It's Friday, marking the end of Fall Break for my kids. I'm thrilled! Honestly, it was a lovely week, with more quality time with my boys and only a few WWE moments. I'm anticipating a weekend filled with my sons' sports events - there's nothing quite like starting the day at the baseball field ⚾. We're also gearing up for Halloween, with school fall festivals, costume parties, and endless candy ahead. Happy weekend, friends!

• Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: Do you know when to make a change?

• Time Management Strategies for Moms: How to get ahead of your week.

• Autumn Delights: Halloween movie night, recipes, and more!

MENTAL HEALTH

It’s Time to Understand if Social Media is Affecting your Mental Health

While last week was World Mental Health Day, we’d like to take a moment to focus on a significant aspect of our daily lives that profoundly impacts our well-being: social media. 

Key facts that offer insight into the current situation:

• Nearly 5 billion people are active in social media, averaging 7 platforms per month.

• Daily usage has increased to over 2 hours on average - that’s a lot of time to commit to your phone. 

• Overall screen use among teens has increased 17 percent from 2019 to 2021.

• About half of millennials admit to overspending because of social media’s influence.

It is no secret that all that time spent on social media isn’t great for your mental health - it was designed to be addictive. I experienced this when I used to mindlessly scroll during my son's feedings, missing crucial bonding moments and exacerbating my loneliness. I had to consciously break this habit.

I've had a love-hate relationship with social media, only embracing it on a small scale during my senior year of high school when Facebook opened to everyone. While it offers benefits like staying connected, supporting causes, and seeking emotional help, it's vital to set content boundaries and assess its impact on your well-being.

Identify the warning signs to protect your mental health with these critical self-reflection questions:

1. Do you spend more time on social media than with real-world friends?

2. Do you compare yourself unfavorably with others on social media?

3. Are you being distracted at school or work?

4. Do you have no time for self-reflection?

5. Are you suffering from sleep problems?

6. Do you have worsening symptoms of anxiety or depression?

According to Today.com, teens receive more than 200 alerts on their phones each day, with some receiving as many as 4,000 😰. Whether it's through text messages, Instagram, or Snapchat, the opportunities for bullying appear to be much greater than they were 15 years ago. If you're a parent of a preteen or teen, it's crucial to have this conversation with them as well. You can find an extremely helpful guide on discussing social media and phone usage with your kids from Common Sense Media via TODAY.com. 

ORGANIZATION

Organize the Chaos that is Mom Life with these Doable Strategies

Allegedly, there are 24 hours in a day - I don’t believe it. 

From the moment I open my eyes to the demands of two young children, it often feels like I have mere minutes to tackle my to-do list. However, a few non-negotiables in my routine help keep me on track.

Give yourself an extra hour. I aim to wake up at least 45 minutes to an hour before my kids to handle breakfast, unloading the dishwasher, and lunch prep. 

Work smarter, not harder. While the kids eat, I get ready, enjoy coffee, and make beds. This New Year's resolution I made to make the bed, albeit met with laughter, remains my most consistent one. The simple act of a well-made bed brings order to my home and transforms my day.

Prioritize your breakfast. Two poached eggs and peanut butter toast are my daily order. I've noticed that when I take the time to nourish myself in the morning, it significantly improves my mood and sets me up for a productive day ahead. Goodbye hangry, Mom!

Here are some strategies to help you prepare for the week. Start with small steps, and as they become routine, add more. Remember, you can't do it all, so delegate tasks when possible.

📝 Focus! Resist the urge to multi-task. It's challenging because focusing on one task can be disrupted by other distractions. Multitasking is proven to be ineffective for time management.

📝 Clean as you go. Apartment Therapy is here for the win with 15 tips.

📝 Follow the 2-minute rule. If you have a task or chore that can be completed in two minutes or less, simply do it!

📝 Set a timer. If your goal is to thoroughly tidy the house, use a timer to stay motivated.

📝 Automate what you can. Ordering groceries online or having autopay set up on bills will save you tons of time.

📝 Say no. Whether it's a social media project or a committee invitation, ask yourself: Is it worth the extra time? If not, confidently decline!

TRENDING

SNIPPETS

As we bid farewell to the vibrant hues of summer, it's time to usher in the warm and rich shades that perfectly complement the season's mood. Shift those bright white manicures to neutral, earth tones with Oprah Daily’s favorite nail polish colors. 

• OPI’s How Great Is Your Dane? It’s moody with a touch of shimmer. Get it here for $9.

• ZOYA Sage. The perfect collaboration of grey and green. Available on Amazon for $10.

• Nails Inc. Keep It Tonal 4-Piece Ombre Set. Paint each nail a different color to create an ombre effect. Purchase on their website for $22.

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU SMILE

😱 Flabbergasted: Try to work these ten words into your vocabulary - we guarantee a chuckle!

🎈Teacher Fail: A teacher accidently grabbed this balloon to celebrate her student’s 4th birthday.

🍸 Move Over 12 ft Skeleton: Dean the Deathologist is Home Depot’s newest Halloween decor obsession.

👻 Color BOO-tifully: FREE Halloween coloring pages for your little goblins.

🌙 REMINDER! All Stargazers: Don’t miss the Orionid meteor shower this weekend.

One of my favorite weekend activities is hosting a movie night with my kids. There are plenty of fantastic Halloween-themed options for kids of all ages, including classics like "Hocus Pocus," "Hotel Transylvania," "The Addams Family," and "Casper." You can also check out MamaKnowsitall.com for an excellent reference list.

🍿 Themed Snacks and Drinks: We all know snacks are the best part of a movie night. Stay on theme with mummy dogs, Halloween Party Popcorn, Spiderweb Pizzas, and some Candy Corn Punch!

🍿 Get Cozy: Ensure your Halloween decor is set up before the movie night. Add blankets, throws, and pillows - it’s a bonus if you can find some with spooky-themed designs! Light the fall-scented candles and string up pumpkin lights to complete the look.

🍿Plan an Activity: While the movie is the main event, you can also introduce an activity to keep the party going. We suggest organizing a kids’ costume fashion show or setting up a bobbing for apples station. 

And if you prefer not to host at your house, head to the movie theater to catch the latest Halloween movie release, “The Canterville Ghost.” It was just released today!

One in 13 kids is going to have a food allergy and chances are you know someone who is allergic to peanuts. The University of Chicago has been studying gut bacteria to develop a drug that will treat peanut allergies and colitis.

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