Stop Overthinking Now

 

In 'Overthinking Stops Now,' Sarah Kingswell explains how to stop overthinking. 

1. Introduction

2. Awareness And Acceptance

3. Challenge Negative Thought Patterns

4. Look At The Bigger Picture

5. Setting Healthy Boundaries

6. Turnign Mistakes Into Learning Opportunities

7. The Power Of Mindfulness And Being Present In The Moment

8. Focusing On What You Can Control

9. Focusing On The Process And The Joy Of Creativity

10. Accept Your Vulnerabilities And Love Yourself

11. Detaching From Thought Patterns That Trigger Overthinking

12. Unplug, Take A Walk And Focus On The Present

13. Set Realistic Goals And Take Small Steps

14. Self-Mastery And The Importance Of Habits

15. Strategies For Maintaining Habits

16. Meditation: How To Do It And How We Can Benefit From It 

Conclusion

Kingwell compares overthinking to a tangled ball of yarn containing negativity, anxiety, worries, and doubts. The majority of the time, overthinking only causes distress. We all overthink, it's natural. But when one overthinks everything constantly, trouble ensues. Be aware of the signs that indicate extreme overthinking.

1. Repetitive Thoughts

2. Analyzing Too Much

3. Excessive Negativity

4. Procrastinating 

Someone overthinking may be attributed to a variety of factors, such as stress, fear, trauma, a lack of confidence, and an overcommitment.

Overthinking often occurs without conscious thought. We underestimate thoughts' power. Getting lost in one's own thoughts can be dangerous. Worryers and anxious thinkers will undoubtably struggle more with overthinking. Fears and insecurities concerning the past and the future can be paralyzing. Insomnia can result from racing thoughts and worry at night. The energy consumed by overthinking is enormous!

In times of distress, STOP overthinking and:

1. Challenge your negative thinking by asking yourself, "Are these thoughts true?"

2. Instead of worrying take ten minutes to divert your attention to something else.

3. Talk to someone you trust and know will give you sound advice or a listening ear.

4. Use visualization techniques.

5. Write down what worries you and the steps you can take to alleviate each worry.

6. Meditation

Sometimes we just need to face our negative thoughts head on! Kingswell suggests setting aside ten minutes a day for "Negative Thought Time," during which you ruminate on what is bothering you. You are actually controlling your negative feelings by taking control of them.

Mistakes and setbacks are part of life. View them as learning opportunities rather than failures. "Mistakes are proof that you are trying." Scientists often test their theories many times and with many variables before finding the answers they seek. In some cases, they fail to achieve what they had hoped to accomplish. Is that a failure? No. The only difference is that they now have more information than before. The discovery of penicillin was an accidental consequence of bacterial contamination. The path to mastery begins with mistakes, which show progress, inspire creativity, and propel you along the path to success. The ability to bounce back from hardships is built by mistakes, and mistakes build resilience.

The pace of life seems to be accelerating all the time. Often in our lives, we overthink things, and we forget to be fully present in the moment. Also, we should maintain a mindful attitude and not try to change current events. Recognize the present, analyze it with an open mind and a calm heart. Please seek help if your current circumstances are dangerous or unhealthy.

There are certain things in life that we cannot control. There are many things we can control, including our thoughts, attitudes, opinions, goals, what we do with our time, what we eat, and who we interact with. There is nothing we can do to control what may happen in our lives, our genetics, or our families.

Identifying ways to detach yourself from negative thought patterns that trigger overthinking can help you stop overthinking. Kingwell discusses Cognitive Defusion or deliteralization. "Cognitive Defusion is a helpful technique that is often used in therapy that can empower people to keep themselves from unhelpful thoughts and take control of how they feel and how they live their lives. This allows us to separate from our thoughts and emotions to enable us to observe how we think without letting ourselves be trapped inside of it. This technique is often used in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)."

