Check out the latest edition of our newsletter!
The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 APRIL | 2025
THE MYTH OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE
AND HOW TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE IT!
• Get Enough Sleep: You can’t function at your best if you’re running on empty. Try to get 7–9 hours of sleep per night (and no, coffee isn’t a substitute). • Move Your Body: Whether it’s a walk, yoga, or a full-on gym session, exercise boosts energy and reduces stress. • Do Things You Love: Hobbies aren’t just for kids. If you enjoy reading, painting, gardening, or playing an instrument, these activities are good for your soul and mind! UNPLUG AND RECHARGE We live in a world where notifications never stop and work emails follow us everywhere. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is simply unplug. • Take Breaks: Step away from your screen. Go for a walk, grab a coffee, or just take five minutes to breathe. • Use Your Vacation Days: Your PTO days exist for a reason! A change of scenery (even if it’s a staycation) can do wonders for your mental health. • Create a ‘No-Phone’ Rule: Try setting
• Schedule Quality Time: Just like you schedule work meetings, make time for the people who matter. A simple coffee date or family dinner can make a big difference. • Be Present: When you’re spending time with loved ones, put the phone down and truly be in the moment. WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER Sometimes, it’s not about working less but working smarter. Finding ways to be more efficient at work can free up more time for life outside the office. • Use Time-Blocking: Schedule chunks of time for specific tasks instead of jumping between things all day. • Delegate When Possible: You don’t have to do everything yourself. Let go of tasks that others can handle. • Set Realistic Goals: Avoid overloading your to-do list with unrealistic expectations. Focus on what truly needs to get done. At the end of the day, work-life balance is different for everyone. What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to find what makes YOU feel happy, productive, and fulfilled — without feeling like work is taking over your entire life. —John Bledsoe
We’ve all been there — answering emails at the dinner table, thinking about work deadlines while trying to fall asleep, or feeling guilty for taking a break when there’s always something that “needs” to be done. In a world where being busy is so praised, finding a healthy work-life balance can feel like chasing a mythical unicorn. But guess what? It’s not impossible! Truth be told, work-life balance isn’t about perfectly splitting your time between the office and home like some kind of superhero. It’s about making sure work doesn’t consume your entire life and that you’re prioritizing the things that actually make you happy and fulfilled. So, how do you get there? Here are a few ways to start creating that balance you’ve been craving. SET BOUNDARIES (AND STICK TO THEM) If you’re answering work emails at 10 p.m. or taking “just one more call” when you should be relaxing, your work-life balance might be off. Setting clear boundaries is key to keeping work from bleeding into your personal time. • Establish ‘Work-Free’ Zones: Whether it’s the dinner table or your bedroom, create spaces where work is off-limits. • Set Working Hours: If your job allows it, stick to set hours and resist the urge to keep working late into the night. • Learn to Say No: Not every request or task is
certain times of the day when you put your phone away — especially before bed.
urgent. Prioritize what matters, and don’t be afraid to say no to extra unnecessary work.
MAKE TIME FOR RELATIONSHIPS Work is important, but so are the people in your life. Prioritizing relationships with family and friends will help create a more fulfilling life outside of work.
PRIORITIZE SELF-CARE (IT’S NOT SELFISH) When life gets busy, self-care is often the first thing to go. But if you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be much help to anyone — at work or home.
