Mental health is an important topic that needs to be discussed more openly. Whether you have a mental illness or know someone who does, it’s essential to understand the different ways in which we can support those with mental illnesses. One way of showing your support is through hobbies and activities that promote healing and self-love. In this blog post, I will share five helpful hobbies for mental illness.
Yoga There is a reason why yoga has become so popular in recent years. Not only is it an effective way to get in shape, but it’s also great for improving mental health. Yoga helps to increase mindfulness and awareness, which can be beneficial for those who suffer from depression or anxiety. It can also help you learn how to control your breath and focus on the present moment, both of which are essential skills for managing a mental illness. If you’re unsure where to start, I recommend checking out some beginner yoga poses. There are plenty of tutorials online that can walk you through the basics. Or, if you prefer, you can attend a yoga class at your local gym or studio. Just make sure to speak with the instructor beforehand to see if they have experience working with a mental illness.
Art Therapy Art therapy is a form of counseling that uses art to help people express their thoughts and feelings. It can be beneficial for those who have difficulty verbalizing their emotions and those who want to explore their creative side. In addition to helping with mental illness, art therapy can also help improve overall mood and self-esteem. If you’re interested in giving it a try, there are plenty of online classes and tutorials that can get you started. You could also look into local art therapy groups, art supplies, or studios in your area.
Gardening Gardening is a great way to get outside and enjoy nature. It’s also been shown to be beneficial for mental health. Gardening can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. It can also improve moods and increase feelings of happiness. If you’re unsure where to start, I recommend checking out some gardening tips or watching a few how-to videos online. You could also join a local gardening group or visit a botanical garden in your area.
Cooking Cooking is a great way to express yourself and relax after a long day. Not only is it fun, but it’s also a great way to get in touch with your inner chef. Cooking can also be helpful for those who have a mental illness. It can help improve moods, reduce stress, and increase feelings of happiness. If you’re unsure where to start, I recommend checking out some cooking tutorials online or borrowing cookbooks from the library. You could also join a local cooking group or visit a cooking school in your area.
The bottom line is that there are plenty of different hobbies that can be helpful for those who have a mental illness. The key is finding something that you enjoy, which feels safe for you. Don’t be afraid to try new things, and don’t be discouraged if you make mistakes. The most important thing is that you’re taking care of yourself and taking steps to improve your mental health.
With the New Year so nearly upon us again, many people are going to be giving thought to the kind of New Year’s resolutions they ultimately want to set for themselves.
As is always the case every year, New Year’s Resolutions have a lot of power to transform the course of an individual’s life potentially – but, all too often, they also end up “sticking” only for a relatively short period, before being dropped altogether.
In any case, picking suitable New Year’s resolutions can increase the odds that you will stick with them and that they will have a severe positive impact on the course of your life over the next year, as well.
Here are a few good New Year’s resolution ideas to consider.
Begin retraining for a new job or career path There are all sorts of different career paths that you might potentially be interested in, many of which have an underlying purpose or calling associated with them.
Medical malpractice attorneys, for example, may feel that their profession is a way of living in line with their higher values.
Unfortunately, many people go through day-to-day life without being very pleased with their jobs and don’t find those jobs to be especially meaningful, either.
If you’ve been considering whether to start retraining for a new career – and maybe if you’ve been thinking about making a job change for an extended time but have never moved forward with that plan – it might be that beginning retraining for a new job or career path in the New Year could be the kind of resolution that could transform the direction of your life.
Making a career change can be daunting, certainly, but it can also be gratifying.
Take up a creative hobby – like drawing or writing – and stick with it for the year. There are all sorts of fabulous creative hobbies out there, ranging from painting to pottery to creative writing – and all these kinds of activities may allow you to get in touch with a deeper and more intuitive part of yourself and to experience a greater sense of balance and personal expression regularly.
Of course, taking up a creative hobby is the kind of thing that requires a bit of consistency and investment of time and energy.
As a New Year’s Resolution, why don’t you take up a creative hobby like drawing or writing and commit to sticking with it for the year?
Practice being more proactive in general In the highly acclaimed book, “Yes Man” (turned into a film with Jim Carrey), the author decides to “say yes to life more” – literally – and experiences many marvelous things as a result.
The most incredible life adventures happen when we take action and live proactively.
Introspection is all very well, but if you find that you’re consistently stuck in your head, actively being more proactive in general can be an excellent New Year’s resolution to choose for yourself.
