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Before my journey into the world of happiness science, I thought happiness meant we must strive to feel pure elated joy as often as possible. The problem with this outlook is we will never be happy enough. This is an unrealistic upward battle.

Instead, happiness is about feeling satisfied and content, and connecting with others in our community. It is about learning, and challenging ourselves with realistic goals. It is about opening our eyes to new people and experiences. It is about stopping to cherish the little things, and being grateful for every moment we have.

I started this website and wrote my book, Finding Ecohappiness, because my struggles with anxiety pulled me away from happiness. I want my children–all children–to have the necessary tools so they can work through any challenges they face, accepting the emotions they feel and the decisions they make without letting stress and anxiety overshadow their lives.

I also believe that if everyone in this world was armed with a happiness toolkit–instead of guns and nasty language aimed at each other when they feel disappointed or angry–the world would be a more productive, peaceful place. My work here, and in both my parenting book and children’s book about how nature helps children feel happier and calmer, are a piece of the happiness puzzle for all to explore and benefit from.

                                                     

What Is International Day of Happiness?

I am excited to celebrate International Day of Happiness every year on March 20th. In 2013, the United Nations designated this day as a way to recognize the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. As part of this special day, the UN developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals that seek to end poverty, reduce inequality, and protect our planet–three key aspects that lead to well-being and happiness for all. This annual global celebration is coordinated by Action for Happiness, a non-profit movement of people from 160 countries, supported by a partnership of like-minded organizations.

This year’s theme for International Day of Happiness is Mindful, Grateful, Kind. With our world facing unprecedented challenges, wellbeing matters more than ever. Here are 3 ways you can celebrate the International Day of Happiness with a nature lens:

Mindful
Engage in mindful activities that help connect you to nature, such as tree hugging meditation, earthing, creating a nature mandala, relaxing in a nature sit spot.

Grateful

Express gratitude for the awe you find in nature, such as a rainbow, the ocean, or a colorful bird flying overhead.

Kind
Be kind to animals and the planet by volunteering outdoors engaging in activities like beach cleanups and helping parks. You can also spread random acts of kindness.

How Your Family Can Celebrate

• Participate in acts of kindness as a family to spread happiness to others.
• Teach your kids lovingkindness meditation.
• Visit Live Happy to sign up for tips on living a happier life, access a happy acts calendar of ideas, share your happy acts, and see how others are spreading happiness.
• Create your own happiness wall or find out where to find one near you.
• Download the happiness calendar for each month of the year.
• Seek out books like Sky’s Search for Ecohappiness and Finding Ecohappiness; movies (such as Inside Out and Trolls), and songs (like Pharrell Williams’ “Happy”) about happiness to share with your kids.

Learn More About Happiness

The world of happiness science continues to bring us a wealth of new knowledge every day as more studies are completed. Here are some fascinating highlights about the latest research on happiness:

• Watch Robert Waldinger’s Ted Talk about the findings from the longest study on happiness out of Harvard University. You may be surprised to discover what they found to be the key factor to happiness. It’s simpler than you think!
• Visit University of California, Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, a hub of happiness science news and information–and one of the places where I got my inspiration to start my blog.
• Check out this amazing infographic created by Happify: The Science of Happiness.

And, of course, please explore the many resources here at the Ecohappiness Project and my books. Spread happiness by sharing with your family and friends!

 

This guest post was written by Charlie Fletcher, a freelance writer from the lovely “city of trees”- Boise, Idaho. Her love of writing pairs with her passion for social activism and search for the truth. You can find more of her writing on her Contently.

If you’ve ever considered growing your own food, now is as good a time as ever to start. Organic fruits and vegetables are typically more expensive at grocery stores than a lot of lower-quality junk food items. This means that growing produce at home can save you money and keep you happy and healthy.

Whether you have a large outdoor space or just a patio with room for a few plant boxes, you can grow food. This also tends to be more environmentally friendly than industrial vegetable production, so you’re contributing to a greener society while remaining within your budget. Let’s dig a little deeper into how you can save money through sustainable gardening.

 

Recognize the Benefits

Sustainable gardening certainly takes a lot of work and focus to achieve effectively. Therefore, it can be easy to fall behind. One way to maintain motivation throughout the process is to gain a good understanding of the range of benefits you get from the experience. Some of these are instantaneous, and others will have positive effects over time.

Perhaps most obviously, you will save money on your grocery shopping bills. One report found that an investment of $70 in gardening resources yielded around $600 in vegetables. Also, you may find you save money on gas due to fewer trips to the grocery store. This may represent small savings, but it can certainly add up.

Sustainable gardening also has a direct impact on your wellness. Committing to green activities can improve your quality of life in a variety of ways. The time you spend outside tending to your garden can increase your oxygen intake. Growing your own food also exposes you to fewer harsh chemicals, such as pesticides and industrial fertilizers. Living this mentally and physically healthier life can also translate to fewer costly doctor visits and treatments. A boosted immune system also means you may be less likely to experience lost finances from having to take time off from work.

Plan Mindfully

If you want to save the most money and enjoy the full range of benefits of sustainable gardening, it will require some commitment. Your project will be more efficient, sustainable, and impactful if you make a solid plan.