Setting realistic goals for yourself is important. By setting unrealistic goals, you are setting yourself up to fail. Use the SMART technique: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Set:

1. Worthy Goals

2. Realistic Goals

3. Specific Goals

The development and maintenance of positive habits MATTER. Here are some tips to help you develop positive habits:

1. Make A List Of Habits You Want To Create

2. Focus On One Habit At A Time

3. Find A Cue 

4. Start Small

5. Build Your Habit

6. Reward Yourself

7. Be Persistent

Essentially, the conclusion sums up the book. It hits all the important points. In my opinion, anyone can gain insight from reading this book, even if it is aimed at people in their 20's and 30's. The book is highly recommended and I give it five stars.

Disclaimer - I received this Ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Liam's Adventures in Space

 

Liam's Adventures in Space is an extraordinary book about dreaming big. We've all looked up at the stars and moon at night and maybe even the planets with a telescope. We wish we could explore space. One night, Liam dreams he is blasting off into space to a big red planet. Upon landing, he cannot wait to explore! During his explorations, he encountered a Cactabbit or Cacto. In order to find out more about Cacto, you will have to read the story. His next encounter is with Moss-back, or Mossy. Camo-Shift or Camo is his last encounter. I forgot to mention, the planet is called Krimzo. It would be too spoilerish to tell you more about the creatures he meets. There is another discovery Liam makes on Krimzo as well. Planet Earth awaits him after his fun adventure. His knowledge of planets and stars continued to grow. "So if you dream of space at night, Remember, to chase it with all your might. for dreams do come true, you'll see, Just believe in yourself and be free." That's a wonderful inspirational message for children, isn't it? 

This book contains fantastic AI illustrations! Just flipping through the book, I was captivated by the illustrations. Children will be in awe of the amazing illustrations while you read to them. 

Disclaimer - I received this Ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Sophie's Ballerina Dream

 

In Sophie's Ballerina Dream, a little girl named Sophie loves to dance and pretends to be a ballerina. During a trip to the ballet with her sister, Sophie decided someday she would be a prima ballerina. During her dream that night, she found herself on stage, but she had no idea what to do. Then a colorful fairy-like hummingbird whispered to Sophie words of encouragement. Before she woke up, the last thing she remembered the hummingbird saying was, "Believe in yourself and all your dreams will come true." Sophie began taking dance lessons. As she danced more over the years, her skills improved. Finally...

This book has beautiful illustrations. The AI generated illustrations with the lighting behind Sophie add a sense of realism. Simply looking at the illustrations tells a story. 

This book will delight little ballerinas. 

Disclaimer - I received this Ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Jack's Farm Adventure

 

Jack's Farm Adventure is the story of Jack and his classmates' farm trip. Jack is very excited, as he lives in a town surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city. When they arrive at the farm, they are eager to see all of the animals. First, they assist the farmer in collecting eggs from the chickens. In order to make things easier, the children came up with a plan to work together. While some children distracted the chickens, others collected eggs. After that, they spent the rest of the day with the farmer, watching him care for the rest of the animals on the farm. The children enjoyed their time on the farm. That day, Jack learned a valuable lesson. "With friendship and teamwork, the biggest problems become small." 

This book features amazing illustrations. This story teaches children the value of teamwork. 

Disclaimer - I received this Ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Lucy and the Enchanted Forest

 

Lucy and the Enchanted Forest is about Lucy's most wonderful dream of going into an enchanted forest to pick berries with her mother. When Lucy sees the most striking butterfly, she chases after it, not realizing she has wandered far from her mother. Lucy meets several friendly animals in the enchanted forest who assist her in finding her way home. The first animal she meets is Finny, a friendly fox whose fur helps him blend into his surroundings and protects him from predators. Then she encounters Benny, a rabbit whose long ears help him hear danger. Lucy will find her way home with the guidance of Olly the wise owl. In that moment, Lucy wakes up. "Nature's ways, she came to know, And her love for it, will forever grow." 

The AI illustrations have a magical way of making Lucy and her forest friends come to life. There is something truly enchanting about the illustrations. 

Disclaimer - I received this Ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts. 

