There are lots of things we can try to take care of our well-being. We have tips to help you:

1. Relax and reduce stress

- Find ways to relax. If there's something that makes you feel better, try to make time for it. This could be something like taking a bath or going for a walk.

- Take a break if you need to. If a stressful situation is making you feel too much, try to take a break. Even if it's just for a few minutes, a change of scenery can help you calm down and feel less anxious.

- Do something you enjoy. Try to find time every week to do something you enjoy. This could be something small, like making a meal, calling a friend, or listening to music.

- Try mindfulness. Mindfulness is a way to focus on the present moment by doing things like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises. It has been shown to help people understand their thoughts and feelings better. This means that you are less likely to be overwhelmed by your feelings and more likely to be able to handle them.

- Give yourself some tech-free time. If using your phone or computer a lot makes you feel busier and more stressed, try taking a break. This could be for only an hour or two. If this is hard for you, try putting your phone in another room or setting an alarm to give yourself a time limit.

2. Find ways to learn and be creative

- Try doing something creative. Creativity might assist divert you from or facilitate the processing of tough ideas or emotions. It can also be lucrative. You could attempt activities such as sketching, playing an instrument, or baking. Try not to be concerned with the final output. Simply focus on having fun.

- Join a class or group. The experience of learning a new skill in a group may be fun and empowering.

3. Spend time in nature

- Try to spend some time outdoors. Spending time outside in nature can help improve your mood and make you feel less angry and stressed.

- Bring nature indoors. You could buy seeds, potted plants, or flowers to grow on your window sill. Or, you could collect things from nature, like leaves, flowers, and feathers, and use them to decorate your home.

- Spend time with animals. A lot of people find it relaxing and fun to spend time with animals. You could sit for pets or walk dogs, feed birds from your window, or go to a community farm in your area.

4. Connect with others

- Connect with others. Connecting with other people can help us feel like we belong and lessen feelings of being alone.

- Talk to someone you trust. When you talk to a trusted friend or family member, you can feel heard and cared for. Sometimes, just saying out loud what you're feeling can also help.

- Try peer support. If things are hard for you, talking to people who feel or have gone through similar things can help.

5. Look after your physical health

- Drink water regularly. It's important for your mental and physical health to drink enough water. Here is the link to our blog, where you can read more about water www.hcschiro.com/h2o

- Think about your diet. There is a great deal of information available regarding the effects of eating or avoiding particular foods on mental health. We do know that eating regularly and maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet helps improve one's mood and energy levels.

- Try to keep active. If you can, try to work physical activity into your daily life. It doesn't have to be something big, like running a marathon. If you aren't used to being active, start small and try to find something you like. Here is the link to our blog, where you can read more about exercise www.hcschiro.com/exercisechallenge

6. Try to get enough sleep

- Establish a routine. Set up a routine around bedtime to help you sleep at the same time every night. Clich here to learn more about having a restful sleep www.hcschiro.com/restfulsleep

- Try to make your sleeping environment comfortable. Having a comfortable place to sleep can help you sleep better. Small adjustments can help. For example, you might sleep better if you have a low light on or if you change your bed.

Did you know...?

The state of one's mental health is just as important to one's entire well-being as one's physical health, level of social and emotional connection, and level of academic achievement.