Mental Health Awareness Month

Its May, spring is here, and we are finally able to get outside more regularly. Mental Health Awareness month is a great time to focus on our own mental wellness, growth, and positivity. Just as many prioritize their physical health, it is just as important to focus on our mental health. By taking care of your mental health, you are improving your ability to manage your physical and emotional health as well. Being able to manage life stressors in a healthy way can be challenging. Below are some tips to manage a more positive mental health:

Enjoy the Outdoors. Get up and get out! Whether you are going for a long hike or a short walk, being outside and in nature can greatly improve your mental health.

Socialize with Family and Friends! Many people thrive on social interactions, connections and find support through others. Being able to feel a sense of belonging that our friends and family can bring can also greatly improve our overall mental health, stress and anxiety.

Mindfulness. Breathing exercises and guided meditation are just two popular mindfulness techniques. In times of stress or anxiety, these techniques can help manage those strong emotions even if you only have a few minutes to spare.

Self-care. Taking care of yourself is extremely important to manage your own mental health. Make sure your basic needs are being met. Find time to ensure that you are getting enough sleep, and eating healthy foods, avoid tons of processed and sugary foods. This will help increase your overall daily mood. Self-care is an important part of our mental health management. In order to support others, we must be committed to taking care of ourselves. If you are not taking care of your own mental health, you will not be able to support those around you.