Kakeibo: The Art of Financial Mindfulness

Gina Messina, Ph.D. 01/24/2021

By Gina Messina, Ph.D. About a year ago, a friend introduced me to Kakeibo, the Japanese art of budgeting and applying mindfulness to our spending, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. You see, I am a major contributor to our consumeristic culture. I see something shiny and I think I have to have it. A friend jokes that she hates going shopping with me because I have to pick up and touch everything on the shelves (although I’ve eliminated that practice due to COVID!). Like so many of us, I am easily persuaded by marketing tactics. Now that we so rarely spend cash, it feels like I can simply swipe a card, click a button, or use my fingerprint and suddenly I have a new…

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Categories: Institute of Women, Wellness & Work

Tags: Budgeting, Finances

Gina Messina, Ph.D.

Women May Benefit More from Mindfulness

Women may benefit more from mindfulness than men. “Mindfulness” is a huge buzzword in the wellness world lately, and for good reason: it’s been scientifically shown to be able to reduce stress, anxiety symptoms, and even depression. With roots in Eastern religious traditions, it’s now practiced as a secular way to bring peace and gratitude into everyday life. One study found that the practice of mindfulness may be more impactful for women than men, at least in a college setting. Here’s everything you need to know about how mindfulness empowers women in particular, and what you need to do to get started with your own practice. What is mindfulness? The simplest definition of mindfulness is the practice of being here now. Mindfulness invites people to…

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Gina Messina, Ph.D. 10/11/2021

5 Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation

Discover the benefits of this meditation technique and learn how to practice it. Many of us juggle multiple projects at our jobs, take care of our children or elderly relatives, and try to keep up with all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, bills, appointments, school recitals, and family gatherings. Some even wear that multitasking ability as a productivity badge of honor. Sure, we are probably getting a lot of things done, but our minds wander far and wide as we hop from one task to another, and we feel tired and stressed out. Most of our mind-wandering involves rumination about things that happened earlier or planning and thinking about what we will do next. These thoughts about the past and the future clutter our minds, distract…

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Institute Editorial Team 02/22/2023

When is it Okay to Use Your Credit Card?

by Carol Strazinsky When is it okay to use your credit card? This is an important question to be asking ourselves. It can be tempting to purchase that designer handbag you’ve been fawning over, or even to pay for groceries when finances are a bit tight. However, when you are getting ready to swipe that card, take a step back and think about why you are making the purchase and whether it will benefit you and your financial wellness. So when does using your credit card makes sense and what pitfalls should you avoid? You’re strategically leveraging rewards. It’s perfectly possible to reap the benefits of cash back rewards without going into debt to earn them. How? Try using your credit card just for everyday purchases…

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Institute Editorial Team 09/13/2021

5 Exercises for Practicing Self-Compassion

Have you ever beat yourself up or said unkind words to yourself? If you’re like most of us, your answer is probably “yes.” Especially as women, we tend to be our own worst critics, and we usually treat ourselves in cruel ways that we’d never treat other people!But there’s a different way. Self-compassion is the practice of being kind and understanding with ourselves — not only when we succeed, but when we fail, too. Here, we’ve compiled 5 exercises you can use to start practicing self-compassion. These practices are based on extensive research by Dr. Kristin Neff, a psychologist who specializes in self-compassion. Try to incorporate them into your daily schedule as much as possible. You can use these 5 exercises at any time, day…

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Gina Messina, Ph.D. 02/28/2022

8 Scientific Benefits of Hugging

Discover why hugs are important and the magic number of hugs we need in one day. Let’s take a moment to think about some of the contexts we use hugging. Maybe you’re meeting up with a friend or family member and it is your way of greeting them. Perhaps you’ve had a bit of a rough day and need a hug from your partner or child when you arrive home. You may find yourself giving hugs (or asking for them) when you’re feeling affectionate or need support. Regardless of your reasoning, for many of us, hugs can be an essential source of care and comfort. Many of us likely learned how to hug at a very young age. Whether it was hugging our families as…

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Institute Editorial Team 02/11/2023

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