Identify the range of vegetables that you want to incorporate into your gardening plan. Do some research into how long it takes to grow each type of product, the yields you can expect, and the resources you will need. This allows you to take a mindful approach to eating and gardening, avoiding investing in more seeds, soil, or equipment than you strictly need. It also means you will be reducing potential waste produced from excess items you and your household are unable to consume.

It is also helpful to have to plan for seasonal changes in crops. You can’t always guarantee that you will be able to grow the same items in the spring that you can in the fall. Find suitable replacements for your needs each season. Understanding when to rotate out different vegetables ensures that you don’t have to purchase vegetables from the store to fill supply gaps. From a sustainability perspective, rotating crops seasonally or yearly tends to be healthier for the soil.

Work as a Community

Sustainable gardening isn’t something you necessarily have to do alone. Indeed, you will get the best returns from working as a community. This applies both on a financial basis and in terms of richer local relationships.

This doesn’t have to be a complex operation. It can be a mutual agreement between you and a couple of neighbors, or you can form a whole neighborhood co-op. Get together and plan what types of crops will be grown by each member of the neighborhood and formalize processes for dividing up the produce. This creates opportunities for lower-cost access to a more diverse range of vegetables for everyone involved. More organic gardens in the area can also be beneficial for local pollinating insect populations.

Another positive outcome of approaching this project as a community effort is as an educational resource for neighborhood children. Parents can help children connect to nature. Getting them involved with gardening projects teaches them about sustainability and demonstrates a responsible approach to using natural resources. This time they spend gardening outside can lead to a greater appreciation and respect for the natural world. This also provides children with the knowledge they need to access cost-effective, healthy foods.

Maintaining a sustainable home garden can save you money, keep you healthier, and produce educational opportunities. It’s important to make sure you take a mindful approach to this, planning your crop choices in line with the most appropriate seasons. You may also find approaching this project as a community yields greater efficiency. Whether you are just starting small or creating something more ambitious, growing your own produce will be a financially, emotionally, and culturally enriching experience.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States. However, there are different types of depression, which include seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This affects an estimated number of 10 million Americans, according to research. If you are diagnosed with or suspect symptoms of SAD, this article will shed some light on the subject and provide tips on how to cope with it.

What Is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

SAD is a type of depression that occurs on a seasonal pattern. When autumn and winter arrive, some individuals feel irritable, moody, exhausted, or depressed. It’s believed that this is normal, as biological factors make people sad and tired in the winter. However, when symptoms become severe and interfere with one’s ability to function normally, it might not just be the winter blues—it could be something more serious, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD.

SAD is a clinical depression triggered by seasonal changes. It’s believed to be caused by a biochemical imbalance, particularly a drop in serotonin. That gloomy feeling comes with the arrival of the colder months. Usually, it doesn’t show up until late autumn or early winter. Symptoms can include the following:

• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Difficulty sleeping
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Loss of appetite
• Bingeing
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of enthusiasm for activities

Fortunately, there are various programs available for addressing this kind of depression. You can click here for more information.

What Causes It?

The causes of seasonal affective disorder differ from person to person. However, a variety of other factors are believed to contribute to the development of SAD. These are some of the probable causes:

• Melatonin and Serotonin Issues: The amount of sunshine you get influences your serotonin levels, a brain chemical that affects your mood. When you get less sunshine during the fall and winter, your serotonin levels decline, which can lead to depression. Similarly, during nighttime, your brain creates melatonin, a hormone that helps your body prepare for sleep. When the seasons change, the equilibrium of your body’s amount of melatonin may be disrupted. When mood-regulating nerve cell circuits in the brain don’t function properly, sadness, weariness, and weight gain may occur.
• Effects Of Light: As soon as light enters the retina, signals are sent to the prefrontal cortex. This, in turn, sends signals to the regions of the brain that regulate sleep, food, sex drive, body temperature, mood, and activity levels. But when light levels are low, these processes might decelerate or even halt altogether. So, people who need a lot more light than others are likely to get SAD when the seasons change, especially if they frequently stay indoors.
• Disrupted Body Clock: Winter-onset SAD can also be brought on by the lower amount of daylight received throughout the fall and winter months. When your exposure to sunshine is reduced, your body’s natural clock may be thrown off, leading to feelings of despair.
• Temperature and Weather: Everyone has a unique perspective on specific seasons and weather patterns. However, some people may feel particularly uneasy when the seasons change. This could result in the development of depression or exacerbate existing depression.

It’s crucial to remember that SAD is a complex disorder, and not all cases can be traced back to a single cause. A combination of factors, including melatonin and serotonin abnormalities, genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and lifestyle, can contribute to the development of SAD.

Treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder

There’s no proven technique to avoid the onset of SAD. However, if you take action to cope with it early on, you may be able to keep it from worsening over time. Here are some ideas to help make you feel better:

See a Therapist

Several talking therapies are used to address depression and SAD. For example, counseling allows you to share your feelings in total confidentiality openly. Therapy frequently includes addressing your feelings about yourself and others and figuring out whether anything in your history is impacting how you feel today. With the help of a professional and qualified counselor, you may work through your feelings and create coping methods.

Consider Medications

Your symptoms may only linger for a few months, but you may feel more in control of the situation with medication and treatment. A professional can determine whether you have any nutritional deficiencies, such as low vitamin D levels, that might influence your mood. They may also advise taking antidepressant medication or suggest supplements to help you feel more energized. If you notice a significant shift in your emotional or mental health, don’t disregard it, especially if you have seen it happen. Consult a medical expert and look into pharmaceutical choices.

