Change Is in The Air
We can really feel the change of the season now with cooler weather, less daylight and seeing trees losing leaves. The past couple of months have flown by and the holiday season is around the corner.
Life has continued to be different and a little (or a lot) stressful. We still have Covid and then the election-related stress. But, we still have the rhythm of the seasonal change to help ground us. We can work to support ourselves during the stressful moments and situations, and look for the positives, use good coping tools and try to enjoy the pleasures of the season.
If you need some support or guidance on your journey, please reach out and contact me at [email protected]
Seasonal Affective Disorder
For some, the season change can bring a mood shift as the daylight hours get shorter. If you are prone to seasonal depression, you may want to make a plan for self-care, up your vitamin D and make sure to get some time outside each day. For more information, check out one of these articles.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/treatment/ways-to-ease-seasonal-depression/
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad.htm
Election-Related Stress
If you are feeling stress related to politics and the election, you are not alone. Seek support for your feelings and focus on self-care and coping strategies.
https://www.today.com/health/how-deal-when-you-your-partner-are-political-opposites-t192617
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/how-to-manage-stress-post-election-no-matter-outcome
https://www.healthline.com/health/cope-with-stress-before-and-after-election#management-tips
Thanksgiving & Gratitude
thanks·giv·ing
noun
1. the expression of gratitude, especially to God.
“he offered prayers in thanksgiving for his safe arrival”
2. (in North America) an annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal including turkey. The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, and is held in the US on the fourth Thursday in November.
It can be challenging to focus on gratitude during stressful times, but there are always things to be thankful for. In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to highlight the benefits of cultivating a gratitude practice. As I’ve discussed before, our brain has a strong negativity bias, and we can counteract this by intentionally looking for, noticing, and acknowledging things that we appreciate, enjoy and value. Many studies have shown how a daily gratitude practice can improve our mood, outlook, and mental health. It can help us keep balance and perspective during difficult times. You can start by simply taking time each day to write down two or three things that you appreciate. Bonus points for sharing appreciation with others and for taking an extra minute to notice and feel the emotion and energy of gratitude in your body.
https://positivepsychology.com/benefits-gratitude-research-questions/
Surviving the Chaos of 2020
And last but not least, here are 7 tips to endure the stress of difficult time and stay strong and calm.
https://ohanayoga.com/surviving-in-a-pandemic/
Quotes & Inspiration
“In times of stress, the best thing we can do for each other is to listen with our ears and our hearts and to be assured that our questions are just as important as our answers.” – Fred Rogers
“Mankind will never see an end of trouble until lovers of wisdom come to hold political power, or the holders of power become lovers of wisdom.”– Plato
“Build bridges, not walls.” -Suzy Kassem
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorns have roses.” – Alphonse Karr
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – author unknown
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