So much happens during the week. Balancing work, family life and everyday tasks can take up most of the day, leaving little room for restful breaks throughout the day. Rest is necessary for physical and mental wellbeing, so by taking restful breaks throughout the day it can increase productivity. In addition, this rest can also assist in eliminating brain fog and boosting concentration. Lastly, rest and breaks can help with physical health because they allow individuals to get some particularly important physical activity.    Here are some ways that you can take time for rest during the week:  For Mothers  Making Time for Rest During the Work Week  Making Time for…

By Madhvi Jha  Mental health is not just the absence of illness, it’s about how we think, feel and behave. It affects how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. Just like physical health, mental health is something we all have, and it needs attention and care at every stage of life.  In Ontario, a growing mental health crisis is disproportionately affecting women especially young, low-income, racialized and marginalized groups. Despite growing public awareness and government pledges, many women continue to face long wait times, fragmented care and limited access to culturally relevant support. Mental health experts, advocates and women with lived experience say that systemic changes are…

I’ve never been a ‘morning person.’ You know the type — glowing skin by 7 a.m., green smoothie in hand, casually journaling their goals under the sunrise. Meanwhile, I was hitting snooze three times, waking up stressed and doomscrolling before brushing my teeth.  But something shifted. I’d been feeling like life was happening to me instead of with me. So, I made a deal with myself: wake up at 5:30 a.m. for two weeks. Not to be productive. Not to hustle. Just to see what would happen if I reclaimed my mornings.  Week 1: Groggy Starts, Small Wins  The first few mornings were rough. My body fought it hard. I…

In today’s hustle culture, the idea of rest often comes with a side of guilt. The glorification and even aestheticization of “busy-ness” from late nights to side gigs is so pervasive that even moments of downtime are seen as something to monetize or justify.   But a growing number of thinkers, writers and everyday people are beginning to challenge that narrative. They argue that rest is not a sign of laziness or weakness, but a form of soft strength — one that quietly resists capitalist ideals of overwork, inherited guilt and the pressure to have to overachieve. From school to work, many of us are raised to believe that our worth…