Posts tagged with "mental health"

Carly Weinstein

Listen to 360 MAG‘s podcast interview f/ Carly Weinstein on SPOTIFY.

Watch 360 MAGAZINE‘s interview with Carly Weinstein YOUTUBE.

Carly Weinstein is fast becoming Gen Z’s Carrie Bradshaw. With a strong emphasis on popular culture, mental health as well as body positivity, this charismatic content creator engages on a wide spectrum of topics with her new podcasts–Hot Girl Talks and Ok, Stop Wine-ing. Of late, she participates in bantar alongside of Vaughn Lowery about her meeting with Drew Barrymore and what the cards may hold for her future.

With an aggregate following of a half million and over 38 million likes on TikTok, Carly is this generation’s everyday gal-pal. Her comedic content focuses on everyday, real-life challenges which people in their twenties experience. Along with her two co-hosts and best friends, Hailey and Jaz, the trio hosts “Hot Girl Talks” – a weekly series that pinpoints Gen Z growing pains in NYC.

On a lighter note, Carly co-hosts “Ok Stop Wine-ing” alongside her mom. She says , “a great lesson for a mother and a daughter.” The duo executes weekly confabulations while offering advice on how to meticulously navigate life.

Following in the footsteps of the iconic bloggers of the 2000s’, Carly self-taught herself how to code and build websites. During her adolescence at Indiana University (IU), she developed “All Things C.” It provided her with an opportunity to create a safe space where she openly spoke about her eating disorders and body dysmorphia to a relatable demographic of her peers. “No matter what I’m talking about… I make sure the basis of my brand always has those underlying messages of ‘you’re beautiful no matter what,’…and giving people advice on how to combat some of those hard times in life.” “I’ve been through plenty of mental health issues in my life, so I speak to my following as if I’m speaking to my younger self or a younger sibling.” Priding herself as the “mom” of group, Carly has always possessed a knack helping those in need.

After graduating from IU, Carly relocated to NYC as a social media manager. Subsequently, she expeditiously transitioned into an avid TikToker, garnering recognition for her unapologetic approach. Thus, she discovered her niche as a creator.

In her leisure, she traveled and grew fond of pickleball while building strong ties to her community.

“I’m very involved with Jewish youth organizations like BBYO… My family is really big with making donations to cancer charities, also mental health organizations like the National Eating Disorders Association.”
Carly Weinstein

In the near future, Carly hopes to become an advocate for mental stability.

INSTAGRAM / TIKTOK

By: Jess Chen, Vaughn Lowery

SHAUN TOMSON

Listen to pro surfer Shaun Tomson have an introspective talk with Vaughn Lowery on the 360 MAG podcast HERE.

Shaun Tomson is a one-time WSL surf world champion and best-selling author. This South African former educator sat down with 360 MAGAZINE to discuss his latest version, The Surfer and The Sage, which is available on Amazon.

The Surfer and The Sage by Shaun Tomson & Noah benShea inside 360 MAGAZINE.

This environmentalist was one of the top surfers of the century and became the surfing world champion in 1971.

Tomson is considered among the most influential surfers in history. “When you find your passion, you just put in the hours and improve,” Shaun confesses when he speaks of his dedication to surfing. “I consider that I have a natural aptitude for competition. I’ve been racing for 16 years,” he adds.

Making a living from surfing has been Shaun’s dream. He admits that his professional surfing life has been amazing. ”I made my dream come true,” he confesses. Apart from having a passion for this sport, he’s established a lecture series where he has spoken at thousands of global corporations as well as universities where he has presented self-help methods to underprivileged children around the world.

Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii is one of the most dangerous surf competitions. In 1975, he rode the infamous waves along the legendary north coast of Oahu and “became the youngest winner, I was 20 years old,” he said.

Mental health is integral to Shaun Tomson and he lives in a myriad of mantras. ”You must have a commitment of trust,” he explains. In 2006, Tomson lost his 15-year-old son in a catastrophic accident, a school prank gone terribly wrong. As part of the process and to help other youth, Shaun has returned to work as a motivating speaker in hopes of encouraging today’s youth to make positive choices. As he loves to say in his interviews ‘Find your goal, find your power. My mission is to create what we call the Wave app across the Atlantic.”

