Volume 5 STORIES FROM STAYING HOME (A newsletter meant to be your weekly distraction)

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH “No act of kindness, no matter how AWARENESS MONTH small, is ever wasted.” By: Vanessa Sovine, LMFT, Northstar Behavioral -AESOP Health Director of Development May is Mental Health Awareness Month! During this month we FACTS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY want to emphasize that people are not alone in their mental health concerns, there is support for you. The official Space Jam website We are fighting against an unprecedented pandemic currently has not changed since 1996. which makes this month's focus on mental health support even

more important. It is so important to take care of yourself so you The voice of Winnie the Pooh can continue to care for others. and Tigger, Jim Cummings, calls

children's hospitals in his spare time to cheer up sick children. If you find that you are struggling with mental health challenges, here are some resources: Worms communicate National Alliance on Mental Illness: by snuggling. https://www.nami.org/home National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Octopuses actually do make https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ gardens by collecting stones and shiny things and arranging Here are sites that focus on positivity, resilience and them in the sand. Ringo was coping skills: right. The positivity blog: https://www.positivityblog.com/ Building resilience: Always keep in mind, no matter https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_science_backe how bad you might feel, you'll d_strategies_to_build_resilience never look like world's Coping skills: https://www.verywellmind.com/forty-healthy- ugliest animal: the coping-skills-4586742 blobfish. Additionally, please pay attention to your texts from For a short time, the Northstar Behavioral Health and Bridges MN for the Staff planet Uranus was Support Group Zoom Meeting. named...George As always, please know that your supervisors are always here to support you! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are Have fun ideas or stories to struggling. share? Email: [email protected] We are all in this together

Volume 1

5 TIPS TO MAINTAIN MOTIVATION DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC As social distancing and Stay Safe MN orders are continuing, the changing reality of this pandemic can make focusing on our goals extremely difficult for some, but it also makes it clear that we may be in this “new normal” for the long haul. For most of us, the responsibilities of day-to-day life continue, and we are trying to stay on track as best as we can. Below are some simple tips for staying motivated during this time.

1. Set small daily goals.It is important to recognize that these aren’t normal times, and your productivity is likely not at its peak right now. That’s okay. Setting daily goals can help you to make your day as productive as possible, but be realistic with the goals you set.

2. Carve out time in your day for relaxation. Scheduling time to relax before or after work can help you to manage a healthy work-life balance. Since we dedicate a chunk of our day to work, try keep your work out of your relaxation time.

3. Schedule virtual get-togethers with friends. Social distancing can be the hardest aspect of this pandemic for many people. Not getting to spend time with friends can be emotionally taxing. However, social distancing does not mean you have to totally say goodbye to a social life. Schedule virtual get-togethers with your friends, and have them often! The promise of a set time and date to get together can be something to look forward to.

4. Prioritize your mental health. Staying motivated can be near impossible when your mind is filled with anxieties. No work technique is going to keep you motivated when stress is unmanageable, and there is a lot to be stressed about right now. Taking care of yourself can help you to better manage your mental health during this time, so make sure you aren’t letting the basics fall through the cracks. Take time to eat balanced meals, maintain a normal sleep schedule, allow yourself time to enjoy TV and social media, but try to reduce how much time you spend reading pandemic news.

5. Be okay with not being highly productive right now. Some days you may not have much ability to focus at all, and that’s to be expected! Nobody’s life is normal right now. You may find that you have good days where you’re highly motivated to get through work and bad days where your motivation is nowhere to be found. It’s okay to expect less from yourself right now.

As this new normal sets in, everybody is learning how to best adjust. Though this pandemic can feel like it will be endless, it will eventually pass. Staying motivated can help refocus our attention away from these stressful changes and towards a more hopeful future.

CONTEST - ONE MORE WEEK!!! We are LOVING seeing the pics of the decorated windows and doors at your programs!!! Don't forget to keep sending!!! Look at your competition everyone! 1 more week! Submit your photos to: [email protected]