Making Mental Health Your Priority: Simple Ways To Lift Your Mood When Times Get Tough

It’s January, and everywhere you look people are posting photographs of healthy meals and gym kits. Making resolutions to get healthy at the start of the year is a really positive step to take. But being healthy isn’t just about having a body that works properly. It’s also about happiness, contentment, and mental stability. As a society, we tend to shy away from talking about mental health, but it’s an issue that affects us all. We all have times when life seems tough. Here are some simple ways you can lift your mood when you’re having one of those days.

Connect with others

If you’re stressed out, or you’re feeling low, it can really help to connect with others. Call your best friend for a catch-up, spend time with your boyfriend or pop round and visit your mom. Spending time with other people is good for your soul. You can offload your problems or simply enjoy each other’s company. If you don’t feel comfortable talking to friends and family, it can often be easier to share your thoughts and feelings with somebody you don’t know. If you find it hard to open up, it may be worth seeing a therapist.

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Think positively

Sometimes, it’s really easy to adopt a positive mindset. But when it seems like the world’s against you, it can be much more difficult. If you can train yourself to be one of those people who sees a glass half-full, it’s much easier to cope with days that don’t go your way. Take a step back, and think about what you’re worried about. Is it really that bad? Try and identify solutions, rather than focusing on problems, and be confident that tomorrow’s a new day, and you’ll tackle it with a positive outlook.

Help others

Nothing makes you feel better than using your time and energy to help others. It’s worth remembering that even on the most difficult days, there are always people worse off than you. There may be lots of people who seem much luckier, but you’ll never be at the bottom of the pack. If you have spare time, consider volunteering or find out about supporting local charitable organizations. Choose a cause that is close to your heart. Perhaps you want to support Jewish charities or offer your time to a children’s center, for example.

Laugh

You’ve probably heard people saying that laughter is the best medicine. While it may not work for every ailment, having fun can turn even the darkest day around. Put your favorite comedy movie on, meet up with friends or read a corny joke book. A little laughter can go a long way to boosting your mood.

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If you’re trying to get your health on track in 2017, don’t neglect your mental health. Take steps to lift your mood and boost your happiness. We all have days when we feel down, but it’s not impossible to turn that frown upside down. Spend time with people you love, have fun, try and be positive, and help others. It’s important for all of us to make mental health a priority.

Get $20 for Trying Gamefly! #Swagbucks

If you're looking to build up your budget post-holidays and you have a gamer in your life, Swagbucks (the online rewards site that puts cash back in your wallet) has an AMAZING offer through Gamefly where you get 2000 SB (which is the equivalent of $20 in gift cards) for signing up.      

Gamefly allows you to rent games for lots of different consoles including Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii, PS3, PS4, etc, with no late fees ever. Members can also play 100’s of PC games for free! You can try it out for 2 months at a price of $10 AND get 2000 SB by using this link!    

Haven't tried Swagbucks yet? This is a great way to do it, and when you sign up through the link above and get your 2000 SB, you'll get a bonus 300 SB at the beginning of February. So that's $10 for trying Gamefly, which gets you 2300 SB, which means you make $13 off the deal!

I love cashing out my Swagbucks for PayPal cash so I can get homeschool goodies, shop on eBay, make donations, etc. Swagbucks is an easy way to watch your money add up just by shopping for things you would normally buy and for taking surveys and watching videos in your jammies!

Having Fun as a Family on a Budget

Most families look for ways to have fun without spending a lot of money. Luckily, this is usually not an extremely difficult task if you exercise your creative juices and tap into your city's local resources. There are usually a wealth of opportunities to have family fun enjoying low-cost or no-cost activities.

Local Events
The internet is just a few steps away from your fingertips and a huge resource for finding out what's going on in your city. Make a practice of conducting an internet search for free or low-cost city family-friendly activities. If you make it a part of your Sunday to-do list you're bound to find activities that take place throughout the week and the weekends.


