A healthy lifestyle not only changes your body, it changes your mind, your attitude and your mood.
MAY IS NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

Mental Health Advocates on Long Island Offer a Wide Range of Resources and Activities

Connect with a new “tool” every day of the month - click here !
Positioning Yourself to Positively Respond to Change
Wednesday, 05/06/20 - 12 pm
Register now, click here !

Therapist Talk: Q&A About Coping with COVID-19 Blues
Thursday, 05/07/20 - 12 pm
Register now, click here !
Virtual Support Group - Practicing Self-Care and Managing Stress During the COVID-19
Thursday, 05/07/20 - 1 pm To register e mail: Meghanbeck@nationaleap.com
*Please note that this session is limited to 15 members
So how exactly do you navigate this ever-changing world? 
Firstly, we need to realize is that we are not robots. On an intellectual level, we may understand the changes that are happening around us, however, on an emotional level, we are still playing catch-up for the fast pace of what we are experiencing.

Fluid in our thinking
With all the advice on structure and routine we also need to be fluid in our thinking.
Fluid Thinking allows you to be adaptable to daily changes in your own personal routine and when you allow yourself to be adaptable in your thinking it allows you to be adaptable in your feelings. It lets you acknowledge the roller coaster of emotions but not to get caught and stuck in them. At moments like this, it is important to hear your thoughts and experience your feelings. 

Fluid in our actions
If you have a structured plan for your day and it doesn’t go to plan, that’s OK! This is the most abnormal situation you have ever experienced, and therefore there is no right or wrong way to manage your day. Having a basic routine i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner and a short walk every day (if you can) is a good starting point, but don’t feel you need to fill every minute with things to do – you don’t. Don’t overwhelm yourself with new things to do. If your day or week was already busy don’t feel you have to start an online course or clear every cupboard in the house. 

Avoid the pressure to be ‘perfect’
We live in a world where we tap into social media several times a day. Social media can be a wonderful tool, and the past week has shown how helpful a resource it can be, but it often pushes perfection on us and that can be an issue. No one’s life is perfect, so go easy on yourself in this regard. If you don’t normally play board games with your family because it ends up with no one speaking to each other, then don’t expect your family to suddenly become like a Disney movie. This is a marathon without a finish line, it’s not a sprint so take a deep breath and realize that today you’re doing well and how you feel today is all you have to manage.