[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":675},["ShallowReactive",2],{"cms:/api/categories?fields[0]=name&fields[1]=slug&pagination[pageSize]=100&sort=documentId":3,"cms:/api/categories?filters[slug]=mindset":45,"cms:/api/homepage?fields[0]=updatedAt&populate[navigation][fields][0]=name&populate[navigation][fields][1]=slug":53,"cms:/api/articles?populate=*&filters[category][id]=4&pagination[limit]=9&pagination[start]=63&sort[0]=bylineDate:DESC&sort[1]=createdAt:DESC":58},{"data":4,"meta":40},[5,10,15,20,25,30,35],{"id":6,"documentId":7,"name":8,"slug":9},8,"agm3bwiivq9ytkopje139uoj","Voices","voices",{"id":11,"documentId":12,"name":13,"slug":14},6,"fxhrufaspnwq0yurrk98sas3","Wellness","wellness",{"id":16,"documentId":17,"name":18,"slug":19},14,"gj8d0n6sxxe1mqfb0ticcamv","Style","style",{"id":21,"documentId":22,"name":23,"slug":24},12,"pra84h71qx5yo2kq8g18uy9h","After Hours","after-hours",{"id":26,"documentId":27,"name":28,"slug":29},2,"pregl64gjxpa6tec7l94j5fb","Career & Finance","career-and-finance",{"id":31,"documentId":32,"name":33,"slug":34},10,"vf2luiz1aic436stak4yr339","Nourish","food",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39},4,"y4wuht99krufymt1c62zqtk1","Mindset","mindset",{"pagination":41},{"page":42,"pageSize":43,"pageCount":42,"total":44},1,100,7,{"data":46,"meta":50},[47],{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},"2026-09-06T10:31:16.716Z","2026-09-06T10:31:16.780Z",{"pagination":51},{"page":42,"pageSize":52,"pageCount":42,"total":42},25,{"data":54,"meta":57},{"id":42,"documentId":55,"updatedAt":56},"nhhccnp3ibbyv1cn1er78o9h","2026-09-06T10:40:24.841Z",{},{"data":59,"meta":670},[60,155,210,292,348,423,502,559,615],{"id":61,"documentId":62,"title":63,"content":64,"slug":65,"coffees":26,"seo_title":63,"keywords":66,"seo_desc":67,"bylineDate":68,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":70,"updatedAt":71,"publishedAt":72,"featuredImage":73,"category":125,"author":126,"img":122},457,"kc2drryn36xnn77fnszbn7ix","Maybe You Need Anger After All","Taking a look at the latest news, it feels that the world is full of anger. From the [streets of Los Angeles](https://www.latimes.com/california/live/2025-01-14/fire-winds-los-angeles-california-eaton-altadena-palisades-updates) due to the extreme wildfire disasters and the [UK grooming gangs](https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/child-rape-scandal-dominating-uk-politics-after-musk-criticism-2025-01-06/) and to any form of social media you'd care to mention, anger and outrage are seemingly everywhere. People are angry, and they are not afraid to show it.\n\nWhy so much anger?\n------------------\n\nAnger has become prevalent in our society, in part because it is highly effective at **gaining attention**. Numerous studies have shown that online content infused with _negative emotions_, particularly anger, is more likely to _go viral_. For instance, social media posts that incite anger towards political adversaries receive significantly more views. Similarly, fabricated news stories designed to provoke anger or anxiety tend to spread more rapidly than factual information. [Research conducted](https://www.thequint.com/news/webqoof/mood-emotional-state-make-you-fall-for-online-misinformation) by Chinese academics emphasizes this point, asserting that the increased virality of fake news can be directly attributed to its heightened anger levels.\n\nAnger is also fed by **sleep deprivation** and tired people. According to Healthline, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) reports that among adults, 30 to 35 percent have brief symptoms of insomnia,\n\nwhile 15 to 20 percent have short-term insomnia lasting less than 3 months. Anger is interdependent with our mood and anger management. Even minor frustrations can feel overwhelming, and emotion management waves goodbye when sleep is **insufficient**. Considering that sleep deprivation disrupts the balance of hormones like cortisol (stress hormone) and serotonin (mood stabilizer), those feelings of anger and irritability are likely to increase.\n\nThe risks of excessive anger are known to pretty much everyone: excessive anger poses significant health risks, both immediate and long-term. Sudden outbursts can increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks, while chronic anger contributes to **systemic inflammation**, a key factor in the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease, arthritis, and cancer. Research suggests that anger may be particularly detrimental to the health of older adults.\n\n#### However, anger itself isn't inherently _\"bad,\"_ as it can be a natural and even healthy emotion when managed properly and channeled constructively. \n\n![healthy anger](https://assets.workingal.com/healthy_anger_9000f4bd05.jpg)\n\nAnger can serve as an effective communication tool, signaling to others that an injustice has occurred. For example, when something in our lives or society is wrong, anger can help us express the wrongdoing. It can alert us to situations where our **values, boundaries, or safety** are being violated. It can also be a powerful motivator for positive change. It can fuel the energy and determination needed to address injustice, fight for our rights, or overcome obstacles. For example, anger at environmental destruction can drive individuals to become environmentally conscious.\n\nResearch suggests that expressing a range of emotions, including anger, can enhance authenticity and sincerity in communication. A [2021 study examining](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0883902622000052) Kickstarter pitch videos found that entrepreneurs who conveyed both positive and negative emotions, such as anger and fear, experienced greater fundraising success compared to those who solely expressed happiness. The researchers posit that expressing anger can demonstrate genuine passion and commitment to the project. \n\n_It’s important, though, to distinguish destructive anger from constructive anger_. When we express our anger in a healthy and constructive way, via assertive communication, and with the willingness to solve the problem or find support, it can have a positive effect and lead to change. On the other hand, if our anger manifests in a harmful way, through aggression, passive-aggressive behavior, or violence, then we need to step back and manage it and find the reasons behind it.","maybe-you-need-anger-after-all","healthy ways for anger, do we need anger, is it bad to be angry?","Anger is demonized broadly and is usually considered a harmful feeling. However, things are not like this, and sometimes we need anger.","2025-01-15","Europe/Berlin","2025-01-15T00:00:05.972Z","2025-01-15T00:00:12.214Z","2025-01-15T00:00:12.210Z",{"id":74,"documentId":75,"name":76,"alternativeText":77,"caption":77,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":81,"hash":120,"ext":83,"mime":87,"size":121,"url":122,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":124,"updatedAt":124,"publishedAt":124},243,"t11yv1n8toiucd72xjqo3nx9","healthy anger-44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg","healthy anger",null,1600,900,{"large":82,"small":93,"medium":102,"thumbnail":111},{"ext":83,"url":84,"etag":85,"hash":86,"mime":87,"name":88,"path":78,"size":89,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":92},".jpg","https://assets.workingal.com/large_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg","ba964fb87b22af6b6046ae5a45f92231","large_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058","image/jpeg","large_healthy anger-44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg",45.39,1000,563,45392,{"ext":83,"url":94,"etag":95,"hash":96,"mime":87,"name":97,"path":78,"size":98,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":101},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg","285a97c90e45675e98a74c85e85e1116","small_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058","small_healthy anger-44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg",15.93,500,281,15934,{"ext":83,"url":103,"etag":104,"hash":105,"mime":87,"name":106,"path":78,"size":107,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":110},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg","28e164721c0cd078e15ee07ee9782881","medium_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058","medium_healthy anger-44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg",29.04,750,422,29038,{"ext":83,"url":112,"etag":113,"hash":114,"mime":87,"name":115,"path":78,"size":116,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":119},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg","dcb595b646cb41ed5267d279727b9b14","thumbnail_healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058","thumbnail_healthy anger-44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg",5.86,245,138,5859,"healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058",67.26,"https://assets.workingal.com/healthy_anger_44e017c43aec0052d77bce5463b1397bc656eeeed7dae3de73d6b29ea2ef4058.jpg","@strapi/provider-upload-aws-s3","2026-09-06T10:35:00.410Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":127,"documentId":128,"name":129,"slug":130,"instagram":78,"facebook":78,"bio":131,"linkedIn":78,"createdAt":132,"updatedAt":132,"publishedAt":133,"avatar":134},22,"wyt3u257aw7uw0dwu7iyp43t","Mariana","mariana","Mariana is our amazing psychologist. She is generally shy, but she has the answers to all questions. She is calm but can be pretty sarcastic if she wants to! She is working with women who are struggling in their jobs. She also loves knitting. She helps our Working Gal Team with her valuable insights and tips for a balanced work life.","2026-09-06T10:31:24.439Z","2026-09-06T10:31:24.476Z",{"id":135,"documentId":136,"name":137,"alternativeText":138,"caption":138,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":140,"hash":151,"ext":142,"mime":146,"size":152,"url":153,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":154,"updatedAt":154,"publishedAt":154},11,"fheiaa5f5erfp90gy58ro2z5","1-4e8c14f9a17f874e48d1483a84a5e11eff6bee5c825f8de8b99f80ea39cc3be7.webp","",250,{"thumbnail":141},{"ext":142,"url":143,"etag":144,"hash":145,"mime":146,"name":147,"path":78,"size":148,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":150},".webp","https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_1_4e8c14f9a17f874e48d1483a84a5e11eff6bee5c825f8de8b99f80ea39cc3be7.webp","4b4c936585b7dd1c23ef309e30c37e86","thumbnail_1_4e8c14f9a17f874e48d1483a84a5e11eff6bee5c825f8de8b99f80ea39cc3be7","image/webp","thumbnail_1-4e8c14f9a17f874e48d1483a84a5e11eff6bee5c825f8de8b99f80ea39cc3be7.webp",4.15,156,4148,"1_4e8c14f9a17f874e48d1483a84a5e11eff6bee5c825f8de8b99f80ea39cc3be7",8.36,"https://assets.workingal.com/1_4e8c14f9a17f874e48d1483a84a5e11eff6bee5c825f8de8b99f80ea39cc3be7.webp","2026-09-06T10:31:24.366Z",{"id":156,"documentId":157,"title":158,"content":159,"slug":160,"coffees":26,"seo_title":158,"keywords":161,"seo_desc":162,"bylineDate":163,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":164,"updatedAt":165,"publishedAt":166,"featuredImage":167,"category":205,"author":206,"img":203},435,"okrz1rblykmv2q8tc6wj6r5k","Why Change Can Feel So Daunting?","The year is drawing to an end, and for many, this time brings a sense of anticipation and excitement. This is the time for visions of fresh starts, new goals, and exciting possibilities that are flooding in our minds. However, there is the other side where the prospect of a new year is met with a wave of anxiety and dread. This apprehension, often referred to as the _\"fear of new beginnings,\"_ can significantly impact our mental and emotional well-being and make the New —Unknown— Year something we would like to avoid at any cost.\n\nA new beginning at any level, even if it is something we have long wanted to do, is often accompanied by fear and insecurity. It may be a [change of job](https://www.workingal.com/articles/5-signs-that-you-need-to-change-job), moving to a new house, a new relationship, a new activity or a new start that we either chose or had to make.\n\nNevertheless, this fear is quite normal, and it derives from the uncertainty and the sense of the unknown behind something new.\n\nFear is usually perceived as a sense of insecurity, worry about the future, recurring thoughts of failure, avoidance behaviours and [procrastination](https://www.workingal.com/articles/how-to-not-procrastinate-like-a-pro) that can lead to cancelled plans, postponed decisions and ultimately _more insecurity_.