Local Parks
Local parks provide an opportunity to be creative when it comes to family events. Think family picnic with a theme or an opportunity to play a little volleyball or basketball if space and courts are provided, the sky is the limit. You have the venue it's up to you to plan the event.

Fun at Home
Last but certainly not least, is the chance to have fun right in your own backyard, indoors or out. You don't really need a reason to plan a family event or activity. Really, the central reason for any event should be the opportunity to spend quality time together. Consider planning a stay-at-home family event when schedules have become hectic or to accomplish holiday tasks like creating executive gift baskets for co-workers or your favorite mechanic. Whatever the reason is for planning a family get together it's essential that you take the time to follow through and reconnect as often as possible.

Family fun doesn't have to leave you cash strapped and eating beans for the next six weeks, there are plenty of things that you can do that put low to no stress on your pocket book but still keep your family happy, engages, and smiling. Think local fun with free or practically free events that the family can enjoy in addition to local parks and recreation centers and opportunities to have fun without leaving the comfort of your home. It's doable and worth it. Get those creative juices flowing and start planning the next family fun day right away!

Pitch Those Poles And Get Stuck Into Your Camping Vacation

Are you a camping virgin? Or, have you been before and hated it? Camping can be a fantastic way to experience a new place. A vacation is all about escaping the everyday, and there’s no better way than getting lost in nature! Many of us avoid camping because of ideas, or experiences, that put us off. Done right, there’s nothing better. The whole family can enjoy the escape, and take some much needed time to get in touch with wilderness! It doesn’t take much effort to get the most from your camping experience. Here’s a list of some things that are sure to set your trip on fire!

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CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAMPSITE

It’s important when planning a camping getaway, to pick a campsite that suits your needs. There are many sites available, so it’s worth looking at what’s available. Too often, people settle for the first site they come across. You wouldn’t settle for the first hotel, would you? Well, then, don’t do it with your campsite! The first thing to consider is the location you would like. Just having a country in mind isn’t enough when it comes to camping. Think, too, about what setting you would like to camp in. Would a field be as wild as you can go, or are you after a forest setting? Many campsites also specialize in particular areas. You could book a campsite that offers sports activities, or has a swimming pool and plenty for the kids to do. If it’s a romantic getaway you’re after, why not book into an adult-only site? With all these options, it would be foolish not to shop around. Wouldn’t it?

GET THE BEST ACCESSORIES

To ensure your camping trip goes as well as possible, you need to stock up on some essentials. It's up to you how well stocked you are. Though you don’t want to be lugging around a huge bag of supplies, ensure you have everything you need, especially a quality tent. The more you take, the more comfortable your stay will be! Write a list of everything you need, and cross off the items as you get them. Think about a tent and sleeping bags above everything. Stock up too, on cooking supplies. Cast iron Dutch oven accessories will make your cooking experience much easier! It may also be worth stocking up on some fire making supplies to ensure you’re not caught short once you get there. Of course, you won’t be in the middle of nowhere. Most campsites are within driving or walking distance from local shops. Even so, some camping equipment could be hard to find under pressure! Don’t worry too much about food supplies, because you can get those when you’re there. Focus, instead, on the camping bits. Think, too, about packing enough clothes to last you! Fresh clothes can make you feel a lot better after a night in front of a smoky fire!

GET TO KNOW THE AREAS AROUND

Once you’ve booked your site, it’s worth taking a look at the places around. Day trips are sure to keep you amused during your holiday. There’s nothing wrong with a few days around the campsite but plan some activities too. This is especially important if you have children to amuse! A dull camping experience will leave them reluctant to try again! Find the closest towns and research what there is to do. If there’s something specific that you would like to see, travel further afield. It’s your holiday, so what’s stopping you? You’ve got all the time in the world! Or, at least, all the time of your vacation!

