MENTAL HEALTH BOOSTS
MENTAL HEALTH BOOSTS
Hard to wake up in the morning?
It’s dark in the morning this time of year. When your alarm goes off, snooze it. But instead of messing it all up by going back to sleep, engage your senses and prepare your mind for the day ahead.
Your neck will thank you.
When you are stressed, pulsing with anxiety, or in the depth of depression, you can almost always feel it in your neck. You can change this with one stretch.
When was the last time you got your hands dirty?
The next time you feel exhausted with life, turn off your work and logical prefrontal cortex and turn on the work-with-your-hands mindset instead. Tinker, build or create something just for the sake of creation. And then let that strength and empowerment fill you back up to tackle whatever comes next.
Sometimes You Just Need a Mom Hug
Hugs are an age-old and universal way to communicate emotion, and help to regulate emotions by decreasing stress and increasing resilience. When you need a hug, and have a safe person to seek out, do it and ask for a hug.
Don’t be afraid of spontaneous friend-time.
I get it. Your life is busy and your calendar is overscheduled. So it goes without saying that in order to make time for friends, you need to schedule it. It’s so easy to fall back on the style of work meetings when we plan time with friends. Resist this automatic habit, and be more spontaneous.
Don’t let that summer goal fall with the Autumn leaves.
It’s August already?! Instead of thinking about the end of summer, think of August as the beginning of the harvest when it comes to your summer goals.
Houseplants and Mood
There is an explosion of data on how nature decrease stress, anxiety and depression. But new research shows that it's not just outdoor green spaces that impact your feelings of wellness, but also your personal indoor space.
15-Min Wanderlust Challenge
When was the last time you went for a purposeless stroll? Or let your mind wander without feeling the least bit of guilt for not being productive? It’s counter intuitive, but there are HUGE benefits of letting your body and brain go where they please.
Stop it with the “I’m FIne” BS
Isolation doesn't just happen when we are physically apart from our circle. You can be with your people, AND hiding in plain sight. This is the “I’m fine” story playing out, and it can lead to an even more devastating feeling of loneliness than actually being alone.
Stick it to Your Next Blah Day
It’s not exactly a bad day, because nothing ”bad” has happened. And it’s not some full-on depressive episode. It just feels… blah.
Overactive Should Police Ruining Your Day?
I like to think of my superego as my “Should Police.” I should do this, I shouldn’t do that, etc. etc... but where did all these “shoulds” come from, and why am I always “shoulding” all over myself?
Fall Into A First, As in a first date with yourself.
You know you need a break, but taking yourself on a date seems not only selfish, but frivolous. It's neither. Do it, love it, and activate the play areas in your brain, reaping the bounty of rewarding brain chemicals.