Law Office of Kevin Jensen - November 2020

Law Office of Kevin Jensen - November 2020

November 2020 480.632.7373 jensenlawaz.com

Finding the Positive In a Horrible Year

This will probably be the understatement of the year, but here goes: This has not been an easy year for any of us. We began 2020 with hope and promise, only to have it all come crashing down in March with the arrival — or at least the increased seriousness — of COVID-19. Since then, there has been major political unrest, historic wildfires, and uncertainty for our children’s schooling. On top of that, we know our clients are experiencing some of life’s most difficult obstacles.

to the disease and some of its more dangerous

symptoms. Thankfully, we’ve all been able to remain healthy.

The Law Offices of Kevin Jensen was considered an essential business during the

pandemic, so we were able to stay open and continue serving our clients. Even if the courts were shut down, we could still work hard to find resolutions that would set our clients up for a brighter future. Plus, there’s really only three of us in the office at any given time, so we were able to go to the office and have some interaction outside our homes. We’re incredibly grateful to not be a business that is hurting as a result of this pandemic, because we could stay open and serve you. Thank you for continuing to trust us and refer us to your friends and family in need of family law support. We are thankful to have jobs, have clients we can help, and continue to support our own families through this crazy year. It hasn’t been easy to find the good in this year, but I encourage everyone to try. One of my tricks is to find the positive in any situation. For example, our family had planned a Fourth of July trip to Washington, D.C. But this year would be the worst time to visit our nation’s capital. Everything was shut down! So, instead, we loaded up our vehicle and visited my wife’s siblings in Missouri. We would have never done that otherwise! We can see D.C. another year, and we now have memories of a great family reunion. There’s always something to be grateful for, but if you’re struggling this season as a result of divorce or other family law issues, please reach out to our team. We can help you find the resources you need.

It’s been a lot, to say the least.

But if there was ever a year to count our blessings, 2020 would be it. It may not be easy, but in this strange, crazy, horrible year, I realized that I have a lot to be thankful for. One of the biggest benefits of this pandemic is that our eldest son had to move back home for a few months. He hasn’t done that since he returned from his mission a few years ago! Like many students, he was sent home from college in Utah as COVID-19 spread throughout the country this spring, and we gladly welcomed him back home. It was nice to have our whole family together again, especially as our second oldest prepared to head off to college, too. I guess if I had to be stuck with anyone throughout this pandemic, my family is a great option. In an effort to keep from losing our sanity being stuck inside our home — this is no small feat in Arizona in March, since it’s the perfect season to be out and about! — we began the COVID-19 Olympics. The pandemic may have canceled sports and the real Olympics, but the competition was heating up in the Jensen household! We played board games each week, and when we played a game, we would even hand out medals. We had gold, silver, and bronze medals, and then we tracked who won the most medals. It was competitive, fun, and exciting. It may not be the same as watching the real Olympians on TV, but it was close.

Stay safe, and have a happy Thanksgiving!

-Brandon Yost

Another blessing for our family is that no one has contracted this virus. (Knock on wood!) One of our sons is diabetic, which makes him more susceptible

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Top 5 Healthy Life Hacks to Have an Awesome Morning

Getting your day started with coffee isn't always enough. Sometimes, you need to give yourself an extra boost, especially when you have little energy or trouble focusing. For an awesome start to your day, here are five tips to get you going right off the bat. Wake up 5 minutes early. What’s the power of five minutes? It can be more than you think. Spend this time doing simple breathing exercises or a quick meditation so you can get focused for the rest of the day. If that’s not your style, you can prepare a quick to-do list for your day ahead. Either way, it’s always nice to have a little extra time for yourself without losing too much sleep. Start with green tea, then coffee. A cup of coffee at 7 a.m. can leave you burned out by 10 a.m. Try swapping it with green tea for a more gentle wake-up call. After that, you can brew your favorite coffee to keep you going strong. This practice also might help you consume less caffeine overall! Take a quick morning walk — and have your meetings on the go. Morning meetings can make us want to fall asleep again. Don’t spend all of them sitting down if you don’t have to! Not only will morning walks Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a depressive state that many people experience as the days get shorter and our opportunities to soak up some vitamin D — a feel-good nutrient — are limited. Even in Arizona, where the sun is frequent and winter days are still balmy, SAD can be very common. The reason is fairly simple, according to Dr. Kristen Ray at Bayless Integrated Healthcare in Avondale, Arizona. She explains that as the seasons change, the body's circadian rhythm struggles to adjust. This makes it difficult for people to stay awake longer, affecting their sleep patterns and mood. This can also happen to Arizona residents in the summer, when the persistent sun makes it difficult to go outside. However, the effects are more comparable to being stir-crazy and eating and sleeping less. Not Just SAD

help you wake up, but they can also add some extra physical activity to your day.

Write in your journal. Who says you have to journal at the end of the day when you’re tired and ready to sleep? You can journal in the morning about what happened yesterday and the things you’re looking forward to that day. Journaling can remind you of your daily goals and motivate you to stick to your commitments. Pack your lunch (or snacks!). Staying on track with your goals starts with having the energy to do them. Plan a healthy balance of fats, vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins. This can be as simple as assembling dips, carrots, wraps, and salads each morning.

It’s time to try these tactics to jump-start your day!