Get Some Natural Light

Aside from therapy and medication, it can help to get natural sources of light as often as possible. When your body needs it most, try opening the curtains and windows during the day to let sunlight in. You can also enjoy your meals, go for walks, or read a book outdoors. All of these can make a tremendous difference in your mental health.

Walk Outdoors

Taking walks outside on a sunny winter day can help your body absorb some of that healthy light and eventually feel better. Even on a cloudy day, going for walks still provides you with more light than you would if you were inside. It doesn’t matter if you’re dressed warmly. As long as light enters your eyes, your mood will improve.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise, especially green exercise outside, is an effective therapy for any mood disorder as the brain increases the level of dopamine or the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ hormones. Because of this, it’s best to get it done regularly. You can do light exercises like walking or jogging in the morning or moderate exercises like lifting weights at home or the gym. Furthermore, you can occasionally join various outdoor activities, such as hiking, skating, or snowboarding.

Make Plans For The Following Season

Being proactive in planning for the upcoming months is ideal when you often feel less energetic. If you’re contemplating holiday shopping or sending out greeting cards, plan and schedule them now instead of waiting until the colder months. This way, you’ll feel more excited for the winter season to come. For example, you can schedule a vacation. Even three or four days in a sunny, mild climate can lift you out of melancholy, especially if your doldrums are moderate. Within a few days, you may feel better.

Get In Touch With Family and Friends

As with most mental health issues, it’s best to let people you care about know if you need more help. Although it may be challenging, it is essential to talk about mental health problems with those close to you so that they can give you the necessary understanding, empathy, and care.

Control Your Stress

Stress can be especially damaging for people suffering from SAD. So, if seasonal melancholy saps your vitality every winter, avoid being stressed. Of course, it’s much simpler to say than to accomplish. It’s a good thing there are stress management practices that might help you deal with seasonal depression. This includes practicing meditation, planning your tasks and goals for the season, and taking breaks to go outside in the light.

Take Good Care Of Yourself

Make time to unwind and treat yourself. Take a hot bath or spend the evening reading a novel. Don’t forget to exercise regularly to ensure that your brain and body are constantly flooded with feel-good hormones. These and more habits can make you feel good every day.

Limit Your Consumption Of Junk Food

When feeling down, it’s easy to seek sugary and starchy comfort foods. Sure, you’ll feel a surge of energy right away. However, that feeling doesn’t last, and overeating sugar can harm one’s health.
It’s also believed that a diet high in sugars, sweets, and processed food is linked to an increased risk of depression. In contrast, dietary habits that included veggies, nuts, and eggs were associated with a lower risk of depression.

Practice Meditation and Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness is an excellent approach to staying on top of mood swings. Meditation allows you to be present in the moment, which helps you focus on the positive and improves your overall view of life. If you suffer from seasonal depression, meditation could be a helpful addition to your self-care practice.

Learn To Value The Simple Things

Taking delight in the little things in life might help you divert your attention away from negative thoughts and emotions. Even small daily joys can improve your overall mood and boost your well-being. You may try discovering a new hobby by traveling for a day or taking a break from work. You might even plan activities you enjoy with your loved ones, even if they live far away. You can boost your mood no matter what you do if you focus on the bright side.

If you are frequently depressed and have difficulty falling asleep during certain seasons, particularly the winter, you may suffer from SAD. Fortunately, there are strategies to deal with this sort of sadness. Coping mechanisms like counseling, light therapy, and medications can effectively reduce SAD symptoms. In addition, it’s best to consult your doctor if you suspect you have SAD to help develop a treatment plan for managing the condition.

 

Substance abuse among the youth continues to be a significant public health concern. It’s estimated that millions of teenagers have previously engaged or are currently engaging in illicit substance abuse, with close to half of the teenage population in the United States having been involved in drug abuse at least once.

According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, the most commonly misused substances include marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, alcohol, heroin, and opioids. Drug abuse and addiction often leave a trail of devastated parents and guardians who have gone to great lengths to protect their children. In some cases, some beat themselves up while questioning where they failed.

Dealing with substance addiction among teens is a complex journey involving multiple approaches, including therapy, handled by competent professionals at an addiction recovery center such as Jackson House Rehab. Addiction treatment and recovery centers can help teens and their families navigate the recovery process and break addiction cycles.

Why Adolescents Use Drugs

During the teenage years, young people tend to experiment with new things, take risks, and test boundaries with authority figures like parents, guardians, and teachers. Teenagers are hardwired towards self-discovery. Unfortunately, in self-exploration and finding their identity, some may make poor choices, including using illegal substances. However, teenage choices, including negative ones, don’t happen in isolation. The following reasons may contribute to substance abuse among teens:

• Social acceptance and peer pressure: The influence of your teen’s peers can be positive or negative. If the peer group engages in the illicit use of substances, it’s common to find all group members conforming and getting caught up in drug abuse. The need to fit in with that social circle can often influence a person to consider exploring illicit drugs.
• Curiosity: As mentioned, teenagers are likely to explore and be more than willing to try out new things, and their curiosity could lead them to test illicit substances. Unfortunately, most may not know when to stop, and continued use quickly becomes a substance abuse problem.
• To experience pleasure: Some teens may quickly get hooked on the euphoria they get after consuming drugs and alcohol.

