Time management, unforeseen weather, a positive COVID-19 test, low bank account, canceled flights - these are things that WE KNOW are stressful. They smack us in the face when we are - it seems - least prepared, and cause our cortisol levels to rise. 

But there might be other stressors in your life that are also causing your cortisol levels to increase, without you even knowing. Like a third party stress vendor, if you will. Let’s identify them below to see if they might be affecting your own mental wellness. 

Meet Vernon Jackson, a successful barber shop and salon owner, celebrity barber and now author of “Looking Glass: A Man’s Reflections Within The Scope of Dating and Relationships.”

We’re officially in Black History Month, a month to celebrate and pay tribute to the accomplishments of many generations of African Americans who have faced and continue to face adversity. An easy - almost effortless - way to support the Black community is to support black-owned businesses. And we’ve made it even easier for you by compiling 10 Black-owned businesses that are defining the future in Cincinnati and beyond. 

Your support, whether that be a follow on their IG business account, or a transaction on their online store, is a tiny step in the right direction. When you choose to support a Black-owned business, you’re helping build both a better represented and stronger community. Check out these history-making Black businesses below. 

Especially in the month of January, we are told to make & do. Make the lists, and then do what’s on them. And if we keep completing our to-do lists, can we add on a few more tasks to be even more productive? 

Can we go to work and be on carpool duty? Can we scale a business and put away the laundry, and pick up groceries? Can we remember the birthday, purchase the birthday gift and remember to mail it? In time? 

Lauris Woolford is an executive coach and leadership consultant with over 35 years of hands-on experience in coaching leaders and teams in Fortune 500 companies and in supporting positive cultural transformations. Lauris is a founding member of WISe and an actual “angel coach” here on earth, says founder Stevi Carr.

Whitney Ellison shares her expertise on Abundance vs. Scarcity Mindset, powered by Paycor.

Everyone has boundaries and standards – these help provide order, set expectations, and give us security. If we didn't have these things to look forward to or up to, our life would be quite chaotic and random.

This week, Stevi chats with Kristin Lampkin, The HR Guru, HR professional focusing on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and supporting professionals with their online presence.

“A Leadership Style” is a column in The Chic Guide, authored by WISe Wellness Guild founder Stevi Gable Carr and powered by Crunchmaster Crackers aimed at celebrating female leaders who have advanced in their careers because they have integrated work and life through whole-self wellness. 

This month's feature is Kait Lott, the creative power behind Kait's Kravings, a colorful, lively and inspiring food blog based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Kait attended college in Florida, beat cancer at 20 and is now working her way through Cincinnati’s food scene and re-exploring the great Midwest.

We asked WISe Wellness Guild community members their budding career advice and the answers were nothing short of extraordinary. As per usual.

In adolescence, we are developmentally wired to care what others think of us –our world revolves around social acceptance. While we all need support & acceptance throughout our lives, this can become unhealthy if our focus becomes pleasing others or obsessing over social acceptance. Cue judgments, gossip, insecurities, & efforts to “Keep up with the Jonses,” (these days, “Keeping up with the Kardashians” is much more accurate). The beauty of aging comes with the wisdom that I am the only person I have to live with 24-7-365. Therefore, my opinion about me is the only one that matters. I am literally the only person in the world in my brain 24-7, so as long as I am living by my values, pursuing my goals, and living my authentic life, everyone else’s opinion is just that, their opinion. As Glennon Doyle says, “Disappoint everyone else so that you aren’t disappointing yourself.”

In this week's Well Within 10 podcast, we speak with Alanna Martella. Alanna is a multi-Emmy winning news personality at WLWT (the NBC-affiliate) in Cincinnati, Ohio, a keynote speaker and co-host of the Girls With Guts Podcast.

Alanna Martella is a high-achieving woman at the top of her field, but it hasn't always been easy.  

Alanna died. And then she came back to life.  Her story is borderline unbelievable but she lived to tell the tale, making the most out of life and clearly defining her desires.  Alanna had intestinal issues and was fearful that she was going to require to use a permanent ostomy bag, however, through the power of manifestation, she was able to overcome her physical ailments and live a normal, fulfilling life. 

Therapy provides a safe place for you to confront and address the things that do not seem to be working in your life. It allows for open exploration, a release of pent up emotions, a neutral perspective, support and understanding in a safe environment. Most importantly, therapy allows for the development of new coping skills, ways of handling conflict and upsetting emotions, hope for increased life satisfaction, happiness and joy.  Explore your options with Poppy's Therapeutic Corner.

This sentiment shows up quite frequently in therapy sessions, specifically with women. For many of us, the desire to be liked by others is so strong that we derive self-worth & value from pleasing others, and we prioritize this over our own needs & mental health.

Did you know you can use a 529 plan for K-12 education as well? Kelly Soller, SVP and Managing Director at Fifth Third Private Bank, shares key financial wellness insights on making the most of a 529 plan (aka college savings plans).

ave never had a problem with being alone.  Actually, I find that many people enjoy alone time, but the fear of being judged for spending time alone holds us back.  What is it about being alone that is embarrassing, or that we, as a culture find sad? While loneliness is an epidemic in our country, there is a difference between being lonely and alone.  I firmly believe that we, especially women,  need solitude to process emotions, unstructured time to let the mind wander and to simply affirm sense of self. 

Dry Needling. Have you heard of it? It's a treatment often used in physical therapy that is growing in popularity because of its significant impact on reducing musculoskeletal symptoms. It is perhaps the most effective way to directly treat muscular restrictions and myofascial pain. Click to learn more on the practice and benefits of dry needling.

Join host Stevi Carr for "Food + Body Image" powered by The Christ Hospital, discussing the common themes around disordered eating, body image challenges understanding the key support roles to help support you in your quest to love yourself more wholly.

The nature of our minds is to believe that we have all the information that is relevant and important to a decision but it turns out that's often not the case. Find out how cognitive bias could be affecting your finances and how to think in a way that supports your best financial life.