\n\n## Where  Is This Fear Rooted? \n\nChange inherently involves _stepping into the unknown_. This uncertainty can trigger anxiety, as we naturally gravitate towards predictability and control. Also, people show a tendency to avoid taking risks; therefore, given that new beginnings often involve taking risks and stepping outside our comfort zones, it can cause terrifying feelings. The fear of failure, the potential for disappointment, and the possibility of not living up to our expectations can be paralyzing.   \n\nChange can evoke a **sense of loss**, even if it's the loss of familiar routines, comfort levels, or even past identities. This fear can be particularly strong for those who have experienced significant losses in the past.  \n\nAnother aspect that makes new beginnings stressful and dreading is that the pressure to _“start fresh”_ and achieve perfection in the new year can be overwhelming. Over the last days of the year, we get into a mode _“set your goals, design your life, work for your success, etc.”_ which can be extremely stressful, because, realistically, how many of us have become millionaires within a year? _This unrealistic expectation can lead to increased anxiety and a sense of inadequacy._ \n\nAs a consequence, this fear can lead towards avoiding making decisions, setting goals or taking any action that might lead to change. We stay in a job we don’t like because we don’t know our next steps and whether we will find another job soon. We stay in a dull relationship out of fear to go out and find what we really need. We don’t express our honest opinion out of fear of being unpleasant. And then here are the feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.\n\n## Should I avoid new beginnings?\n\n![the fear of change](https://assets.workingal.com/the_fear_of_change_e4c3e38c45.jpg)\n\nAbsolutely not; the fear of change should not make us stay still and avoid challenges and opportunities. With the proper preparation for our new start, we can reduce **uncertainty and insecurity**, and setting small, realistic goals will help us to better adapt to the new circumstances. Also, asking for support and expressing our feelings to our family or friends can help us see things differently, from another perspective.\n\nMost importantly, we should acknowledge our feelings, such as fear or insecurity, and accept them. This acceptance of feelings will likely reduce their intensity and make us focus on what a **new beginning** can offer and new opportunities for development in every area of our lives.\n\nWhat we can do best to alleviate the fear is to acknowledge that change is inevitable and that uncertainty is a natural part of life. Instead of striving for perfection, it’s better to focus on setting small, [achievable goals](https://www.workingal.com/articles/new-years-resolutions-have-you-made-yours) that gradually build momentum.\n\nAlso, shifting our focus from all the adverse outcomes and potential to the potential for growth, learning, and new experiences that we will acquire of our new beginning, small or big.","why-change-can-feel-so-daunting","new begginings, fear of change, why we are afraid of change, new year change, new beginnings fear","Why are we afraid of changes? How can fear keep us away from achieving what we want? Read what the psychologist say about change.","2024-12-31","2024-12-31T20:56:56.668Z","2024-12-31T21:02:05.115Z","2024-12-31T21:02:05.111Z",{"id":168,"documentId":169,"name":170,"alternativeText":171,"caption":171,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":172,"hash":201,"ext":83,"mime":87,"size":202,"url":203,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":204,"updatedAt":204,"publishedAt":204},232,"u2b2jhngo3cz6xiz9ub0snoe","the fear of change-433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg","the fear of change",{"large":173,"small":180,"medium":187,"thumbnail":194},{"ext":83,"url":174,"etag":175,"hash":176,"mime":87,"name":177,"path":78,"size":178,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":179},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg","9be0187ec67b81cce2adf1a22d7c9a0c","large_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26","large_the fear of change-433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg",114.83,114830,{"ext":83,"url":181,"etag":182,"hash":183,"mime":87,"name":184,"path":78,"size":185,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":186},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg","465a3099b8bdbb7b39375dade33e5283","small_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26","small_the fear of change-433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg",31.43,31434,{"ext":83,"url":188,"etag":189,"hash":190,"mime":87,"name":191,"path":78,"size":192,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":193},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg","05a349483cd333038ce682060352f239","medium_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26","medium_the fear of change-433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg",67.25,67249,{"ext":83,"url":195,"etag":196,"hash":197,"mime":87,"name":198,"path":78,"size":199,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":200},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg","b5ff96ecc98c05dc1c56bf7cc584cf19","thumbnail_the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26","thumbnail_the fear of change-433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg",8.47,8473,"the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26",268.98,"https://assets.workingal.com/the_fear_of_change_433e853addc2742dfcfc6aafa64599178700620ff443c058069131c71d554b26.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:50.368Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":127,"documentId":128,"name":129,"slug":130,"instagram":78,"facebook":78,"bio":131,"linkedIn":78,"createdAt":132,"updatedAt":132,"publishedAt":133,"avatar":207},{"id":135,"documentId":136,"name":137,"alternativeText":138,"caption":138,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":208,"hash":151,"ext":142,"mime":146,"size":152,"url":153,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":154,"updatedAt":154,"publishedAt":154},{"thumbnail":209},{"ext":142,"url":143,"etag":144,"hash":145,"mime":146,"name":147,"path":78,"size":148,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":150},{"id":211,"documentId":212,"title":213,"content":214,"slug":215,"coffees":216,"seo_title":217,"keywords":218,"seo_desc":219,"bylineDate":220,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":221,"updatedAt":222,"publishedAt":223,"featuredImage":224,"category":263,"author":264,"img":261},412,"ibfc3nbkzqz9db3ex4bdqrw2","Dating a Yapper: How much talking is TOO much?",">Have you ever been yap-trapped? Well, if you don’t know what this is, keep reading.\n\nThe dating advice industry has been telling you that communication is everything for about thirty years. What it never actually taught you is how to tell the difference between someone who communicates and someone who performs. There's a word for the second type now. If you've spent any time on TikTok in the last two years, you already know it: a yapper. But knowing the word and knowing what to do when you're actually dating one are two very different things, and after years of experimenting and have met dozens of \"yappers\", I have the system to recognize them as soon as possible.\n\n## What Is a Yapper? The Actual Definition\nA yapper is someone who talks excessively — not just enthusiastically, but compulsively, and crucially, one-sidedly. The word existed long before TikTok promoted it into [mainstream dating](https://www.workingal.com/articles/is-dating-app-burnout-a-real-thing) vocabulary (it originally described small dogs with a tendency to bark nonstop — the comparison holds up). In a relationship context, a yapper isn't simply a talkative person. \n\n>That distinction matters more than people realize.\n\nA talkative person is engaged. They tell you things, yes — but they also want to hear things back. They ask questions, they follow threads, they remember what you mentioned last Thursday. On the other hand, there is the yapper. A yapper talks at you but the conversation moves in one direction. You are the audience, and the show does not stop for intermission.\n\nThere are actually two types of yappers that have emerged in the cultural conversation, and understanding the difference before you make any decisions will save you a lot of unnecessary analysis.\n\n![dating a yapper](https://assets.workingal.com/dating_a_yapper_cec68a7b95.jpg)\n\n**The yapper (affectionate):** The affectionate talks a lot, often enthusiastically, but genuinely wants your input. They interrupt out of excitement, not dominance. If you bring the conversation back to yourself, they engage, aka they ask about your day after they finish telling you about theirs. This type of yapper, sometimes called a \"certified yapper\" in the positive sense — is not your problem.\n\n**The yapper (derogatory):** This type is the most important to recognize soon. They talk a lot, and do not particularly care what you have to say in return. If you try to bring the conversation back to yourself, they find a way to redirect it back to them. They do not ask about your day because they are, functionally, looking for an audience, not a partner.\n\nThe distinction is straightforward: one talks a lot and still makes you feel seen while the other talks a lot and leaves you wondering whether you were actually present in the conversation at all.\n\n## Why \"Dating a Yapper\" Became a TikTok Moment\n\nThe term gained traction on TikTok because it named something a lot of people had experienced without a [clean label](https://www.workingal.com/articles/put-a-label-on-it-how-etiquettes-can-define-our-perception-for-people) for it. Before \"yapper,\" you might have said \"he just never listens\" or \"she makes everything about herself\" which are very accurate observations, but they didn't capture the specific mechanism of what was happening.\n\n\"Yapper\" — and its related term \"yap-trapped\" — gave people a framework. Yap-trapping is what happens when you're stuck listening to a yapper with no real conversational exit: your own thoughts held captive while someone else narrates their life at full volume.\n\nFrom a [communication standpoint](https://www.workingal.com/articles/4-hacks-for-effective-communication-in-the-workplace), this matters because naming a dynamic is the first step to assessing whether it's workable because you can't fix what you haven't defined.\n\n## 7 Signs You're Dating a Yapper (The Problematic Kind)\n\nA framework is only useful if it gives you specific markers, not vague impressions and here are the actual signals that you are indeed dating a yapper.\n\n### 1. The conversation ratio is consistently off. \nNot occasionally, consistently. If you track a week of interactions and you're contributing less than a third of the conversational airtime across multiple situations, you have data. One dinner where they carried the talking is normal but every dinner where they carry the talking is a pattern.\n\n### 2. They don't ask follow-up questions. \nFor a person who works in [corporate](https://www.workingal.com/articles/goop-brain-fog-therapy) like me, this is the most reliable single indicator. It's possible to talk a lot and still be an excellent conversational partner if you're genuinely curious. The yapper (derogatory) rarely asks follow-up questions because they've already moved on to their next point so, your answer, if and when you do get to give one, functions as a bridge back to their story, and not a destination in itself.\n\n### 3. You feel talked at, not talked to. \nThis one is subjective but consistent. After most conversations and [date nights](https://www.workingal.com/articles/low-energy-date-nights) with a yapper, you leave with the sense that you watched a performance rather than participated in an exchange. And that happens because you know a great deal about their day but they couldn't reliably tell you about yours.\n\n### 4. They talk over you — and don't course-correct. \nInterrupting happens to everyone; that's not the test. What matters is what happens next. A yapper (affectionate) catches the interruption and reopens the floor to you but a yapper (derogatory) keeps going. If you notice they interrupt and continue rather than interrupt and repair, you have your answer.\n\n### 5. Silence makes them visibly uncomfortable. \nYappers often fill silence compulsively, so if a thirty-second pause in conversation causes visible anxiety and immediately triggers a new monologue, the talking isn't enthusiastic sharing, it's avoidance of something, and that's worth noting.