Eight hours was never meant to be a universal prescription. It's a loose average drawn from a wide range factors. And treating it as a hard and fast rule to meet every single night can actually work against your sleep (no matter the amount) rather than for it…
…Hitting the bullseye for our personal best sleep amount is tough. If we wanted to be a bit cliche, we might say that it’s more of an art than a science. Not just because it’s necessarily difficult to pin point, but because it changes over time—both as we progress through life, but also from day to day based on activity, health, stress, and more.

In our quest for well-being, we often chase the latest trends, seeking quick fixes for stress and disconnection. Yet, there’s a powerful, often overlooked emotion that holds immense potential for transforming our lives: awe. … As a counselor, I’ve seen firsthand how cultivating this sense of wonder can be a game-changer for my clients (and certainly myself!), offering a profound pathway to meaningful presence and greater wellness.

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought with it a wave of promises—efficiency, instant answers, and even the prospect of "therapy at your fingertips." But as a counselor, I’m often asked: Is AI actually good for our mental health?