May is Mental Health Awareness Month and its purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder, the realities of living with these conditions, and strategies for attaining mental health and wellness. With that in mind, I would like to share simple ways to adapt a healthy lifestyle which can lead to less worry, stress, and anxiety. As someone living with anxiety and panic attacks, I can attest that most, if not all of them, can help.

Exercise regularly. This does not mean training for a marathon, but the simple act of going for a walk can do wonders, especially going on a nature walk. Not only is it a distraction, but exercising regularly lowers stress hormones and releases endorphins, leading to what is called “runner’s high.” In the long run, it improves the quality of your sleep, which helps your overall mental state. To help you stick to a routine, chose an activity you enjoy, such as walking, dancing, roller skating, biking, or yoga. This way, it does not feel like a chore.

Journaling. I am not giving out homework here, but one way to deal with stress is by writing things down. It can be as simple as making a to-do list before bed to help you sleep better, or as detailed as keeping a gratitude journal to help relieve stress and anxiety by focusing your thoughts on the positive aspects of your life. If you are feeling overwhelmed with negative thoughts or emotions, write them down on paper and then tear it up or burn it. Writing down your problems can give you a different perspective and may help sort them out.

Take time out to laugh. I have seen this for myself so I know personally that laughter really is the best medicine. Like exercise, it releases the body’s feel-good hormones that relieve stress and improve mood. Humor also helps to keep a positive outlook which can create resilience. When life throws me a curve ball, I yell out “Plot twist!” and move on. I like to watch reruns of my favorite comedies because they make me laugh and the their predictability has been known to lessen stress levels.

Go ahead and pet the dog/cat. As someone who has an animal companion, I can assure you that petting your dog or cat helps to relieve stress by, you guessed it, releasing those feel good hormones. Not only that, but they help you feel needed, especially dogs because they thrive on routines and are an excellent way to get you out the door to take them on daily walks. Not to worry, they will remind you when it is feeding or snack time.

Mindfulness. Not into meditating? Try mindfulness. This is defined as a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you are sensing and feeling in the moment without interpretation or judgment. Basically, it just means slowing down and living in the present. When you are sitting outside, listen to the sounds that surround you, feel the sun on your skin, or how the bench or swing feels on your body. It does not have to mean anything, just take the time to enjoy the five senses: vision, hearing, smell, taste, touch regardless of what you are presently doing.

Stay connected. John Donne, the British poet, said it best when he wrote “no man is an island, entire of itself.” Even if you are an introvert, humans are not meant to be isolated from friends and family. I know it has been a difficult year because of the COVID-mandated quarantine, but socialization is slowly coming back. Living in a digital world, it can be tempting to just send texts and social media messages, but nothing can replace making real contact with others.  Always remember that people cannot read your mind. If you need help, you need to ask. Anyone who genuinely cares will appreciate you being honest.

The right tool for the right job. If there is something I learned from previous moves, it is easier and less stressful when you hire professionals. The experience can be daunting, especially with big families. In such a case, consider Texans Movers to handle your next move.  From the packing to the heavy lifting, moving is a big project that is tough to handle on your own. When you need to enlist the help of local movers, headquartered in Houston, TX, The Woodlands – Sugar Land, and surrounding areas, you want to find an experienced and well-equipped company to handle your move. Residential moving is one of the many services they offer. These residential movers in Texas provide boxes, pads, and other packing materials, wrap special items to ensure they are secure, pack the entire household, deliver it, and unpack it, give you organizing tips, checklists, and perform a final sweep for forgotten items. They load and unload according to your specifications and provide secure, climate controlled storage for items you no longer need.

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