Friendly Driver's Education ~ A Timberdoodle Review

 

Friendly Driver's Education aims to prepare your teenager to become a safe, responsible driver. This course has twenty chapters. The chapters are illustrated with colorful pictures. There is a Lesson Review at the end of each chapter. The first is a fill-in-the-blank exercise. The next section contains True/False statements. Multiple Choice questions are presented on the final page. The appendix contains all answers.

Using state-specific curriculum, my husband has successfully taught our five older children how to drive cars. Once they pass the written portion and receive their learners permit, they will be behind the wheel with daddy for the state-determined number of hours. We usually begin driver's education at age 15 and then issue them their license at age 16.This gives them a full year behind the wheel with an adult.

It is going to be a bit more challenging for our sixth and last child to prepare. That's why I was excited to see Friendly Driver's Education up for review. It's a great complement to the parents-taught curriculum we have in our state.

I like Friendly Driver's Education because it goes beyond just teaching how to drive. Before studying the ways of the road, students learn about the ignition switch, starter, and battery. Afterward, they learn about the fuel tank, the engine, and the brake system. A discussion of the transmission and emergency brake follows. We haven't finished yet. After that, they learn about steering, cooling, the alternator, exhaust systems, and light systems. Whether you drive your parents' car or your own, knowing all of these things is important. Having a bit of knowledge can help if something goes wrong.

It took my daughter much longer to complete the online written portion of her driver's education course than my other children. My daughter struggles with Functional Processing Disorder. Friendly Driver's Education has been helpful throughout this process. The book will be extremely helpful as a reference for her between now and the time she takes her final test.

Next step DMV to get a Learner's Permit!

Friendly Chemistry ~ A Timberdoodle Review

Friendly Chemistry counts as one credit towards graduation as a standard high school science course. Among the components of the course are a Student Edition book and Student Workbook, as well as a Manipulative Set that is a set of flashcards your student can cut out and use. The course also provides online access to an overview of each chapter, as well as help with all chemistry-related calculations. There are two volumes in the Teacher Set. Also included is the Annotated Solution Book. I received the Teacher Set, the Annotated Solutions, the Manipulative Set, and Friendly Chemistry Video Lessons for this review.

My 15-year-old daughter has been working through Friendly Chemistry since last fall and has made steady progress.

Volume 1

Lesson 1: Meet Chemistry

Lesson 2: Moving in a Little Closer

Lesson 3: The Arrangement of Electrons in Atoms

Lesson 4: Applying Quantum Mechanics

Lesson 5: Learning to Code: Orbital Notation

Lesson 6: Electronic Configuration Notation

Lesson 7: Electron Dot Notation

Lesson 8: Relating Electron Arrangement to Reactivity 

Lesson 9: Another Trend of the Period Table: Ionization Energy

Lesson 10: The Final Trend of the Periodic Table: Atom Size 

Lesson 11: Ion Formation

Lesson 12: Determining Charges on Ions

Lesson 13: Forming Compounds from Ions

Lesson 14: Learning Slightly More Complex Ions

Lesson 15: Making Compounds with Polyatomic Ions

Lesson 16: Introducing the Mole

Volume 2

Lesson 17: Finding Formula Weights

Lesson 18: Finding the Percent Composition of Compounds

Lesson 19: Writing Empirical Formulas 

Lesson 20: Putting Compounds into Reactions

Lesson 21: Balancing Chemical Reactions

Lesson 22: Introduction to Stoichiometry

Lesson 23: Predicting Grams of Product

Lesson 24: Predicting Grams of Product from Grams of Reactant

Lesson 25: Do I Have Enough Reactant

Lesson 26: Mixing Compounds with Water to Make Solutions

Lesson 27: Incorporating Molarity into Stoichiometric Problems

Lesson 28: Determining the Needed Amount of a Solution to Perform a Reaction

Lesson 29: Properties of Gases and How Gases can be Measured in Reactions

Lesson 30: How Changing Temperatures Affect Gases

Lesson 31: How Changing Pressures Affect Gases

Lesson 32: The Combined Gas Laws

Let's check out a lesson.