Writing has become a integral part of his new career.” All you need to put hope work is to write your promises and say them aloud to promise you,” he said. “In your own words, you can create your own commitment, strength and power to achieve what you want,” Shaun adds.

In 2013, the legendary surfer published a book about self-improvement, The Code: The Power of I Will, a piece of literature that sums up life navigation. In this one, it provides a simple strategy for people facing the challenges of daily life, making positive decisions that can change their lives.

Since 1977, Tomson has put aside his trophies as a World Surfing Champion and began using his pro-athlete methodologies in short readings. He uses metaphors from his intense training regiment to give meaningful life lessons to all ages. If you haven’t read any of his books, we encourage you to engage in a series of readings, especially if you desperately need to compartmentalize some of life’s toughest hurdles.

Article: Andrea Esteban, Vaughn Lowery

Alicia Gutiérrez – A Model’s Guide

Listen to Alicia Gutiérrez and Vaughn Lowery on 360 MAG Amazon | Spotify | Google | Apple podcast.

“Life is a path,” – Alicia Gutiérrez

Alicia Gutiérrez, Madrid-native,
is a college graduate with a degree in journalism. At 5’5 with brown hair and hazel eyes, this magnificent belle already has her life’s blueprint. Yesterday, we spoke about her success in modeling and moving from Spain to New York City.

Upon booking a major campaign in her homeland, Alicia decided to contact agencies abroad. Making extensive use of her media training, she compiled a spreadsheet of industry professionals, from model agencies to photographers. On Instagram, she searched for make-up artists and fell into a rabbit hole. It was there, she discovered websites like Models.com, validating as well as authenticating all the talents of the industry.

With good posture and immense confidence, regardless of measurements and shortcomings, this body positive person recognizes her manifestations. And dreams, in bringing them forth, will eventually come true. In fact, as a Miley Cyrus fanatic, she recounts a case where she stumbled into the singer’s camp while waiting in line for an activation. Thinking about how she was feeling, she entered into an awareness while she was near them. This occupation of space helped to reveal her fate.

From time to time we’re in contact with somebody who has something we can’t put our finger on, I don’t know what. The same ‘it’ factor led her to be signed by One Management and to work with different brands like Calvin Klein, SKIMS and Milk Makeup.

Inevitably, her star will align with entertainment giants such as Tyra Banks, Heidi Klum and Ashley Graham. In other words, her mind exudes inner compassion, balance and grace. Traits that a lot of people can’t learn or teach – it’s innate. As our conversation continued, it began to shine brighter and brighter, appearing dowey, “Like a glaze donut,” said Alicia.

It’s only a matter of minutes, this infectious energy will quickly burst into the entertainment. After all, she’s already adorned the pages of Vogue España, Elle Mexico, L’Officiel Mexico and covered Glamour Spain.

Petite and Curvy model Alicia Gutiérrez of One Management featured in 360 MAGAZINE

Watch Petite and Curvy on YouTube

Mother Agency Francina Models

Watch 360 MAG podcast on YT

How To Slow Down a Fast-Paced Way of Life

Do you feel like you’re always running and never slowing down? Is your life a perpetual whirlwind of activity that leaves you with no time to catch a breath? This is how many Americans are living today in the quest to improve they and their families’ standard of living. Experts have termed this endless quest for faster acquisition of money, power or career progress a speed addiction.

While you may be able to reward yourself with the finer things in life thanks to your relentless grind, living this fast-paced lifestyle takes a toll over the years. People from school-going kids to adults heading to retirement are dealing with mental health issues emanating from stress. The anxiety and depression they suffer also translate into obesity, hypertension and other life-threatening illnesses.

When To Slow Down

So, how do you tell if you’re on this slippery slope to self-destruction? Do you find yourself unable to focus on one task, constantly distracted by alerts of incoming messages on your phone? Or are you constantly scrolling through your social media timelines looking for an interesting post or clever comment?

If you take stock, you will realize that this zombie-like reliance on your smartphone has not only diminished you attention span but it has also eroded your creativity. Instead of taking the time to think up solutions by yourself, you will look for a quick fix on Google or from the people you follow on Twitter.

