School starts tomorrow for most of my kids. I need to go fold laundry so that they can find what they want to wear, though I think they may have sorted through the laundry already. This doesn't feel that different: we just fall back into the old routine that we had a few months ago.… Continue reading Changes
Starting in August 2022, I will be studying philosophy as a PhD student at the University of Utah. How did I get here? When I went back to school back around 2018, I knew I wanted to go to graduate school, but I didn't think I wanted to study English and philosophy, which were my… Continue reading Studying philosophy
I don't like to run. I did track in junior high, and my best event was the 400 meter, which is a horrible event. You have to run fast and long. (It is slightly better than the 800 meter.) I wasn't fast. And I don't like going on long runs. The longest I have ever… Continue reading Running as fast as I can
I hate the fact that I deal with mental health struggles. I want to just be fine. I want my brain to work well every day. And sometimes it does. Sometimes we really get along, and my brain can make decisions and respond appropriately and think clearly and regulate my emotions. But sometimes there is… Continue reading Elephant on my brain
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have made quite a few changes lately. I will try to list most of them. Sometimes it seems like a lot, but changes always happen. It has been accelerated, but I think part of it is that these changes all work together. Church on Sundays was shortened… Continue reading Changes in the Church
The first year of homeschooling was difficult for me. It did not always go well. We had some amazing days, but at the end of it, I just felt like a failure. (I wasn't a failure, though. My sister challenged me about why I felt I had failed, and I had to reframe it in… Continue reading Progress
Sometimes I feel silly putting things like time with my husband and kids on my to-do list. It's important. But it's not urgent. And it's not something that I just check off and I'm done with it. It's important and ongoing. But when I start putting the important things on my to do list, I… Continue reading The important things on your to do list.
Today I was a bit angry and I said, "I never get time for myself!" That is a lie. I get plenty of time for myself. I take classes, I exercise, I read a lot, I go to book club. I enjoy cooking and hiking and I get to watch the movies I like. I… Continue reading Selfishness and Happiness
1. Go to bed at the same time and wake up at the same time. If sleeping is a problem, research good sleep hygiene and do the little things, like not watching television or eating or exercising before bed, having a good routine to wind down, and learning relaxation techniques and thought defusion techniques in… Continue reading 10 Things You Can Do Right Now To Reduce Depression, Anxiety, and Irritability
Last post, I talked about struggles with mental health. When I have struggled, I have often prayed, sometimes in desperation, asking over and over for help. And there have been often times when I didn't feel anything. I wanted the peace of the Spirit so many times, and I couldn't feel it. Recently, I read… Continue reading Prayer in the midst of despair
Heather W. Hoyt 