A ROOM WITH A POINT OF VIEW
LOVE IS ALL AROUND YOU, AND SO THE FEELING GROWS
Image credit: KRISHNA STUDIOS on Pexels.
With files from NEWS CANADA
Winter is a tough time of year for many of us. The long, dark nights and cold weather can bring anybody down. And with the ongoing stress of living through the pandemic, this winter is feeling even tougher than usual for many.
But remember the words of the song?
I feel it in my fingers
I feel it in my toes
Love that's all around me
And so the feeling grows
It’s true. Indulge in a few feel-good activities and you’ll feel better. Do something that would make someone’s day and feel the glow spread.
Call a friend you have lost touch with. Zoom – yes, the dreaded Zoom call that has become a lifeline for many of us.
Check in on family and friends. As we all try to limit interactions with people to reduce the spread of COVID-19, it’s easy to lose touch with others. Plan a regular phone call with a family member or friend, organize a Zoom party with friends or check in on others around you to see how they are doing.
Reaching out to help others will make you feel better as well.
Shovel a neighbour’s driveway.
Donate to a good cause.
Get moving. Yes, this one is cliché, but it’s well known for a reason and is worth the reminder. Exercise is not just about your body. It’s about your mind, too. The endorphins you make from breaking a sweat are powerful mood boosters that will amp up your energy and help you stay positive. So try incorporating some exercise into your daily routine. Yoga can be great as a means of doing something active for your mind and your body to reap a multitude of health and wellness benefits, from relieving stress and anxiety to increasing strength and flexibility.
Making choices to create a healthy work-life balance is another way to care for yourself and your wellbeing.
Learn to set limits by saying no when work time demands are too high. Shorten your to-do list and delegate or cut any extra tasks. By setting limits and boundaries, you can improve your relationship with yourself and your loved ones.
Take care of your mental health. Be mindful about screen time. Using smartphones and computers is a fact of modern life, so it would be unrealistic to suggest avoiding them completely. But make sure you’re actually enjoying your screen time or using it to be productive, and disconnect when this isn’t the case. Try an app that tracks your screen time to find out how much time you’re really spending on each app, and make an informed decision if you’d rather be spending your time on something else.
Maybe it’s been on your to-do list for a while, or maybe it’s never crossed your mind. But with the year we had, most of us could use some professional support when it comes to our mental health. If you don’t want to talk to somebody, find ways to take some time for self-care.
If you are struggling and don’t know where to turn, you can dial 2-1-1. This national helpline is answered by real people who will talk to you about your situation and provide information on local community or government supports that fit your needs. This includes programs and services related to mental health, financial assistance and utility relief, food and housing programs and much more. The service is free and confidential. In a survey done by 211 Ontario, 95 per cent of callers say they would call again or recommend the service to a friend or family member. The service is accessible seven days a week in over 150 languages.