You may think that quickly jumping from one task to another or multitasking is enhancing your productivity. The reality is that you will accomplish much more if you concentrate on one task and complete it before moving to the next. Trying to mind many irons in the fire will decrease your efficiency and compromise the quality of your output.

It will also get you worked up physically and emotionally. This is why you may find yourself prone to mood swings and stress. Depression and anxiety will creep into your mind if you’re constantly thinking about the glamorous images you see on Instagram and how plain your life seems in comparison.

Your relationships with your family and friends may suffer as a result of your speed addiction. Sending a quick text or pushing a ‘like’ button is much more convenient than making a phone call or taking the time to see someone face to face.

Just the Right Speed

So how do you recalibrate your life to avoid the burnout, stress and mental health disorders that speed addiction brings? How can you snap out of that zombie-like existence and reignite your creativity? Here are some ideas.

Work vs Personal

Strive to create a healthy work-life balance. Work-time is work-time, family time is family time and me-time should remain me-time. Allocate adequate time for each and maintain clear boundaries between them. Putting in more hours in the office does not mean you’re being more productive. But it does mean you’re devoting less of yourself to other important aspects of your wellbeing.

Peer Pressure

One of the most powerful drivers pushing you to live a fast life is peer pressure. Though this phenomenon is commonly associated with teens, it applies to adults too. If you find yourself in a group that is constantly trying to outdo each other, you may need to think about changing your friends.

Unsubscribe from Influences

In the same vein, you need to unfollow social media handles that tempt you to live a fast life, or take a break from your phone altogether. You can fill your spare time with activities that help you relax while releasing your creative juices. Take a walk in the park or find a quiet place to read a book.

Health First

Prioritize your health over the exigencies of today’s fast life. Instead of putting in extra hours at work, or trying to finish an assignment at home, get some rest and attack the task with a fresh mind the following day. Giving your eyes a break from the glare from your screen might reduce your need for premium progressive lenses.

Ensure you take time every once in a while to get away from familiar surroundings to revitalize your body and reset your mind. Try to resist the temptation to take your laptop with you or check your work emails.

Hit the Pause Button

If you feel your life is moving too fast and that you’re not getting the most out of it, you need to hit the pause button. Ask yourself if the price you’re paying to ‘get ahead’ is really worth it. Think about the things that matter to you and your family’s well-being and prioritize accordingly.

TIDAL RELEASES MENTAL HEALTH PLAYLISTS

Whether you’re a student, teacher, or parent, the Back-To-School season can be a stressful time for all involved. It’s important to prioritize your mental wellbeing year-round but especially as summer break comes to a close, and global music streaming service, TIDAL wants to help!

Below, it is included the mental-health playlists that went live on August 15th on TIDAL:

MOVING INTO NEW CHAPTERS:

FINDING YOURSELF AGAIN: This is the perfect soundtrack for picking up the pieces after it’s all over.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME: Embrace the change and keep taking it one day at a time.
YOU’RE GONNA BE ALRIGHT: Let this playlist help you look forward to the brighter days ahead after new changes in your life.

MANAGING CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE:

THE LONG GOODBYE: Grieving is the world’s loneliest feeling. Here’s a soundtrack that may be able to keep you company.
FEELING THE FEELS: Turn on this soundtrack when you just need to let it all out and be in your feelings. This too shall pass.
FINDING THE WORDS: It’s okay to not be okay. Things get better and you will get through this.
FINDING YOURSELF AGAIN: This is the perfect soundtrack for picking up the pieces after it’s all over.

REIGNITING YOUR POSITIVE MINDSET:

FACE THE SUN: There is beauty, hope, and strength in and around you. Keep your face to the sun and take one step at a time.
THE BEST IS YET TO COME: Embrace the change and keep taking it one day at a time.
DEEP FOCUS BEATS: Some songs just get you in the zone. Tune the world out and conSYNTHtrate with these deep-focus beats

STRESS HIT THE BEREAVED SPOUSE

According to new research from Rice University, widowed individuals experiencing intense grief after the loss of their spouse experience a significant increase in body inflammation following other stressful events.