\n\n### 6. When you bring up something about yourself, it gets absorbed into their narrative. \nYou mention you had a [difficult week at work](https://www.workingal.com/articles/real-stories-my-biggest-challenge-at-work). Within ninety seconds, they're telling you about their difficult week at work. This is the yapper's signature conversational move: everything eventually becomes a springboard back to them.\n\n### 7. You've stopped bringing things up because there's no space. \nThis is the downstream consequence that matters most. If you've started self-censoring, that is not mentioning things you'd genuinely like to discuss because experience has taught you there won't be space for them, the dynamic has already begun costing you something real.\n\n## Why Yappers Are So Hard to Spot Early\n\n![dating a yapper](https://assets.workingal.com/dating_a_yapper_3d985aedeb.jpg)\n\nHere's the part that doesn't get explained enough: yappers are often the most interesting people on a first date. They have stories, they have opinions and they are the best people to fill the silences that would otherwise sit there awkwardly. For anyone who finds small talk genuinely painful, a yapper can feel like a relief , honestly, because they are someone who carries the weight of early dating conversation so you don't have to.\n\nThis is a consumer behaviour pattern that plays out in relationships the same way it plays out in [marketing](https://www.workingal.com/articles/oversharing-social-media): novelty and engagement are not the same as value. High stimulation early creates an impression of depth but the experience of constantly receiving new information — even if it's always about the same person — produces a false sense of intimacy and connection.\n\nYou feel like you know them very well, very quickly and that feeling is real. But what's also true is that they may know very little about you.\n\nThe first few dates are not a reliable diagnostic. The signal typically emerges around weeks three to six, when the supply of new stories starts to deplete and you begin to notice that the format of your conversations hasn't evolved: they talk, you listen, and the question \"how are you, actually?\" doesn't arrive.\n\n## What Is Yap-Trapping — and Can You Get Out of It?\n\nYap-trapping — being held conversationally captive by a yapper — is distinct from simply being on the receiving end of a lot of talking. Relationship expert Dr. Marisa T. Cohen describes yap-trapping as when one person dominates the talking and focuses solely on themselves, with the result that the talkative partner is also failing to actually get to know the other person. Both people lose, which is the part yappers don't always register.\n\nIf you're yap-trapped on a date or in an ongoing relationship, practical redirection exists. For instance, you can interrupt with a direct question rather than waiting for a natural pause that won't come. You can be explicit: \"I want to tell you something, can I have the floor for a minute?\" If that request is absorbed and overridden, you have very useful information. Most yappers are not deliberately self-centred. They are unaware. How a person responds to a clear, direct naming of the pattern tells you whether awareness, once introduced, actually changes anything.\n\n## Can You Actually Date a Yapper Long-Term?\nYes — with a clear-eyed read of what you're working with.\n\nA yapper (affectionate) who talks a lot but is genuinely curious about you is not a structural problem. Many successful long-term relationships pair a high-talker with a quieter listener. The dynamic functions when the quieter person feels heard even if not equally heard, when there is still mutual knowledge, genuine curiosity, and the sense that their inner life is of interest to their partner.\n\nA yapper (derogatory) — someone who is not curious about you, who doesn't register your conversational absence, who does not adjust when the pattern is named — is a different category of issue. Communication style can adapt with awareness. The absence of curiosity about another person is not a style, it's a structural feature of how someone relates.\n\nThe question to ask yourself is not \"do they talk a lot?\" The question is: \"when I am in this relationship, do I feel known?\"\nIf the honest answer is no, the volume of words isn't your problem. The direction they're pointed in is.\n\n## The Inside Scoop: Dating a Yapper\n### What does \"dating a yapper\" mean? \nDating a yapper means being in a romantic relationship with someone who talks excessively — and, in the more problematic version of the dynamic, monopolises conversations without showing genuine interest in what their partner has to say. The term comes from TikTok culture but describes a communication pattern that has existed long before the platform named it.\n\n### What is a yapper in slang? \nIn modern dating and relationship slang, a yapper is someone who talks constantly, typically to the point of dominating conversations. The word originally described small dogs that bark incessantly; its use in dating contexts captures a similar dynamic — volume without pause, sound without exchange.\n\n### What is yap-trapping? \nYap-trapping is the experience of being conversationally held captive by a yapper. You are effectively an audience member in a situation that was supposed to be an exchange. It typically happens on dates, in group settings, and in longer relationships where one partner has always dominated the conversational floor.\n\n### Is dating a yapper a dealbreaker? \nIt depends entirely on the type. A yapper who talks a lot but is genuinely curious about you and actively makes space for your voice is not a dealbreaker — it's a communication style difference that most couples navigate. A yapper who dominates conversations and shows little interest in your inner life is a different dynamic, and worth assessing honestly before significant time has passed.\n\n### How do I know if I'm the yapper in a relationship? \nAsk yourself three things: after most conversations, does your partner know more about you, or do you know more about them? Do you ask follow-up questions, or do you move to your next point? Do you know what they're worried about this week? If the honest answers consistently point one way, it is worth paying attention to. Awareness is the only functional starting point.\n\n## The Real Deal\nThe word \"yapper\" is useful because it names something specific. Use it as a diagnostic tool, not a verdict. Before you decide what you're dealing with, run three questions: \n- Do you feel known in this relationship? \n- Does the dynamic shift when you name it directly and clearly? \n- And when you go quiet, does the other person notice?\n\nAnswer those three questions honestly, and there's your system.\n\n","dating-a-yapper-when-does-talking-become-too-much",3,"Dating a Yapper: Signs You're the One Who's Not Being Heard","yapping, yapper, dating a yapper, yapper dating, yapper tiktok trend, dating","Yappers are charming until they're not. Here's how to spot the signs, what it does to your relationship dynamics, and whether it's actually worth it.","2024-12-23","2024-12-23T21:40:17.320Z","2026-04-15T02:15:27.059Z","2024-12-23T21:45:23.632Z",{"id":225,"documentId":226,"name":227,"alternativeText":228,"caption":229,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":230,"hash":259,"ext":83,"mime":87,"size":260,"url":261,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":262,"updatedAt":262,"publishedAt":262},221,"v5slxpkrpqf1m2rf52yd3tnk","dating-a-yapper-couple-coffee-date-5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg","Couple on a coffee date with man talking excessively while woman listens patiently","When your date loves the sound of their own voice",{"large":231,"small":238,"medium":245,"thumbnail":252},{"ext":83,"url":232,"etag":233,"hash":234,"mime":87,"name":235,"path":78,"size":236,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":237},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg","9f16bb3e52274e83d3c9298b5965eb8e","large_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0","large_dating-a-yapper-couple-coffee-date-5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg",79.83,79826,{"ext":83,"url":239,"etag":240,"hash":241,"mime":87,"name":242,"path":78,"size":243,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":244},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg","46f656d2b3cb92e56aeeb82453028603","small_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0","small_dating-a-yapper-couple-coffee-date-5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg",27.89,27892,{"ext":83,"url":246,"etag":247,"hash":248,"mime":87,"name":249,"path":78,"size":250,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":251},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg","b0b144220cbcac38ff78006c533fe5b9","medium_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0","medium_dating-a-yapper-couple-coffee-date-5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg",51.64,51640,{"ext":83,"url":253,"etag":254,"hash":255,"mime":87,"name":256,"path":78,"size":257,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":258},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg","655105919d901e7bb1df1ab574ff5834","thumbnail_dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0","thumbnail_dating-a-yapper-couple-coffee-date-5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg",9.44,9443,"dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0",98.94,"https://assets.workingal.com/dating_a_yapper_couple_coffee_date_5f34eadc89cac82353004800fd4862b2224d79c4165cf366d113a7f84a7994d0.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:40.981Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":36,"documentId":265,"name":266,"slug":267,"instagram":268,"facebook":269,"bio":270,"linkedIn":271,"createdAt":272,"updatedAt":272,"publishedAt":273,"avatar":274},"icgwz3s97g2n48u37fiimghg","Tonia","tonia","https://www.instagram.com/liolioutonia/","https://www.facebook.com/tonia.lioliou","If you could find one person combining physical strength and mental ability it would have her name. Tonia is also a teacher, but she has serious experience in all kinds of jobs. She can do whatever you ask her. She is also a big fan of remote work -and she is not afraid to admit it. This is why she loves writing about it.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonia-lioliou-078949202/","2026-09-06T10:31:19.662Z","2026-09-06T10:31:19.677Z",{"id":26,"documentId":275,"name":276,"alternativeText":277,"caption":277,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":278,"hash":288,"ext":280,"mime":284,"size":289,"url":290,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":291,"updatedAt":291,"publishedAt":291},"gfgmy2adzscaae1xtj3lgthk","the working gal author-0342f993d3a4dd174b82424b63d1aea3b73f052b98e1df69dbfeb1f8a5fac8dd.png","the working gal author",{"thumbnail":279},{"ext":280,"url":281,"etag":282,"hash":283,"mime":284,"name":285,"path":78,"size":286,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":287},".png","https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_the_working_gal_author_0342f993d3a4dd174b82424b63d1aea3b73f052b98e1df69dbfeb1f8a5fac8dd.png","b9461d2a3487761391a49d227832c79e","thumbnail_the_working_gal_author_0342f993d3a4dd174b82424b63d1aea3b73f052b98e1df69dbfeb1f8a5fac8dd","image/png","thumbnail_the working gal author-0342f993d3a4dd174b82424b63d1aea3b73f052b98e1df69dbfeb1f8a5fac8dd.png",39.76,39762,"the_working_gal_author_0342f993d3a4dd174b82424b63d1aea3b73f052b98e1df69dbfeb1f8a5fac8dd",22.17,"https://assets.workingal.com/the_working_gal_author_0342f993d3a4dd174b82424b63d1aea3b73f052b98e1df69dbfeb1f8a5fac8dd.png","2026-09-06T10:31:19.590Z",{"id":293,"documentId":294,"title":295,"content":296,"slug":297,"coffees":36,"seo_title":295,"keywords":298,"seo_desc":299,"bylineDate":300,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":301,"updatedAt":302,"publishedAt":303,"featuredImage":304,"category":343,"author":344,"img":341},406,"cdqa7hx5zpeg9ar0qhntgxpn","How to Manage Holiday Depression: 12 Expert-Backed Strategies That Actually Work","The holiday season is marketed as the most wonderful time of the year—a montage of twinkling lights, cozy gatherings, and picture-perfect moments with people you love. But if you've ever felt a wave of sadness wash over you while everyone around you seems impossibly cheerful, you're not imagining things. [Holiday depression is real](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/holiday-depression-and-stress), it's common, and most importantly, it's manageable.