Lesson 8: Relating Electron Arrangement to Reactivity. Using electron dot notation, students are asked to write the electron dot notations for a list of elements along with their electron configuration. On the following pages, they discuss groups and families on the periodic table. There are similarities between elements within a column on the periodic table, just like in a family. The Sodium Family, Noble Gas Family, Halogen Family, Oxygen Family, and Calcium Family are discussed next. For each element in these families, students write the electron configuration and electron dot notation.Following this, the students study the Periodic Table and the location of the families. Following are two pages devoted to the Element Family Practice. Students are given the element and must write the electron dot notation and the element family it belongs to. The lesson ends with a test.

Manipulative Set

My daughter struggles with Functional Processing Disorder, which makes learning more difficult for her. Previous years' science textbooks required a lot of reading, memorization, and chapter questions. In my daughter's opinion, Friendly Chemistry teaches the concepts without busy work and with more work that cements the concepts. With Friendly Chemistry, she can see a building block approach and logic she has not seen in other science courses. In general, the curriculum is a great fit for her. 

I recommend this curriculum. 

Math-U-See Algebra I

Demme Learning's newly published Math-U-See Algebra 1: Principles of Secondary Mathematics course is not just a revamp of its original course. You will find this new Math-U-See course more challenging if you are familiar with the previous one. A number of additional math concepts are introduced in this course, thereby better preparing students for higher-level mathematics courses. For the video portion of the lesson, Sara Donavan is the instructor. Unlike other Math-U-See courses, this course presents lessons in a different format. Lessons are divided into 3 sections: Part A, Part B, and Targeted Review. I will elaborate further in the review. Additionally, there is a Lesson Test for each lesson. Math-U-See Algebra 1: Principles of Secondary Mathematics is part of the Timberdoodle 2023 Eighth-Grade Curriculum Kit. 

How does the course bundle work?

This course includes the Instructor Handbook A & B, the Student Worktext A & B, the Test book, a laminated Formula Sheet, and access to the online Digital Toolbox. The Digital Toolbox provides access to instructional videos. The Digital Toolbox allows students to watch lesson videos. Students have access to a Desmos Scientific Calculator and a Desmos Graphing Calculator. In the Digital Toolbox, students can also utilize digital manipulatives. Additionally, graph paper can be printed. A password is required to access solutions to lesson practice problems, tests, midterms, and final exams.

Those students who may need some extra practice can take advantage of Extension Lessons to get more practice.

Student Worktext Book A

Unit 1: Foundations of Algebra

Unit 2: Linear Equations and Functions

Unit 3: Systems of Equations and Inequalities

Student Worktext Book B

Unit 4: Polynomial Expressions and Equations

Unit 5: Quadratics, Exponentials, Radicals

The course Math-U-See Algebra 1: Principles of Secondary Mathematics consists of five units. An average unit has four to eight lessons.

I absolutely love the way Math-U-See is set up. It really prepares students for mastery and success. An overview of the Algebra I course is included at the beginning of Student Worktext A. Throughout this section, you will find a thorough explanation of the Course Structure, Student Components, a flow chart Quick Start Guide, step-by-step instructions on How to Complete a Lesson, and a Recordkeeping Page. 

There are two parts to every lesson: Part A and Part B.

In order to understand what you will learn from this lesson, you should know what the Objectives are and Why you are learning them. 

Warm Up: review key concepts about what you're about to learn.

Explore

• Video of the lesson.

• Guided Notes and Examples - fill in the blanks in this section of your student workbook as you listen to the video.

• Checkpoint - following the completion of the video and notes, there are some problems to solve.

Practice 1 provides the students with an opportunity to put what they learned into practice. If you need extra space to solve problems, you can use a sheet of paper.

This Mastery Checklist is used for determining whether your student has mastered the lesson concepts. Depending on their score, you may skip Practice 2 and move onto Part B. If they did not score well, they should continue with Practice 2.

Similar to Part A, your student will complete Part B.

After your child has mastered Part A and Part B concepts, you can administer the Lesson Test.

