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5 Daily Habits That Are Actually Hurting Your Mental Health

Author By Hope Alcocer
Posted:
two men and a woman staring at phones while waiting on a train platform

If you’re anything like me, you have a routine set in place from the moment you wake up.

Open eyes.

Check the dog…yep, still breathing.

Roll over and check on my boyfriend — yup, he’s still breathing, too.

From there, I immediately grab my phone and open each social media app to see what breaking news I’ve missed over the last, oh, six hours, and then begin my day.

Some of my routines, the morning workout, might be beneficial, but the more I work on my mental health, the more I realize that some of my daily habits could potentially be harming my well-being. Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit and former business writer for the New York Times, writes that “Routines are the organizational analogue of habits,” and that starting new habits can be as difficult as breaking bad ones — but that harnessing the power of routine can have powerful effects on both productivity and our mental state.

Continue reading 5 Daily Habits That Are Actually Hurting Your Mental Health

Checking in on Your Mental Health Resolutions

Author By Jor-El Caraballo, Talkspace Therapist
Posted:
compass facing a lake at sunset

We are several weeks into 2018 and this is as good as time as any to check in with yourself about your mental health goals. It can be difficult to begin and maintain progress through your goals, especially this time of year, as we all try to regain our footing with our day-to-day schedules and responsibilities.

That’s why it’s incredibly important to take some time to reflect and re-group to see where you are with your mental health resolutions. Taking time to assess your progress is an invaluable part of the goal-setting process. Moving forward takes routine, evaluation, and consistent checking in.

So, how are you doing with your goals? Here are a few questions that you may want to begin by asking yourself.

Continue reading Checking in on Your Mental Health Resolutions

5 Ways Exercise Is Great for Your Mental Health

Author By Julie Crow, Founder @Fuel Builders and ACE Certified Health Coach
Posted:
exercise brain lifting weights

Taking care of our mental health requires a 360-degree approach to our overall wellness. It’s important to look at everything you can do to feel well and healthy.

“Food is the most widely abused anti-anxiety drug in America, and exercise is the most potent yet underutilized antidepressant” – Bill Phillips, Author and Entrepreneur

Here are the top five benefits of exercise that will have you lacing up your sneakers before you read the final sentence. Continue reading 5 Ways Exercise Is Great for Your Mental Health

5 Ways to Support the Family and Friends of a Loved One With Cancer: Keep Hope Alive When The Path Is Uncertain

Author By Liz Campese
Posted:
5 Ways to Support the Family and Friends of a Loved One With Cancer: Keep Hope Alive When The Path Is Uncertain

Imagine someone you love dearly – your child, parent, sibling, or another relative – being diagnosed with cancer. It’s hard to place yourself in that position, and to think about what you would do if it were to happen. What support would we need in place? What would we do if that were our family member?

– by Carrie Miller, LCSW / Talkspace Therapist

Childhood cancer is a topic that is close to my heart, as my now 6 year old nephew is a survivor of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. He was diagnosed at the age of 2. The moment that my sister and her husband got the news that “something isn’t right”, their hearts sank. They were terrified and had questions that the doctors could not yet answer for them; they were stuck in a hospital two hours away from home and had to leave another child with the grandparents to be there. The worst part was they were not sure about what came next. Calls went out to other family members, friends, and anyone else who could send support and offer a helping hand. Continue reading 5 Ways to Support the Family and Friends of a Loved One With Cancer: Keep Hope Alive When The Path Is Uncertain