\n\n[Research suggests](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2023/11/holiday-season-stress) that approximately 64% of people with mental health conditions report that the holidays make their symptoms worse, while 38% of people experience increased stress during this season regardless of their mental health history. The gap between the idealized version of the holidays and our actual experience can feel enormous—and that dissonance takes a real toll.\n\nWhether you're navigating grief, family tension, financial pressure, or simply the weight of unrealistic expectations, this guide is here to help you protect your mental health and find moments of genuine peace this season.\n\n# What Is Holiday Depression?\n\nHoliday depression is a temporary form of depression that typically emerges during the holiday season—roughly from late November through early January. Unlike clinical depression, which can occur at any time and often requires ongoing treatment, holiday depression is usually tied to specific seasonal triggers and tends to lift once the holidays pass.\n\nAccording to mental health professionals, common triggers include unrealistic expectations fueled by media and [social media](https://www.workingal.com/articles/do-social-media-and-influencers-damage-our-body-image), financial strain from gift-giving and travel, painful memories or grief that resurface during family-centered celebrations, strained relationships with relatives, social isolation for those without close family connections, and disrupted routines, including sleep schedules and [eating patterns](https://www.workingal.com/articles/stress-and-eating-habits).\n\nThe symptoms often mirror those of clinical depression but are generally less severe and shorter in duration. You might experience persistent sadness or a sense of hopelessness, fatigue and low energy despite getting adequate sleep, loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, increased irritability or anxiety, and [difficulty concentrating](https://www.workingal.com/articles/7-ways-to-improve-concentration-in-everything-you-do) on daily tasks.\n\n# Holiday Blues vs. Clinical Depression: Understanding the Difference\n\nIt's important to distinguish between holiday blues and clinical depression because they require different approaches. The holiday blues involve temporary feelings of sadness or stress linked to specific holiday stressors—they're unpleasant, but you can typically still manage your daily responsibilities, and the feelings improve after the season ends.\n\nClinical depression, on the other hand, is a serious mental health condition that persists regardless of the season. It significantly disrupts daily functioning, can last for weeks or months, and often requires professional treatment, including therapy or medication.\n\nAnother condition to be aware of is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is tied to reduced sunlight during winter months. According to healthcare providers, SAD affects roughly 1 in 10 people in northern regions, compared to about 1 in 100 in areas with more year-round sunlight. While holiday depression and SAD can overlap, they're distinct conditions—SAD follows a predictable seasonal pattern regardless of holiday timing.\n\n# 12 Expert-Backed Strategies to Manage Holiday Depression\n\n## 1\\. Acknowledge Your Feelings Without Judgment\n\nThe first step toward managing holiday depression is giving yourself permission to feel whatever you're feeling—without guilt. The pressure to be happy simply because it's \"supposed to be\" a joyful time only compounds the problem. Mental health experts emphasize that accepting your emotions without self-criticism is foundational to managing them effectively.\n\nTry this: Instead of fighting your emotions, name them. \"I'm feeling lonely right now\" or \"I'm overwhelmed by expectations\" can help you process feelings rather than suppress them.\n\n## 2\\. Set Realistic Expectations\n\nSocial media and advertising create an illusion of holiday perfection—matching pajamas, flawless dinner spreads, and families that seem to genuinely enjoy every moment together. The reality rarely matches this fantasy, and chasing it sets you up for disappointment.\n\nAsk yourself: What do I actually want from this season? What would feel meaningful to me? Focus on one or two priorities rather than trying to create a Hallmark movie. A smaller, more [intentional](https://www.workingal.com/articles/intenional-living) celebration often brings more genuine joy than an elaborate production that leaves you exhausted.\n\n## 3\\. Create a Holiday Budget—and Stick to It\n\n![woman on the floor sad](https://assets.workingal.com/holiday_depression_2b9a51ab93.jpg)\n\nFinancial stress is one of the leading contributors to holiday depression. The pressure to [exchange gifts](https://www.workingal.com/articles/christmas-gift-exchange-an-ode-to-consumerism), host gatherings, and travel can create debt that haunts you well into the new year. According to financial wellness research, overspending during the holidays frequently leads to depression when bills arrive in January.\n\nConsider alternatives like Secret Santa gift exchanges instead of buying for everyone, handmade or experience-based gifts that carry personal meaning, or honest conversations with family about scaling back expectations. Your financial peace of mind is worth more than any gift.\n\n## 4\\. Set Boundaries (and Honor Them)\n\nYou don't have to attend every party, accept every invitation, or spend time with people who drain your energy. [Setting boundaries](https://www.workingal.com/articles/how-to-set-and-preserve-boundaries) isn't selfish—it's essential for protecting your mental health.\n\nMental health professionals emphasize that it's okay to turn down events and invitations that feel triggering, and to say yes only to things that genuinely bring you joy. If certain family members consistently cause stress, limit your exposure. You can leave gatherings early. You can skip events entirely. Your wellbeing matters more than anyone's expectations.\n\n## 5\\. Prioritize Sleep and Routine\n\nThe holiday season tends to disrupt our normal schedules—late nights, irregular meals, and packed calendars become the norm. But maintaining basic routines is crucial for mental health stability.\n\n[Lack of sleep](https://www.workingal.com/articles/5-reasons-why-good-sleep-is-important-for-your-physical-and-mental-health) causes cloudy thinking and irritability, and significantly hampers your ability to cope with everyday stress. Try to maintain consistent sleep and wake times, even on weekends and holidays. Your mind will thank you.\n\n## 6\\. Get Moving—Especially Outdoors\n\nExercise is one of the most effective natural interventions for depression. Physical activity releases endorphins, reduces stress [hormones](https://www.workingal.com/articles/6-hormonal-changes-that-affect-you-during-fall), and improves sleep quality. But during the winter months, outdoor exercise offers an additional benefit: exposure to natural sunlight.\n\nResearch has consistently shown that spending time in nature provides stress relief, better concentration, lower inflammation levels, and improved mental energy. Even a [20-minute walk](https://www.workingal.com/articles/9-ways-to-walk-a-bit-more-every-day) during daylight hours can make a meaningful difference in your mood.\n\n## 7\\. Limit Alcohol Consumption\n\nHoliday parties and family gatherings often revolve around alcohol, making it tempting to use drinking as a coping mechanism. But alcohol is a depressant that can significantly worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression.\n\nIf you're already feeling vulnerable, alcohol can amplify negative emotions and disrupt sleep patterns. Consider bringing your own non-alcoholic beverages to gatherings or practice mindful moderation. If you're in recovery, prioritize your sobriety—it's okay to decline events where alcohol is served.\n\n## 8\\. Stay Connected—Even When You Want to Isolate\n\nDepression tends to make us withdraw from others, but isolation typically worsens symptoms. Maintaining social connections—even small ones—can provide vital support during difficult times.\n\nThis doesn't mean forcing yourself into overwhelming social situations. Consider scheduling regular phone or video calls with trusted friends, sending holiday cards as a low-pressure way to connect, or joining online communities where you can find support without leaving home. Quality matters more than quantity when it comes to holiday social interactions.\n\n## 9\\. Create New Traditions That Serve You\n\nIf old traditions no longer bring joy—or actively trigger painful memories—give yourself permission to create new ones. Traditions are meant to enhance our lives, not imprison us.\n\nMaybe that means volunteering at a local charity instead of attending a family dinner, starting a solo tradition like a [special breakfast](https://www.workingal.com/articles/busy-mornings-20-healthy-breakfast-ideas-if-you-don-t-have-time) or [movie night](https://www.workingal.com/articles/the-ultimate-christmas-movie-list), or creating small rituals that bring you peace. The holidays can be whatever you decide to make them.\n\n## 10\\. Practice Mindfulness\n\nMindfulness—the practice of staying present without judgment—can be particularly helpful during the emotionally charged holiday season. When you notice yourself spiraling into anxiety about upcoming events or sadness about the past, [mindfulness techniques](https://www.workingal.com/articles/stress-relief-techniques-for-working-women-during-the-holidays) can help ground you in the present moment.\n\nTry simple breathing exercises, guided meditations through apps, or mindful moments during everyday activities like cooking or decorating. Even a few minutes of intentional presence can interrupt negative thought patterns.\n\n## 11\\. Reduce Social Media Exposure\n\nSocial media during the holidays is essentially a highlight reel of everyone's most curated moments. Consuming this content when you're already struggling can intensify feelings of inadequacy and FOMO.\n\nConsider setting time limits on social media apps or even doing a [complete digital detox](https://www.workingal.com/articles/digital-detox), muting accounts that trigger negative comparisons, or taking a complete break during particularly difficult periods. Remember: what you see online is rarely the full picture of anyone's experience.\n\n## 12\\. Know When to Seek Professional Help\n\nWhile many people can manage holiday depression with self-care strategies, some situations require professional support. Mental health professionals recommend watching for these warning signs: feeling depressed and hopeless more days than not, loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, persistent sleep or appetite disturbances, intrusive thoughts that are difficult to manage on your own, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.\n\n*If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, reaching out to a primary care provider or mental health professional is an important first step. If you're in crisis, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by phone, chat, or text.*\n\n# Protecting Your Peace This Holiday Season\n\nHoliday depression doesn't mean something is wrong with you—it means you're human, navigating a season that comes with real emotional complexity. The gap between cultural expectations and lived reality is significant, and acknowledging that gap is the first step toward managing it.\n\nStart small. Choose one or two strategies from this guide that resonate with you and implement them consistently. Whether that's setting a firm budget, establishing boundaries with difficult relatives, or simply giving yourself permission to feel however you feel—every small step matters.