By Breck Obermeyer
Can we just talk honestly for a minute? These past two years have been absolutely insane. I don’t think there’s a person out there who hasn’t been affected by this pandemic. Some have been affected on a large-scale level – community engagement rules have changed, commerce looks different and healthcare has taken center stage (instead of concert performers). For some people, the effect has been felt much closer to home – finances have changed, jobs might have been reformulated to become remote or hybrid, or maybe the job was lost all together. Worst of all, a loved one may have been lost.
Alongside hurtful, painful and uncomfortable circumstances come the feelings and emotions that result from them. New levels of fear and anxiety have pummeled us – and our loved ones – throughout this whole experience.
All that the world has gone through these past few years has taken a serious toll on mental health. I’m not a mental health professional by any means – and I don’t have a specific stat to tie to my statement – but I see the effects of poor mental health in people every day. People are tired, frustrated and fearful.
I’m not immune to all this. I feel it just like everyone else. And the reason I bring up this “pandemic stress/fear/anxiety” is because May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and the theme for 2022 is “nature.” I love this theme. In fact, I often go to the tranquil beauty of a river or lake – or another body of water – to de-stress.
Here are my ideas for making your mind happier while in nature:
- Scream at the sky. Self-explanatory. But it would probably be smart to not run into your front yard and scream. No need to frighten the neighbors! Put on your hiking boots or comfy shoes, grab a coffee, and take a trip into the woods and let the feelings fly.
- My personal favorite: sitting by a river or lake and just taking in the scenery. This can be paired with a good book or a tasty coffee, tea or latte.
- Take a hike with loved ones, your dog(s) or just yourself.
- Take a trip into nature and journal, meditate or pray.
- Head into nature and have a great picnic.
With all those different ways to engage in the great outdoors, I want to pass along a tip I’ve seen in many inspirational posts and articles – be kind to yourself! Positive self-talk is so important to healing and maintaining joy. Please, invest in ways to love yourself and – in turn – you’ll also love those around you better. You’re worth it – it’s as simple as that!
I hope these tips and ideas help you learn a fresh way to heal your stress levels and refresh your mental health. If you’d like or need more information, you can head to nami.org. This month – and beyond – remember to be kind to yourself, find joy in nature and make your well-being a priority. It’s key to the life you deserve.
Breck Obermeyer, Yakima, WA – Breck Obermeyer is a community liaison with Health Alliance NorthwestTM, serving Yakima County. She’s a small town girl from Naches and has a great husband who can fix anything and three kids who are her world.
Like this article? Feel free to respond to Outreach@HealthAlliance.org. Thanks for reading!
Medicare in Minutes: Click here to see my latest video, about the importance of the CAHPS survey – the survey used to measure members’ satisfaction with their Medicare Advantage plan.