The Session: Living the Empty Nest Life to the Fullest, from Michelle Howe, Focus on the Family

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Rev Up Your Marriage

• This could be a marriage retreat
• It could also mean planning more 24-72 hour getaways
• It may also include going on a cruise

Keep Talking

• Try to connect with the person that you originally fell in love with and talk about memories
• You could attempt to make it a romantic evening over a nice dinner for two.

Make a list of things that you would want to see happen or do with your remaining years

• Jeremiah 29:11 tells us to focus on the plans, hope and the future that God has for the remainder of your married life.
• You and your spouse should be open to trying new things in the empty nest. That may mean joining a local gym or taking up a sport. It could be a dance group or a book club.

Don’t Let the Past Predict and/or Ruin the Future

• It is important that we keep short accounts of anger. If one of you or your spouse are carrying a past hurt, it is important to bring it before the Lord and lay it at Jesus feet and let go of it.

Actively Strengthen Relationships, and Prioritize Self-Care

• This could mean focusing on a relationship that is important to both of you that may have been neglected over time. Encourage getting together for a meal or some kind of outing.
• As mentioned earlier, joining a gym can help a couple enhance their self-care. Regular workouts will help maintain the body longer.

Travel

• It is very doable to check online for a day trip in your state that you live in. This is an example of something you may not have had time to do when you were in the heat of your

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: The Need For Rest, from Amanda Idleman, Crosswalk.com

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work (Genesis 2:2)

3 Reasons Why it Is Crucial That We Rest

The inability to rest affects every part of our lives. It’s a lie from the enemy of our souls that we can do it all, that we can ignore our own…

1. God Commands Us to Rest:

Hebrews 4:9-11 says, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”

2. Rest Empowers Us to Live Righteously: Galatians 6:9 urges us to not grow weary in doing good, for in due season, we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up. How is it that we avoid weariness? Through making sure we get adequate rest.

3. Rest Improves Our Productivity:

When we give him our minds, bodies, schedules, and other needs, he empowers us to do more with less!

6 Helps For Better Sleep from the Mayo Clinic

1. Stick to a sleep schedule

Set aside no more than eight hours for sleep. The recommended amount of sleep for a healthy adult is at least seven hours. Most people don't need more than eight hours in bed to be well rested.

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, including weekends. Being consistent reinforces your body's sleep-wake cycle.

If you don't fall asleep within about 20 minutes of going to bed, leave your bedroom and do something relaxing. Read or listen to soothing music. Go back to bed when you're tired. Repeat as needed but continue to maintain your sleep schedule and wake-up time.

2. Pay attention to what you eat and drink

Don't go to bed hungry or stuffed. In particular, avoid heavy or large meals within a couple of hours of bedtime. Discomfort might keep you up.

Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol deserve caution, too. The stimulating effects of nicotine and caffeine take hours to wear off and can interfere with sleep. And even though alcohol might make you feel sleepy at first, it can disrupt sleep later in the night.

3. Create a restful environment

Keep your room cool, dark and quiet. Exposure to light in the evenings might make it more challenging to fall asleep. Avoid prolonged use of light-emitting screens just before bedtime. Consider using room-darkening shades, earplugs, a fan or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs.

Doing calming activities before bedtime, such as taking a bath or using relaxation techniques, might promote better sleep.

4. Limit daytime naps (BUT I LIKE MY NAPEE!)

Long daytime naps can interfere with nighttime sleep. Limit naps to no more than one hour and avoid napping late in the day.

However, if you work nights, you might need to nap late in the day before work to help make up your sleep debt.

5. Include physical activity in your daily routine

Regular physical activity can promote better sleep. However, avoid being active too close to bedtime.

Spending time outside every day might be helpful, too.

6. Manage worries

Try to resolve your worries or concerns before bedtime. Jot down what's on your mind and then set it aside for tomorrow.

Stress management might help. Start with the basics, such as getting organized, setting priorities and delegating tasks. Meditation also can ease anxiety.

Know when to contact your health care provider

Nearly everyone has an occasional sleepless night. However, if you often have trouble sleeping, contact your health care provider. Identifying and treating any underlying causes can help you get the better sleep you deserve.

Mayo Clinic Mi

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.

The Session: The Energy Vampire, by Dr. Mosunic

Psalm 29:11

May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace!

First, let’s define the energy vampire…bleh bleh bleh

Different types of energy vampires?

Energy vampires are people who suck the energy right out of you. After talking to them, you feel exhausted and are not real sure why.

Dr. Mosunic would say that energy vampires are the type of person who constantly demands your attention, support, or empathy, oftentimes without realizing it. The effects of being around an energy vampire is more than just feeling a bit tired after a long chat. It's about feeling constantly worn out, stressed, or even sad after your interactions with them.

Different types of energy vampires

The Victim

This type of energy vampire is always encountering problems and seeking sympathy. They often see themselves as perpetually wronged by life and share their woes frequently, expecting constant support and reassurance.

The Criticizer

The criticizer is quick to point out flaws and rarely has anything positive to say. Whether it's about your choices or general aspects of life, their constant criticism can chip away at your confidence and leave you feeling judged and inadequate.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."

The Dramatizer

The dramatizer’s need for drama can create an atmosphere of tension and unrest. They are capable of blowing things out of proportion to keep the center of attention.

• They tell the worst-case scenario for attention and acceptance

The Blamer

Blamers have a habit of holding others responsible for their own problems. They struggle to take accountability for their actions and often find someone else to point fingers at

• Blame has a job description. It keeps the fuels of anger alive, and it shifts responsibility to take care of it to the person they are angry at.

The Manipulator

Manipulators are skilled in using emotional tactics to get what they want. They might use guilt, pity, or flattery, making it challenging to discern their true intentions.

• The all too powerful guilt trip

How to spot an emotional vampire: 4 signs

They Need to Be The Center Of Attention

• They are capable of interrupting conversations and driving them back to themselves
• Their constant need for attention can be very draining

They exaggerate problems

• Sarcasm is their friend. They are very capable of blowing things out of proportion.

They blame others constantly

• They refuse to take responsibility for their issues.
• Their toxicity is very toxic on their environment where people don’t want to work.
• The Locus of Control isn’t in them

They use people

They are masterful at manipulating people and situations to their advantage

To reach Tom Russell, go to https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com.