Life does not always present people with a smooth and easy road. There are hard bumps, such as dealing with addiction. Whether it is for you or someone you love, there is help to get you on the road to recovery. Addiction and substance abuse are not insurmountable obstacles. You can overcome them and come out on the other side with grace and dignity.
Addiction resources are available When you are looking addiction in the face, it can seem impossible. It is not. There are a variety of treatment offerings available at https://www.sunshinebehavioralhealth.com/texas/mcallen/. You can find different options ranging from inpatient rehab facilities to outpatient rehab centers. Other types of treatment include 12 Step Drug Rehab programs in addition to Non 12 Step programs. Your financial situation will be considered when finding the best place to take care of your unique needs. Faith-based and luxury alternatives are available, as well.
Seek counsel If you belong to a religious organization, speaking to a spiritual leader can often help. They will offer you specific perspectives and lessons rooted in your religion. The conversations can be clarifying and affirming opportunities to let go and ask someone else to shoulder the burden you have been carrying. Some houses of worship offer addiction support groups, too.
Individual and family counseling sessions with a private mental health provider are invaluable resources. A licensed counselor will offer coping mechanisms and ways to avoid enabling behaviors that keep the cycle of addiction from recurring. Regardless of where you are about recovery, counseling allows you to be heard and get help when you need it.
Support for loved ones. Support for yourself Even if you are not seeking services for addiction treatment yourself, if you have someone in your life doing so, you are impacted as well. There are many resources available to you to better cope with all of your life’s changes and challenging moments.
Seeking other people who have been through your situation or are experiencing it right now offers a measure of commiseration and support. Nar-Anon Family Groups can provide that emotional assistance to shepherd you through your loved one’s road to recovery. It means a lot to be in the presence of others who can honestly say, “I know what you are going through.” It is a confidential and anonymous group of people who share your experience.
When you feel overwhelmed by everything around you, take some much-needed time for yourself and simply be. Try to relax and be in the moment right where you are. Here is a video to help guide you in dealing with difficult emotions. Take time out for yourself to meditate with the video on good and bad days to keep you centered and relaxed.
Photo by Taha Samet Arslan from Pexels – Image Credit
Whether you are experiencing the life-gripping throws of addiction or if there is someone in your circle facing it, know that you are not alone. Seek out resources and get the help you all need to move forward towards a healthier and happier tomorrow.
Are you worried that your child isn’t performing at the right level in school or struggling to reach their full potential? If so, then there are steps that you can take to help them improve. To do this, you need to make sure that you are aware of the issues that can cause your child to struggle at school. Here are some of the concerns and the best way to handle them.
Sensory Trouble First, it’s possible that sensory problems are the root cause of your child’s struggle at school. If your child is experiencing issues with their eyesight or even their hearing, they will always find it more of a challenge to get the information they need in class. That’s why you should make sure that you are using an eye doctor to get your child checked out regularly. Ideally, you should arrange an eye test for your child about once a year, particularly during the early stages of development.
Bullying Next, you should think about whether the issues your children are experiencing could be caused by bullying. Bullying can be a massive distraction for children and mean that they are more likely to lose focus during class because their minds will be elsewhere. You might think that if your child isn’t coming home with bruises, they are safe from bullying. Don’t be so sure, though, because it’s more common for bullying to be psychological these days.
Bad Teaching Alternatively, it could be that the issue is due to the teaching that your child is receiving at school. If this is the case, then other children will be underperforming too. So, it could be worth speaking to some of the other kids’ parents to find out if this is an issue. You might also want to think about hiring a tutor. Doing so will help give your child the educational boost that they need. It can also help them if they struggle more with certain subjects or lessons than other options. You can also speak to the teacher to see if they can approach learning from a new angle that works better for your child.
Anxiety Finally, it’s possible that your child is suffering from anxiety, causing them to struggle more at school. There are a few signs of fear that you need to watch out for. For instance, your child might feel stressed about going to school each morning. You can consider speaking to them about this problem, or you might want to think about using a therapist to help them here.
We hope this helps you understand some of the steps you can take to tackle issues with your child underperforming at school. Don’t forget, when you are addressing issues, it’s essential to keep in mind that no child will excel in every subject. You can’t expect them to be great at everything. They’ll have strengths and weaknesses. You need to make sure that you don’t put too much pressure on them to perform at a certain level.
