4 Ways to Get Involved This Global

Green Living

Protecting Your Items – and the Earth – When Moving

(StatePoint) Moving is a big job – and it can be a wasteful one, too, considering all of the packing material required. Make moving more sustainable with these eco-friendly tips:

Space Saving: Using thinner sustainable wrapping to secure your breakables avoids the need for excess storage and boxes. Flourish Brand Honeycomb Cushion Wrap, made with 40% recycled content, offers a customizable way to pack boxes efficiently. The die-cut honeycomb stretches easily with interlocking paper that attaches to itself, so no tape is needed. Once you unpack, the paper can be directly recycled, or stored to be reused.

Folding In: Instead of using tape, fold your box tops in an interlocked, neat manner. They’ll stack up easily inside your vehicle, maximizing packing space, plus you won’t need to use any additional materials. Unpack your items without tearing or ripping your box, then recycle or fold it flat to store for future use.

• Rest. Now is a great time to sit back and take some time to relax, as 73% reported an improvement in their mental health from just taking time to rest.

• Cooking and healthy eating. The pandemic gave many a chance to spend more time in the kitchen cooking their favorite meals.

Seventy-two percent of respondents attribute cooking and healthy eating to helping improve their mental health. During these difficult financial times, spending more time in the kitchen can be a great way to help ease stress, save money on meals and of course, reap the physical and mental benefits of a good, balanced meal.

• Work-life balance. This has been a stressful time for employees, with news of layoffs coming almost daily, on top of the already existing financial stressors. However, 72% of respondents attribute achieving a better work-life balance to lowering stress levels and improving their mental health.

For full survey results, visit https://www.dynata.com.

While many Americans are feeling the pinch right now, the good news is that proven coping strategies can help lighten the mental load.

(StatePoint) Global Volunteer Month, celebrated throughout April, is a time to recognize people who actively support their communities through volunteerism and active civic engagement. It’s also a time to get in on the action. However, if you’re like many people, you may not know where to begin. Research from Points of Light, a global nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring, equipping and mobilizing people to take action that changes the world, shows 73% of people believe that volunteering is more important than ever, yet 66% think they can’t make a big impact in their communities. Global Volunteer Month can help point people in the right direction.

“April is an annual opportunity for companies and nonprofits to inspire individuals to action, share stories of those doing good, and create a pathway for continued engagement,” said Diane Quest, interim president and CEO, Points of Light. “Over the past four years since our inaugural Global Volunteer Month, we have seen people increase their commitments to creating a just and equitable world.”

This year, Points of Light is partnering with leading sponsor Phillips 66 and supporting sponsor UPS to encourage individuals, nonprofits and corporate partners to engage in their communities. As part of the campaign, they are sharing four great ways to participate:

1. Stay Local: While volunteering with any type of mission can help to better the world, people tend to be more impacted by volunteer opportunities from which they can observe the fruits of their labor. Collaborate with local nonprofits to affect change in the place where you live, work and play. Visit Points of Light Engage, https://engage.pointsoflight.org/, to find an opportunity today in your city or zip code and based on your interests.

2. Volunteer With Friends and Family: Families can support their communities by volunteering together. Consider working at a local food bank, participating in community clean-up initiatives, or organizing donation drives for local charities. Volunteering as a family not only provides a chance for quality time together but also encourages children to develop empathy and social responsibility. By volunteering, families can strengthen relationships, build community connections, and make a positive impact in their communities.

3. Recognize and Expand What You’re Already Doing: While many of us think about volunteering in a formal way with longer time commitments and structures, civic engagement comes in all forms. Informal actions like helping a neighbor and leveraging your purchase power all make up civic action. Ask yourself: how could I take three to five actions around one cause area that’s important to me to make greater impact? Find out how through the Points of Light Civic Circle https://www.pointsoflight.org/civic-circle/.

4. Say a Simple Thank You: At its core, Global Volunteer Month is about thanking those already volunteering and making an impact. Take a minute to send a thank you to a special volunteer in your life or an organization that is giving its time and talent to make your community stronger.

“There are many paths to living a full, civic life. Now is the perfect time to make a plan to join the celebration, today and every day,” says Quest.

Stacking Up: Ensure your plates and serving ware stay scratch-free by using a protective layer between each item. Made of recycled content, Flourish Brand 100% Recycled Kraft Paper provides lasting security for traveling to your new home.

Blanketed: Oversized or uniquely shaped home décor can be exceptionally fragile and isn’t always easy to squeeze into standard storage containers. When packing your vehicle, incorporate padding by wrapping these items in spare blankets, comforters or oversized towels. You’ll minimize the risk of damage to the items and have zero waste.

Healthy Living

Rising Inflation is Impacting Mental Health. How the Country is Coping

(StatePoint) It’s no secret that the country is feeling the pinch from inflation and the rising costs of goods and services, with 48% of Americans struggling to make ends meet financially, according to the latest data from Dynata’s Global Consumer Trends survey. That’s up from 34% in August of last year.

These circumstances are having a significant impact on wellness, with 53% of respondents attributing financial difficulties as being an extremely or very important contributing factor to their worsening mental health since before the pandemic. Women are feeling the impacts most. Nearly six in 10 women – 57% – say financial difficulties are the largest contributor to a decline in their mental health vs. 44% of men who say the same.

Many Americans however are finding new ways to ease the burden on their mental health. Here are a few of the habits and attitudes that have helped those who report having better mental health now than they did pre-pandemic:

• Exercise. Getting more exercise has helped 78% of respondents achieve better mental health during this time of financial uncertainty.

• Spending more time with hobbies and interests. Seventy-four percent of respondents have seen an improvement in their mental health by spending more time and focus on their hobbies