Tag: wellbeing
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Embrace Fun for Mental Wellbeing
Embrace Fun for Mental Wellbeing Fun activities make us feel better. Fun affects our cognitive functioning. Fun increases our energy level. Let’s explore why embracing fun is good for our mental wellbeing. What is Fun? Contrast fun and happiness to better understand what fun is. Fun is not a state of being nor is it… Read more
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Pastimes (hobbies) and Mental Wellbeing
Leisure activities or pastimes or hobbies are activities outside of our obligations to family and friends, outside of our job, and outside of our requirements as members of society. Pastimes can benefit our mental health. Pastimes (hobbies) contribute to our mental wellbeing. Let’s explore further. Evidence for Pastimes (hobbies) and Mental Wellbeing I will review… Read more
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Gardening and Mental Wellbeing
Gardening and Mental Wellbeing A garden is a space where one cultivates plants. Working a garden incorporates many activities. Gardening and mental health partner to improve our lives. Let’s explore the intersection of gardening and mental wellbeing. Why This Matters Mental health conditions are common. According to the Centers for Disease Control (USA CDC), the… Read more
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Maternal Mental Wellbeing
May 2024 is Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. Maternal mental wellbeing refers to the mental health of women who are mothers and who have children. Why This Matters Caregivers of children have responsibilities towards their children. Caregivers’ mental health needs are important because their mental health symptoms can affect their ability to be caregivers. Women… Read more
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Sleep and Mental Wellbeing
May 2024 is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Sleep and mental wellbeing are tightly linked. Let’s explore further. What Happens When We Sleep Sleep is an opportunity for the brain to refresh itself. The rested brain allows the body to function optimally. Sleep is not a waste of time. Russell Foster, PhD, of The University… Read more
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Cultivating Empathy for Mental Wellbeing
Cultivating Empathy for Mental Wellbeing Empathy affects our mental health positively and possibly negatively. Let’s explore empathy’s impact on mental wellbeing and how cultivating empathy may contribute to mental wellbeing. Empathy Defined Empathy is the ability to sense emotionally and cognitively how other people are experiencing their lives. Emotional empathy relates to experiencing the feelings… Read more
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Smoking and Mental Wellbeing
Nicotine consumption, often in the form of smoking, is a habit for many people in the world. Smoking and mental health are linked in a bidirectional relationship. Optimizing mental health can benefit from the cessation of smoking to lead to mental wellbeing. Why This Matters According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA), in… Read more
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Motivation and Mental Wellbeing
Motivation and mental wellbeing are linked in a bidirectional relationship. Let’s explore further. What Is Motivation Motivation is the desire to accomplish a goal, complete a task, acquire a skill, secure a comfort, maintain a relationship. I distinguish motivation from motive (reason for doing something) though I have seen dictionary definitions which equate the two… Read more
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Mental Wellbeing and Poetry
April is National Poetry Month in the USA. If you don’t believe me, check out the website of the American Academy of Poets, filled with resources for all of us (https://poets.org/national-poetry-month). Let’s talk about mental wellbeing and poetry. Why This Matters Mental wellbeing and poetry are good companions. Research on the benefits of poetry is… Read more