Risk Factors

Various factors can increase a teen’s risk of experimenting with or using illicit substances. Some risk factors include:

• Family turmoil: Teens involved in never-ending cycles of conflict with parents or caregivers are more likely to use drugs and alcohol to numb their pain. Similarly, family issues like parental conflict, divorce, and separations can lead a teen to engage in drug abuse to escape reality.
• Past abuse and trauma: A teen that’s experienced physical or emotional abuse is more likely to use drugs and alcohol. Some young people may turn to such substances to escape their problems. If they’re battling anxiety or depression, they may continue relying on drugs or alcohol to provide the relief they need, which can lead to addiction down the road.

Early Warning Signs Your Teen Might Be Into Substance Abuse

Although teens like to keep to themselves, parents or caregivers should try to cultivate a supportive relationship and keep the lines of communication open. Spending more time with your teens in a natural setting outdoors can strengthen the bond you share. With closer family relationships, it’s easier to figure out when something is “off” with them as you know and understand them better.

Understanding the symptoms of teen drug abuse can help you realize when you need to seek the intervention of professionals at an addiction recovery center. Watch out for the following early tell-tale signs that may indicate that your teen is using drugs:

• Changes in eating habits
• Aggression, anger, and violence
• Dropping old friends
• Having a secretive group of new friends
• Declining academic performance
• Losing interest in enjoyable hobbies or activities
• Rebellion
• Withdrawal from family members
• Evident physical changes like weight loss, poor hygiene, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and body tremors
• Missing school and overall irresponsibility

Side Effects of Substance Abuse

Drug abuse and addiction effects among teens can be severe, lasting a lifetime if the disorder isn’t addressed promptly. Some common side effects of substance abuse and addiction among teens include:

• Declining cognitive health due to changing brain structure.
• Deteriorating physical health due to damage to body organs, including kidneys, liver, lungs, and the heart.
• Poor decision-making capacity responsible for risky behaviors like drunk driving.
• Mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and psychosis.
• Falling school grades due to impaired concentration and poor memory that affects school work.

Using Nature To Treat Addictions

Like other chronic disorders, substance abuse disorder or drug addiction can be treated. The main goal of the treatment and recovery journey is to help an addict regain complete control of their lives to become a productive and responsible person. This can be attained through treatment plans that help counteract drug addiction’s disruptive effects on their brain and behavior.

Teen addiction treatment and recovery options often include a combination of medications, counseling, and nature therapy. Spending time outdoors is believed to extend certain benefits to boost mental health and help teens recover from substance addiction, including:

• Reduced Anxiety and Depression: Nature extends natural relief to teens suffering from anxiety and depression by lowering cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is the stress-triggering hormone in the body. Cortisol levels have been observed to reduce significantly after spending as little as 30 minutes in a natural setting outdoors.
• Reduced Mental Fatigue: Spending too much time on books and gadgets requires dedicated attention, which often results in mental fatigue. Green spaces can offer mental relief by allowing people to focus on things that don’t require too much effort.
• Increases Resilience and Confidence: Substance addiction increases the likelihood of a teen suffering from a battered self-image, low self-confidence, and poor social skills. Group activities like games or walking in natural spaces can lead to increased self-efficacy and improvements in social skills, confidence, and resilience.

Find Help For Your Teen

Professional help, such as at an addiction recovery center, is within reach for teens suffering from a substance abuse disorder. But, the journey to sobriety and an addiction-free life starts with accepting the existence of the problem. It’s critical, however, to note that teens struggling with addiction may also be experiencing mental health challenges like anxiety or depression. Therefore, a licensed treatment center with residential facilities that have ample space outdoors is best placed to provide the most appropriate level of care that integrates treatment for various issues.

With the proper treatment and support, a teen can move from drug addiction to leading a fulfilling and productive life. Reach out to qualified and licensed professionals today and get help for that teen struggling with a substance abuse disorder.

 

Pets have a myriad of benefits for children and adults alike, with a 2022 study by the American Academy of Neurology finding that having a dog or cat (especially for five years or longer) is linked to slower cognitive decline in older adults. The key to this effect is the ability to reduce stress. 

Having pets also has a myriad of physical benefits. They help boost human activity, as adults and kids tend to exercise more in the great outdoors when they have pets. Also, children who grow up with pets in the home have a lower likelihood of developing asthma. Pets provide unconditional love and companionship, they help lift human mood, and they even motivate kids to be better readers. If you have just adopted a dog or cat and you are excited about taking him or her home to meet your children, keep the following tips in mind. 

Allow Your Pet to Take the Lead

Your new pet will undoubtedly be overjoyed to take their first steps in your new home, but they may also feel a little nervous, insecure, or overwhelmed. Role play with your kids so they know how to behave when your dog walks in. Instead of heading towards the dog, they should stay where they are sitting or standing and, if possible, turn sideways towards a new pet and keep their hands by their sides. Teach them to avoid looking a new dog straight in the eye, as this might be misinterpreted as aggression. Encourage them to wait until the dog approaches them and has a sniff of their feet and/or hands. A dog that wags its tail or a cat that rubs its body against its new humans is clearly ready to be stroked and loved. Not all dogs and cats enjoy being hugged, so ask your kids to be patient before getting physically close to their new pet. 