1
JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551
INJURY-FREE RUNNING INTRODUCING A NEW PARTNER TO YOUR KIDS
WHEN AND HOW TO DO IT RIGHT
So, you’ve met someone new, things are going well, and you’re finally ready to introduce them to the most important people in your life: your kids. While that’s super exciting, it’s also very nerve- wracking! But don’t worry! With a little patience, the right timing, and a dash of humor, you can make this transition smooth for everyone. TIMING IS EVERYTHING Most importantly, don’t rush it! Your kids have already been through a lot, and introducing a new partner too soon can feel overwhelming for
them. A good rule of thumb is to wait until you’re in a committed, long-term relationship and feel confident about your partner’s role in your life. If you’re still in the “butterflies and texting all day” stage, it might be too soon. Every child processes change differently, so take their ages, personalities, and emotions into account. Younger kids adjust more easily, while older children and teens may need more time to warm up to the idea. BE PREPARED Before your partner ever walks through the door, have a conversation with your kids. Let them know you’ve met someone special and would like them to meet. Keep it light, simple, and pressure-free. “Hey, I have a friend I’d love for you to meet” can be a lot less intimidating than “This is my new significant other and they’re going to be in your life forever.” KEEP IT CASUAL The first introduction should be relaxed and in a neutral setting — like a park, ice cream outing,
or a casual lunch. Avoid anything too formal or intense, like a big family dinner where everyone stares across the table awkwardly. Let your kids be themselves, and encourage your partner to do the same. HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS Don’t expect instant bonding or immediate approval. Kids need time to adjust, and forcing a connection can backfire. Allow the relationship to develop naturally. Let your partner and your kids find common ground on their own — this can be a shared love for movies, sports, or even just making fun of your terrible cooking. KEEP LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN After the introduction, check in with your kids. Ask how they feel, listen to their concerns, and respect their emotions. If they need time, give it to them. At the end of the day, patience, honesty, and a little bit of humor can go a long way in blending your new relationship with your family life.
Are Sugar Substitutes Worth the Tradeoff?
Know the Facts About Artificial Sweeteners
The U.S. market for soda is worth over $200 billion, fueled by the average American’s annual consumption of nearly 40 gallons of soft drinks — including diet soda. While staying hydrated is good, sending lots of chemical sweeteners into our digestive tracts may not be. Concern for serious health issues started in the early 1970s when scientists linked cyclamate and saccharine, popular synthetic sweeteners, to cancer. Congress banned cyclamate but wouldn’t ban saccharine. More recent studies determined that obesity is related to many types of cancer, and obese people are more likely to consume lots of diet soda. Similarly, high blood pressure, diabetes, and strokes are more likely due to underlying health issues like excessive weight than consuming artificial sweeteners.
In the last decade, more natural sugar alternatives have become available, like stevia, agave, monk fruit, and allulose. Diet soda manufacturers have yet to incorporate these into their soft drinks, but they are experimenting. The Coca-Cola Company uses stevia along with erythritol (another new sugar substitute) in its Vitamin Water Zero. Artificial sweeteners do provide some benefits, including fewer cavities, lower blood sugar, and less weight gain. However, some people still suffer side effects from drinking diet soda. The sugar alcohols in diet sodas are linked to intestinal distress, and one scientist points to a potential link between laboratory- created sweeteners and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The importance of our stomach’s microbiome is new to science, and all impacts are under intense scrutiny.
Sugar-free beverages may be a better choice than sugar-infused drinks because they don’t cause insulin spikes, but the Mayo Clinic warns that frequent consumption of any type of sweetened drink can become habit-forming, making it hard to return to drinking plain water, which is the optimal choice for health. As with most food trends, we should be informed, listen to our bodies, and make wise choices about what we drink and eat.
2
W ord S earch
Letting Go for Good
ARBOR
ARIES
HOW TO RELEASE ANGER AND RESENTMENT AFTER DIVORCE Divorce is certainly an emotional roller coaster — one you didn’t necessarily sign up for. Between legal battles, paperwork, and figuring out your new normal, it’s easy for anger and resentment to linger long after the ink dries on the divorce papers. But here’s the thing: Holding on to that negativity only weighs you down. Letting go doesn’t mean forgetting or making an excuse for what happened; it means freeing yourself to move forward.
BASEBALL
CHERRIES
CHOCOLATE
DAISY
DIAMOND
FOOLS
GARDEN
KITE
So, how do you let go of anger and resentment after divorce? Let’s take a look at a few ways to lighten the emotional load and start fresh.