\n\nThis season, your job isn't to create a perfect holiday. It's to protect your mental health while finding moments of genuine connection and peace. You deserve both.","is-holiday-depression-manageable","holiday depression, managing holiday stress, holiday blues, seasonal depression, holiday anxiety, coping with holiday depression, holiday mental health","Struggling with holiday depression? You're not alone. Discover 12 research-backed strategies to manage seasonal sadness, set healthy boundaries, and protect your mental health this holiday season.","2024-12-20","2024-12-20T02:38:37.339Z","2025-12-01T19:53:48.850Z","2024-12-20T02:43:57.001Z",{"id":305,"documentId":306,"name":307,"alternativeText":308,"caption":309,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":310,"hash":339,"ext":83,"mime":87,"size":340,"url":341,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":342,"updatedAt":342,"publishedAt":342},218,"ynm2oij6vwq4plu4g5jh06ly","holiday depression-03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg","woman with santa hat sad","holiday depression",{"large":311,"small":318,"medium":325,"thumbnail":332},{"ext":83,"url":312,"etag":313,"hash":314,"mime":87,"name":315,"path":78,"size":316,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":317},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg","cf04d8da44b16ae5da3ca29fef7f829a","large_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a","large_holiday depression-03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg",87.4,87401,{"ext":83,"url":319,"etag":320,"hash":321,"mime":87,"name":322,"path":78,"size":323,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":324},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg","207a800fc1e97492d322661f154d9a9a","small_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a","small_holiday depression-03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg",27.04,27040,{"ext":83,"url":326,"etag":327,"hash":328,"mime":87,"name":329,"path":78,"size":330,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":331},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg","7b3bf74eedb14adc0e0dd4bc7671ec14","medium_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a","medium_holiday depression-03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg",54.05,54049,{"ext":83,"url":333,"etag":334,"hash":335,"mime":87,"name":336,"path":78,"size":337,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":338},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg","46dd8fd913c588b08b32f134355264df","thumbnail_holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a","thumbnail_holiday depression-03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg",8.37,8368,"holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a",120.13,"https://assets.workingal.com/holiday_depression_03335d5c22a920117eebcb9a03669e8e651dd7af15e11ba46cba49e481c67c9a.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:38.658Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":127,"documentId":128,"name":129,"slug":130,"instagram":78,"facebook":78,"bio":131,"linkedIn":78,"createdAt":132,"updatedAt":132,"publishedAt":133,"avatar":345},{"id":135,"documentId":136,"name":137,"alternativeText":138,"caption":138,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":346,"hash":151,"ext":142,"mime":146,"size":152,"url":153,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":154,"updatedAt":154,"publishedAt":154},{"thumbnail":347},{"ext":142,"url":143,"etag":144,"hash":145,"mime":146,"name":147,"path":78,"size":148,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":150},{"id":349,"documentId":350,"title":351,"content":352,"slug":353,"coffees":36,"seo_title":351,"keywords":354,"seo_desc":355,"bylineDate":356,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":357,"updatedAt":358,"publishedAt":359,"featuredImage":360,"category":398,"author":399,"img":396},400,"nbidt9s48a1pev42diy5x0j0","Your Monthly To-Do List With Our Favorite Quotes","Start the New Year Fresh with our To-Do List full of motivational quotes!\n\n## 2025 will be a productive and exciting year!\n\n# Get your list [here](https://assets.workingal.com/to_do_list_c2a54df5d7.pdf) and start planning!\n\n","your-monthly-to-do-list-with-our-favorite-quotes","todo list, printable to-do list, to-do lists ideas, print your to-do list","30 sheets of to-do lists with motivational quotes to plan your year as it deserves! Enjoy!\n","2024-12-19","2024-12-19T06:32:35.851Z","2024-12-21T22:14:02.972Z","2024-12-19T06:34:57.086Z",{"id":361,"documentId":362,"name":363,"alternativeText":364,"caption":364,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":365,"hash":394,"ext":280,"mime":284,"size":395,"url":396,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":397,"updatedAt":397,"publishedAt":397},215,"fzsvqztr56oretybpd4yfpbx","to do list printable-f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png","to do list printable",{"large":366,"small":373,"medium":380,"thumbnail":387},{"ext":280,"url":367,"etag":368,"hash":369,"mime":284,"name":370,"path":78,"size":371,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":372},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png","41c206bb1ba9d4bcdf44fe2bbe830e74","large_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209","large_to do list printable-f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png",873.3,873297,{"ext":280,"url":374,"etag":375,"hash":376,"mime":284,"name":377,"path":78,"size":378,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":379},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png","e5d142c2eb4b209b3abaf5db93b5a011","small_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209","small_to do list printable-f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png",219.28,219278,{"ext":280,"url":381,"etag":382,"hash":383,"mime":284,"name":384,"path":78,"size":385,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":386},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png","5a8e68c5370e7f01958a118de442dfd3","medium_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209","medium_to do list printable-f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png",487.34,487339,{"ext":280,"url":388,"etag":389,"hash":390,"mime":284,"name":391,"path":78,"size":392,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":393},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png","6a96507d4b04fe1cbaf531e4a69665f9","thumbnail_to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209","thumbnail_to do list printable-f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png",60.78,60781,"to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209",278.37,"https://assets.workingal.com/to_do_list_printable_f17ec986e273759b786e1bf20152f60128459df07d75a7bd6eb3934b6a486209.png","2026-09-06T10:34:36.446Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":31,"documentId":400,"name":401,"slug":402,"instagram":403,"facebook":404,"bio":405,"linkedIn":78,"createdAt":406,"updatedAt":406,"publishedAt":407,"avatar":408},"ukgot5nm4dgqju73fwiwdelm","The Working Gal Team","the-working-gal-team","https://www.instagram.com/the_working_gal/","https://www.facebook.com/theworkinggal","Written and curated collaboratively by the editors behind The Working Gal. Bringing together shared stories, practical career insight, and modern lifestyle perspectives.","2026-09-06T10:31:21.475Z","2026-09-06T10:31:21.487Z",{"id":409,"documentId":410,"name":411,"alternativeText":138,"caption":138,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":412,"hash":420,"ext":280,"mime":284,"size":116,"url":421,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":422,"updatedAt":422,"publishedAt":422},5,"wjqyp2hu8gbfmc8z6tm46b47","Untitled-7-23388bce2c185874b0150ef7b15669a3512bc94b01650602e6df4e42ec59e547.png",{"thumbnail":413},{"ext":280,"url":414,"etag":415,"hash":416,"mime":284,"name":417,"path":78,"size":418,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":419},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_Untitled_7_23388bce2c185874b0150ef7b15669a3512bc94b01650602e6df4e42ec59e547.png","18a930235d0aa447f29ed44c5fe9fbe5","thumbnail_Untitled_7_23388bce2c185874b0150ef7b15669a3512bc94b01650602e6df4e42ec59e547","thumbnail_Untitled-7-23388bce2c185874b0150ef7b15669a3512bc94b01650602e6df4e42ec59e547.png",11.83,11829,"Untitled_7_23388bce2c185874b0150ef7b15669a3512bc94b01650602e6df4e42ec59e547","https://assets.workingal.com/Untitled_7_23388bce2c185874b0150ef7b15669a3512bc94b01650602e6df4e42ec59e547.png","2026-09-06T10:31:21.358Z",{"id":424,"documentId":425,"title":426,"content":427,"slug":428,"coffees":216,"seo_title":426,"keywords":429,"seo_desc":430,"bylineDate":356,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":431,"updatedAt":432,"publishedAt":433,"featuredImage":434,"category":473,"author":474,"img":471},396,"t5jdew9anyz5o0swpp485t2e","I Woke Up at 6AM Every Day for 30 Days. Here Is What Actually Changed.","I have always been very interested in [increasing my productivity](https://www.workingal.com/search?s=productivity) and being able to finish stuff fast and efficiently. I have pretty much every productivity app anyone could imagine and I constantly calculate my time on different tasks in order to understand where I stall and where I am fast so that I can develop techniques that would make me faster and faster.\n\nWell, I can’t complain. Over the years, I have seen my productivity getting better and better and there have been days when I was actually really proud of me and my efficiency.\n\nHowever, the more I grow up, the more I realize that my productivity is imbalanced and not always regulated, as I thought it to be. And, honestly, sometimes life can be so **unpredictable** that even the most productive people can have a slip. And I am one of those people.\n\nI have tried several productivity tips and tricks and I cannot say that I have completely managed to reach all my goals. And as a traditional night owl, I would never think that waking-up early in the morning could actually be the game changer in my productivity levels.\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_036b923a24.png)\n\nAs a person who has worked for years as a [freelancer](https://www.workingal.com/search?s=freelancer), I had the luxury to manage my time according to my projects and, to be honest, the most satisfying thing was that I could work anytime I wanted and whenever I wanted within the day. So, a huge amount of my work was done during the evening and nighttime. I can’t even begin to remember how many times I was out for drinks up to 1 am (Greeks are late!) and then got back to working. Ahh, nice times.\n\nEven when I started the business (yes, I am now a proud business owner, stay tuned for more insights on that!), I was the last one to come to the office (and the last to leave it, for what is worth) and I can say that I felt so excited that I didn’t have to go to 9-5 never again.\n\nHowever, as the business moved forward, meetings with potential and new clients started piling up and I couldn’t support my working style anymore. I tried but eventually it wasn't functional, aka I was so sleep-deprived that I could barely stand awake. Amidst meetings, actual work and other stuff I saw my productivity levels drop dramatically and I realized I needed to take action. It was this time that I started a part-time job (for the experience and networking mainly) with a US company where the general mood was wake-up early and work-life balance.\n\nI started getting interested in the vibe of [waking up early](https://www.workingal.com/articles/i-stop-scrolling-in-the-morning) and I did a little research on the benefits of waking up early and if they are valid or another trick to support capitalism by being awake all day long.\n\nWhat I found? _Interesting stuff_. Many online people and influencers swear on waking up early and a lot of books of business management as well. Research suggests that the earlier we wake up, the more productive we get and get shit done.\n\nWell, considering that I used to get things done for many years and completely random time schedules, I initially thought that all these were just words to fill the paper or the Instagram caption. But, since I never say no to a new challenge, I decided to try it and see what happens. Best case scenario, I would become the most successful person in the worl,d or I would be the most tired person in the world, and I would blame all the aspiring productivity gurus of the internet.\n\n# What's the Best Time to Wake Up for Productivity?\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_926defb3fc.png)\n\nI find it very efficient to start everything I have in mind on **Sundays**. Whether I want to establish a new healthy habit or I want to stop a bad one, I find Sundays a very convenient start day, first because I have the time to see the differences without risking being at work and second because Monday puts already a _pressure for the upcoming week_, so I try to not get me overwhelmed with a life change.\n\nSo, the previous night, I set my alarm for 6 am. I set another for 6:15 and another for 6:30 in case I won’t manage to wake up with the first attempt. This way, I create a safety net so that I stick to my goal. Also, my phone goes far away, out of reach, so that I don’t get tempted to put off waking up on time. Of course, I couldn’t go to bed early and I mentally prepared myself that I would be groggy the next morning.\n\nSo, on Sunday I was up at 6 am, sharp. I made it! Honestly, it was brutal, but I was determined to achieve my goal. And I didn’t want to let my discomfort overwhelm me. I got my coffee; I stayed away from the phone -who is awake that early, after all?