Talking About Mental Health & Environmental News
Talking About Mental Health – April 2018 Spring Clean Your Mental Health!
It’s Spring! Flowers blooming, birds chirping, sun shining. There is nothing quite like it. Often we Spring Clean our homes – tuck winter away, clean out the cobwebs and get ready for summer. Spring is a time of renewal. Why not use this momentum for a mental health renewal?
Let the sun shine in …
Try and ‘spring clean” your emotional and mental spaces this month. Get rid of emotional debris that is no longer serving you. Here are some ideas to help get you started on your mental health Spring Clean. Focus on things that make you happy and give you a clear, fresh state of mind
Start a Journal Writing can help articulate your thoughts, clear your emotional space and help put things into perspective. Try having a family journal time where once a week everyone journals/records their thoughts and feelings. This can help clear your mind of clutter and also get things out of your mind and onto paper. Don’t worry about punctuation or spelling – it’s just for you.
Be Aware of Your Thoughts Sometimes we don’t even notice the negative things we say to ourselves. Try to notice your thoughts and reframe thoughts into kindness. Instead of “We never have time to sit down as a family for dinner” try “When we sit down as a family for dinner it is such a treat”. We are careful of how we speak to others but often not so careful about how we speak to ourselves. Practice your own self compassion this month.
Enhance Your Physical Health Physical wellness is a big part of maintaining mental well-being. Exercise, sleep and eating well all contribute to positive well-being. Try replacing soda or coffee with herbal tea. Try going for a nature walk or scavenger hunt with the family. Yoga, Pilates and mediation can also enhance both your emotional and physical well-being.
Remember, each day is fresh start – just like Spring. Have a great April!
Jenny Marino, Mental Health and Addictions Lead
Upper Grand District School Board
Please read below for some environmental news:
Environmental Newsletter Insert April 2018
Categories: News