Radha Richmond, Licensed Educational Psychologist

01/16/2026

Today I got my to-do list done.

Tomorrow I’ll figure out who’s going to do it. 😌📝

From an educational psychology perspective, this is called executive functioning at work—planning ✔️, organizing ✔️, delegating… pending.

Progress isn’t always about finishing every task. Sometimes it’s about clarifying the next step and reducing cognitive load.

If your brain feels lighter after making the list, that counts. ✨

01/15/2026

✨ Daily Affirmation ✨

“I am fueled by happy thoughts.”

Each thought you choose becomes the lens through which you see your day.
When you lead with joy, gratitude, and intention, everything shifts—your mood, your energy, your focus.

Save this.

Repeat it.

Let happy thoughts set the tone for today. 💛

01/12/2026

✨ How to Have a Productive (but Balanced) Day ✨
Productivity doesn’t start with doing more — it starts with intention.

🌅 Morning:
Rise an hour earlier to stretch your body, hydrate, and set a clear intention for the day. A calm start creates focused energy.

⏱️ Midday:
Work in short, focused sessions and batch similar tasks together. Less switching = more efficiency (and less mental fatigue).

🧠 Evening:
Reflect on what you accomplished, plan for tomorrow, and power down your screens. Rest is part of productivity, not the opposite.

Small, intentional choices → steady progress.

What’s one habit you’re focusing on this week? 💭✨

01/09/2026

01/07/2026

Your Daily Dose of Motivation ✨

Big goals can feel overwhelming when you stare at the whole picture.
But progress doesn’t happen all at once—it happens in small, manageable steps.

🚶‍♀️ Break the big goal down
⏳ Keep going, even when progress feels slow
🔁 Stay consistent—small steps add up

You don’t need to do everything today.
You just need to do one thing that moves you forward.

🌊 So tell me—what’s one small step you’re taking today?

01/02/2026

✨ New year. Fresh goals. Smarter strategy. ✨

If you want your New Year’s resolutions to actually stick, it’s time to make them S.M.A.R.T. 👇
🎯 Specific – What exactly do you want to change or achieve?
📏 Measurable – How will you know you’re making progress?
🎯 Achievable – Stretch goals are great, but realism builds momentum.
🎯 Relevant – Does this goal truly matter to your life right now?
⏰ Time-bound – Give it a deadline so it doesn’t live in “someday.”

From an educational psychology lens, clear structure reduces cognitive overload and increases follow-through. When your brain knows what to do and when, it’s much easier to take action.

This year isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress, intention, and clarity.
One small SMART step at a time 💫
What’s one S.M.A.R.T. goal you’re setting for yourself this year?

01/01/2026

✨ New Year’s Eve Reflection ✨

As the year comes to a close, we pause—not just to celebrate what’s ahead, but to honor what’s already been carried.

This year held effort you don’t always see.
Growth that wasn’t linear.
Questions that led to clarity.
And moments where understanding made a real difference.
At our practice, we’re reminded daily that progress doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes it looks like insight. Sometimes it looks like relief. Sometimes it looks like finally having words for something that’s always been there.
As midnight approaches, we’re holding space for reflection, gratitude, and hope—for our clients, their families, and the journeys still unfolding.
Here’s to a new year rooted in understanding, compassion, and meaningful growth.

Happy New Year’s Eve. 🌟

12/25/2025

Christmas Day reminder from our practice 🎄

Today isn’t about perfection.
It’s about connection.

From an educational psychology perspective, the moments that matter most for children’s brains aren’t the loudest or the biggest—they’re the ones that feel safe, warm, and attuned.

🧠 What supports learning, regulation, and emotional growth:
• Being truly seen
• Shared joy and laughter
• Predictability and calm
• Feeling valued just as they are

Your child may not remember every gift.

But they will remember:
✨ How it felt to be together
✨ How it felt to be understood
✨ How it felt to feel enough

If today is joyful—soak it in.
If today is messy or tender—know that’s okay too.

Growth happens in real life, not picture-perfect moments.

From all of us at Cognitive Foundations, wishing you a peaceful, meaningful Christmas Day filled with presence, compassion, and connection. 💛🎄

12/25/2025

Christmas Eve reminder—from an educational psychologist’s perspective 🎄

You don’t need more this season.

More toys. More activities. More pressure. More hustle.

What you (and your child’s brain) need is more meaning.

🧠 From a learning and development standpoint, meaning—not excess—is what supports:
• Emotional regulation
• Memory formation
• Motivation
• Connection
• Long-term well-being
Children don’t remember how much they received.
They remember how they felt.

✨ Feeling seen
✨ Feeling calm
✨ Feeling connected
✨ Feeling safe
✨ Feeling proud

A slower pace.
A shared laugh.
A quiet moment.
A story read together.
A win that was noticed.

Those moments build neural pathways far more powerful than any gift under the tree.

So tonight, if you’re feeling like you didn’t do “enough,”
remember this:

💛 You are already giving the most important thing—meaning.

Wishing you a peaceful, grounded Christmas Eve.
Less pressure. More presence. 🎄✨

12/23/2025

When kids seem “difficult,” their behavior is usually communicating something important.

From an educational psychology lens, behavior is data—not defiance.

• When a child says “no,” they may be needing a little more control or autonomy in a world where so much is decided for them.
• When they cry over small things, they’re often carrying big emotions—and tears are one of the healthiest ways to release them.
• When a child “doesn’t listen,” their nervous system may be flooded. When emotions are high, language processing goes offline. The words aren’t landing—not because they don’t care, but because they can’t access them yet.

💡 Behind big behaviors are big feelings.
And connection—not correction—is what helps children feel safe enough to regulate, learn, and grow.

✨ What looks like misbehavior is often a child asking, “Can you help me with this feeling?”

12/22/2025

Holiday Self-Care (the realistic version ✨)

The holidays can be joyful and overwhelming. If your nervous system is feeling it, this is your gentle reminder:

• Try micro-mindfulness (30 seconds counts)
• Protect your focus — everything doesn’t need your attention
• Unload your mind — write it down so you don’t carry it
• Fuel wisely — nourishment > restriction
• Fit in quick movement — 5 minutes still matters
• Protect your rest — tired brains struggle
• Stay in touch — connection is regulation
• Honor small victories — they add up
• Be kind to yourself — always
• And if starting feels hard… make the step smaller

Progress doesn’t require perfection.
It requires compassion. 💛
Save this for the days that feel like a lot.