3 Steps to Fighting Seasonal Affective Disorder This Winter

2. Get More Light: Your doctor may recommend a few strategies to help you cope. The main way to battle SAD is by getting more vitamin D to help your body feel better. This may mean taking vitamins or getting outside more. Your doctor may also prescribe light therapy, which tricks your body into thinking it's daytime and therefore should stay awake and alert. 3. Find Support: You can find online or local support groups with a simple Google or social media search. With many people experiencing SAD on a regular basis — Psychology Today estimates 10%–20% of adults have some form of the disorder — your fight isn’t yours alone. Our goal at the Law Offices of Kevin Jensen is to ensure our clients have the tools they need to begin their new life as prepared as possible. For additional resources, contact our team today.

So, how do you cope with something that can come as naturally as the change of seasons? There are a few simple strategies, Ray explains.

1. Seek Help: If you notice your mood changing or worsening for 2–3 weeks, contact your doctor. This may be a sign that your moods aren’t just due to a seasonal rut; your brain may be experiencing SAD.

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Have a Great Holiday

Even if You Don’t Have Your Kids This Year

Tip No. 2: You can still talk to your kids. If it’s your ex-spouse’s year with your children, they deserve to have their time without interruptions, but this does not mean you cannot communicate with your children. Plus, sending a text or chatting on the phone or over video can be a great way to remind your kids that you love them and satisfy your desire to see your kids on the holiday. Keep the conversation light and be excited for them when they tell you about their day. Kids will remember how you responded far more than they will remember what actually happened that day. Tip No 3: Don’t spend the day alone. You don’t have to be alone when your children are at your ex’s during the holidays. On years when your children are away from your home, make that day extra special. Spend it with friends for a Friendsgiving or create a tradition of taking a trip with others in a similar situation as you. Perhaps this is the perfect day just for yourself. Creating your own traditions are just as important as recreating your old ones.

Perhaps one of the hardest changes for newly divorced parents to cope with is the first holiday they spend without their kids at home. (Frankly, this is even difficult for parents who have been divorced for years!) If you’re facing your first holiday season without your children — or if you’re still struggling with this adjustment after several years — our attorneys know that these are three surefire ways to help you cope. Tip No. 1: Celebrate twice! You may not be able to celebrate Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November with your children as you have in the past, but there’s no reason why you can’t celebrate the day after or the next Thursday. Ask your kids what traditions they want to keep and get their ideas on how to make it your own special event. You just might find yourself more excited about the movie and sushi night you create the Friday after Thanksgiving than you are about the actual holiday!

Your post-divorce holidays don’t have to be full of turmoil. If you need help developing a better co-parenting plan for the holidays, contact our team today.

Cinnamon-Spiced Candied Sweet Potatoes

LAUGH BREAK

These candied sweet potatoes will make your family beg for more!

Ingredients

•

4 lbs orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces, then cut lengthwise into 1-inch wedges 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

• • • •

1 tbsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp ground cloves

1/4 cup unsalted butter, cubed 4 (2-inch) cinnamon sticks

•

Directions 1.

480.632.7373 Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. Place sweet potato wedges in a 4-quart baking dish. 3. Sprinkle sugar, salt, and cloves over sweet potatoes. 4. Dot with butter and place cinnamon sticks around sweet potatoes. 5. Bake, turning every 15 minutes, until sweet potatoes are tender and the liquid is syrupy, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. 6. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes. 7. Discard cinnamon sticks and serve. 3 Inspired by FoodAndWine.com

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What I’m Most Thankful for This Year

Top 5 Healthy Life Hacks to Have an Awesome Morning

You Can Get SAD During an Arizona Winter. Here’s How to Fight It!

3 Tips to Surviving the Holidays Without Your Kids

Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway?

Cabin Fever has Never Been so Stylish be thinking: How can I make sure I have the best glamping experience possible? Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can apply to any glamping location to ensure that your time away from home is just as relaxing as that Caribbean cruise would have been. Step 1: Decide which kind of lodging you want. Glamping shelters come in all shapes and sizes depending on the level of comfort you desire on your trip. The most rugged glamping lodgings usually still include a wood-burning stove and a nice comfy bed, whether you opt for a log cabin or a specialized glamping tent (sometimes called a yurt). However, some of the more posh options include amenities like fresh linens, private bathrooms and showers, fully stocked kitchenettes, and even TVs. Step 2: Decide how you want to spend your time. Obviously, the point of glamping is to spend time in the great outdoors with winter activities, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and other fun snow activities. However, glamping really shines during the frigid evenings. You can retreat indoors, throw some logs in the stove, prepare some hot cocoa or cider, and just watch the snowfall from your window. There’s no right or wrong way to glamp. All that matters is spending time in the wilderness with all the comforts of home — all while feeling refreshed and at peace.

When COVID-19 struck the U.S., travel restrictions had people canceling their vacation plans left and right. This meant that many would-be vacationers had to find some getaways a little closer to home — namely, camping trips and their fancier cousin, glamping trips. If you haven’t heard of “glamping” before, it’s essentially glamorous camping. You have access to the beautiful, rugged outdoors as well as all the comforts of home. While traditional winter camping certainly wouldn’t be a relaxing getaway for most people, glamping during the winter months can give you access to the peace of the outdoors like you’ve never experienced before without so much as a shiver or sniffle.

If you’ve decided to make glamping your go-to method of escape from the cabin fever that besets us all during the cold, dark winter days, you might

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