It took me 7 years to understand this

I believe this wholeheartedly - we are only able to heal when we actually give ourselves the time and space to do so.

I'm still trying to figure out how to have a 'soft landing' after returning from vacation. After having no schedule/no email for seven days to logging back into my inbox is ROUGH.

Given today's soaring temps, this article is rather timely. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!!! www.realsimple.com/signs-youre-...

One way to boost mental strength is to expand your knowledge-base. When you know more, you have more options. One resource I love is Big Think YouTube channel - most of the videos are around 5 minutes. Here's a great one on trauma: youtu.be/rdPRpyZrcIs?...

As summer begins to wind down and I start getting ready for a new semester, my to-do list can easily get out of hand. I know I can't control everything but one thing I try to leverage is time-management. I'm not perfect at it but it definitely helps lower my stress. psychcentral.com/health/tips-...

Want something easy to add to your wellness practice? Spend a few minutes outside each day ... whether its hanging out in your own backyard, taking a walk around your neighborhood or by your office, or visiting a local park, Mother Nature will take care of you. health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultiva...

I know the focus of this article is on dementia patients, but music is an awesome wellness tool because it can help us tap into our emotions, improve focus, and boost energy. I have so many playlists on my phone - depending on what I'm doing and how I'm feeling, my soundtrack is different. Try it!

"According to the National Council for Wellbeing '70 percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That's 223.4 million million people.'" This is why learning about trauma and trauma-informed practices is critical.

Thanks Cuzco 😉

While we often like to cram in a bunch of activities on the weekend (some for fun, others to catch up on chores/tasks), remember it's also wise to carve out some time to do nothing - nadda - zilch. Give yourself an opportunity to actually rest and recharge. Your brain and body will thank you for it.

Yeah, I feel this. And that's okay.

How you start your day matters. Take those first 10 minutes to give your brain the opportunity to ease into your day before you go slay those dragons. As the author notes, "mental strength starts with WHAT YOU ALLOW IN"

One of the most important relationships we need to understand. Where one goes, the other follows. That's why we need to develop a holistic wellness practice.

Too often we fall back on excuses like, "I'll do it tomorrow" or "I'm too busy right now" to practice self-care, and instead continue to ignore escalating warning signs our body/brain are stressed to the max. We need to remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So, do it NOW!

Breathing Techniques For Anxiety Relief ✨️ www.mindfullmentalitymovement.com/post/breath-... #MindfullMentality #mindfulness #meditation #anxiety

Love free tools to support holistic wellness!

Another one of my favorite 'low-hanging' fruits for holistic wellness. I love having a morning cup of coffee while sitting on my back deck and just chill for a bit. I get some Vitamin D and my brain gets to wander as I take in all the sights and sounds.

My favorite breathing technique for this is the 4-7-8 method. Take a deep inhale through your nose for count of 4. Hold that breath for count of 7. Then slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) release that breath through your mouth for count of 8. Repeat cycle a few times and you'll likely fall back to sleep.

A key part of holistic wellness is daily check-ins with yourself ... think of it as a temperature check with your inner thermostat. On a scale of 1-5, how are you feeling physically? Psychologically? Cognitively? If you score yourself at a 3 or higher, it's time to step back and do some self-care

#checkin - #mentalhealth - #mentalhealthmatters - #mentalhealthcheckin - #journaling

Check out this Daily-Ink post, ‘Atomic Habits Lesson 1 of 10’: daily-ink.davidtruss.com/atomic-habit... Based on the work of James Clear, and created for Inquiry Hub Secondary students.

One of my favorite books because it aligns with my 'low-hanging fruit' approach to wellness - his research highlights how tiny changes to your daily routine can lead to significant results if you stay consistent.

- Atomic Habits by James Clear: Atomic Habits explores the science of habit formation. James Clear shares practical strategies to create lasting change by making habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. The book emphasizes that success is not about goals, but about building better systems.

Same for when someone interrupts me when I'm writing. Don't burst my bubble.

Today marks the 3-year anniversary of 988. ☎️🫶 AFSP was one of the partners leading the charge for a 3-digit hotline that provides an effective alternative to 911 for individuals experiencing a suicide, mental health, or substance use crisis. #AFSPadvocacy

We need to reframe the narrative that taking a day off somehow makes us "lazy" - no, it actually is a necessity for optimal wellness and productivity! Our brain and body needs time to REST. So, take a "rot" day and just veg out.

