positivity | Dr. Barbara R. Edwards

November 28, 2022November 15, 2022

Signs You Are Overworking Yourself

Work is part of being a productive member of society. Work can be anything from school work, work for one’s job, or domestic work within the home. While work is important for growth and keeping oneself busy, doing too much of it can be bad for one’s physical and mental health. Often people don’t know or realize that they are overworking, but there are symptoms to look out for. Here are some signs someone is overworking themselves:

Trouble Stopping

People who work too much often feel as though they have to keep working and are always responsible for some sort of a work-related task. This can take the form of being on work devices for too long or even being on them over the weekend or on break. Not taking breaks or taking days off for the weekend can have a huge impact on one’s mental health.

Working Overtime Regularly

There are times when working overtime is necessary for getting a project or assignment done. However, working weekends or the evenings regularly is not a healthy habit to have. Even if one is getting compensated for working overtime, the long term effects can become a huge detriment. Burnout is common amongst people who take on overtime shifts as well as amongst students.

Constant Distraction

People who feel overworked may get constantly distracted or become more easily distracted. Being overworked and stressed out can cause people to think about and over analyze their short and long term work. Constant stress can disrupt thinking processes which can lead to further distraction.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards, Princeton Internist, practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center. She is also the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

August 22, 2022August 18, 2022

How to Work on Having a Positive Mindset

It’s not uncommon to find yourself feeling down or doubtful about yourself or certain things in your life. You’re not alone in this, and lots of things in life can get you down or lead you to carrying a negative mindset. Adopting a positive mindset can help improve not only your day, but your entire life. Thinking positively can lead a person to make better decisions in their life to set them on the right track for success. Keep on reading to see what steps you can take today to guarantee positivity!

Be more conscious of your gratitude

Having a sense of gratefulness can truly elevate your life. Being grateful helps a person to become an optimist instead of a pessimist, as you can appreciate all of the things in your life that mean something to you. This can range from telling a friend or family member that you love and appreciate them, to just being happy that the sun is shining and the clouds are gone. Being more grateful day-to-day can help get your mind into the habit of seeing the best in things, which will help if you’re feeling down!

Work on that voice in your head

We all have one of those voices in our heads that acts as an inner narration of our thoughts. Do you realize that you can engage with this part of yourself and rework a bad mindset into a good one? That’s right, you can literally talk yourself up and out of a negative mindset. Work through negative or pessimistic thoughts in your head and reset that mindset!

Be mindful

Being mindful means to live in the moment and have awareness of what is going on. Doing so with an open and kind attitude can really help rearrange your attitude and outlook on life! For many, the mind can wander and be stuck on things like the past, or anxious worries about the future. Throw these thoughts aside and be able to pull your mind back down to reality and focus on the here and now. This in-the-moment attitude helps to build focus and can help guide you to your goals.

Define your success

Everybody’s definition of success will be different, but one thing is consistent: this definition of success will help support a positive mindset and will guide you along the road of achieving well-being. If you have a clear goal in mind of where you want to be in life, and carry lots of confidence about it, you can use that momentum to propel you forward.

Reworking your attitude and outlook on life can help you immensely. It’s been proven that keeping a positive mindset allows a person to be happier. Make your switch today!

Dr. Barbara Edwards, a Princeton MD is the Academic Director for the Ambulatory Residency Program at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, providing quality care to uninsured and under-insured New Jersey residents in Mercer and Middlesex counties.

June 20, 2022June 7, 2022

Benefits of Mindfulness

There are many expectations of people as we navigate everyday life. Therefore, it can be hard to remain focused and present with yourself. A great way to center yourself is by practicing these mindfulness tips.

Physical Benefits

When implementing mindfulness into your life, it can have a positive impact on your body. If you are actively mindful, you will notice your stress levels will be lower which helps with many health problems. Mostly lowering blood pressure and putting people at lower risk of heart disease.

Satisfied Life

Practicing mindfulness helps people live and appreciate life in the moment. It can be easy to feel like life is constantly one foot in front of the other. Worrying about the future is easy when you are not sure how to focus on the present. So, those people who are focusing on the things going on in the moment are more likely to feel satisfied in the life they are living.

Improved Sleep

For those who suffer from insomnia, practicing mindfulness can help you. Falling and staying asleep can be difficult for those that suffer from anxiety. Before going to sleep, try implementing a self-meditation podcast or something similar. This creates a calming atmosphere that will help you relax and not worry about whether or not you are able to fall asleep. You may also see improvements in your quality of sleep.