Prior to moving onto the next lesson, there is a Targeted Review. The purpose of this review is to help students retain what they've learned in previous lessons. They are highly recommended. Instructor Handbook provides the lesson from which each of the problems is found for students who have difficulty with these reviews. With this, you and your student will be able to review the concept easily. There is something for everyone in this course, both those at an advanced level and those who need a little more guidance.

Whenever each lesson is completely completed, a test is taken. Typically, these tests have around 10-15 problems. There are approximately 25 multiple choice questions on each unit test. One open-response problem exists. Unit tests cover only the material covered in that unit. After the first three units, there is a midterm exam. Students take the Final Exam once they have completed the course. The final exam will mainly have questions from the final two units. As mathematical concepts build, mastery of previous material is essential. 

I did not receive the Instructor Handbooks for this review. In the Digital Toolbox, you'll find everything you need. The Digital Toolbox is set up very user-friendly.

My 15-year-old daughter suffers from severe ADHD and Functional Processing Disorder. As I was preparing for this review, I was extremely excited. Math is really difficult for my daughter. Her previous two years were spent on two different Pre-Algebra curriculums. Having used Math-U-See with her older siblings in the past, I was familiar with the program. We jumped right into the curriculum and I realized we were in serious trouble not too long after starting. Upon realizing this new algebra would be more challenging than my previous algebra, I knew I had a problem. Demme Learning already knew that this may be an issue for some students, according to what I saw. Demme Learning provides a Bridge Materials: Pre-Algebra to Algebra 1: Principles of Secondary Mathematics.

Unfortunately, my daughter needed more help. This year, in order for her to succeed, I had to enroll her in an Algebra 1/2 course due to her Functional Processing Disorder. When people suffer from FPD, they might learn math concepts one day but forget them the next. Math is challenging to learn and retain because of this. As soon as she completes Algebra 1/2 in two months, I plan to pick up where we left off, or perhaps even start over. Math-U-See repetition may be a good fit for students who struggle with learning.

I recommend this curriculum. 

The Buzz Boys

 'The Buzz Boys' is a heartbreaking, raw story about five boys growing up in a small Chicago suburb during the 1960s and 1970s. Known as 'The Buzz Boys', Robby, Marco, Petey, Billy, and Johnny all came from homes filled with unimaginable physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of their fathers. It is told by Robert Mazzara, now 60 years old, as he reflects on the tragic events of the past. During the first chapter of the book, attorney Robert Mazzara is shocked to hear on the news that a horrific murder-suicide had occurred the night before. Unfortunately, it was Marco Pezza, his best friend. He killed his father before turning the gun on himself. Suddenly, Robert realized he was the last of the 'Buzz Boys'. He sobbed uncontrollably.

Near Cortland Avenue, most of the families were immigrants from Italy who worked long hours to live the American dream. The husbands and fathers came home and took out their anger and rage on their wives and children. School officials, neighbors, and even law enforcement turned a blind eye. It was clear to wives and children that if they said anything, it would only worsen home life. Husbands would only get a slap on the wrist. Children would never be taken away from their homes due to abuse. "Nobody was saying a damn word!" 

The mother of one of the boys committed suicide. Sadly, one of the boys lost both parents in a murder-suicide. All of the boys, along with their siblings, were molested and/or raped by their own fathers. The children suffered physical abuse to the point where they were black and blue, swollen, bleeding, and had broken bones. As a team, the boys supported and helped one another. Throughout grade school, high school and beyond, or until they died, they were bound together by their bond. Drinking alcohol helped them escape pain and memories. 

Throughout the book, each chapter is titled, which I really enjoyed. For example: Chapter 4 - The Playground (1966), Chapter 8 - The Suzie-Q, Chapter 13 - Shop Class (1975). Readers get a glimpse into what the chapter might contain. It was also nice for me because as I read further into the book, I wanted to look back at something and I knew what had happened, so I just had to find that chapter.

This is not a book for everyone. As a parent, I would not feel comfortable letting my teenager read this book. There may be a triggering element to this book for those who have been abused. Several parts of it are very descriptive which is understandable. The book is well written. 

Disclaimer - I received this Ebook in exchange for my honest thoughts.