Mental Health

A: You are not alone: Surveys tell us that adults in the U.S. are reporting the highest stress levels since the early days of the pandemic. If the obvious stress-busting advice hasn’t helped, we’ve got some bigger-picture ideas to ponder. According to the American Psychological Association’s just-released January 2021 Stress Snapshot, 84% of American adults Read more…

Q: And what can each personality type do to stay mentally healthy right now? A: The emotional toll of the pandemic has been tough on both extroverts and introverts. Research tells us taking a growth-mindset approach to personality is the healthiest way to stay flexible, and that communication about your socio-emotional needs is more important Read more…

A: 🍃 Change is never easy. And we have been dealing with a lot of it over the past year. Change challenges our minds because it creates uncertainty in our thoughts and the actions of our daily lives. But there ARE things we can do to manage our discomfort with uncertainty: control what we can, Read more…

A: Deep breath. Experts told us the winter was going to be hard, and here we are. Research suggests that choosing (and accomplishing) a highlight each day — one activity, goal or project that is most important to you – will boost your self-efficacy and help you keep on keepin’ on. Feeling bored, anxious, irritable Read more…

A: Sigh. From riots to record pandemic death tolls, anxieties are running high … and our resolutions have stalled out already. Research shows that taking a step back to ask what matters most (and why) can help shore up well-being, even in tumultuous times. Read more for a purpose-finding playbook. The good news is living Read more…

Q: A happier, healthier 2021 sounds great… but how do I make it happen? I’m not really feeling up for New Year’s Resolutions this year. A: Get yourself ship-shape for 2021 with an anchors, sails and rudders exercise that honors the lessons we’ve learned in 2020 while also prioritizing forward movement for 2021. Psychologists (and Read more…

A: Something called “compassion fatigue” may be contributing to this – as the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic grows, it becomes harder for us to process such tremendous losses. Compassion fatigue is often experienced by the general public as feelings of overwhelm, stress, and decreased empathy in the face of mass human suffering – particularly Read more…

A: We wish it could be that simple! Instead of a delete, let’s think of it as a refresh and reboot. As we approach 2021, it is important to reflect, readjust expectations, and reset goals. 📔 REFLECT: Consider why you are making these goals and why they matter to you. For many of us, 2020 Read more…

A: This is a difficult time for many of us, especially some of us who may be alone and more isolated than in years past. Here we have a few strategies from the experts. TL; DR: Recognize what you are feeling, connect to friends and family, and make plans for the days ahead of you. Read more…

A: Focus on the basics, discuss mental wellness openly, and offer support where needed. 1-Focus on supporting the basics. We can all support our mental health by focusing on the basic pillars of wellness. 💤 Encourage 7-8 hours of sleep a day 🥕 Promote 3 meals a day with a few healthy snacks 🚰 Remind Read more…

A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…

A: We know that many parents are struggling for balance: working, virtual school, housework, and now also the holidays! To keep stress from putting a damper on the holidays, use proven strategies to take a pause. As parents, we experience all of the emotions for ourselves and for our kids. Compound that with the stress Read more…