Find Appropriate Places to Play

Many pet owners don’t mind having their pooches or kitties with them on the couch. However, if you prefer to keep your couch totally hair-free, you may want to interact with your pet on the carpet or rug. If so, set ground rules from the start so that your kids know that their furry BFF is to be kept off the couch. Keep your carpet clean by using a vacuum that is specifically made to pick up pet hair. To keep older rugs pristine, use a DIY combination of warm water and white vinegar. Use a soft brush to gently brush your rug back and forth, testing for color fastness before cleaning the whole rug. Hang your rug to dry in a safe, clean area. Keep various beds around the common areas of your home, so your pet is more likely to rest in their bed than on the floor or furniture. 

Tap into the Power of Touch

If you have younger children, use soft toys to show them the appropriate way to pet animals. Teach them the parts of the body that dogs and cats enjoy being caressed. For instance, dogs love a chest pat or a gentle massage on the back of the neck. Most also enjoy a soft rub on their lower back (above the tail). On the other hand, pets do not like their ears or tail being pulled and they may not enjoy their paws being touched. In fact, these actions can be very painful and can result in a dog snapping. Remain in the room whenever your children are with your pet, keeping an eye on how they interact with each other.

Pets have a vast array of benefits for people of all generations in a household. Your kids will build a strong bond with their new pet in no time. Simply teach your children to be patient and gentle with your pet, and ask them to help you feed your pet and keep the areas it inhabits tidy.

Read more about the emotional benefits of having a pet dog.

What is clearer than ever is society as a whole is spending less time outdoors connecting with nature and more time on screens. Whether it’s your smartphone, laptop, tablet or TV, it can be hard to break away from the endless stream of content, with these devices becoming so entwined in our everyday lives. But breaking away from technology is essential for achieving a balanced lifestyle–and it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you think. Here are some tips to help you and your family break the cycle of screen addiction.

Track Usage

The first step in breaking any habit is identifying that it exists in the first place. To do this, start tracking your usage. Most smartphones now have time tracking features installed so you can see when and where you are spending most of your screen time. You can also set up time limits on devices and applications. This way, you can get an accurate idea of just how long you are spending in front of screens each day and then adjust accordingly to ensure you are staying within your limits.

Turn Off Notifications

Notifications are one of the biggest culprits when it comes to screen addiction because they constantly pull our attention back to our devices throughout the day. To avoid this distraction, turn off notifications for all but your most important apps and websites so you only receive updates when absolutely necessary. This will be particularly effective at times when you don’t want to be distracted, such as during working hours or late at night.

Establish Tech-Free Zones

In addition to limiting your overall screen usage, try creating tech-free zones where you can unplug from your devices entirely for a certain period of time each day. This could mean leaving your phone in another room while you eat dinner or powering down laptops and tablets during family time on the weekends–whatever works best for you.

Doing this is a great opportunity to teach children about the dangers associated with too much technology. In turn, this can also help them to manage their own digital dependency, and instilling these good habits now will hopefully mean they hold on to them as they grow up.

Go Screen-Free

Whenever you are home and devices are within reach, there will always be the temptation to quickly check notifications, which can easily turn into hours of scrolling. You could take it one step beyond the tech-free zones at home and ask the entire household to engage in a digital detox, leaving devices behind whenever you venture outside for a family activity day. You will be amazed at how much quality time you suddenly have back, with no digital distractions to hinder conversations and exploration.

Consider taking a screen-free day, weekend, week, or vacation as a family. This is the perfect way to balance out all this screen time by replacing it with green time. Getting outside and engaging with nature has been shown through scientific research to have an abundance of health benefits. All of us need healthy breaks away from screens to recharge and get back to a balanced state, both mentally and physically. Spending some time outside helps kids relax and then come back energized and inspired as they continue with their day. Plus, without having access to their digital devices, children are more likely to engage with nature, which will hopefully spark an ongoing curiosity for the natural world.

Create an Unplugging Ritual

Another great way to break the cycle of screen addiction is to create an “unplugging ritual” before bed each night. This could include reading a book, listening to music, or meditating–anything that helps put your mind at ease and encourages relaxation instead of scrolling through social media until late at night. Not only will these alternatives help to cut down your screen time, but ditching the tech around bedtime can drastically improve sleep hygiene, helping your family establish a healthier routine.

Breaking away from technology can seem overwhelming at first, but with a few simple steps, it doesn’t have to be nearly as difficult as it seems. By tracking your usage, turning off notifications, creating tech-free zones, and developing an unplugging ritual before bed each night, you can take control of your screen addiction and start living a healthier lifestyle today.

The World Health Organization (WHO) explains that mental health refers to a state of mental well-being that involves how individuals cope with life’s stresses, realize their abilities, learn and work well, and contribute to the community. Mental well-being is integral to overall health, but it is not merely the absence of psychological disorders. As discussed throughout this site and in my book, Finding Ecohappiness, nature can help alleviate mental health challenges like stress, anxiety, and depression.

However, sometimes we need more guidance to address our mental health issues. Each of us has a unique level of distress and difficulty, and counseling can help improve clinical and social outcomes. This article explores how professional counseling can help improve your mental health.

Helps You Explore Feelings With The Aid Of A Professional

People who face big problems tend to confide in their close family members and friends. While your loved ones are generally your strongest support system, seeking professional help can give you a better understanding of what you’re going through.

