Make space for you
PARENTING COLUMN
Meagan Ruffing is freelance parenting journalist and Mental Health Counselor. She loves promoting Self-Care Sundays and challenges you to do something kind for yourself today!
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by Meagan Ruffing
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
O
ne of my favorite months of the year is May. Not only does it have Mother’s Day, but it is also the month to celebrate mental health. As a Mental Health Counselor, I teach others every day how to care about themselves; so I thought I would share some of my personal favorites with you.
1. Mindfulness.
Get yourself a mindfulness desk calendar. I picked one up for myself at the beginning of January, and it has quickly become one of the first things I look forward to each morning. I read the uplifting quote for the day and sometimes, it seems like the calendar knows exactly what I need.
2. Keep the Peace.
When I need to keep my mind sharp and free of negative thoughts, I block out social media, texts, and any type of content that might cause me to get stressed out. Sometimes this means I put my phone in another room so I can focus on other things.
3. Deep Breaths.
I know this one sounds really simple (and it is) but do not underestimate the power of a good deep breath. This is something I try to do with each of my clients in almost every session. It helps reset the body and be present in that moment.
4. Good Sleep.
This one goes without saying but a good night’s sleep does a body good. If your sleep routine is cur-
rently not where you want it to be, figure out what could be different about it. Is the room too hot? Too cold? Does your pillow need to be replaced? When I have clients who have trouble sleeping, I help break it down for them. We look at each part of their sleep routine and talk through how it is working and what could be better. Sometimes I will have them keep a sleep log to see if we can find patterns that can be repeated or disrupted based on how they are feeling.
5. Pick a Hobby.
I always tell people it is so important to find something that makes you feel good. I love to cross-stitch and it is something that calms me after a long day. I used to love to read and I still do, but I have not been able to read through a book
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