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South Slope Pediatrics Blog

10 Ways to Beat Those Winter Blues

1/25/2018

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UGH!  I’ve had enough of the yucky slush and icy sidewalks.  Enough of taking what feels like a half hour every time I need to bundle the kids to get out of the house (or for that matter, coming back in and trudging slushy boot marks all over before feverishly reminding them that they take off their shoes)!  Enough of feeling like blah with these layers and puffy winter jackets...Enough of the constant runny noses and this cough that has taken a liking to me for the last month!  Enough of not being able to run outdoors because it’s below zero with the wind chill...ENOUGH.  Just, ENOUGH.

I’m quite aware that I’m going through my annual winter blues.  I’m making light of it here, but for many it is an actual condition known as SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a depression caused by changing seasons.  Kids can suffer from this as well.  So...let’s talk about some ways we can combat some of these sad feelings and make it to….the Spring!!!

Here are 10 ideas:
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  1. Get Some Sun!  OK, it might be cold - but if we’re not in an artic blast let’s put on those layers and get out.  The feel of the warm sun on our skin can do tremendous things for our state of mind.  Go for a walk or be brave and take the kids to the playground (we all know the cold doesn’t phase them)!  Being outdoors can reduce stress and help us regain focus.
  2. Play Your Favorite Music, and Often.  Sometimes nothing can be a better pick-me-up than blasting your favorite songs.  Get the kids involved, have a dance-off.  Choose music that is more upbeat.  I like to blast “Groove is in the Heart”, that’s my jam. This can be a total mood changer!
  3. Eat Healthy.  This is an obvious one, but when we eat healthier, we feel happier.  Biggest thing is to limit sugar intake as those sugar crashes can be intense.  Solution:  eat some dark chocolate (high cocoa content is key) when that craving comes.  You’ll get some antioxidants in addition to the chocolate yumminess.
  4. Help Others.  For me, nothing feels better than when I’m helping someone in need.  Get involved with a charity.  Share your time with a friend who needs you.   Do a random act of kindness.  Make someone smile, it’s totally contagious.
  5. Plan Something to Look Forward To.  Winter can seriously feel endless.  Plan something that you can get excited about.  How about a girls weekend?  A vacation somewhere WARM.  Even a special night out with your significant other.  Planning fun things can help us get through these dreary days!
  6. Keep Social.  Sometimes, especially with the teeny ones, we can feel trapped in our 4 walls.  It’s easy just to stay indoors all day and not be motivated to get out.  As we all know this can lead to feeling down.  MAKE PLANS to see friends and family.  Get out there.
  7. Exercise:  Motivation on these colder days is tough.  Maybe a solution is one of those workout videos on demand if you can’t get out.  Lucky enough to have a gym in your apartment building?  So jealous of you, I miss that.  Those walks are tremendous - do it when the sun’s out and feel your mood improve immediately.  Release those endorphins!
  8. Sleep:  This might be hard to come by for those of us with babies, but this is an important one.  Get to bed earlier.  Make this a priority.  Sneak in a nap if you need!
  9. Be Silly and Play:  I personally think this is one to live by.  Laugh, join in with our kids when they are doing imaginative play.  In my house this means I’m Teacher Harriet (Daniel Tiger reference) and my daughter has lined up all of her stuffed animals on the couch and she tells me the lesson of the day.  Seeing her happy makes me happy!  This can also mean joining my 2 year old doing the “tushy dance”. Don’t ask.
  10. Set Goals:  Feeling accomplished is always a good feeling.  Maybe this goal is to redecorate a room, purge (my favorite thing) and create a more minimalist lifestyle.  Maybe your goal is to learn a new language or read 1 book a month.  Train for a 5k. Whatever your goal is, set it and DO IT.

If your feelings of sadness are super intense, you should seek help.  Hopefully, by practicing some of these things and whatever else makes you happy - you can beat the winter doldrums and rest assured, Spring is on the way!!!  Just 2 more months left….

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Making a Difference in Children's Lives:  Interview with Mimi Banks

1/13/2018

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Have you ever heard of the Global Smile Foundation?  It is a group of volunteers who make a tremendous, positive impact on families in need of surgical care, in places where access to this care is extremely rare.  Their mission is to “bring first class surgical repair to patients throughout the developing world who suffer from congenital facial deformities”, the majority in need being children with cleft lips and palates.  One generous entrepreneur and very dear friend, Mimi Banks, has donated her time to this agency for several years, traveling with the GSF team to South America twice a year to volunteer as a photographer to document their work.  Let’s learn more about the Foundation and how meaningful Mimi and her team’s work is in this month’s interview.


SSP:  As a veteran of social media, owner of a very successful social media agency and an accomplished photographer, how did your life path cross with GSF?
My longtime boss and mentor was actually friends with the founder, Dr. Usama Hamdan. Several years ago they were in need of a photographer. She suggested me. The rest is history!


SSP:   What made you want to get involved with this cause in particular?  Why is giving back so important to you?
Growing up, each Thanksgiving my cousin showed pictures of past medical missions. I was always very curious about what they actually were.  And, being raised in a household where giving back is core to our ethics, I volunteered in many charities. What I noticed, is that while I helped several charities, I did not feel like I was making a difference. What I love about traveling with the Global Smile Foundation is that we are on the ground and actually helping people. Our presence makes a huge difference and has a strong impact.


SSP:   I’d love to hear more about your experiences with these families in South America.  Do you have one particular story that you can share with us, perhaps one that really moved and inspired you?
The people that I work with inspire me the most. This is a team of 20 medical professionals - doctors, nurses, hospital support. They leave their medical practices for a week to volunteer. I watch as the surgeons help as many people as they can, work so hard to help the children. They treat each child with such care and compassion. I'm in awe of their kindness, skill, and ability to make a difference in children's lives.
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SSP:  How do you approach these families - do you interact with them or quietly watch and photograph these life changing moments?   What do you want your pictures to capture?

I do a lot of smiling. I don't speak Spanish very well, so I spend a lot of time smiling at the parents, cuddling their kids and trying to reassure them that their children are in good hands. I capture pictures of the children before and after their surgery.  The transformation is incredible. In fact, I often show the older kids a picture of themselves, just out of surgery...so they can see! My role is to document the process, capture the patients' journey and help tell the Global Smile Foundation's story through images.

SSP:  What is it about these missions that you find most gratifying?  
The smile on the mothers' faces and the tears in their eyes when they see their child for the first time after surgery is life-changing.
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SSP:  How does one get involved?  How do we learn how we can help support, whether it be joining a mission or donating clothing and funds?

The best way to get involved is to donate money to: www.gsmile.org. They could use the support to provide even better care to their patients.

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Mimi Banks as more than 15 years of experience in the beauty industry in the US, France, and Israel. She spent the majority of her career at L’Oréal, where she led social media for Lancôme. She has proven success building, optimizing and implementing social media strategies, engagement tactics and plans to drive online brand engagement and reach. Mimi Banks is a passionate, forward thinking and results-driven digital and social marketer. http://www.mimibsocial.com/

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    Jen Valu
    contributor + supermom

    Jen Valu is the mom of 2 small children who were SSP patients. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially the silly dance parties and creative time with her kids. Recently relocated to the suburbs, she misses Park Slope terribly but appreciates the sanity that has come along with space and a yard. "Embrace the crazy" is her motto.

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South Slope Pediatrics,
​Dr. Hai Cao, MD
​501 5th Avenue, Park Slope, NY 11215
718.576.2450
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Email SSP
  • Expecting? Book a Free Meet & Greet
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