Focus on Self-Care, Reducing Stress & Healthy Choices during National Wellness Month
August is a month of transition. Changes in the weather begin to signal the coming transition from summer to fall and our children prepare for a return to school classes and activities. The slow pace of early August offers a wonderful opportunity to reintroduce healthy habits and routines that can relight our fire and make us feel more balanced and whole.
In fact, August is National Wellness Month, which is why Oneida Behavioral Health encourages everyone to make time for self-care, stress reducing activities and reintroducing healthy routines. Making time for yourself doesn’t have to be expensive or take a lot of time. Here are some simple ideas that will have a positive impact on your health and wellbeing.
Get Outdoors – whether you prefer sunny days or the smell of rain after a thunderstorm, reintroduce yourself to nature. Get outside, in a lawn chair or on a walk, and take in the sounds, smells and feel of the outdoors.
Grab a Piece of Fruit – is it the color, smell, taste or texture that makes a fresh, ripe piece of fruit so appealing during a warm summer month? Take the time to grab a fresh piece of fruit (or a vegetable) and eat it with no distraction. It’s good for both your physical and mental health.
Breathe Deeply – a seemingly simple thing, because we’re breathing all the time anyway, deep breathing helps oxygenate your blood and provides a host of benefits. Deep breathing can calm your nerves, reduce stress and anxiety, improve your attention span and lower pain levels.
Stretch and Move – whether you prefer yoga, walking, bicycling or something more active, stretching and movement can increase blood flow to your muscles, improve your ability to perform daily activities and help you decompress.
Connect with Others – having a healthy support system you can share your experiences with can help you better manage stressors that inevitably arise. Make a habit of connecting with supportive family and friends on a regular basis. If you’re looking for a larger group to connect with, consider attending our weekly Kunhi-Yo events where you can meet new people and learn more about Indigenous history and healing. And make note that our larger, annual Kunhi-Yo gathering takes place on August 31.
If you’re looking for a smaller, more private group to share your experiences with, join us at a weekly Wellness Support Group, Monday through Friday from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. for discussions about coping, relationships, emotions and community. The group is open to all Tribal eligible adults over 18 years of age and no referral is needed. We meet at 2640 West Point Road. Click here to learn more.
As always, if you are facing challenges that are affecting your mental health, please reach out to us at (920) 490-3790.
Oneida Behavioral Health (OBH) offers a wide range of services to members of the Oneida Nation and their families, including individual adult, youth and children’s therapy, ATODA services, suicide prevention, depression awareness, grief counseling and more. Services are provided at locations including the Ka?nikuhli.yo Family Center, Anna John Resident Centered Care Community, Veterans office and Oneida Nation schools.
