Self-Care Blog & Events

Recent studies have revealed that nurses experience one of the highest rates of work-related stress among all professions, with over 60% of nurses stating that stress was a significant issue in their work lives. Workplace stress is prevalent in most high-stress, fast paced environments and can lead to significant illness; nurses are no exception to this risk. The consequences of constant stress in the workplace are amplified in nurses, as well, because the impairments caused by chronic stress can cause an increase in fatigue and cognitive acuity, which then translates to nurse error and poor patient outcomes. Nurses in particular should develop strong strategies to manage workplace stress, such as meditation, mindfulness, a healthy and active lifestyle, and avoiding excess consumption of alcohol and tobacco products. Why Nurses Experience Greater Workplace Stress Nurses are critical …
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Learn more and register for the Palliative Care Conference, a Maryland Healthcare Education Institute Program, at http://mhei.org. DATE/TIME: June 7, 2017, 8:30 AM –4:00 PM Registration and Continental Breakfast begin at 8:00 AM LOCATION: Maryland Hospital Association Pierson Conference Center 6820 Deerpath Road Elkridge, MD 21075 …
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The Meditation & Journaling for Grief Course is based on the book Mindfulness & Grief by Heather Stang …
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If you are wondering how to get over a breakup, you are not alone. Healing heartbreak is an inevitable part of life, but when things fall apart, the pain that follows can feel like a permanent state of being rather than a passing season of life. We tend to feed our negative feelings after a breakup, spending hours on end replaying the breakup scene and rewriting the script. We vacillate between blaming ourselves and crucifying our ex. We avoid our pain by over eating, binge drinking, or maybe diving into a mindless tryst to temporarily soothe our pain. If you feel like someone needs to save you from yourself, you are right. And that someone is you.  Meditation Is Your Super …
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Heather Stang will present at Chesapeake Life Center’s conference: Grief in the 21st Century. The conference is on  Friday, September 23, 2016 at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland. Grief in the 21st Century will feature professionals sharing expertise and current research  about complex issues of grief, loss, aging, and more. The audience, according to the official event page, is clergy, counselors, crisis responders, mental health providers, nurses, school professionals, social workers, substance abuse counselors, and therapists. The keynote address is “Grief: The Story of Love after Loss,”  given by M. Katherine Shear, M.D.  She is the the Marion E. Kenworthy Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Center for Complicated Grief at Columbia School of Social Work. See the full conference schedule to get more …
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Whenever I search for a photo that accurately depicts equanimity and the art of mindfulness meditation, I come up short. Stock photo libraries are full of images featuring blissed out models meditating on serene beaches and mountaintops. As an amateur photographer, I appreciate the beauty of these scenes. As a meditator, I know the images are aspirational—not depictions of reality. Let’s face it, meditation practice can be messy. Not only do we have to carve out a space to practice in a home that might be full of other living beings, but we have our own internal mind clutter to deal with. Taxes. Relationships. To-do lists. Not to mention the barrage of external stimuli — dogs barking, children crying, the …
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Register to Attend ADEC 2016 In Person | Register for The ADEC 2016 Webcast Heather Stang will present for the third year in a row at the Association of Death Education and Counseling Annul Conference, held in Minneapolis, MN. This year, the theme of her talk will explore mindfulness-based techniques to develop and improve coping skills throughout the grief process. She will also begin a three year term as the Networking & Communications Committee Chair for the association. This will be the second year Heather’s talk is offered as a webcast. In 2015, she presented Mindfulness and Grief: Techniques For Post-traumatic Growth, which can be purchased directly from ADEC. ADEC 2016 PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION Mindfulness & Grief: Coping Skills For Life …
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Guided Body Scan Meditation for Beginners Download this guided body scan meditation for beginners to your computer or mobile device by pressing the down arrow in the upper left corner of the audio player below. This track contains instructions for practicing the body scan followed by a complete guided experience that focuses on the direct experience of breath and body in the present moment. While the goal of the body scan is not relaxation, some listeners may find it relaxing. May be practiced laying down or seated. We have our body with us all of the time – but how often have you had an “out of body” experience – or felt like a head on a stick? When we …
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February is the host to Sharon Salzberg’s 28 day “Real Happiness Meditation Challenge,” an online event designed to help both beginning and experienced meditators “#Commit2Sit.” Of course this year is a leap year, so we get an extra day to strengthen our meditation muscles! The challenge is inspired by her bestselling book Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation (A 28 Day Program). This title rolls off my tongue whenever beginning meditation students ask for book recommendations. Not only is the book accessible, easy to understand, and full of very clear directions, it is also bundled with a CD containing four guided meditations. After all, reading a book on meditation won’t get you very far. It is the practice that matters …
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Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and with it comes a barrage of commercials featuring idyllic couples lavishing each other with gifts—from chocolate to diamonds to luxury vehicles. While I am not one to ever turn down a box of truffles or something sparkly, let us not forget the reason for the season: love. But what if your relationship isn’t picture-perfect? This just means you and your partner are normal; imperfection does not mean you love one another any less. Life is full of stresses that can impact our happy home: work, family, and financial and social demands are just a few common factors. If you want to improve your relationship, meditation for couples may help you decrease stress …
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