We’ve all probably seen an uptick in our screen time over the past several months. Even during the summer, many of our interactions take place electronically. From online meetings and working from home to decreased social activities due to event cancellations and closures.

There is strong evidence to suggest that blue light screens can interfere with sleep and circadian rhythms in both adults and children. Screen time can also reduce person-to-person interaction and limit social skills during development.

Try one or more of these actions each day over the next week and see how you feel:

• Record how much time you spend on your device each day
• Unplug for one period of the day
• Leave your smartphone or tablet out of your bedroom
• Schedule 15 minutes every few hours to take a break from your device and step outside
• Devote 20-30 minutes to read a book without interruption
• Practice deep breathing by counting to 3 while you inhale and counting to 4 while you exhale

“Each contact with a human being is so rare, so precious, one should preserve it.”

– Anais Nin

Meditation

Meditation—the practice of turning your attention to a single point of focus—is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s a skill that takes time to learn, but one that’s definitely worth the effort. Meditation can help you think more clearly, make better decisions and manage whatever comes your way.

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This summer isn’t shaping up to look like anyone expected. So much has changed in just a few short months, even weeks. It’s totally normal to feel stressed out.

While you can’t always change what happens to you, Mental Remix is a tool that can help you change your response, no matter how hard the situation seems. Think of it as rerouting your mind map to lead you down a different road. Doing so can help you feel better and be more ready to deal with challenges that come your way.
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With Social Distancing, we have not been connecting as much face-to-face. Loneliness is everywhere. If you are feeling lonely, odds are most people are! What can you do this week? Reach out and connect, get together safely, while physically distancing.
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If you think you are struggling to handle the mental stresses of 2020, a younger generation may actually have it worse. Dr. David Nathan is an Allina Health psychologist and he says that out of all the groups suffering during the pandemic, he worries most about teenagers. Dr. Nathan sat down with WCCO-TV on June 26th to share what trends he’s seeing and what parents and guardians can do to help. Watch now.

Being kind is never a bad idea. But now more than ever, we all could use a little extra thoughtfulness, understanding and connection. Mailing a handwritten note, initiating a video or phone call or sending a personal text are all good ways to reach out, even when you can’t be together.
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We all have times in our lives when it seems like very little is within our control. This is especially true when bad things happen. It’s a frustrating and helpless feeling.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Lots of people live with mental health conditions. In fact, they are as common as having brown eyes! Many different and effective treatments are available, which is great news, but too many people do not seek help even when they know they need it. This often is due to the stigma associated with having a mental health condition. Stigma sets a group or individual apart in a negative way. It leads to labels, stereotypes, and bullying. Stigma can make people who are already suffering feel even more isolated.
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Life tends to feel a lot better when we’re clear about what’s important to us, and then organize and prioritize our time and energy with that in mind. This Change to Chill activity is designed to help you do just that. But sometimes, even when we have the best of intentions, life throws us for a loop. It’s easy then to feel defeated…like we aren’t actually in control.

The problem is when we compare how life is to how we think it should be. If we hang on too hard to expectations and stuck ways of thinking, we miss opportunities in the here and now.
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If you have been feeling anxious lately, you’re not alone. Anxiety is a very common, very normal feeling. Sometimes though, anxiety hangs on for too long or gets too strong and becomes a problem. When life changes suddenly and dramatically, even temporarily, feeling more anxious than usual isn’t surprising.
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