As we embrace the sunshine, energy and change of seasons that these early days of May are beginning to bring us, I want to remind you that May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

Focusing specifically on mental health provides an opportunity to remind ourselves and those in our lives to stay connected to each other, to ourselves and to our community.

Part of being human is for each of us to move with our emotions, to know when something isn’t going exactly how we want it to, to check in with ourselves and to reach out to friends, family or a trusted adult for help when you need to take some time for your mental health or don’t know what to do. Here are a few tips to consider: 

•         Write down your daily accomplishments and celebrate them.

•         Create a self-care plan to support your mental well-being in your daily life. 

•          Find joy, connect with others, help others and/or learn something new on a daily basis.

•         Learn how to cope with stress with practical exercises like taking a few slow deep breaths, focusing on each of your senses and trying to be fully present in what you are doing.

•         Make small goals. Taking time for yourself is not something that will happen overnight.

•         Get out in nature and be present with your surroundings.