Financial stress is more than just a burden on your bank account; it's a multifaceted challenge that can permeate various aspects of your life. As economic uncertainties and rising prices contribute to heightened stress levels, the impact extends far beyond the realm of finances, often manifesting in physical and mental challenges. However, it's crucial to recognize that facing financial stress doesn't mean you're alone in this struggle.

When we think about well-being and health often the first thing that comes to mind is healthy practices such as getting enough sleep, eating healthy foods and managing stress levels. Yet an important element to our well-being that is often overlooked is connection and community. Having a strong community supports our need for belonging, purpose and understanding. Community looks different for each of us, but the need for community is universal. No matter where we are in life and no matter what we are facing, it is essential to have a reliable network in our lives.

We often get so caught up in making the holidays better and better each year. It can be reassuring to remember that our friends and family always want what’s best for us. Communicating our need for the space and time to reset means we are more present and better equipped to handle whatever comes our way this holiday season!

This time of year we can find ourselves with fuller calendars and busier days making any challenges that arise even more stress-inducing. That is why it is essential to have a trusted support system in place to help you through these seasons. 

We often say “tomorrow is a new day” when faced with these kinds of days and allow ourselves to stew in the discomfort for much longer than we need to. Like all things pertaining to mental well-being, orienting ourselves in the direction of stability is as much about attitude and good practices as it is about the outside factors that affect us.

Self-awareness is something that many strive for, but it can be challenging to obtain. When we are self-aware we are able to see our strengths, challenges, and opportunities with more clarity and maintain a path for achievement. When our outlook is cloudy it can feel like it is hard to get our footing. Here are some tips to support building and maintaining self-awareness and how connecting with a support system can help you on your journey.

Almost overnight, our “to-do” lists can change from manageable to overwhelming. We can stay on top of things well enough during the steady weeks between holidays, but interruptions can feel like drastic slow downs when they begin to pile up. The time of year is a huge factor in how well we are able to manage our commitments. Summer means that school’s out, the a/c is on and the clock is ticking on soaking up that quality time before another tumble into the big holiday quarter. Next up on many of our calendars are big travel plans, family time and high dollar dinner planning. Many working adults feel the sensation of the months zooming past and begin asking “what’s next?” earlier and earlier in the year.

Do you set goals for order, structure, and calm in your life, but you often feel like you can't quite achieve your goal? You aren't alone! Many times, when you have clutter (both physical and mental) it can be hard to know where to start. This week let me share some healthy starting points for simplifying your mental space to allow room for mental clarity.

We know that decluttering our physical environments provides us with consistency and comfort that boosts our mood and productivity; but how often do we think about doing the same thing to our mental clutter?

July 12th is National Simplicity Day and a great opportunity to take a look at our way of processing mental challenges. It’s hard to see the big picture when so many obstacles are in the way of our goals. A little tidying up of our way of thinking might be the ticket to better mental wellness.

Summer is a season of fun, laughter, and joy. It is the time when we get together with our loved ones, and enjoy barbeques, pool parties, and outdoor adventures. As we are spending more time with others, we may find ourselves experiencing a shift in our mood or feelings. It is essential to have the right mindset and balance your time to ensure that you are mentally equipped to enjoy this fun-filled season.

Summer is approaching fast! As the temperature rises, your list of todo’s may be getting longer and longer. While many of them can be fun and enjoyable, organizing a vacation or trip, digging out the Summer clothes and settling in for warmer weather all bring their own set of challenges.

It can be easy to get laser focused on living the next few months to the fullest. The Summer never seems to feel long enough! Maintaining our mental wellness may seem like a given when we are having so much fun, but planning and preparing can take a lot out of us.

When you hear that it is Mental Health Awareness month do you say, that is great, but I don’t know how to put that into an action in my life. We are here to help! This week Dr. Jada Jackson is sharing some helpful tips on how to support your mental well-being through tangible efforts.

In the age of technology, we have been given the gift of global information. We can watch a touching moment between a newborn baby and her family in another continent, we can scroll through pictures of our friends and family enjoying their lives all over the country. We can even video chat with experts and professionals thousands of miles away to get help with local issues they also face. The other face of that coin is that we can also hear about tragedies. They loom at the top of our social media feeds and are always the loudest and most discussed aspect of our social lives.

While it was no surprise that “relaxation and social activities reduced the effects of work demands on end-of-workday negative affect”, researchers were surprised to find that “cognitive activities aggravated the effects of work demands on negative affect”.

When an athlete practices and physically prepares for a competitive event, they are doing this so they are ready for game day. This is also a helpful methodology for managing stress. We know that stress will come, it is part of life. But how we prepare ourselves for moments and seasons of stress makes all the difference.

This week Dr. Jada Jackson Hill is sharing practical tips and tools to help you prepare and navigate stress from a healthy perspective. When you are aware of your most effective stress management tools you are better able to use them in your moment of need. Even though stress is part of life, it doesn’t have to define your life.

In 2022, The American Institute of Stress reported that roughly “33 percent of people report feeling extreme stress, 77 percent of people experience stress that affects their physical health and 73 percent of people have stress that impacts their mental health. These numbers are staggering and important for us to be mindful of as April is Stress Awareness Month. This is a great opportunity to spreading the word and priority healthy stress management practices!

It may seem counterintuitive, but looking to the past and letting things go can be a rewarding first step in the pursuit of clear headedness. Releasing ourselves from unwanted habits, setting ourselves up for future successes and identifying positive things around us allows us to make room for uplifting thoughts. We all deserve to feel as refreshed and rejuvenated as when we reorganized the hall closet, so let’s talk about some ways we can get there!

Spring is a time of new beginnings and renewal. The snow melts, the flowers bloom, and the days get longer. As the weather warms up, many of us feel a renewed sense of energy and motivation. However, for some, the transition from winter to spring can also bring feelings of anxiety and stress. Here are a few tips for preparing for spring mentally and emotionally.

Do you find yourself racing through your day going from one project to another or running to keep up with all of the necessities of your day, and then you get to the end of the day and you realize you didn’t have one actually meaningful conversation in your day? Not only is your day jammed-packed, but you are also more likely to be emotionally depleted because you haven’t met the connection need we all have. This week Dr. Jada is sharing insights on the impact connection has on our overall productivity, relationships, and life satisfaction.

We have all experienced a connection that surprised us. Maybe it was a kind moment with a stranger when you needed a smile or a shared experience with a coworker you didn’t know you had so much in common with. During these moments, both parties are benefiting from the relief and release of human connection, something everyone needs in order to share ideas, vent challenges, and grow. Connection is important for maintaining our mental health and can be supported before challenges arise in order to set a healthy foundation.