As #MensHealthMonth comes to an end, we want to remind you that you are strong for talking about your mental health.💙 It's okay to ask for help. If you're struggling, there is support and help available. You can always dial 988 or text TALK to 741741. Artwork by Dan Lee

A reminder that when life and your emotions feel difficult to manage, focus on what's in your control.💙

Painful things happen that sometimes shatter our world or our sense of self. But we CAN recover. Although you won't be the same person you were before, you can emerge as a stronger version of yourself. That's post-traumatic growth ... the trauma remains a part of you, but it does not define you.

Thanks for that laugh 😂 P.S. Laughter is one of the most powerful wellness tools we can leverage ... releases dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins - calming hormones that help regulate our stress responses. So get your laugh on!

Important advice - being trauma-informed doesn't mean we only use those principles when we deal with people in crisis, rather they shoud be adopted as core principles within organizations that guide policy and practice if we truly want people to thrive in the workplace.

Today on Ethical Systems Building - Trauma informed Systems aren’t just for Crisis. Thanks for watching! #WorkThatHeals #DesigningBetterSystems #SlowWork #TraumaInformed #RestIsProductive #EthicalLeadership #BurnoutRecovery #AntiHustleCulture #RegenerativeWork #LeadershipWithoutShame

Love to see this!

If you are not familiar with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the importance of trauma-informed responses, please watch this beautifully written and powerful video. #traumainformed #ACEs #trauma

#traumainformed #traumasurvivor

#understandingtrauma #mentalhealth #ymhc #traumaawareness #healingfromtrauma #ptsdawareness #emotionaltrauma #traumainformed #traumaeducation

One key to stress management is recognizing WHAT we are feeling emotionally. This requires us to dig deeper than what we may be feeling "on the surface" (e.g., anger, fear, sad, etc.). Understanding those feeling(s) can then guide us on which wellness tool(s) can help to reestablish a calmer state.

Bravo!! And I predict their compliance rate will increase, their recidivism rate will decrease, and officer morale will increase. Win-win-win.

Ooooh, I love this ...

Frontline workers: Regulation isn’t luxury-it’s your anchor. Take time today to check in with yourself and regulate your nervous system. Try box breathing-In for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4. Repeat💜 #TraumaWiseWorkplace #RegulateToRespond #CareStartsWithYou #TraumaInformed #Breathe #Heal

I'm sure we've all been there - after a rough day, we come home and have a drink (or 2) to "take the edge off." But while it may temporarily numb our stress symptoms, alcohol can boost cortisol which will interfere with our sleep cycle - which is what our brain and body needs to recover and reset.

Your life is not defined by what happens today. It's the journey you take every day that matters most. Take each moment to pause and reflect on your values and goals. Remember to appreciate the people and things in your life and invest in their well-being. #takecareofyourself🌞

Vicarious trauma does not develop overnight, it is the result of chronic exposure to other people's trauma that has not been acknowledged/addressed. While we may not be able to control what we are exposed to, we CAN learn techniques to help reduce the impact of those experiences so we can thrive.

Only allow these type of people into your 'inner-circle'. I'm adding another item to the list - #7 aren't afraid to have a difficult conversation with you. I think in order to grow, we need to have people who will respectfully call us out when we mess up or give us a push when we need one.

"It became clear that if we didn't take care of the people who were taking care of people, we were missing a whole piece." You can't pour from an empty cup. This is why stress management and mental health support is critical for first responders. marc.healthfederation.org/tools/articl...

I'm always excited to come across an article that highlights a department that is embracing trauma-informed practices for its officers and its community. www.pacesconnection.com/blog/police-...

Sadly, the suicide rate among First Responders is 3x the rate of the general population. The amount of trauma they are exposed to on the job is substantial. Yet, we think they are somehow impervious to the effects of witnessing severe human suffering. We MUST do better by them. #trauma-informed

PTSD Awareness Month is also for the families behind fire & EMS : 👉 A whole family feels the impact 👉 Spouses carry hidden burdens 👉 Kids can experience anxiety and disconnection 👉 They need therapy, education, and peer support too Full Study: doi.org/10.11124/JBI...

PTSD impacts how safely we do our jobs. ⚠️ More PTSD = fewer safety checks & more missed hazards 🛠️ PTSD = struggle to speak up about danger 28% of safety behavior is linked to mental well-being. Study: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40361026/ doi:10.1186/s12889-025-22908-9