It’s a concerning finding for the research team, since body inflammation is linked to various health problems, including serious cardiovascular issues and premature death. The researchers outlined their findings in the paper “Grief Symptoms Promote Inflammation During Acute Stress Among Bereaved Spouses,” which will appear in an upcoming edition of Psychological Science.

The first author Ryan Linn Brown is a recent Ph.D. graduate in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Rice and part of the Biobehavioral Mechanisms Explaining Disparities (BMED) lab. She and her fellow researchers were interested in the change in levels of inflammatory biomarkers in widowed and deeply grief-stricken spouses before and in the two hours immediately after a stressful experience. They studied 111 adults between the ages 35 and 84 who had lost a spouse in the past year.

“I was extremely motivated to publish this work because it gives us insight into how severe grief can encourage inflammation to accumulate in the body and put widow(er)s at risk for cardiovascular disease,” Brown said. “Because we face many stressful events each day as humans, this type of response to stress in the lab means that this same process is likely happening repeatedly throughout each day or week for widows or widowers experiencing more severe grief symptoms.”

The study included a baseline blood draw followed by an experiment featuring stressful scenarios. This included an on-camera job interview with rapid-fire questioning from experiment administrators and being forced to do complicated math tasks. Study participants had their blood drawn again 45 minutes and two hours after the experiment.

On average, those who admitted experiencing intense grief following the loss of their spouse — including deep sorrow, numbness, yearning, and loss of focus — had a 19% greater increase in inflammatory biomarkers in their bloodstream after the stressful situations than those who reported less severe grief.

Chris Fagundes, the paper’s senior author and an associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, said the study adds to his lab’s understanding of the biobehavioral mechanisms underlying the “widowhood effect” and provides more evidence that grief directly influences the inflammatory stress response.

Additional study co-authors include Angie LeRoy, Michelle Chen, Robert Suchting, Lisa Jaremka, Jia Liu, and Cobi Heijnen. The paper is available online HERE.

Follow Rice News and Media Relations on Twitter @RiceUNews.

MENTAL HEALTH – DR. ALEX ALVARDO

Even though we have made great progress in bringing people into therapy during the pandemic, there is still a huge stigma about therapy – that it doesn’t work. In order to really change this perception, we must do more upfront work to make sure people are being matched correctly to qualified therapists and psychologists who can care for, and treat, that person’s individualized needs. To achieve this successfully requires more than a simple Internet search or app signup.

One of the biggest missteps someone can make when searching for a therapist is blindly accepting the most convenient option. This could come in the form of a quick Internet search (just because something pops up in the No. 1 position on Google does not mean it is the best option for you); or taking a referral from a friend or family member (just because a therapist is right for someone else, does not mean it is the best match for you). Additionally, skipping the therapist interview step, and rushing to the hiring step (or signing up on a mental health app), can make you feel committed or trapped with a therapist that was never the right match for you in the first place. It is true that the year 2020 will likely be known as one of the most stressful years in our time, and the first time that many Americans sought out a therapist. While this is a good thing and shows progress for improving mental health, we now face a lesser-talked about “second pandemic” of mental health issues – of which includes finding the right therapist – that could affect our future perception of mental health and our willingness to seek help.

Compounding this problem is the anxiety, financial stress, politics, substance abuse, isolation, job worries, relationship problems, health concerns and other issues that have intensified since the start of the pandemic, which has overwhelmed therapists with new patients, many of whom go on a waiting list or get referred out to less qualified resources. Mental health professionals are not immune from the stress of the pandemic either, often citing burnout and fatigue from heavy patient loads, while also struggling to handle their own stress at home.

All of these factors contribute to a more complicated and challenging mental health environment that requires increased navigation and guidance from the mental health industry to make sure that those seeking help are receiving evidence-based therapies from qualified professionals who have the bandwidth to invest in the client for the long run. To improve first-time encounters with therapy, I developed a free online matchmaking platform at Thriving Center of Psychology that vets and validates licensed professionals, then matches them to individuals seeking help, based on the person’s specific therapy needs and the professional’s area of expertise and therapy process.