- and I took some time to acknowledge what was happening. After a while, I starting feeling that I wanted to move a bit so I started doing some **house cleaning and laundry.**\n\nBy noon, I have finished laundry, I meal prepped for the week and I have edited a couple of articles that need to be delivered by the end of the following week. Oh boy! So many things were done that I couldn’t believe it was just noon.\n\n# Why Morning People Achieve Greater Success\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_d34d12438e.png)\n\nIn the beginning, I thought that it was just a coincidence and I was just fast, despite the lack of sleep. However, I wanted to be sure of my assumptions, and of course, I continued waking up at 6 am the following days and see how this will eventually end up.\n\nWell, I have some great news to share: **waking up early actually works for your productivity**. There are many studies that support the fact that mornings are usually the ideal time to finish all our important tasks because our brain functions better. Therefore, when you wake up that early, you give yourself some extra hours of productivity and, consequently, you finish more tasks during those hours.\n\nAlso, the fact that you wake up so early in a peaceful house creates the perfect opportunity to make some decisions in a **distraction-free environment** where the clutter of a busy day can’t reach you. Waking up at 6 am is a great chance to stand still and enjoy your morning without having to rush out of the door (or jump to your laptop) without time for yourself. If you wake up early enough, you can have a [nutritious breakfast](https://www.workingal.com/articles/busy-mornings-20-healthy-breakfast-ideas-if-you-don-t-have-time), get dressed, and enjoy your beauty routine without the guilt of being late. It is a great time to workout as well. I am usually a **morning person** when it comes to working out but I would storm in my Pilates 9 am class sleepy, not having coffee and would almost sleep for the first 20 minutes of the class. After starting to wake up at 6 am, I had already done some of the morning preparations and also had enough coffee to make my workout more efficient.\n\n### Imagine how many things you don’t usually do in the morning, you are able to achieve only by setting your alarm at 6 am every morning\n\nAnd this is the key to great productivity. Early, undistracted mornings are the best option to empty your to-do list and manage your time more effectively with almost **zero distractions**. This is even more appealing considering that you free up your afternoons and replace errands with fun things. In my case, waking up very early motivated me to get into business early, tackle all my tasks for the day (and even some tasks for the whole week) and be able to find more time for myself and my loved ones.\n\nAlso, since I had time to get ready for work, my diet got better since I had the time to [prep my meals](https://www.workingal.com/articles/5-tips-for-meal-prep) and have a great breakfast before heading to the office.\n\n# Is 6 am The Ideal Time To Wake Up? | Can It Last?\n\n![early morning productivity](https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_48ce29175c.png)\n\nIt did. Alright, during the weekend I allow myself to stay in bed a bit more but during the week, I aim to wake up no later than 6:15 am and go to bed early, no matter how tired or not I am. I have made my schedule around this time and I still can’t believe how much free time I have during the evening. Also, considering that a habit takes about 21 days to be established, then probably my body is used to waking up early ever since I got into the challenge of doing so.\n\nHowever, the decision of your wake up time is a personal choice and it really **depends on your lifestyle**, **work and preferences**. If it aligns with those then you can give it a try and check whether is the right decision for you and it can have a positive change to your productivity and well-being.","productivity-diaries-i-started-to-wake-up-at-6-am-and-good-things-have-happened","best time to wake up for productivity, why do morning people achieve greater success, ideal wake up time for productivity ","I set my alarm for 6AM every day for 30 days and tracked every result. Here is what the productivity research predicted, what actually happened, and whether it is worth doing.","2024-12-19T03:40:07.361Z","2026-02-19T05:07:24.946Z","2024-12-19T03:48:09.596Z",{"id":435,"documentId":436,"name":437,"alternativeText":438,"caption":439,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":440,"hash":469,"ext":280,"mime":284,"size":470,"url":471,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":472,"updatedAt":472,"publishedAt":472},213,"w4cgw3xo0xgcuuxv3bu5o2ez","early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","Hand reaching alarm clock","early morning productivity",{"large":441,"small":448,"medium":455,"thumbnail":462},{"ext":280,"url":442,"etag":443,"hash":444,"mime":284,"name":445,"path":78,"size":446,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":447},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","6cf6c431432121fab87dc9c6d4f34e3f","large_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","large_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",923.13,923131,{"ext":280,"url":449,"etag":450,"hash":451,"mime":284,"name":452,"path":78,"size":453,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":454},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","f209f3555a113dc985d82911bad49e4b","small_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","small_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",240.66,240661,{"ext":280,"url":456,"etag":457,"hash":458,"mime":284,"name":459,"path":78,"size":460,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":461},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","109e878d0de5af62f6056f74be9af6d6","medium_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","medium_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",518.11,518112,{"ext":280,"url":463,"etag":464,"hash":465,"mime":284,"name":466,"path":78,"size":467,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":468},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","bdd4d25d4ef15f867780ca0cde82bf16","thumbnail_early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2","thumbnail_early morning productivity-3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png",69.22,69224,"early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2",250.51,"https://assets.workingal.com/early_morning_productivity_3ee256fd2dc345fb2d5de9799a68a4cbedfa6d413b28040df24fca76a373b5f2.png","2026-09-06T10:34:33.463Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":26,"documentId":475,"name":476,"slug":477,"instagram":478,"facebook":479,"bio":480,"linkedIn":481,"createdAt":482,"updatedAt":482,"publishedAt":483,"avatar":484},"rrgw04x1ox461oib75ljto7k","Dimitra","dimitra","https://www.instagram.com/dimdimi/","https://www.facebook.com/dimitra.lioliou.9","She started in corporate, stepped out to build her own businesses, and along the way learned five foreign languages. With a background in Sociology, her focus remains squarely on human behavior, the true engine behind every business, cultural trend, and daily decision. Today, she splits her time between Europe and the US, writing about work, culture, and the subtle mechanics of modern life. If you ask her about languages, consider yourself warned: she will not stop talking.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimitra-lioliou/","2026-09-06T10:31:18.888Z","2026-09-06T10:31:18.911Z",{"id":42,"documentId":485,"name":486,"alternativeText":487,"caption":488,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":489,"hash":497,"ext":280,"mime":284,"size":498,"url":499,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":500,"updatedAt":500,"publishedAt":501},"vho74tz85ywt8uvcc2i46n8j","Dimitra Lioliou-490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png","dimitra lioliou profile pic","dimitra lioliou the working gal",{"thumbnail":490},{"ext":280,"url":491,"etag":492,"hash":493,"mime":284,"name":494,"path":78,"size":495,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":496},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png","1af5fda28d3e7890e8a99c385239de61","thumbnail_Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5","thumbnail_Dimitra Lioliou-490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png",47.39,47387,"Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5",28.15,"https://assets.workingal.com/Dimitra_Lioliou_490b9ae7a31e67cbe83f6cbd018b514572b484c2a12096c4257fcc93fbbdacd5.png","2026-09-06T10:31:18.786Z","2026-09-06T10:31:18.787Z",{"id":503,"documentId":504,"title":505,"content":506,"slug":507,"coffees":216,"seo_title":508,"keywords":509,"seo_desc":510,"bylineDate":511,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":512,"updatedAt":513,"publishedAt":514,"featuredImage":515,"category":554,"author":555,"img":551},392,"aehozzu6mghgxr0ray8n7zu6","I Stopped Scrolling In The Morning And Good Things Have Happened","### _Does your phone drain your energy? Maybe!_\n\n****\n\nI have always been a massive supporter of mobile phones, as they are an excellent **tool** that makes our lives easier, for sure. Especially when it comes to their ease and the possibilities they offer. We can all agree that it’s not only me who favors this easy, at-hand technology and comfort mobile phones can offer; in the modern world, mobile phones have become an **integral** part of our everyday lives. The need to be _connected and informed_ is becoming increasingly intense during the day.\n\nApart from the fact that my phone is interconnected with my job (Digital Marketer here), it’s a tool that helps me stay connected, _learn about politics, life, and innovations_, and keep in touch with my loved ones when I cannot be **physically** present.\n\nThis tendency to keep my phone close to me also expanded in the bedroom. The first move I used to make every time I opened my eyes was to grab my phone and check what was happening in the world, at work, everywhere. My FOMO was getting bigger and bigger, and I couldn’t stay away from my phone. And what’s the problem, someone would ask?\n\n![stop doom scrolling](https://assets.workingal.com/blog_900x550_18_99d7d96464.png)\n\nIt took me some time to detect the problem. What I realized is that while this practice, aka scrolling on my phone before I even get out of bed, seems innocent, I randomly read some research and articles suggesting that early morning cell phone use can negatively affect our mental health, [concentration](https://www.workingal.com/articles/7-ways-to-improve-concentration-in-everything-you-do), and physical wellness.\n\n# The effects of early morning mobile phone use on mental health\n\nThe first thing we do in the morning can determine our **state of mind** for the rest of the day. Therefore, when we start our day by checking our phones, we are immediately exposed to an enormous amount of information that increases stress and reduces our ability to manage the day's demands.\n\nA study published in the [Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology](https://guilfordjournals.com/loi/jscp) found that constant exposure to social media increases **anxiety**. A study of social networking and social media use also found that it increases stress and lowers self-esteem. When the first thing we see is the **news or social media**, our minds are bombarded with information that can be stressful or make us feel inadequate compared to others.\n\nAlso, according to research from the University of California, the first moments of the day are critical for our mental calm and concentration. When we use our cell phones as soon as we wake up, our minds focus on various topics, resulting in **decreased attention** and delay in organizing our day. _Attention to all project managers out there:_ if you feel like 24 hours are not enough, maybe the reason is what you do in the morning. Morning is the time when the brain is most rested and creative. Constant external stimulation via mobile phones limits this creative ability, as the brain often processes unnecessary information.\n\n**The experts have spoken:** Experts at the [New York State Psychological Association](https://www.nyspa.org/) argue that exposure to negative news and social media in the morning reduces positive energy levels and increases negativity.