A mental health expert is the best person who can provide proven, effective techniques to help you handle difficult situations and cope with problems. A psychologist, psychiatrist, clinical social worker, professional counselor, or family therapist can help you explore your emotions, thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors during counseling. By doing so, you can have more confidence in working through challenging and influential memories under the supervision of a mental health expert. You can learn more about individual therapy, family therapy, and other treatment options to improve mental health at https://apibhs.com/counseling.

Allows You To Set Personal Goals With A Unique Treatment Plan

Before your first counseling session, the mental health professional will ask you to complete an online or written form. During this intake session, your therapist will review the form with you. The therapist will also ask you to answer a questionnaire to get more information about you, such as your medical, mental, and family histories.

During counseling, your psychologist will assess your mental health by asking questions. This step is crucial in helping create a unique treatment plan customized to your needs and personal goals. Your therapist won’t tell you what to do when setting your goals. Instead, you will eventually realize the best course of action upon exploring your feelings and thoughts during your sessions with the help of a psychologist or psychiatrist.

Offers Various Treatment Options To Understand People Better

Counseling not only allows you to know yourself, but it also enables you to understand people around you better, including your loved ones, friends, colleagues, and even strangers. You might find yourself talking most of the time and feel intense emotions, including anger. However, all of these are part of the psychotherapy process.

During sessions, your therapist lets you express yourself and record or write down your statements. This step is important to help you increase self-awareness. The therapist may recommend appropriate therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), to help you realize the connection between your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, influencing how you deal with people. In addition, counseling is an excellent step-down treatment option if you are shifting from a higher level of clinical care and support. This transition can help prepare you to face the real world with more confidence and better coping skills to overcome stress.

Nature therapy, also called ecotherapy, is another type of therapeutic option involving counseling. It focuses on both what we do to the earth and what the earth does for us, like improving our emotional well-being. It involves a range of practices, from walk and talk therapy to animal therapy to horticultural therapy, that help us connect to nature in a mindful and meaningful way with the guidance of a trained professional. The premise is to reconnect with nature, which can help us feel more grounded, positive, relaxed, energized, and resilient. Learn more about ecotherapy options.

Helps You Identify Life Aspects You Want To Change

Individual therapy or counseling is a collaborative process between you and the therapist. The common goals include encouraging change and enhancing the quality of life. Hence, many people seek psychotherapy when they encounter problems that are difficult to face alone or behaviors they want to change.

With a series of counseling sessions, you will be able to identify the aspects of your life that you want to change. For instance, you want to become a better spouse, parent, or business leader. In such a case, perhaps you want to change how you perceive other people’s actions or modify your maladaptive behaviors, such as uncontrolled anger.

Helps You Work Toward Attaining Desired Change

Once you have identified the things you want to modify or resolve in your life, achieving that desired change is next. Attending counseling without missing sessions can help you move closer to this goal.
Therapists are graduates of a bachelor’s or master’s degree, licensed, trained, and experienced in psychological counseling. They can incorporate psychology concepts, methodologies, and advanced tools during counseling to help you explore yourself, better understand your problems, and transition from feeling weak, sad, or lonely to becoming more empowered to make smarter life choices and changes.

Mental health experts can refer patients to support groups, treatment facilities, occupational therapists, and relevant agencies. These referrals help patients achieve positive change to improve their mental health.

Offers Early Intervention To Prevent Mental Health Disorders

An international study found that 61 percent of Gen-Z and Millennial workers are stressed and at risk of burnout at work. Their top stressors include job security, finances, and failure to meet their career goals. This finding concludes that many young professionals facing career issues tend to suffer from depression because of unresolved issues. This is where counseling can help.

Individual counseling focuses on the person’s immediate and near future concerns to prevent serious mental health problems. A therapist can provide career counseling and planning to reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Psychotherapy sessions can help resolve issues as early as possible to prevent them from worsening.

For others, they may experience extreme sadness because of a loved one’s death, neglecting their physical and mental health. A therapist can provide counseling to prevent grief from progressing to depression and other mental health problems.

Mental health professionals provide counseling sessions and therapies to help people of all ages overcome any distress or problem affecting their psychological well-being. Once you undergo professional counseling, you can learn the different positive coping skills to help you handle life’s difficult situations. Your therapist can also present various treatment options suitable for your mental health needs.

 

Taking your family out into the great outdoors is one of the best activities you can do. Exploring nature gives kids an opportunity to discover new and exciting things, and learn more about wildlife. During any trip, they might just stumble upon a wide variety of animals that they have never seen before–from beetles and frogs to colorful birds.

Encouraging children to observe and document what they find from a distance will not only help them develop important skills, such as research and photography, it will also heighten their emotional connection with nature and give them a better appreciation for wildlife. So next time you take your little ones out for an adventure, make sure you bring along some photo gear and binoculars. You won’t be disappointed by what your crew discovers.

Not only does it get you outside in the fresh air, but it also allows your children to explore nature in all its glory. It is also a great opportunity to teach your children about the importance of wildlife conservation. Here are four ways your children can engage with wildlife during an outdoor trip:

Birdwatching and Wildlife Listening

Birdwatching is a lovely way to introduce children to all kinds of wildlife. All you need is a pair of binoculars, a bird guide book, and some patience. Point out different types of birds that you see and talk about their unique features and behaviors. You may even be able to attract some birds if you bring along birdseed or other food items they like.