Decreased Stress

If you believe you are someone who struggles with stress it could be helpful to look into mindfulness. Mediation has shown to help people regulate emotions which can help dealing with stressful situations. It can be difficult to forget to breathe and relax when under different types of stressors and you are more aware of your own and other’s feelings. There is no harm in trying mindfulness to see how it helps you deal with your stress.

By taking part in mindfulness, you will be able to feel more centered in your life. This leads to a positive mindset and a better physical health overall. Try some deep breathing and focusing on your senses, this will root you in the present.

April 16, 2018May 30, 2018

Volunteer Opportunities in the Princeton Area

By volunteering, you will discover all the benefits, both for the volunteer and for the community. Being a volunteer has personal benefits which include skill development, improved quality of life and making contacts for future possible employment. The list goes on, but volunteering can also be overwhelming if you don’t manage your time effectively. Some go overseas to volunteer in other countries and stay for weeks, but if it’s your first time volunteering it can be better to start off a few days at a time, for just a few hours. That’s why volunteering locally is a perfect way to start giving back. Since I practice near Princeton, NJ, here are some ideas of places to volunteer in the Princeton area:

The Watershed
The Watershed is an organization in central New Jersey with a mission of keeping water clean, safe and healthy. They are constantly looking for people who are willing to volunteer. By volunteering at The Watershed, you could help by clearing brush, feeding their animals, helping out with office work, staffing the front desk or assisting at one of their events. No matter if you enjoy the great outdoors, or to be in an office, there is a wide range of opportunities to choose from.

TASK – Trenton Area Soup Kitchen
TASK is a non-profit organization with a mission to feed the hungry in the Trenton area. TASK truly depends on the help from volunteers. They have volunteer opportunities both on-site and off-site. By being an on-site volunteer, you get to help prepare and serve food. Since offers different programs for all ages, families can find ways to give back to the Princeton community. If you don’t have the ability to be on-site, you can still prepare and drop off lunch and dinner.

Arm in Arm
Arm in Arm is a non-profit organization which welcomes more than 4,000 families to their food pantries. Families in the Princeton area turn to Arm in Arm for food and financial support, and they also work with prevention of homelessness with on-the-job training and job search mentoring. Depending on your interests and goals, there are different areas in which you can help. Help out in the pantry by providing healthy food for families or working in the garden. You could also help the families find work and financial stability by being a Job Trainee Mentor, or conduct mock job interviews. If you feel like you have a special skill you think would benefit the families, feel free to contact them.

Everything you can do is highly appreciated, whether it’s donating a pair of socks to a shelter or serving food in a soup kitchen for a couple of hours. It’s important work like this that will keep these valuable non-profit organizations going.

Dr. Barbara Edwards, Princeton doctor internal medicine practices at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center.

January 29, 2018August 23, 2018

How to Volunteer to Help Animals in Your Community

Many communities rely on local shelters to help save the lives of many animals without a home. It’s important that shelters are available and have the essential resources they need. Here are a few ways you can share your support:

Become a Volunteer

While a good portion of volunteering for an animal shelter is cleaning up after the animals, (be prepared to get your hands dirty), a huge part is bonding and spending time with them. You will be helping the animals stay happy and active, while having fun taking care of them. Inevitably, you will become attached to one of them. Before you know it, someone else will be taking them to their new home. This can be the hardest part of volunteering for an animal shelter, but it is certainly worth it to see wonderful animals find great homes.

Become a Foster Parent

For various reasons, there are many animals out there that may need a little extra attention. It could be that they need medicine administered during hours the shelter isn’t open, or maybe they are too young to be left unattended. Whatever the reason may be, there are many shelters out there that are in need of foster parents. If this is something you are interested in, be sure to contact your local shelter!

Donate

If you do not have time to become a volunteer, that’s okay—there is still plenty you can do to help improve the animal’s lives. Shelters are constantly in need of cleaning supplies, animal food, grooming supplies, toys, etc. Some of the animals at the shelter may need medicine, and a monetary donation would go a long way. Old blankets and towels can be great donations too. Check with your local shelter to see what they are currently in need of.

Share Their Story

Do you have photography or video skills? Many shelters are looking for help to promote their animals. As animals come in and out of their facilities, they need to update pictures on their website and generate more video content to share on social media. Who doesn’t love a good cat video? You could be part of the reason these furry friends find a forever home.

Every little bit counts and benefits the animals of your community. Consider what you can do to make an impact.

Dr. Barbara R. Edwards is a doctor of Internal Medicine in the Princeton, New Jersey area practicing at Penn Medicine Princeton Health in the Penn Medicine Medical Center.