Good Mental Health is for Everyone | The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation

The above video is a recording of the live webinar hosted on 08-15-2020.

Mental health is something everyone deserves and it is much more than just the absence of mental illness. Mental health means feeling emotionally in balance. It means having the ability to manage the stresses of everyday life and achieving our potential. Stress is normal, but too much stress increases the risk for health problems like depression and anxiety. The everyday decisions we make and the ways we manage our lives can make an enormous impact on the way we feel emotionally. Join us as we explore the ways that even small improvements in our lifestyles can help us to better manage stress and achieve mental health.

Try some of these ideas to stay in great shape!

SLEEP

• Go to bed to relaxing music
  Try a mobile app like Calm

• Take a hot bath or shower

• Read a book or magazine instead of watching a screen

• Have a no-sugar, no-caffeine drink before bed

• Schedule 8-10 hours of sleep
  Try a mobile app like Sleepbot

• Keep your bed a sleep only zone.No homework, tv, games or internet.

COPING

• Write down one thing you are grateful for today

• Engage in a mindfulness exercise

• Spend time with a positive and enjoyable person

• Start using a day planner
  Try a mobile app like Evernote

• Do something kind for someone who needs it

• Do something you love to do like read, draw, watch a movie, cook or bake, jog, journal, listen to music….

NUTRITION

• Drink water instead of sugary drinks
  Try a mobile app like Waterlogged

• Journal everything you eat in a day
  Try a mobile app like Fooducate

• Have fresh snacks instead of snacks in bags or boxes

• Eat breakfast in the morning

• Eat baked foods in place of fried foods

• Eat at least one fruit or vegetable at every meal

EXERCISE

• Wake up 15 minutes early and engage in a series of stretches or yoga poses
  Try a mobile app like Yoga+

• Walk, jog or bike each day
  Try a mobile app like Map My Run

• During a TV show, do jumping jacks or jump rope during the commercials

• Shoot baskets, kick a soccer ball or play catch while waiting for dinner

• Dance for 15 minutes with music

• Take a short break every hour and do push-ups, crunches or squats

Learn more about The Sarah Michelle Peterson Foundation.