It is also important to discuss how bird habitats are being impacted by human activity, such as deforestation and climate change, so that your children understand the importance of conservation efforts. If you happen to find a nesting area, be sure to observe it from a distance so as not to disturb the animals. It is also worth keeping your eyes peeled for other creatures like insects, squirrels, and rabbits.

Wildlife Tracking or Games

Exploring the outdoors is much more exciting when you are looking for signs animals have left behind, such as tracks or animal droppings. Trackers will often look for signs that animals have been in an area, such as uprooted plants or gnawed trees. This can help kids learn more about how animals interact with their surroundings.

There are plenty of activities that can be done outdoors to teach young children about wildlife and engage their senses in the environment around them, too. For example, take a nature walk and challenge your kids to find five items in nature (pinecones, leaves, rocks, etc.). You could also play “I Spy” using animals or plants you see along the way.

Nature Photography

Another way to engage with wildlife is through nature photography. It can help children appreciate nature’s beauty in a new way, and being out in nature with a camera provides an opportunity for quality family time.

Going on a nature photoshoot can also foster creativity by teaching children to view the world from a new perspective. Remember, every day can be an adventure. Whether your kids find inspiration in small details like flowers to keep track of changes throughout the season or take breathtaking shots of wildlife in its natural habitat, kids’ love of taking pictures and their sense of wonder will open up their eyes to the possibilities around them.

Kids should always be aware of safety rules when taking pictures near any kind of wild animal, but they can still get close enough to capture stunning images of wildlife without putting themselves or the animals at risk. Photography helps them appreciate the beauty of these creatures while also teaching them about respect and caution when dealing with wild animals up close.

Wildlife-Friendly Gardening

The wildlife opportunities do not stop when you get home. If you have access to a garden or outdoor space, encouraging wildlife-friendly gardening can be a great way for kids to connect with nature. Planting native species that attract birds and butterflies can help create a habitat where these creatures feel safe and welcome to visit regularly (and provide endless entertainment).

This could be anything from planting flowers that attract butterflies or bees to hanging birdhouses in the garden–whatever your family chooses.

Engaging with wildlife while on an outdoor trip is easy if you know where to look–and it doesn’t have to cost money, either. Whether it is birdwatching or creating a wildlife garden at home, there are plenty of ways for children (and adults) to connect with nature and appreciate its beauty even when far away from big cities or tourist attractions. Taking time out each day during our trips helps foster respect for natural environments, which is essential if we want future generations of young people to understand why preserving our planet is so important.

 

This guest blog post was written by Hannah Moskowitz, Sustainability Director for RTS and Zero Waste. She is responsible for ensuring quality data; implementing new and refining existing processes; and overseeing the hiring, training, and managing of the data analysis team. Hannah has served as Sustainability Director since January 2022 and built her expertise of RTS’s technology and approach through her prior role as Sustainability and Sales Operations Manager. Hannah holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Political Science and an M.A. in Environmental Resource Policy from The George Washington University, and participated in The Green Program at the Iceland School of Energy at Reykjavik University. She is also LEED AP O+M accredited and TRUE Advisor certified.

As Mother Nature continues to remind us that the environment is in danger, many people are beginning to suffer from stress and anxiety as they worry about the changing planet. The fear that humanity is not doing enough puts high levels of fear about the fact that Planet B does not exist.

Fortunately, eco-anxiety does not need to rule your life. Instead, you can calm your fears and make the world a better place to live. Practicing sustainable activities can help the planet and make a small dent in the climate crisis. Hopefully, your reaction to the environment will encourage others to do the same.

 

 

What Is Zero Waste Lifestyle?

One of the best ways to manage eco-anxiety is to live a zero waste lifestyle. While this isn’t an overnight project, knowing what is zero waste can help you feel in control of your home and the impact you have on the environment. Zero waste living does not harm, especially since you reuse everything and let nothing go to waste. Ideally, you’ll be able to remove all the trash cans from your home. Before you make lifestyle changes, learning about eco-anxiety is also helpful.

What Is Eco-Anxiety?

Anxiety is the sensation of unease and fear. You might experience dread that causes your heart rate to climb and sweat to build. The reaction is normal, especially in stressful situations. But anxiety can become a disorder when it impacts how you live your life.

If you are experiencing eco-anxiety, you get the same symptoms, but they pop up when you start to worry about the fate of the environment. The symptoms surrounding eco-anxiety include:

• Feeling on edge
• Struggling to focus
• Feeling irritable
• Avoiding social events

The physical responses to eco-anxiety are similar to those during anxiety attacks. Along with the racing heartbeat, you might also experience:

• Muscle aches
• Tension
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Stomach problems
• Headaches
• Nausea
• Insomnia

Engaging in beneficial activities like moving to a zero-waste lifestyle can soothe your anxiety and help you relax more frequently. If you participate in eco-groups, you can share your experience of zero waste living with others to learn from and motivate each other. Sharing your way of life with others can make an impact that can further reduce your eco-anxiety symptoms.

Shifting to a Zero Waste Lifestyle

Impatience can increase your eco-anxiety, so you must be patient with yourself as you make the changes. Remember that each little step helps the environment. The small steps turn into large ones, but it takes time to accomplish these goals. Learning anything new takes time. Dramatically altering your lifestyle will involve successes and failures that could bring you down.