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TAKE TIME IN NATURE

Camping is all about getting close to nature, right? It makes sense that you take the chance to get at one with nature while you’re away. There’s no excuse not to explore when you’re staying out in the open! Take plenty of time to go for walks. Your campsite is likely in a location that offers plenty of opportunities for exploration. Walking is therapeutic, and is perfect if you’re trying to escape from everyday life. Buy a map of your chosen location, and map out some walks you would like to do. You could even take along some bikes, or hire some during your stay. That way, you can see even more of your holiday destination! Take time, too, to enjoy the wildlife all around you. Camping is a sure way to see a side of nature you never normally get the chance to witness. If your kids are with you, it’s a great opportunity for them to see animals in their natural environment! Take time, too, to teach them about the trees and plants all around them!

LEARN

A camping trip gives you an excellent opportunity to learn. There are so many skills you can gain while camping that you wouldn’t usually learn. Putting up a tent is an achievement in itself. You never know when that skill will come in handy! You’ll also learn how to build and cook on a campfire. Not to forget the things you stand to learn about the world around you and the stars in the night sky! Use your camping trip as an excuse to open your eyes to the world around you. Reignite your excitement for learning while you’re away!

TAKE TIME TO RELAX

All those experiences aside, it’s important to remember that you’re on vacation. Ensure you make time to relax, too! Set aside days where you can sit and enjoy the beauty around you. Get stuck into that reading list you’ve been meaning to get to for so long. You don’t have to be on the go all the time. If you take the time to sit back, you’ll realize how tranquil an experience camping can be. You might not get the experience of sitting on the beach day in day out, but camping can be just as relaxing. If you’ve chosen a site with a swimming pool, you could sit by that if you wanted to!

Is There A Right Way And A Wrong Way To Give Gifts To Your Children?

Of course you want to give your children everything you can possibly give them. You never want them to go without. They are the most special people in your life and you want to shower them with gifts. But wait a minute; is there a right way and a wrong way to give gifts to your children?

Using Reward Charts To Give Gifts For Good Behavior

Using reward charts is one of the best ways to reward your kids for good behavior and give them gifts. This is because there’s no way that a reward chart can be a bribe. You give a sticker to reinforce the behavior you want your child to continue, whether this is brushing their teeth without you asking them, or tidying their room each day. When they have so many stickers for good behaviour, you can potentially treat them. This could be a gift, or even an experience. If you need inspiration, you can find Fingerhut gift ideas on Couponbox. Here are some pointers for using reward charts with your children and getting the most out of them:

• Make the reward chart look attractive, and display it somewhere you will all see it regularly, such as the kitchen.
• Only speak in positive terms about the reward chart. Don’t threaten to take stickers away or say things like, ‘you won’t get a sticker if you carry on’.
• Give them their sticker as soon as they have completed the behaviour you want to reinforce. It gives them an instant high and makes them want to do it again.
• Consider having a selection of different stickers they can choose from, that you only use for this.
• Don’t just give physical things. Give experiences too.
• Consider offering them a choice of two things every time they earn something to stop them from getting bored.

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Bribing Your Kids

When it comes to bribing your kids, you need to be really careful. It might make them act how you want them to for a really short amount of time, but soon, they will develop behaviors that you no doubt don’t like. They will come to learn that by acting out, they can get you to offer them things in return for them acting the way they should be acting anyway. They may even develop a sense of entitlement, which can stay with them through their later years, and lead to them misbehaving in school. Bribing is effectively giving your child a reward before they’ve even done what you’d like them to do. Avoid this at all costs!

Giving Your Children Gifts For No Reason

Occasionally, you may want to treat your children for no reason. In cases like this, don’t forget about great gifts like books, crafting equipment, and other amazing educational tools. They don’t always have to have the latest gadgets. Remember, the fewer toys they have, the more they will use their imaginations and get joy from creating things.

Leave your thoughts on giving gifts to your children and rewarding them below. Thanks for reading!