Less Stress Family Podcast

Here is the full Sing A Long CD. We made it to be a blessing to anyone who is feeling lonely and isolated. 

Like Shawna said in the intro of this episode, imagine 16 of us with half a dozen instruments coming into your living room, drinking coffee and singing songs. It is fun chaos!

This is free so please share it freely with anyone who might need some encouragement!

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Traditions can bring stability and purpose to your life. Today we talk through how Christmas traditions like St. Nicholas Day, St. Lucy Day, Christmas Caroling and Finding Baby Jesus bring meaning to our family. Movies like = The Nativity, The Man who Invented Christmas, A Christmas Carol all build a rich tradition in our family.

But we have to communicate to our kids and to ourselves why we are going through the traditio...

We have learned that if we don't learn a lesson in life, then we often have to re-take the test. We don't want to re-take the tests from 2020.

So here are  ten things we have learned or had reconfirmed in 2020:

1. Do the new thing = launch  a podcast.
2. Your environment is your cookie cutter.
3. Routines are essential.
4. Life is very short.
5. Build redundancy in every area of life...

In November 2020,  our dear Grandma June passed away. This episode is dedicated to her memory and life.

What you do matters! Living an ordinary life is more than ok.

https://www.facebook.com/100766271391212/videos/3548322861927487

Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com
www.lsfpodcast.com for our free morning planner for adults and kids.

Facebook = Less Stress Family Podcast

Shawna = Instagram @shawnasheree...

Today, we are coaching ourselves through transition and changed. We all have seasons of transition and change. It is okay to feel a bit nervous about the unknown. However, you don't have to feel completely out of control during a time of change in your life.

Focus on what you can control. Today we talk about:

staying positive and thankful
putting  a time line on the change
see it as a challenge not a...

We are both super EXCITED about Thanksgiving and Christmas this year!! Why? Because we have decided to get back to the basics.

We discuss how to de-stress your holidays with some very simple adjustments that we have learned over the years.

We talk about:
Too Much of everything
Scheduling
Sugar Intake
Unrealistic expectations
and Being Unprepared

Email = woodfamily@lsfpodcast.com
w...

Politics stress got you down? Some people said that this 2020 election was the most stressful day in their life. Good grief people!! Get a grip!!

In 1796, George Washington gave a farewell address and talked about the dangers of political parties and how they divide people - ultimately causing us great stress.

"They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the p...

Self Sabotage is when you block yourself from reaching your own goals. Things like: chronic lateness, procrastination, perfectionism, negative self talk, etc.

Shawna is going through some professional development where she realized that there is some self sabotage going on. So we have been talking about the story or stories that go with that self sabotage behavior. Why?

We also talk about Fixed vs Growth Mindset a...

Today we talk about how we choose to be stressed in life. Sure, there are hard times but how we handle the situation is the key.

I (Justin) cut out most news and stressful media for over a week. Instead, I listened to encouraging podcasts and youtube videos. Shawna noticed a big difference in that week of time.

We refuse to allow stressed out to be the new normal in our life.
We are replacing the words "...

We are NOT talking about another virus you should be concerned about. We talk about Irlen Syndrome (Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome) and some things you might need to know. 


We discuss how our discovery that 1 of our kids had it has opened us up to all of us getting tested for it. We got our son glasses and he is on pace to advance 2.5 grade levels in reading this year!! No joke. Our glasses have been ordered and we sho...

You are the leader of yourself.
You are the leader of others (whether you like it or accept it).

We discuss chapter 2 of the book Extreme Ownership.

We also talk about:
How face to face communication is so important in good leadership.
How you have to have your team's best in mind as you lead.
How there are 2 parts to the equation: the goal/mission and the team dynamics (you will probably spe...

I (Justin) have fought routine and structure most of my life. I don't like to be told what to do with my time. But I keep finding that routines make my life and my family's life so much better.

Just a couple of small changes in your life can really create a better flow for your entire day.

We talk about how helpful routines allow you to go into auto-pilot and get so much stuff done in your day.

Our goal in this episode is to talk through some  of the complexity with needing but also being over dependent on technology.

There is never a good time to unplug from technology. Well, we went on this camping trip and we didn't use our screens and technology. Wow. We actually had to deal with our own feelings and our own thoughts a little bit.

We all get sucked into our screens and technology.

We...

Overcoming Fear. You probably have this mastered. Right?

"Fear is a liar with a smooth and velvet tongue."

Perfect love casts at fear.

Focusing on your fear will steal your peace and weaken your immune system.

We talk in this episode about some practical steps to overcome fear. We talk about our journey and dealing with fear.

https://reallifecounseling.us/overcome-fear-and-an...

Journaling is a great tool to have in your toolbox.

Neuroscience is showing us that writing things down makes a greater impact on your brain (and ultimately your whole self).

Shawna and I have been greatly impacted by the journaling of Anne Franke, George Mueller, Thomas Merton and Mark Virkler.

We cover some helpful tips for journaling well.
https://www.cwgministries.org/Four-Keys-to-Hearing-Gods-V...

Today, we flip the script and talk about what to do to stay stressed, negative and miserable. Sometimes it is helpful to look at life from a different perspective.

These negative habits are very small, but holding onto them for long periods of time will exhaust you:
Don't be thankful.
Stay default pessimistic.
Focus on perfection.
Maintain a negative physical atmosphere.
Neglect your body.
Con...

If your purpose and "why" are clear, then you will win if you don't quit. Sure, your activities and tactics may change over time, but if you keep the goal in mind, then you will succeed.

Our society teaches us that the easy path is the best path. We falsely think that if it hurts or is difficult then we must be doing something wrong.

That is simply not the case. Embrace the grind now so that you wi...

Be proactive and write your own headlines: Husband loves his Wife! Parents have an Awesome Day with Their Kids! Neighbors Show Great Kindness to Each Other!

Multiple people this past week have told Shawna that the news headlines have raised their blood pressure or caused them great stress. Stop it!!!

Shawna's new mission in life is to have people write their own headlines for their day, week, month, year and ...