Small Steps, Big Benefits
For adults, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, or an equivalent combination spread throughout the week.
That number can sound like a lot until you break it down.
Thirty minutes of movement five days a week gets you there.
But being active doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. The important part is finding movement that works for your body, your interests, and your life.
A walk outside. Time on the water. Gardening. Dancing. Playing a sport. Playing with your children. Going for a swim.
It can start with something small.
Every bit of movement counts.
Caring for Our Mental Health
Physical activity is one way we can support our well-being, but it’s not the only one.
Think about what happens when you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or dealing with grief.
How do you cope?
Many of us have automatic ways of responding to difficult emotions. Some coping behaviours can be helpful, while others may make things harder.
Sometimes, behaviours we learned when we were younger helped us cope at the time but may no longer work in the same way today.
The good news is that coping skills can change. With awareness and practice, it is possible to recognize patterns that are no longer helping us and begin replacing them with healthier ways of responding.
Coping looks different for everyone, but there are skills and techniques that can help us feel more in control when emotions become overwhelming.
September Mental Health Workshop
This month’s Mental Health Workshop at Nucii focuses on distress tolerance coping skills.
Distress tolerance skills are tools that can help us manage difficult emotions and stressful situations without immediately reacting in ways that may be unhelpful.
And we don’t have to wait until we’re struggling to learn them.
Learning and practicing coping skills when we’re feeling well can help prepare us for difficult situations when they arise. Building those skills ahead of time can be another way of supporting our mental health and caring for ourselves.
Just like physical activity, it doesn’t have to begin with a dramatic change.
A walk. A new coping skill. A few minutes outside. Asking someone for support.
Small steps can make a difference.
Story contributed by Christina Lucas, Director of Human Services/Health Nurse and Rachel Melville Mental Health Clinician at UTG
Edited by Rippon Madtha