\n\nMany people, myself included, admit that they start their day late because they waste time on their cell phones. This limits the time available for a healthy breakfast or exercise and often leads to an impatient and rushed start to the day.\n\n# The physical health risks of reckless mobile phone use\n\n![stop doom scrolling](https://assets.workingal.com/blog_900x550_19_344164373e.png)\n\nApart from the mental burden we take through our mobile phones, research shows that indiscriminate mobile phone use can also have a severe impact on our physical fitness and physical health. My findings:\n\n**\\- Vision problems and headaches:** The blue light emitted from mobile screens is known to strain the eyes and can cause symptoms such as eye fatigue and headaches. According to Harvard Medical School, using screens right after waking up can cause headaches or affect our vision.\n\n**\\- Poor** **sleep** **and** **reduced** **energy:** Stanford University scientists explain that early morning cell phone use disrupts our sleep cycle, affecting how we feel throughout the day. Frequent notifications and direct exposure to blue light inhibit the flow of melatonin, making it difficult to restore our normal energy state after sleep.\n\n**\\- Neck** **and** **shoulder** **pain:** The posture we adopt when we look at our mobile phones can cause problems, such as neck pain and shoulder tension. The World Health Organization states that prolonged use of mobile phones can strain the spine, leading to chronic fatigue and musculoskeletal pain.\n\n# What I did to stop my morning scrolling routine\n\nAfter all the research I did, I got obsessed with it. I started to realize that my low energy levels and bad mood were related to my morning phone use. And I changed my attitude towards it. And I reviewed my morning routine by following some simple yet effective steps:\n\n**\\- I** **kept** **my** **phone** **away** **from** **bed:** Before I got into bed, I set my alarms and moved my phone to the table outside my bedroom. _This trick had two benefits_: first, I avoided snoozing since I had to walk to get my phone, and second, I was annoyed enough that I didn’t touch my phone up until my coffee was ready. With this trick, if you don't have easy access to your phone while you are still in bed, it will be harder to fall into the trap of checking it once you wake up.\n\n**\\- I created for myself a fun morning routine:** When I wake-up, instead of staying in bed checking the digital world, I stand up, get in the shower, and make homemade coffee. Then, I take my planner and start writing what I want to do that day, and guess what? I don’t even need my phone anymore. Well, ok, work calendar meetings need to be checked, but let’s start easy for now!\n\n![stop doom scrolling](https://assets.workingal.com/blog_900x550_20_c848e391d8.png)\n\n\\- **I set work/life priorities:** Being on the phone during work makes sense, especially if your job requires it. However, the mind needs some rest in order to function properly and be creative. My work is mainly creative, and I realized that reading and consuming the content of others deprives me of being creative myself. So, being away from my phone has helped me so far being more creative and productive.\n\nHow Did That Feel?\n\nAs surprising as it may seem, I immediately noticed the results when I stopped **scrolling** in the morning. First, I was on time for work without running and getting ready in five minutes. Unbelievable! Also, I monitored my mood and realized that it started getting better. Since I stopped this habit, I have regained my energy levels, and I feel like my **anxiety** is significantly reduced—or at least until I get to the office (sometimes!). Also, I felt like I had more time during the day and could organize my day more effectively. And I realized it’s fantastic to have some time in the morning just to sit, relax, and enjoy a cup of coffee quietly, losing yourself in your own world.\n\nSo, now that I remember how cool it is to start the day without the **digital burden** of all that information, I am creating a more healthy and wholesome relationship with my phone and the digital world—one that will only benefit me.","i-stop-scrolling-in-the-morning","I Stop Scrolling In The Morning And Good Things Have Happened","digital burnout, morning scrolling, how to stop doom scrolling, how to stop checking my phone","Maybe you don't need to throw away your phone, maybe you need to stop scrolling in the morning. Read our editor's journey toward leaving her phone away every morning.","2024-12-04","2024-12-04T21:54:45.265Z","2024-12-05T01:26:27.425Z","2024-12-04T22:03:06.314Z",{"id":516,"documentId":517,"name":518,"alternativeText":519,"caption":519,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":520,"hash":549,"ext":280,"mime":284,"size":550,"url":551,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":552,"updatedAt":552,"publishedAt":553},211,"wm0jl5z047fuziune3x1mpet","stop doom scrolling-45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png","stop doom scrolling",{"large":521,"small":528,"medium":535,"thumbnail":542},{"ext":280,"url":522,"etag":523,"hash":524,"mime":284,"name":525,"path":78,"size":526,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":527},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png","c6ced72e45781ec7b35997ca85a32f3d","large_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190","large_stop doom scrolling-45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png",1065.72,1065718,{"ext":280,"url":529,"etag":530,"hash":531,"mime":284,"name":532,"path":78,"size":533,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":534},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png","beb53aa779497a100e40bea25e788a57","small_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190","small_stop doom scrolling-45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png",283.1,283100,{"ext":280,"url":536,"etag":537,"hash":538,"mime":284,"name":539,"path":78,"size":540,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":541},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png","75ce6b70415f7caf6f2f7fa189ac0723","medium_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190","medium_stop doom scrolling-45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png",609.07,609068,{"ext":280,"url":543,"etag":544,"hash":545,"mime":284,"name":546,"path":78,"size":547,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":548},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png","047bde1363c34eb143f1b4147cf8b5f0","thumbnail_stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190","thumbnail_stop doom scrolling-45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png",77.78,77778,"stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190",479.6,"https://assets.workingal.com/stop_doom_scrolling_45220a8be87491db9010135cc702c2966714dc26ae39ca1ae3a9151e1cb9b190.png","2026-09-06T10:34:30.974Z","2026-09-06T10:34:30.975Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":36,"documentId":265,"name":266,"slug":267,"instagram":268,"facebook":269,"bio":270,"linkedIn":271,"createdAt":272,"updatedAt":272,"publishedAt":273,"avatar":556},{"id":26,"documentId":275,"name":276,"alternativeText":277,"caption":277,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":557,"hash":288,"ext":280,"mime":284,"size":289,"url":290,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":291,"updatedAt":291,"publishedAt":291},{"thumbnail":558},{"ext":280,"url":281,"etag":282,"hash":283,"mime":284,"name":285,"path":78,"size":286,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":287},{"id":560,"documentId":561,"title":562,"content":563,"slug":564,"coffees":26,"seo_title":565,"keywords":566,"seo_desc":567,"bylineDate":568,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":569,"updatedAt":570,"publishedAt":571,"featuredImage":572,"category":610,"author":611,"img":608},382,"d4nneny80xaqb7licg4ldp1d","Rebecca Syndrome: The Dark Side of Dating","****\n\nRelationships are complicated and sometimes overwhelming. When it comes to romantic relationships, they can become even more complicated if jealousy \"lives and reigns.\" And that's exactly what a new term in dating refers to, and many individuals feel that it could bring disaster for couples.\n\n\"Rebecca syndrome,\" or **\"retroactive jealousy,\"** occurs when a person in a romantic relationship feels jealous or obsessed with their partner's previous relationship.\n\nThis is why it is called \"retroactive jealousy\"; it refers to the fixed past that cannot be changed. The term is named after the 1938 novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, which tells the story of a widower's second wife tormented by the idea that she will never be able to compete with Rebecca, her husband's previous wife.\n\nAccording to a 2017 study, about [66.7 percent](https://www.ladbible.com/lifestyle/what-is-rebecca-syndrome-romantic-relationships-465764-20241014) of relationship participants admitted to looking for a loved one's ex, a figure that drops to 65.8 percent in married couples. Today, with social media exacerbating _\"a set of psychological problems,\"_ psychologists say Rebecca Syndrome is a worsening phenomenon.\n\n# What does \"Rebecca syndrome\" look like in a relationship?\n\n![rebecca syndrome jealousy](https://assets.workingal.com/rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_99a02fb537.jpg)\n\nKate Balestrieri, psychologist, sex therapist, and founder of Modern Intimacy, explains how someone can experience feelings of insecurity around their partner's past relationships and sexual history, no matter how much time has passed. Comparison with previous partners can lead the person to compare themselves to things like appearance, intelligence, and fuel obsession.\n\n_\"It can really cause a lot of pain to couples because the partner with retroactive jealousy is often stuck thinking about the details of their partner's past relationships, wondering if their partner is thinking or fantasizing about their ex, or even comparing their current relationship to their past experiences,\"_ she said in an interview with Women's Health. For the expert, it may be how someone counteracts fears of abandonment and ideas that they will never be good enough for a relationship due to previous relational traumas.\n\nIndividuals suffering from Rebecca Syndrome often experience a range of negative emotions, including:\n\n**\\- Insecurity:** Constant self-doubt and comparison to the past partner.\n\n**\\- Anxiety:** Fear of inadequacy and the belief that they cannot measure up.\n\n**\\- Jealousy:** Intense envy and resentment towards the past partner.\n\n**\\- Obsessive Thoughts:** Constant rumination about the past relationship.\n\n**\\- Low Self-Esteem:** A diminished sense of self-worth.\n\n# What to do if you suspect you or your partner might have Rebecca Syndrome\n\n**Be honest and open to communication**\n\nTalk openly and honestly with your partner about your concerns and feelings regarding their past relationships. This involves sharing your thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment or rejection, creating a safe space for vulnerability and trust.\n\n**Work on your self-esteem**\n\nBy working on self-confidence and addressing personal insecurities, you can reduce the fuel for jealousy. This involves recognizing and challenging negative thoughts, practicing positive self-talk, and setting achievable goals. By valuing your own worth and abilities, you can develop a healthier sense of self and reduce the impact of past relationships on your current one.\n\n**Visit a professional**\n\n![rebecca syndrome jealousy](https://assets.workingal.com/rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_7a053b7a2a.jpg)\n\nIf jealousy is significantly impacting your relationship, **couples therapy** can provide a safe and supportive space to address underlying issues and develop effective coping mechanisms. A therapist can help you and your partner improve communication, build trust, and work through past hurts. You can gain valuable tools and strategies to manage jealousy and strengthen your relationship by seeking professional guidance.\n\nRebecca Syndrome can severely strain a relationship, leading to a host of negative consequences. Individuals suffering from this condition may struggle with deep-seated trust issues, constantly questioning their partner's intentions and loyalty. They may avoid discussing the past, fearing further **emotional** turmoil and resentment.\n\nAs trust erodes, an emotional distance grows between partners, hindering intimacy and connection. This can lead to frequent conflicts and arguments, as jealousy and insecurity fuel misunderstandings and hurt. In severe cases, the overwhelming emotional toll can even lead to the termination of the relationship, as both partners become overwhelmed by the constant stress and negativity.