RAINBOW
SHOWERS
ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR FEELINGS (WITHOUT LETTING THEM CONTROL YOU) Yes, you have every right to be mad, frustrated, or even heartbroken. But staying stuck in those emotions won’t do you any favors. Give yourself time to process. You can journal, talk to a trusted friend, or even yell into a pillow if that helps. Just don’t allow the negativity to consume you. SHIFT YOUR PERSPECTIVE It’s easy to focus on what went wrong or how unfair things feel, but try flipping the script. Instead of dwelling on the past, ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How can I grow from this experience? Even tough situations have silver linings, and shifting your mindset can help you find them. SET BOUNDARIES If you’re co-parenting or still in occasional contact with your ex, setting healthy boundaries is crucial. That might mean limiting conversations to only necessary topics or avoiding certain triggers. Boundaries help prevent old wounds from reopening and give you the space you need to heal. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF Self-care isn’t just bubble baths and spa days (though those are great, too). It’s about doing things that bring you peace. Exercise, try a new hobby, spend time with supportive friends, or just take a deep breath and remind yourself that you’re doing the best you can. FORGIVE (NOT FOR THEM, FOR YOU) Forgiveness isn’t about saying what happened was okay. It’s about releasing the hold anger has on you. Letting go doesn’t mean you have to reconcile, but it does mean you’re choosing happiness over bitterness.
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
Ginger Veggie Stir Fry
With delicious vegetables seasoned with tangy ginger, this recipe is sure to please vegans and meat-eaters alike!
INGREDIENTS •
4 tbsp vegetable oil, divided 2 tsp fresh chopped ginger root, divided
•
3/4 cup julienned carrots
•
1/2 cup snow peas
•
•
1/2 cup halved green beans
•
2 cloves garlic, crushed
•
3 tbsp water
•
1 tbsp cornstarch
•
2 tbsp soy sauce
•
1 small head broccoli, cut into florets
•
1/4 cup chopped onions
•
1/2 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS
Ultimately, you deserve peace. And by letting go of anger and resentment, you’re making room for something even better — your own happiness.
1. In a large bowl, mix 2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tsp ginger, garlic, and cornstarch. 2. Add broccoli, carrots, snow peas, and green beans, and toss lightly. 3. Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes. 4. Stir in water and soy sauce. Add onion, salt, and the remaining ginger; cook and stir until the vegetables are crisp and tender.
3
JustFamilyLaw.com 949.363.5551
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551
23101 Lake Center Drive • Suite 310 Lake Forest, CA 92630
Inside
1
Reclaim Your Life from Work
2
Blending Love and Family
How Much Do You Know About Diet Soda?
Steps to Free Yourself From Post-Divorce Anger
3
Ginger Veggie Stir Fry
Mastering the Art of Nature Photography
4
Quick Tips for Better Outdoor Photos CAPTURE NATURE’S BEAUTY LIKE A PRO
Nature photography offers a great way to get outside and capture the beauty of the natural world. Whether you’re new to this hobby or have been snapping photos for years, you can always enhance your skills with these four tips for producing compelling outdoor photos.
ideal for landscape shots because it increases the depth of field and helps keep more of the scene in focus.
CONSIDER COMPOSITION In photography, composition is key. When taking nature photographs, apply compositional rules such as the rule of thirds (placing subjects off-center), leading lines (guiding the eye with pathways or rivers), and framing (using natural elements to highlight the subject). Experimenting with different perspectives and angles can also add depth to your photos.
PLAN AHEAD Before heading outside with your camera and other gear, research your chosen location and the subject you aim to photograph. Understanding the local wildlife, plant life, and weather conditions can inform your equipment selection. Timing is also key. Early morning and late afternoon, known as the “golden hours,” offer soft, diffused light that enhances natural scenes.
BE RESPECTFUL Whenever you’re out in the field, respect the
environment by following local guidelines, maintaining a safe distance from wildlife, and minimizing your impact on natural habitats. Always stay on designated paths and never remove any natural objects. Following a few simple rules protects wildlife and the landscape and maintains the integrity of your photography.
MASTER YOUR EQUIPMENT Be sure to familiarize yourself with your camera’s settings.
Some of the most important include aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, which control exposure and depth of field. For instance, a wide aperture (low f-stop) can help create a shallow depth of field and isolate your subject from the background, which is particularly effective for wildlife photography. Conversely, a narrow aperture (high f-stop) is
With these tips in mind, you’re ready to enjoy the outdoors while capturing images that reflect the beauty of the natural world.
4
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator