. These conditions, though widely recognized, are often surrounded by misconceptions that can lead to stigma and alienation. 

Unraveling the Misconceptions: Understanding Neurodivergence in ADHD and Autism
Jenny Maenpaa
“We get it, you’re afraid of women. You should ...

Here’s my 5-step beginner’s plan for dismantling the patriarchy.

“We get it, you’re afraid of women. You should be.”

goals

Setting Healthy Boundaries: What Self-Help Books Gloss Over and How To Stay on Track

Setting Healthy Boundaries: What Self-Help Books Gloss Over and How To Stay on Track

Setting Healthy Boundaries: What Self-Help Books Gloss Over and How To Stay on Track

The art of setting boundaries is one that many struggle with, but is a necessary and fundamental life skill that leads to healthy assertiveness, self-confidence, agency, and a positive self-image. Before we can set boundaries, we must identify the behaviors we deem acceptable and those we do not, and make decisions from there that prioritize our well-being without harming others. Essentially, boundaries connect the space where our individuality ends and the realm of others begins. Mastering this skill empowers us to navigate interpersonal dynamics with clarity and ensures a healthy balance between our own personal needs and social interactions that involve others. The good news is that setting boundaries is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned, practiced, and honed. Even better, the techniques for boundary setting are quite straightforward once you know where to begin.

Tired of Failing at New Year's Resolutions? Here’s a Simple and Effective Strategy to Set You Up For Success Instead.

Tired of Failing at New Year's Resolutions? Here’s a Simple and Effective Strategy to Set You Up For Success Instead.

Tired of Failing at New Year's Resolutions? Here’s a Simple and Effective Strategy to Set You up for Success Instead.

As we head into a new year, you might start to think about New Year's Resolutions to help you reach the goals you want to achieve in the year ahead. That works well for some of us, but what about those of us who have the best intentions but end up falling short of our goals year after year? The research says to start with why you want to pursue those particular goals.

5 FAQs About Goal Setting and New Year’s Resolutions

5 FAQs About Goal Setting and New Year’s Resolutions

There have been a lot of jokes and memes this year about not declaring 2022 your year and letting the calendar flip quietly without showing it any attention. We tend to have high hopes for each new year and were all caught off guard in 2020, and 2021 didn't really go as we hoped either. People, in general, seem to want to be cautious this year with their hopes and dreams but still feel that pressure to set annual goals and New Year's resolutions. We know there are a lot of questions about goal setting and resolutions, so we decided to answer those for you today.

Why We're Not Setting New Year's Resolutions for 2022

Why We're Not Setting New Year's Resolutions for 2022

We're tired of the "New Year, New You" trend! We're tired of the world putting pressure on people that just because the calendar year is switching over they need to jump on the bandwagon of becoming a whole new person. They want to tell you this is the time to focus on losing weight, getting more money, becoming organized, being better in every way—and we're NOT HAVING IT THIS YEAR!

Why Do We Get Such Satisfaction from Zillow Stalking Houses We'll Never Buy?

Why Do We Get Such Satisfaction from Zillow Stalking Houses We'll Never Buy?

Why Do We Get Such Satisfaction from Zillow Stalking Houses We'll Never Buy?

There is a healthy voyeurism to it, in the same way we watch reality tv and read people’s money/food/sex diaries online. We get to look at houses staged by others, judge their taste, and imagine ourselves either in their lives or the life we would design if we lived in that house.