To begin the process of finding the right therapist is simple. Start by filling out a 3-minute questionnaire that helps uncover the style of therapist that may be the best fit for your specific situation and preferred type. Questions cover everything from therapy approach to gender and ethnicity, including what specialty of a therapist are you seeking? Are you looking for a goal-oriented or reflective therapist? Do you want your therapist to have a holistic approach (including recommending yoga, meditation, and journaling)? and so on.

This filter then quickly matches individuals seeking help to a vetted database of qualified therapists who are licensed to work in the state in which the person lives. I developed this therapist matchmaking platform because so many friends and family members would ask me for therapist referrals. What I came to realize was that when people finally decide they should find a mental health therapist, they are often faced with a huge hurdle: finding a qualified therapist. Finding a therapist is not easy, especially if you are not a professional in the mental health industry and do not know all the right questions to ask. Mistakes can be easily made as many people either skip or rush through the research and interview step of finding a therapist.

If it is a person’s first time in therapy and it is a bad experience, it is most likely they will never return to it.
Once you find your therapist match, you should still interview 2-3 therapists before
committing to a paid session with anyone. Face-to-face office visits or video sessions
are ideal. During the interview, be sure to check the therapist’s credentials with state government sites, and have a clear understanding of his or her treatment style, therapy process and verify whether or not that therapy approach is evidence-based as defined by the American Psychological Association. Also, ask the therapist if he or she has ever treated anyone with similar concerns to yours. This will give you a clearer picture on the therapist’s treatment approach. It is important in this initial interview with the therapist, that you do not do all the talking.

You can share at a high level about what is going on (like, I’m grieving from the death of my mother), but do not get into the
details. Let the therapist do the majority of the talking so you can get a really good feel for his or her compatibility to you and your needs. Additionally, make sure that the therapist you select is licensed to work in your state. The increased popularity of virtual sessions since the start of the pandemic has opened many more options for people
seeking counseling, but if you go the virtual route, you still need to make sure the therapist is licensed to work in the state in which you reside. Ultimately, to live a truly fulfilled life, remember that it is just as important to place a high
priority on your mental health as it is for your physical health. You deserve the chance to unlock your true potential and live the life you have always dreamed of so do not let anything get in the way of your mental health, which is part of your overall health.

Start with the research step and find the therapist that is the best match for your specific needs – then the rest of the journey will be less stressful from there.

Dr. Alex Alvarado

MTV TEEN MOM

Listen to Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, Ashley Jones chat w/ Vaughn Lowery on 360 MAG Podcast HERE.

Teen Mom has become a mental health pitstop for adolescent parents. Dr. Bryant attended Teen Mom Family Reunion, where she helped her fellow mothers, who are primarily people who had a child at the age of 15 or 16 and had lost their sense of self, navigate their trauma and troubles by directing them on a determined journey of finding who they are both internally and externally.

Dr. Cheyenne Bryant,who is renowned for reviving MTV’s Teen Mom, is a life Coach and esteemed author of the acclaimed Mental Detox, a book helping people detox their minds and find their sense of self. By describing everyone’s life as a garden, in which people plant and nurture everything by themselves following their own choices, she has redefined her field of psychology with newfound confidence and non-traditional garb.

At the forefront of confrontation, Ashley Jones in Teen Mom 2’s explains how her baby father/husband Bar decided to seek help for their codependency issues. In addition, she asserts that her family disowned and kicked her out of the house once they discovered she was having a baby out of wedlock with a person whose social status was not recognized by her family at that time. As a kid growing up in a wealthy family and community with great education opportunities, being homeless with no job or financial support is a chord that struck inside of her. After going through the mud together, Ashley and Bar have learned how to fully lean each other healthily. The special and unique relationship between them is where they both get their love, strength, and motivation from.

Years later, with the guidance of Dr. Bryant, Ashley acknowledges that her negative curve of self-neglect with the inability to love herself fully is the result of her childhood trauma which comes from being torn between two extreme living circumstances. The inconsistent values brought by two completely different living environments had made Ashley lose herself. For trying to constantly appease everyone, Dr. Bryant labeled the situation as a hybrid of someone co-existing in between a living street life and high society.

