May is mental health awareness month. Did you know that roughly 1 in 4 American adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year?

And yet so many of us focus or prioritize our physical health over our mental health. The two are a package deal! While the practice of placing shame on people suffering with mental illness continues to this day, there are some tools we can use.

Do you ever feel as though you’re carrying 50 tons on your back? As though the weight of the world is on your shoulders?

I mean who wouldn’t with work responsibilities, working from home, kids, kid’s sports (that alone would do it), cooking, cleaning, trying to fit in exercise, walking the dog - the list goes on and on and on…

Age is what we make of it. By reframing the negative statements we tell ourselves and sticking to a health regimen, we can learn to accept where we are in life, regardless of age.

For many of us the winter season is cold, gray, and has a sense of blah. It’s around January and February when many people feel more depressed or in a funk. Here are a few things we can do to get out of a winter slump.

The mindset of needing to constantly produce leads to feelings of stress, overwhelm, anxiety, depression, guilt, and low self worth. We take on WAY more than we can handle all to prove that our doing makes us worthy. We all need time to rest and recharge and we don’t need to feel guilty or less worthy when we take that time.

How do you respond or react when your plans go awry? What mindset shifts can you make to relieve the undue stress you may add to yourself?

This year has been challenging on so many fronts. There was the pandemic which increased stress (especially with work or a lack thereof for many people), fear, and grief. But if it’s one thing 2020 brought us is lessons. Read more about the lessons of acceptance and adaptability.

Now’s a great time to list some things you’re thankful for. I share some of my gratitudes and some delicious Thanksgiving side dishes.

As the seasons change, I’m reminded that the one constant in life IS change.

Read about some grounding techniques to help you feel less frustrated, angry, flighty, and overwhelmed. 

Keeping an open-minded attitude allows us to take on new and positive experiences, like acupuncture.

You can also always make your own! Here’s a recipe using apple cider vinegar and distilled or filtered water.