I wanted to remind you, health emergencies can affect our mental health as much or even more extensively than our physical health. Here are some other thoughts or tips on wellness for you:
- Perform acts of kindness. Make a call to someone not expecting it. Write a note. Do something for your neighbor. Order flowers for someone. You have the power to turn someone’s day around profoundly. Jump on it. Guess what “Helpers High” does for your immune system? Yep, it helps. J
- Bake something simple. The smell, the warmth, the taste – ahhhh. Life’s pleasures. Try making a healthy quick bread, like banana or zucchini bread. Or some homemade chocolate chip cookies.
- Make something simple. Not a baker? I like to make things out of wood and use power tools. Do you? If you do, now might be a good time. You could make something like a picture frame or a sign. Make something to give away (connect this with your act of kindness).
- Spend some extra time with your pets. Think about how happy your pets are with everything being canceled. They just hit the jackpot. We can take this time to more appropriately return the love of our dogs and cats that are SO happy when we’re with them. You guessed it – spending time with pets helps your mental health.
- Do something playful. Find something to do OUTSIDE that you used to do as a kid. If you have kids – make them join you. I promise they still actually like to play. Hide and Seek. Go to a park and swing. Play tag. Ride a bike. Climb a tree. It’s a beautiful day outside, take advantage.
Another excellent resource for ideas on wellness is “On to Better Health” at [uthealth.ontobetterhealth.com]uthealth.ontobetterhealth.com. This smart, insightful app is made available by our friends at UT Health. I’ve accessed it to help me manage my chronic pain and my son’s anxiety.
Do you have school-aged kids? Is their school closed next week? Have your travel plans for spring break gone out the window? Try to shift your perspective to one of gratitude because you now get more precious time with them. Use that extra time to be present, playful, and give your kids the space to talk about how they are feeling.
SAMHSA has an app called KnowBullying by SAMHSA. With this extra time with your kids, you can take some time to learn more about this critical issue.
Good luck, stay well, and take care of yourself.
By Kara Hill, Director, Integrated Health Care Initiative at Mental Health America of Greater Houston