Now, after years of experiencing internal struggle with raising a child, Ashley has figured out where her real passion is. As an emerging entrepreneur, Ashley continues to study nursing on a collegiate level and owns a thriving salon, Aries Beauty Studio. At the same time, she is also starting a non-profit organization that is aimed to provide young pregnant girls who are disowned or confused with housing and other resources. This past October, Ashley shared a post on her Instagram page announcing that she and her friend got their long-awaited company sign on the front of the business: “WE DID IT JOE!!! Seeing the sign go up makes this feel official,” Ashley wrote as her caption. In the near future, she plans on providing a med spa service as an aesthetic doctor for women of color. She relays, “It’s a niche market that’s been overlooked.”

Lastly, Ashley and her friend Jessica T. record daily podcasts in which they talk about society and culture. I Need Wine explores everything from relationships, sex, parenting, trauma and careers. As Ashely and Jessica state: ‘Two women, talking over wine and being raw and honest about things that women go through and how we manage to stay sane (or not) through it all!’

Article:

Andrea Esteban, Vaughn Lowery

Resources:

Teen Mom on Wikipedia

Session w/ Dr. Cheyenne Bryant

Beauty Salon

I Need Wine w/ Ashley & Jessica

Follow Ash:

Instagram|Podcast

Follow Dr. Bryant:

Instagram|Website|Twitter | Facebook

Dr. Cheyenne Bryant via Dr. Cheyenne Bryant by 360 Magazine

*Photos courtesy of MTV

Eight Tips to Bring Life Back to a Stale Relationship

You might love your partner with all your heart. However, you might also feel concerned that the fizzle is dying. How can you reignite your former spark?

Partnerships don’t magically occur, as much as it may seem that way during the honeymoon stage. If you reflect, you’ll realize all the time and energy you expended during those days to capture your flame’s interest.

It’s natural to calm down after the initial blush but neglecting your loved one can breed resentment that kills your union. Fortunately, you can revitalize your love with these eight tips to bring life back into a stale relationship.

1. Learn Each Other’s Love Language

Elizabeth Barrett Browning might have counted the ways that she loved her husband Robert — but did she ever ask him how he preferred to receive affection? Hopefully, he identified with words of affirmation.

Your partner might speak a love language different from yours — and that’s okay as long as you identify what makes them tick. Otherwise, resentment could build. You might think mending the broken backyard fence is the perfect birthday treat, but your partner could feel deeply hurt and neglected if their love language is physical touch or receiving gifts.

According to Dr. Gary Chapman, there are five principal love languages:

Acts of service: If your partner speaks this love language, you can delight them by tackling a chore they despise or taking care of both dinner and the subsequent dishes when they come home from work exhausted.
Receiving gifts: If your partner speaks this language, you don’t necessarily need a bankroll. They should be equally delighted with smaller tokens of affection that show you were thinking of them in their absence, like stopping to pick up a roadside bouquet for no particular reason.
Physical touch: If your partner resonates with this love language, they need your affection. Delight them with lots of spontaneous cuddles and pecks on the cheek.
Words of affirmation: These folks light up when you validate their feelings and praise them for their talents. They may also need to hear those three little words more often than others, so don’t be stingy about saying, “I love you.”
Quality time: Can an evening together sharing popcorn while watching the latest Netflix hit qualify as romantic? It can be if quality time if your partner’s love language. Even accompanying them to the grocery store makes them feel more fulfilled.

2. Ask 36 Questions

Remember when you first met your partner? You probably talked for hours because you were so hungry to learn about them as much as possible. Maybe your attraction didn’t fizzle as much as your interest — but your beloved still has plenty to share.

Deepen your love by asking questions that presumably can make you fall in love with anyone by revealing their true inner selves. The inquiries start relatively simple — would you want to be famous? If so, why?

They then dig into deeper questions, delving into regrets, things you wish you could do over and ways you would like to improve the world. They allow you to praise your mate for their greatest accomplishment and better understand the forces shaping them into the person they are today.

You shouldn’t ask all 36 at once like an interview. Why not print out the list and start date night with one or two?

3. Trade Places

Resentment often grows in relationships when one of you feels unappreciated, even invalidated, by the other. However, your partner might not understand what you handle each day — and vice-versa.

You might not be able to take over your partner’s workplace for a day, but you can swap what you do around the house. For example, if they typically tackle the landscaping while you cook and clean, try trading chores one weekend. You’ll open up opportunities to learn from each other and laugh together, both beneficial for your union.

