Posts

What is Toxic Productivity?

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  Have you felt a general slump in your productivity since the start of the pandemic? If so, you’re not alone. Toxic productivity has entered the lives of many as they balance remote work and home life without much social interaction to balance it. Let’s look at how this new brand of “workaholism” may be impacting you. What is toxic productivity? Toxic productivity is the unhealthy desire to always be productive and at all costs. If you’re feeling the need to go that “extra” mile at home and work — to be useful even when it isn’t expected of you — then you’re likely experiencing toxic productivity. Often people who experience this aren’t able to relax or let up after they’ve conquered their to-do list. They may feel guilty or as though the effort they’ve put forth all day is never quite enough. Why are so many feeling the weight of toxic productivity now? Toxic productivity has taken hold of many people now because regular routines were put on pause during the pandemic. You may hav...

Single Female in Your 30s — Am I Out of Time?

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  As a woman, you’ve likely been brought up to think about your life in a certain way. At 5, you go to kindergarten. At 15, you go to high school. At 22, you graduate from college. At 25, you get married, and at 30 (maybe even before), you have kids. If somewhere along the line that timeline gets disrupted, you may feel paralyzed. If you’re in your 30s and still single, are you out of time? The simple answer is no. You can make time to have what you want in your life. Being a single woman in your 30s, without kids, when you want both marriage and kids is hard, but there are ways to cope with age-related pressure. Challenge #1: Marriage When you’re single in your 30s, your relationship status is what everyone seems to fixate on. There’s mounting pressure to settle down. If you haven’t found a partner yet, it can feel like the clock is ticking. And often, having a partner feels like a determining factor for so many other goals you may have (like starting a family). How to Cope Remem...

Premarital Counseling in Washington, D.C

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Are you thinking about taking your relationship to the next level? Have you started talking to each other about marriage? Are you already engaged and planning your wedding? As you prepare for your future together, our QLC counselors are here to support and guide you toward a successful, satisfying marriage. Our premarital counseling typically is 3-6 sessions, depending on the needs of the couple . While there are common topics that we address in premarital counseling, the sessions will be tailored to your specific needs and goals. These are some of the areas that we’ll help you explore in premarital counseling: Emotional intimacy and connection Communication Love languages Conflict resolution Sexuality Finances Building Trust Childrearing Religion/Spirituality Relationships with In-laws Relationships with Friends Career and work-life Balance If you’re interested in scheduling an appointment or you’d like more information, please contact us .

How to Combat Financial Stress During Inflation

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  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index increased by 8.6% from May 2021 to May 2022. This was the largest 12-month increase since the period ending in December 1981. Most people are keenly aware of just how high the cost of living is. It costs more than it ever did to fill up your gas tank, put food on your table, pay your student loans and rent, and make ends meet. Forget vacation or savings! Now more than ever, quarterlifers are stressed about having a job that they enjoy, that pays enough, and that will help them through this rocky time in the U.S. economy. If you’re feeling pinched by recent inflation, here are some tips that can help. 1. Prioritize what you can control You may feel a punch to the gut every single time you go to the pump or check out at the grocery store. Prices are higher than they’ve ever been, but this isn’t something you can control. You need both gas and food — they are necessities. However, if you’re feeling like your mone...

How to Manage Fears After Mass Violence

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  The recent shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo have put most (if not all) quarterlifers on edge. These 20- and 30-somethings are right on the cusp – either reeling from their own experiences of shootings in their childhood or fretting about their young children’s safety in public spaces. Managing fear, anxiety, and difficult conversations after incidences of mass violence isn’t something they give adults instructions for. Here’s our best guide on how to cope if you’re feeling especially worried these days. The Rise of Mass Shootings A mass shooting is an incident involving several victims of firearm-related violence. Over the past 25 years, hundreds of mass shootings have occurred, which only contribute to young adults’ general sense of anxiety and instability. Today’s young adults (Millennials and Gen Z-ers) grew up in a world where safety wasn’t guaranteed in schools, grocery stores, concerts, movie theaters, and other public spaces. Here’s a list of just a fraction of the mass sho...

Grief Support For Quarterlifers

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With a few exceptions, you probably didn’t expect to face the death of a loved one when you were in your twenties or thirties. Because grieving a death is non-normative during this phase of life, a grieving quarterlifer is apt to feel like their peers don’t understand. Additionally, it can be challenging to find resources and help for grieving young adults. As a 25 year-old grieving client expressed, “ my friends don’t know how to handle my sadness. I feel so alone . . . like everyone is tiptoeing around me. ” Experiences with grief can be multi-layered and complicated. Grieving the death of someone close to us, whether from COVID-19 or another cause, poses unique challenges during young adulthood and the quarterlife period . In grief counseling at QLC, you will work 1:1 with an experienced grief counselor as you learn about the grief process and the tasks of mourning. We also offer a grief support group “Grief Group for Quarterlifers” that meets online for 4 weeks. The Grief Group fo...

Counseling for Individuals in Maryland

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Nervous that you haven’t figured out what to do with your life? Worried that you’re getting left behind as your peers move on? Lacking motivation or direction? Trying to find your passion? Thinking about starting graduate school? Struggling in a relationship? Feeling pressure to get married and settle down? Relying on your family for financial support more than you’d like? Feeling overwhelmed by all of the options available to you? If you answered yes to any of these questions, meeting with a therapist can help you figure these things out. Our therapists are compassionate and dedicated to supporting you as you make some of the most important decisions of your life. They are skilled at listening and providing feedback about challenges you’re facing and ways to resolve them. It’s common to feel nervous when beginning the therapy process. Our professional and caring counselors will work with you to help you feel comfortable opening up about yourself and your relationships. We tailor cou...