Mental Wellness Month
It’s the New Year, which means a fresh new chapter in our lives. Durning January, many of us begin to work on our New Year’s resolutions, but what’s one resolution that we should keep every year? Maintaining good mental health! Our minds are complex and sensitive, it’s invaluable to take care of them the way we do the rest of our bodies. January is a great time to take a fresh look at our mental health. Ask ourselves, how can we not only maintain good mental health, but also support others with their mental wellness journey? We can get lots of rest, exercise, seek professional help, create a routine, or practice positive self-talk. Wellness journeys will differ from person to person, the goal is to find the perfect fit for each. It helps to search for things that make you happy or things that calm you.
Part of Mental Wellness Month is also listening. Checking in on our friends and family is immensely important. Mental Wellness Month is about making mental health a priority for everyone.
What is Mental Wellness?
This is the question of the month. According to Sheri Dawson, director of the Division of Behavioral Health at DHHS mental wellness “involves being able to cope effectively with the difficulties of life, having an awareness of your own abilities and opportunities, and having healthy relationships with yourself and others.” Dawson explains that this month is all about being proactive in nurturing our mental wellness, which means it’s important to know the eight areas of wellness. Knowing the eight areas can help us create a plan for our mental wellness journey.
Eight areas of wellness:
- Mental: Capacity for knowledge, insight, confidence
- Physical: All that contributes to how our body feels/functions
- Emotional: Highs and lows of emotions, feelings
- Spiritual: Belief system not necessarily formal religion
- Social: Connection and community
- Personal: Interests, joy, fulfillment
- Professional: Roles at work, career goals
- Medical: Health numbers or statistics
Supporting Our Mental Wellness
Maintaining a wellness plan can be difficult. Many of us don’t know where to begin. A good place to start is to ask what makes you happy. Maybe revisit old hobbies, create a daily routine, begin with daily walks, or maybe try journaling. What matters is what works best for you! Take some time to figure out where you want to start and use the list below to begin brainstorming some ideas for your wellness journey!
- Practice being mindful – researchers are finding that living in the present moment without judgment can help you to be more positive and to better deal with situations as they arise.
- Spend time in nature
- Positive affirmations – celebrate yourself!
- Mindful eating – try to keep electronics at bay when eating dinner or lunch, be in the moment!
- Meditate
- Declutter your spaces – Let’s gain some more clarity by cleaning out our spaces!
- Stay active – it has been shown that being active can help improve mood and sleep. It can be hard to find the time to exercise or find a good gym, so maybe start off with walks. Find the activity you love the most!
- Take the staircase instead of the elevator
- Morning walks or evening walks – use these walks as a way to get together with your loved ones!
- Make some time to go to the park or find the perfect hiking spot!
- Biking
- Before bedtime take some time to do yoga
- Sleep well – our doctors have been telling us to get our rest for a very long time, so let’s start taking their advice! Better sleep improves our energy, immune system, helps our heart and our mood!
- Be mindful about caffeine intake
- Find the perfect feng shui for your bedroom
- Declutter your mind and break out your journal before bed.
- Try to put away all electronics
- Join a club or class – one area often missed in wellness is socialization. Make the time this month to find a class or club to join. Do a new activity with your loved ones. It can be a great way to check in on them and see how they are doing!
- Join a book club
- Take a yoga class
- Not into yoga? Then find a class for knitting!
- Time to dance! Find a local dance class
- Time to see the doctor – another part of wellness is taking the time to take care of ourselves mentally and physically, which means going to see the doctor. Make an appointment with your GP and/or therapist today.
- Self-care time – as the great fictional characters, Tom and Donna, once said “Treat yo self!”
- Go shopping
- Make time to see your friends
- Watch your favorite movie
- Order in your favorite takeout
- Buy that thing you have been eyeing for a while
Hotline Numbers
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
Your faith-based leader, your healthcare professional, or student health center on campus.
Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 (oprime dos para Español) or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
January Recommendations
It’s a new year! Let’s find some new films, tv, and books to help us get through this cold month!
Inside Out
Directed by Pete Docter & Ronnie Del Carmen
Riley is a happy, hockey-loving 11-year-old Midwestern girl, but her world turns upside-down when she and her parents move to San Francisco. Riley’s emotions — led by Joy — try to guide her through this difficult, life-changing event. However, the stress of the move brings Sadness to the forefront. When Joy and Sadness are inadvertently swept into the far reaches of Riley’s mind, the only emotions left in Headquarters are Anger, Fear and Disgust.
All Along You Were Blooming: Thoughts for Boundless Living
Written by Morgan Harper Nichols
Filled with empathy, her poems point the reader to grace, to love, to the small joys of life, and the not- inconsiderable relief that tomorrow is a new day. Written in response to her followers’ stories, her accessible and lyrical poems have impacted the people they were originally written for, as well as the world at large. Backed by her peaceful illustrations, All Along You Were Blooming is a work for people in any season of life.