4. Take a Solo Getaway

It might sound ironic to suggest alone time as a way to breathe life back into a stale relationship. However, there’s some truth to the cliche about absence making the heart grow fonder. Sometimes, the hubbub of daily existence makes you forget the many ways your loved one enhances your life every day.

If you have the means, why not plan a solo road trip? Go somewhere or do something you enjoy but they might not — for example, going camping if they aren’t the outdoorsy type. It’s even better if your trek makes you limit contact.

Chances are, you’ll miss your partner by the second day. If you fear you enjoy your alone time too much, get mindful. Ask yourself what you can do solo that you can’t with your partner and address the underlying problem. Perhaps you can come up with a compromise that addresses resentment you didn’t fully know you had.

5. Travel as a Couple

Taking a trip together can also bring life back into a relationship gone stale. Sometimes, it isn’t your partner but the daily grind making your mood low.

If travel is out of the question due to budget constraints, why not plan an escape at home? It doesn’t take too much to put together a DIY spa day, complete with facial treatments and a relaxing couples massage — if you take turns.

6. Adopt a Joint Hobby

Something about the joy of creation can bring you and your partner closer together. Rather than competing like you must in the workplace, you can nurture and admire each other’s skills. You can also make something that enhances your relationship in different ways.

For example, perhaps you’re both the artistic sort, each developing a line of crafts that you can add to an Etsy shop. You can use your earnings to take a much-needed holiday at the end of the year — maybe even that second honeymoon.

7. Do Some Good Together

Volunteering helps you as much as others. How? It prompts your brain to release a flood of feel-good neurochemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin — the so-called “cuddle chemical.”

Working side by side with your beloved to feed needy families in your community or socialize kitties at a shelter fills you with warm emotions. It’s natural for these to transfer to your union.

8. Try Couples Counseling

Finally, there’s no shame in seeking counseling. Millions of people do so every day, even though they don’t have a mental illness. The right professional can help you see issues you might overlook, not out of neglect but due to your closeness to the situation.

Both you and your partner should agree on your choice of therapist. Different counselors have varying styles — please don’t get discouraged if you don’t mesh with your first treatment provider. Many facilities have multiple professionals in one office to help you find the perfect fit.

You and your partner fell in love for a reason. Before you throw up your hands and settle or walk, try these eight tips to bring life back into a stale relationship.

Ten minute activities that will make you feel happier

As children, many seemed to believe happiness would sort of fall into our lives as we grew older simply due to the nature of life. Now, having had a dose of reality and adulthood, it is very apparent that this is not the case. In fact, it seems far more likely that any happiness we do experience is a creation of our own – relationships, experiences, thought processes, and more all fall into this category. Seeing as happiness is an emotion that we seem to be in constant pursuit of, it would make sense to be intentional about creating the desired happiness. The words of author Roy T. Bennett, are a wonderful jumping off point for doing so, “If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.”

There are numerous avenues to explore when it comes to attempting to feel happier. Sometimes, it’s as simple as setting aside 10 minutes of your day. Below are a few suggestions for activities to explore.

Go for a walk

Rachel Blank is the founder and CEO of Allara, a brand offering care for polycystic ovary syndrome. She believes a little physical activity can go a long way.

“Our daily lives leave us immobile in a lot of ways. Think about it, many of us sleep, and then sit down at a desk, before moving to the couch to finish out the day. The reality is that our bodies are meant for moving and they do vastly better when this happens regularly. I’m not just talking about being in shape either. Moving more frequently in any regard will provide a boost to your happiness. It doesn’t have to be much either as you could just go for a quick walk. If exercise becomes part of your daily routine even just a little bit, you’ll see a noticeable difference.”

Read a fiction book

Hush specializes in products geared towards aiding the tattoo experience. Their CEO, Ubaldo Perez, suggests taking the time to get lost in a story.

