South Bay Counseling, LCSW PC

Who are you?

If I were to ask you what your best friend was like, what would you say? What about your parents? Would you tell me that they are kind, funny, that they laugh whenever they dance? Usually, we are excellent at defining the people around us but we rarely ask ourselves what kind of people we are.

If you weren't yourself, how would you describe who you are? What would you say about your mannerism, desires, and personality? If it were up to you, how would you like to be described? Asking these questions can help you not only determine the type of people you admire, it can also help you become who you want to be.

How we are described and perceived is almost entirely reliant on our behavior which is under our control. If you want to be considered kind, think of how you can act more kindly. If you want to be considered confident, ask yourself how you can achieve that. Who are you? What do you want to be like? First ask these questions and then become who you want to be!

Valentine’s Day- How to celebrate the holiday of love even if you aren’t in a relationship.

Everyone knows that there are thousands of different types of ways to be in love. How we love our parents, our friends, our pets, or our spouses are all different types of love. So, why do we see Valentine’s Day, the holiday of love, as a holiday only for those in a committed romantic relationship? Times are changing! Now, just as often as people have thanksgiving dinner with their families they have friendsgiving dinner with their friends! The same thing can be done with Valentine's Day. Instead of dinner with a date gather any or all of your single friends and dedicate the day to how you appreciate each other. These days, plenty of people's most special significant other is their best friend. That bestie deserves to be celebrated too! If you’re feeling anti-social, take the holiday to appreciate the most important person, AKA yourself!!! Treat yourself to some of those gorgeous chocolates and take the time to remind yourself of how much you appreciate your own hard work. If you have a pet, make sure to treat your fuzzy friend to some pet-friendly snacks too. Even if they don’t understand why it’s a special day, they will definitely enjoy it! Either way, Valentine’s Day can be as wonderful as you choose to make it.

Less Sunshine and More Sorrow? Here’s How to Circumvent Winter Woes!

Every season brings different benefits and hardships. Generally, if we have to classify one season as more “depressing” than the others, it would definitely be winter! Did you know that SAD (seasonal affective disorder) is estimated to affect 10 million Americans every year? Here are some tips and tricks that are proven to keep your mood high while the temperature is low!

Firstly, remember to encourage yourself to go outside! One of the major reasons people feel depressed in Winter is the lack of exposure to sunlight and fresh air. Bundle up in your warmest coat and remember to take in all of the beauty of the chilly world around you!

Secondly, make an effort to find the secrets winter has to offer. Do you know about the different seasonal fruits and vegetables you can only find in winter? Leeks, pomegranates, clementines, cauliflower, and pumpkin are all underrated winter treats! Cooking these vegetables or eating the fresh fruits will be a fun activity and a healthy treat at the same time!

Finally, don't forget to exercise! Winter weather can make us feel lazy and often causes our bodies to store more fat. To counteract this, keep up the motion, in the house, in the gym, or in your neighborhood. Remember, humans don’t hibernate. Keep all of this in mind to keep a smile on your face.

https://www.fastcompany.com/90655710/the-unspoken-reasons-employees-dont-want-remote-work-to-end

Do you want to continue working from home? Let us know in the comments!

The unspoken reasons employees don’t want remote work to end Sure, they have more time and productivity is up. But there are also deeply personal reasons employees don’t want to go back to work as it was.

New Years Resolutions
Five rules for choosing resolutions for the COVID-19 Era.

Rule 1: Self care! Throughout the pandemic we have been constantly reminded of the need to look after our health. Remembering to wear a mask, wash our hands, and not to touch our eyes is essential but these habits shouldn't be at the expense of other less utilitarian self-care needs. Don't forget to treat yourself to the occasional manicure or dress-up day! Even if you are just working from home with the family- when we feel good about the way we look we tend to feel better in general! So take the opportunity to dress to impress- even if you are just trying to impress yourself. Choose a resolution that will help you feel good mentally through feeling good physically!

Rule 2: Isolate in body, not mind! It can be hard to maintain social relations when we are told to work from home or quarantine and minimize socialization. Remember, with time comes innovation! A new year brings new opportunities for socializing online. Go through your contacts and contact that friend you usually only run into in person. Even if it is just for a call or a short FaceTime session, it will feel good to embrace your social side! Choose a resolution that will make you new friends or keep you close to your old ones!

Rule 3: Make money from having fun! Not all hobbies are lucrative but some of them can bring both enjoyment and profit. Think of what you enjoy and what your talents are. Do you have a beautiful reading voice? Apply for Audio Book narration! Were you always a fan of arts and crafts? Make an Etsy account or try to sell to local boutiques! Are you the best chef amongst your friends? Try your hand at part-time catering! Choose a resolution that will make you happy and that will make you earn some extra money!

Rule 4: Get fit! An unexpected consequence from the years of quarantines and working from home is the loss of daily movement! That far parking spot you used to curse was forcing you to go on long walks! Dancing with your friends was a powerful albeit accidental workout! Bringing that report to your boss’s desk was a great excuse for movement. Being too used to lounging at home may have caused a habit of lethargy. Consider investing in a treadmill, a yoga mat, or simply using your couch like a yoga ball, using water bottles like weights, and get moving! Choose a resolution that will benefit you physically which will cause better health and better mental clarity.

Rule 5: Learn something new! Did you know after finishing school the majority of people never read a book again? Introduce yourself to new concepts by reading, choosing a language you have always wanted to learn, or checking out free online university courses. Rediscover your love of learning or rekindle your passion for history, dinosaurs, writing, or exploring the plethora of knowledge the world has to offer! Choose a resolution that will support and sate your intelligent side!