July is Stress Awareness Month. We are collectively stressed out and spent from the daily stressors we are faced with, at home and abroad. Let’s take a moment to acknowledge all the events that have happened over the past two plus years, and all the events still happening today. We are suffering. Stress is at a record high and there is no clear path toward normalcy. Now more than ever, we are susceptible to mental health issues. Self-care will have to be a priority in our lives if we are to gain some sense of mental stability. Here are a few tips to help with getting grounded and feeling calm within yourself in those moments of heightened stress:
- Get enough sleep: Lack of sleep has been linked to multiple adverse health consequences including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and depression. Studies show that sleep disturbances can worsen the symptoms of many mental conditions including bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety.
- Take a walk in nature: There is something healing about being in nature. Literature states that spending time in nature has been found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.
- Journal or read a good book: Writing down the way you are feeling in moments of overwhelm can be extremely therapeutic. Getting lost in a book might be exactly what you need to escape the stressors of the day.
- Listen to music: Music has been proven to elevate your mood and motivation and reduce stress
- Pamper yourself, your worth it! Taking time for yourself is paramount to self-care. In fact, choosing self-care activities can actually trigger the production of the body’s “feel-good” hormones- serotonin and oxytocin. These same hormones have been connected to better overall moods and sleep. These hormones are also naturally-occurring pain-relief.
Remember, your self-care comes first! If things start to get too overwhelming and self-care does not seem like it is enough anymore, call us. Ridgeview is here to offer support for you 24/7.