If you are struggling with more failures, take a small break to focus on something else. You don’t have to do everything perfectly (the desire for perfection is why so many people struggle with anxiety). Your goal is to achieve a zero waste lifestyle eventually, not overnight, not in a week, and probably not in a year. You’ll need time.

When you become frustrated, take a pause. There is nothing wrong with stepping away from environmental worries and enjoying something else. Eat healthy food, spend time with friends, or watch a favorite streaming show. After your break, you’ll feel better and more focused to continue making the world a better place.

Steps to Living a Zero Waste Lifestyle

The first steps to living a zero waste lifestyle include changing your mindset, then refraining from using single-use plastics. Once you’ve become comfortable using that, you can add more changes, especially when you go to the grocery store. Bring your bags and start buying food without packaging.

A benefit of living a zero waste lifestyle is eating healthier food. If you stop buying pre-packaged food in plastic, you will end up with more whole foods like produce and bulk items that you can put in your own storage containers. Bring reusable food wrap for your meat and fish. You can purchase eggs from local farmers so you don’t have to worry about throwing away egg cartons. However, you can reuse egg cartons from the grocery store, as the little cups make great containers for other items.

Zero Waste Clothing Changes

When you switch to a zero waste lifestyle, you’ve got to change your mindset about buying, wearing, and disposing your clothing as well. It’s best to stop buying fast fashion since it wears out quickly and often ends up in landfills. The best way to reduce your clothing waste is to wear the clothes you have and to repair them when they get holes.

Buying clothes from thrift stores is a fantastic way to reduce waste. You can also find a way to reuse your old clothes in new ways. The internet is full of great ideas for repairing and reusing clothing. You can also barter and trade with other people living zero waste lifestyles. Many communities have tool libraries so people don’t buy new items. When you purchase new clothing, choose brands that use sustainable practices and products that you can wear for many years. Finally, you can change your life by purchasing a sewing machine and learning how to use it to repair your clothing and turn old pieces into refashioned ones. This way, you’ll reduce waste while learning a valuable new skill.

Support Zero Waste Brands

As you make more zero waste changes, look for brands with zero waste or low waste policies. Try to support brands that do not use plastic in their packaging. You might find companies that do not use packaging, and you’ll find companies that use reusable glass jars or recyclable packaging like cardboard or paper. There are more of these types of businesses every year, and they are often small-scale and local.

 

Being outside can be a lot of fun and has a lot of benefits for kids, but it can also pose threats to children who are vulnerable and unprepared for it. The CDC notes that injuries to children and teens are the leading cause of early mortality, and many of these happen outdoors. It pays to have the best equipment to ensure your child is safe, no matter where they are. Here are some outdoor must-haves to keep your children out of harm’s way.

Swim Rings and Floaties

If you’re planning to head to a pool or the beach for a pleasant swim, having the right gear for your kids could be life-saving. Even in shallow water, your child might struggle with swimming if they don’t know how to swim properly. Swim rings and floaties are essentials for young children’s safety in the water.

For children learning how to swim, Speedo offers fabric armbands for ages two to twelve that can aid them in the water. Floaties can be worn on the arms and offer added protection when your child is in a kiddie or shallow pool. A swim ring would be a more suitable tool for deeper waters. However, adults should always be close to children wearing them because there is still a risk of them floating away. Teaching them how to swim early on is also vital for water safety.

Helmets

The outdoors is great for all sorts of active play, but children can get hurt easily without proper safety equipment. Whether riding a bike, skateboarding, or using a scooter, wearing a helmet is a must. Giro’s Scamp Helmet is a kid-friendly and affordable option that can offer safety for your child. It’s lightweight, colorful, and adjustable to minimize fuss. Kids may resist wearing helmets at first, so lead by example. Your child may recover quickly from bruises or scraped knees, but head injuries could lead to more dangerous developments. Before your family goes out to play, make sure everyone is wearing protective gear.

Tandem Strollers

Very young children need to be under constant adult supervision when out, especially if you are watching more than one child at a time. A double stroller keeps the kids secure in one place, allowing parents to complete other tasks like shopping. For busy parents, most double strollers are not ideal for moving around town safely since they are too wide. Often, a parent will need to take their children out and fold the stroller in order to get on public transport or enter buildings, which increases the risk of an injury or incident happening.

iCandy’s line of double strollers for growing families showcase how it’s now much more convenient for parents to invest in a tandem design where one child sits behind the other, allowing for easier maneuverability through doorways and on public transport. Many modern designs also convert to a car seat which will not only keep your children safe when traveling by car, but will also save you the cost of buying separate items.

GPS Tracker

Your child might be gaining more independence now that they’re no longer toddlers, but older kids still need safety measures when they go out. Modern phones usually have some form of location tracking, and you can use built-in apps to find them. However, if your kids aren’t old enough for a phone, you can have them bring a GPS tracker to help you monitor where they’re at. The Jiobit Smart Tag is a GPS device you can clip onto your child’s clothes, bag, or lanyards so you can check their whereabouts with real-time tracking. Parents can be notified on the app when their child leaves and arrives at a particular location.

Every child deserves to feel safe and protected outside. For more on how the outdoors can benefit you and your family, check out Linda Akeson McGurk’s new book The Open-Air Life, and of course, my book, Finding Ecohappiness.