Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW is getting his steps.
Most of us want to increase our physical activity. Some of us are equipped to do super lunges while shoulder pressing a Buick Skylark over our heads but for those of us that prefer less vigorous activity, walking works just fine. Below is a link to an article from the Mayo Clinic that features the benefits of walking as well as some strategies to make those walks more effective.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261
Source: Unsplash
Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW would like to help to meet you in the resilient zone
We’ve all been stressed and anxious (high zone), other times we are detached and numb (low zone). The Community Resiliency Model™ refers to the middle area between those highs and lows as the “Resilient Zone.” The “Resilient Zone” is the middle place where we experience calmness but we are able to be alert and attune to the world around us. Below is an image featuring 10 strategies that you could use if you begin to experience the high or low zones and you’d like to get back to the “Resilient Zone.”
Source: http://www.new-synapse.com/aps/wordpress/?p=1938
Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW practices gratitude…most of the time…okay, sometimes.
We’ve probably all heard a coworker, friend, or family member attribute their new found peace to the practice of gratitude. Maybe at times we are even able to do it ourselves. The article below shares the benefits associated with the principle of gratitude.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/compassion-matters/201511/the-healing-power-gratitude
Source: Pexels
Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW has to mindfully practice gratitude.
“Mom and Dad were so much tougher on me.” We’ve heard this before or maybe we even said it. Is it true? Maybe, but probably not. The link below is a Freakonomics Radio podcast featuring psychologists Thomas Gilovich and Shai Davidai. They discuss our general tendency to think that we have it harder than others; our bias to focus on our barriers rather than our advantages. Take a listen.
Why Is My Life So Hard?
Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW understands that we all need to slow down.
Our sympathetic nervous system activates our “fight or flight” response in stressful situations; it can be activated by day-to-day stress. Think of it as putting your foot on the gas. Now, think of our parasympathetic nervous system as the brake. The article linked below provides tips on how we can press the brake, especially if our foot has been on the gas for too long and too often.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/six-relaxation-techniques-to-reduce-stress
Source: Pexels
Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW understands that you need to get away sometimes.
We have given ourselves plenty of reasons to not make travel plans. The article linked below gives us 5 reasons to squash the naysayer in our head and make that trip a reality.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nomanazish/2018/01/22/five-reasons-why-travel-is-good-for-your-mental-health/2/#3bf23b0e74df
Source: Pexels
Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW wishes you a Mindful Monday
It’s not easy but take a breath and try to be present in the moment that is right in front of you.
Andrew Warren ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW encourages mental wellness with the following tips.
It can be a daunting task to prepare a meal after a demanding work day. The article linked below shares why it can be worth the effort to break out the cutting board and pretend you’re Thomas Keller.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/minding-the-body/201505/kitchen-therapy-cooking-mental-well-being
Andrew Warren, ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW understands that hiking can be beneficial to mental health.
Many of us spend a significant part of our day in urban and suburban environments: traffic, noise, and lights. All these stimuli can become overwhelming and stressful. The article below discusses a study about noted brain changes associated with those who spent more time walking in natural settings. Skip the gym and hit the trail.
https://news.stanford.edu/2015/06/30/hiking-mental-health-063015/
Andrew Warren ASW, Psychotherapist at Recovery NOW encourages mental wellness with the following tips.
When was the last time you actually took a break at work? A real break, something more than the few minutes you took to check social media to see how many people liked the picture you posted of your waffle breakfast. The article below shares recent research on the benefits of taking breaks as well as how and when to take them.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/201704/how-do-work-breaks-help-your-brain-5-surprising-answers