\n\n### **Sources:**\n\n\u003Chttps://www.womenshealthmag.com/relationships/a41044659/retroactive-jealousy/>\n\n\u003Chttps://www.bbc.com/news/stories-44850438>\n\n\u003Chttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/retroactive-jealousy>","rebecca-syndrome-the-dark-side-of-dating","\"Rebecca Syndrome\": The Dark Side of Dating","rebecca syndrome, my partner is jealous, jealousy in couples, dating jealousy, retroactive jealousy","Rebecca syndrome or retroactive jealously can harm your dating experience and your relationship. Recognize it and learn how to overcome it.","2024-11-20","2024-11-19T23:14:55.102Z","2024-11-19T23:44:02.979Z","2024-11-19T23:44:02.976Z",{"id":573,"documentId":574,"name":575,"alternativeText":576,"caption":576,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":577,"hash":606,"ext":83,"mime":87,"size":607,"url":608,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":609,"updatedAt":609,"publishedAt":609},206,"y26o92h2y643rbpuineh348d","rebecca syndrome jealousy-8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg","rebecca syndrome jealousy",{"large":578,"small":585,"medium":592,"thumbnail":599},{"ext":83,"url":579,"etag":580,"hash":581,"mime":87,"name":582,"path":78,"size":583,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":584},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg","165d4f3594ca4d1bb7d06e0dac36a32b","large_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2","large_rebecca syndrome jealousy-8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg",49.96,49963,{"ext":83,"url":586,"etag":587,"hash":588,"mime":87,"name":589,"path":78,"size":590,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":591},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg","4865c55c9abdc3161add6016f6fd70c7","small_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2","small_rebecca syndrome jealousy-8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg",18.11,18106,{"ext":83,"url":593,"etag":594,"hash":595,"mime":87,"name":596,"path":78,"size":597,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":598},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg","35a91fd63f83c44b0fccf252c2d711d1","medium_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2","medium_rebecca syndrome jealousy-8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg",32.3,32304,{"ext":83,"url":600,"etag":601,"hash":602,"mime":87,"name":603,"path":78,"size":604,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":605},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg","ac05c15f25f59c22d9d9997a0223ad42","thumbnail_rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2","thumbnail_rebecca syndrome jealousy-8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg",6.64,6642,"rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2",93.41,"https://assets.workingal.com/rebecca_syndrome_jealousy_8f3000d3bc705f16843ca5634e0d25f2550ef53b7862af2a7694d8416cd836b2.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:24.802Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":127,"documentId":128,"name":129,"slug":130,"instagram":78,"facebook":78,"bio":131,"linkedIn":78,"createdAt":132,"updatedAt":132,"publishedAt":133,"avatar":612},{"id":135,"documentId":136,"name":137,"alternativeText":138,"caption":138,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":613,"hash":151,"ext":142,"mime":146,"size":152,"url":153,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":154,"updatedAt":154,"publishedAt":154},{"thumbnail":614},{"ext":142,"url":143,"etag":144,"hash":145,"mime":146,"name":147,"path":78,"size":148,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":150},{"id":616,"documentId":617,"title":618,"content":619,"slug":620,"coffees":78,"seo_title":618,"keywords":621,"seo_desc":622,"bylineDate":623,"bylineTimezone":69,"createdAt":624,"updatedAt":625,"publishedAt":626,"featuredImage":627,"category":665,"author":666,"img":663},380,"b6pile1mc2cf027ayvwqrscc","The Power of Being Grateful","****\n\nThanksgiving is just a few days away, and gratitude is not just an emotional response but a force that can change how we see the world and our lives. People who cultivate gratitude feel more **satisfied** with their lives and are more resilient in difficult situations.\n\nThe [American Psychological Association](https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/lessons/activities/activity-benefits-gratitude.pdf) defines this phenomenon as a sense of happiness and thankfulness in response to a fortunate happenstance or tangible gift.\n\nGratitude is a profound state of mind, often misunderstood as a mere fleeting emotion. It’s more than just saying _“thank you.”_ It's a conscious choice to focus on the **positive aspects of life**, even in the most challenging times. It's about recognizing and appreciating the big and small blessings that enrich our lives.\n\nAccording to research, people who practice gratitude are _happier, healthier, and have better relationships_ with those around them. Gratitude can enhance our mental well-being and help us live with more balance.\n\n# The Transformative Power of Gratitude\n\n![how to be grateful](https://assets.workingal.com/how_to_be_grateful_e72471d410.jpg)\n\nScientific studies have shown that practicing gratitude can significantly impact our mental and physical well-being. It can:\n\n**\\- Reduce stress and anxiety:** Gratitude can help alleviate stress and anxiety by shifting our focus to positive experiences.\n\n**\\- Improve sleep quality:** A grateful mindset can promote relaxation and better sleep patterns.\n\n**\\- Boost happiness and optimism:** Gratitude can increase feelings of joy, contentment, and hope.\n\n**\\- Strengthen relationships:** Expressing gratitude to others can deepen bonds and foster stronger relationships.\n\n**\\- Enhance resilience:** A grateful perspective can help us cope with adversity and bounce back from challenges.\n\n# How to build an attitude of gratitude\n\nGratitude is like a \"muscle\" that needs exercise to get stronger. Being grateful can be hard, especially in our busy and fast-paced lives, but some small changes in our daily routines can make us :\n\n## 1\\. Keep a gratitude journal\n\nOne of the most uncomplicated and effective habits is keeping a gratitude journal. Take a few minutes each day to write down 2-3 things you are grateful for. It can be something as small as a nice cup of coffee in the morning or something bigger, like a nice conversation with a friend.\n\n## 2\\. Start your day with gratitude\n\nBefore you get out of bed in the morning, take a few moments to think of three things you are grateful for. This little routine can change your mood and set a positive foundation for the rest of the day. For instance, instead of grabbing your phone first thing in the morning, why don’t you grab your journal and jot down all the things you are grateful for?\n\n## 3\\. Be grateful even for challenges\n\nGratitude isn't just about the good times. When you face difficulties, try to find what you can learn from them. Acknowledging that every challenge can bring an opportunity for growth is a powerful tool for personal development.\n\n## 4\\. Express yourself to others\n\nSay _\"thank you\"_ to someone who has done something nice for you, even if it's something simple. Acknowledging the actions of others creates a chain of gratitude and strengthens relationships. You can send a text, an email, or write a letter of appreciation to someone who has supported you.\n\n## 5\\. Focus on the positive\n\n![how to be grateful](https://assets.workingal.com/how_to_be_grateful_bb4e5f9653.jpg)\n\nIt’s easy to get into a position where we want to live our [drama](https://www.workingal.com/articles/the-drama-llama-10-signs-you-are-addicted-to-drama) because something bad happened. However, instead of dwelling on negative thoughts, why not focus on your life's positive aspects? When negative thoughts arise, challenge them with positive affirmations. This way, you train your mind to be more grateful, even when life throws you lemons instead of raspberries.\n\n## 6\\. Let go of expectations and perfectionism\n\nNobody is perfect, and life is imperfect as well. We all make mistakes, and if we didn’t, how would we learn our lesson? Shift your mindset to not expect perfection from yourself or others and accept your and other people’s mistakes.\n\n****\n\nGratitude can bring considerable changes in our lives without requiring significant investments of time or energy. Even small moments of conscious recognition of good things can change how we feel and see the world around us.\n\nTake time each day to think about what brings you gratitude and notice how it **affects your mood**. Over time, gratitude will become part of your daily routine and enhance positivity in your life.\n\nGratitude is a simple yet **powerful practice** that can change our lives. Start building your own grateful mindset today and see how your life will be filled with more joy and contentment.\n\n### Maybe start at Thanksgiving?","the-power-of-being-grateful","thanksgiving, grateful, how to be grateful, grateful journal, graditude journal, ","Gratitude is very important for a balanced and purposeful life. This thanksgiving maybe take some time and feel grateful for all that you have. Read the article and learn how to incorporate some acts of gratitude in your life.","2024-11-17","2024-11-17T22:07:01.898Z","2024-11-17T22:13:52.631Z","2024-11-17T22:13:52.628Z",{"id":628,"documentId":629,"name":630,"alternativeText":631,"caption":631,"focalPoint":78,"width":79,"height":80,"formats":632,"hash":661,"ext":83,"mime":87,"size":662,"url":663,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":664,"updatedAt":664,"publishedAt":664},205,"lkyyfzasthj1zhsg4mvuk52t","how to be grateful-fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg","how to be grateful",{"large":633,"small":640,"medium":647,"thumbnail":654},{"ext":83,"url":634,"etag":635,"hash":636,"mime":87,"name":637,"path":78,"size":638,"width":90,"height":91,"sizeInBytes":639},"https://assets.workingal.com/large_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg","1c22faa118a1f8dc63e961f8c0f9f329","large_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f","large_how to be grateful-fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg",67.66,67663,{"ext":83,"url":641,"etag":642,"hash":643,"mime":87,"name":644,"path":78,"size":645,"width":99,"height":100,"sizeInBytes":646},"https://assets.workingal.com/small_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg","adea7acfa49a14dea7640abeb60470b4","small_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f","small_how to be grateful-fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg",23.42,23423,{"ext":83,"url":648,"etag":649,"hash":650,"mime":87,"name":651,"path":78,"size":652,"width":108,"height":109,"sizeInBytes":653},"https://assets.workingal.com/medium_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg","17a512c32f3a9dfbf644bac15003da89","medium_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f","medium_how to be grateful-fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg",43.05,43049,{"ext":83,"url":655,"etag":656,"hash":657,"mime":87,"name":658,"path":78,"size":659,"width":117,"height":118,"sizeInBytes":660},"https://assets.workingal.com/thumbnail_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg","3721b35c41f660179d69bfa1d150b638","thumbnail_how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f","thumbnail_how to be grateful-fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg",8.42,8418,"how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f",93.18,"https://assets.workingal.com/how_to_be_grateful_fe9267335d2debce9d1647d22b532a7d8b2f77ba525ce49d004c87f710949b2f.jpg","2026-09-06T10:34:24.075Z",{"id":36,"documentId":37,"name":38,"slug":39,"createdAt":48,"updatedAt":48,"publishedAt":49},{"id":127,"documentId":128,"name":129,"slug":130,"instagram":78,"facebook":78,"bio":131,"linkedIn":78,"createdAt":132,"updatedAt":132,"publishedAt":133,"avatar":667},{"id":135,"documentId":136,"name":137,"alternativeText":138,"caption":138,"focalPoint":78,"width":139,"height":139,"formats":668,"hash":151,"ext":142,"mime":146,"size":152,"url":153,"previewUrl":78,"provider":123,"provider_metadata":78,"createdAt":154,"updatedAt":154,"publishedAt":154},{"thumbnail":669},{"ext":142,"url":143,"etag":144,"hash":145,"mime":146,"name":147,"path":78,"size":148,"width":149,"height":149,"sizeInBytes":150},{"pagination":671},{"start":672,"limit":673,"total":674},63,9,110,1788762750150]