The holiday season is supposed to be the most beautiful time of the year. The holiday season is when homes, streets, and shops are decked out in holly and gorgeous lights. It helps in creating this very magical atmosphere. While everywhere you turn is beautiful, this season tends to be very stressful. People are getting sick far easier, the flu is spreading around, schedules are packed, and there’s this pressure to spend a lot of money. You don’t want to be a Grinch this time of year; you want to be a cheery elf. But your schedule is complete, you don’t feel great, and you’re just getting so stressed all around due to your schedule. Thankfully there are some ways to lower your stress, so you don’t feel so tense!
Commit to self-care
During this hectic time, we tend to neglect ourselves. This includes the significant aspects such as getting enough sleep or eating right, including the little things. It’s understandable, especially if there is so much pressure on you. You should not neglect your chronic uveitis treatments for your eyes, taking time to yourself, and even doing nothing at all if that’s what you want. Self-care has so many aspects, but it comes down to doing what you want for yourself that you know is best for yourself.
Identify your top priorities.
What’s something that should be a significant priority for you? Maybe it’s to look after your health this winter; perhaps you have a project to do, perhaps you’re just wanting to stay safe since 2021 is as crummy as 2020. You need to evaluate what your top priorities are and stick with them. There is no need to excuse or justify yourself. It’s so important to think of yourself and your health, safety, and general well-being.
Adjust your expectations
Don’t bother trying to live a picture-perfect life; honestly, that isn’t even possible. Sure, on Instagram, TikTok, and other social media platforms tend to buzz with many happy seasonal images and cute captions. But don’t get it into your head that everyone is living the perfect life. The holidays are known for being tiring and stressful, and it’s completely normal to feel this way. Don’t let social media get to you because there is a very high chance that these people think exactly as you do.
Don’t worry about others may feel about you.
During the holiday season, there may be a lot of expectations from others. This could be the expectation to get them a gift, go to a party, have dinner, go shopping, or essentially anything else. You’re not obligated to say yes, and don’t feel bad for declining any invitations. The expectation and pressure to say yes to everything are some of the reasons why the holiday season can be so tricky. There is this primary pressure to say yes to everything, but you don’t have to. Just think of your well-being and think about what you want to prioritize.
We live in an age of big events. This means that we can very easily overlook the simpler and little things in life. Whether it’s the return to normality or the big events in life like birthdays and Christmas, we can find that we overlook the importance of tiny things that will make a big difference. This is why we have to turn our attention to the smaller moments, but how can we make the most of the little things?
Stop Thinking of the Small Things as a Cliché We care about enjoying the little things as one of the most important rules of life, but some people think it’s a little bit on the silly side. To bypass this, we’ve got to get away from the cliches but think about the small things as a foundation to everything. One of the best ways to change our thinking is to realize what some of the little things about ourselves would do to us if we could change them for the better. Little things can be frustrating, for example, any little aesthetic quibble, but while you can easily fix your teeth with dental services, you can use the little things as a foundation to build yourself back up better. When you get rid of those little issues that frustrate you, all of a sudden, you’re going to have a far better baseline in which to operate. To get to this point, we’ve got to stay away from the small things being so cliched.
Stop Filling Your Life If we want to have a better quality of life and actually make sure the little things make us happy, we’ve got to stop overloading our calendar. But this is something we’re all very guilty of, and when we start to fill up every part of our schedule, it stops us from paying attention to the smallest things in life. But you have got to ask yourself, if you are filling your life with things, whether it’s social functions, gifts, or just keeping yourself busy, what would happen if all of these things disappeared? Many people found themselves struggling because life stopped amidst the pandemic. But rather than trying to overfill your calendar again, perhaps go and find some equilibrium.
Taking the Time to Be by Yourself So many of us don’t like being on our own, which means we start to rely on others to give us our simulation. At the same time, you cannot underestimate your relationships and what they will bring to you. At the same time, you have to understand what being by yourself can do for your sense of self. When you start to be on your own and actually do it properly, without watching television and scrolling social media, you may realize that the small things in life are actually what will connect the dots. Whether it’s baking, reading, or just sitting there and noticing your thoughts, small things are what will make you happy.
Learn More About JT Bubbling with Elegance and Grace is a place for life long learners. The Bubbling With Elegance And Grace team was created 14 years ago. A passion for fashion sparked a lifestyle blog for our Elegant Community to enjoy. We are thankful and in gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for those who have been with us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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