“There are points in life where everyone needs to take a break. Of course, taking 15 minutes or your lunch break might come to mind, but I think there’s something a little bit better for our mental wellbeing – reading a fiction book. No matter what you do for a living, I’m sure there have been points where you just want to get away from whatever is stressing you out. Stepping into a story about worlds or lives which are dramatically different from the one we’re living is a great method for achieving some basic happiness and escape. Stepping away from the things in front of us is not always the easiest so the help of a good story is sometimes a necessity.”

Phone a friend

Human interaction can bring about a flurry of emotions. Azuna is a business providing plant-based odor elimination. Their director of marketing, Philip Mantalvo, considers it important to connect with people who care about you.

“If you look at every era of history one thing remains the same – humans need other humans. None of us are geared for a life of total isolation. The pandemic made this the case for many and as we come out of it now, it’s important to remember how vital it is. From experience and reading studies, I’ve come to understand that even the simple act of phoning a friend for a few minutes can bring about positive emotions. The reciprocal care and enjoyment can’t be quantified but trust me, you’ll know those feelings when they’re present.”

Spend time with a pet

Melissa Thodes is the CEO of Physics 1on1, a brand offering online psychic readings. She advises others to take a few minutes for their animal companion.

“Pets can be one of the biggest blessings, should we choose to see them as that. I know that as pets grow and mature, they become part of everyday life. As they should. But this also means the excitement and joy a new pet owner experiences has worn off. Again, this is natural. But sometimes a jumpstart to your existing perspective can bring about change. Go get a new toy or go for a new route on your walk. Whatever it takes to make your relationship with your pet a little fresher is absolutely worth it.”

Revisit a favorite viral video

Spot Pet Insurance specializes in health insurance for pets. Their CEO, Trey Ferro, believes rewatching a video which brought you a hearty belly laugh can be beneficial.

“Everyone has a different sense of humor but the true point here is that everyone is capable of laughing, provided they’re given a reason to do so. Whenever the conversation topic of viral videos comes up, every person participating has a video they just have to show everyone because of how hilarious it is. Oftentimes, it is truly hilarious. When you’re feeling down in the dumps, try to remember one of your favorite viral videos and revisit it. It might seem too easy but even just the smallest assistance should be welcome when it comes to personal happiness.”

Focus on breathing

All the things on one’s daily to-do list can begin to tally up to the point where they might feel as if they are being crushed. BISOULOVELY is a business providing a wide variety of jewelry. Their CEO, Breanne Millette, proposes paying attention to the act of breathing to combat this.

“It’s a very different way of looking at things but we reside within our physical bodies. Because of this, we have a tendency to exclude our bodies from consideration far more often than we should. Obviously, this can be a pretty harmful action if taken at the wrong moment. Think about moments of high stress or anxiety – my guess would be you’ll remember a feeling close to light suffocation. The reality is, this wasn’t a figment of your imagination. Under pressure, fight or flight mode can cause tension resulting in lack of oxygen to your body. It’s easier said than done but remembering to take deep breaths can really make a difference in your happiness levels.”

Eat or drink something

Jeff Goodwin is the senior director of performance marketing and e-commerce of Orgain, a brand offering organic protein. He cautions others to be aware of their food intake.

“Food is very much a habitual thing for many people. Meal times are planned out, meal planning exists and, at least from what I’ve seen, food has come to a point where it’s more about quick, efficient delivery to our bodies rather than the quality of the food being consumed. Like it or not, what we eat has a direct correlation to our moods. Fast food holds some character traits of a depressant while items such as fruit, vegetables, and high protein-low fat meats act much more like a stimulant. What I’m saying here is that if you choose to eat healthy, your overall feelings of happiness should take a sizable leap.”

Listen to a favorite song

Mad Rabbit specializes in tattoo aftercare products. Their CEO Oliver Zak considers music to be one of more influential items to a person’s happiness.

“Take a second and think about some of your best days. If you’re anything like me, when things are going well in life, I find that I’m more willing to hum or sing a song I enjoy because of where my mood is at. But the inverse is also true. Music holds this power which can swing our moods at a moment’s notice due to a specific lyric or sound present in whatever we’re listening to. It works both ways so if you’re filling your ears with songs of sadness and loss you’re not going to get very far. Pick the music that raises the corners of your mouth and puts that light behind your eyes.”

If everything above could be summed up into one phrase, it may have been put into existence by author Alice Walker, “Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.”