Loneliness, Mental Health Topics How to cure loneliness: Is spending time alone an unexpected remedy? by Taylor Bennett on May 16, 2018 Have you ever experienced the deep desperation that comes with loneliness? You’re excited to finally get home after work, but as soon as you walk in the door and plop down on the couch, a darkness looms. Or maybe you’ve spent the past few days fulfilling one social obligation after…
Community, Loneliness, Mental Health Topics How can volunteering help to combat feelings of loneliness? by Taylor Bennett on May 16, 2018 I have good news: you are capable of overcoming those feelings of loneliness that have been hanging around. And the better news is that you’ll reap additional benefits in the process. So, what does it take? It takes stepping outside of yourself and stepping up to help others. While there…
Depression, Mental Health Topics A Social Media and Depression Story—What’s the Connection? by Taylor Bennett on May 10, 2018 Instead of setting New Year’s resolutions, I set New Month’s resolutions. So, rather than brainstorming a few different goals to tackle throughout the year, I set one main goal to tackle each month. In January, I set a fairly simple goal of journaling each night. In February, I (regrettably) challenged…
Depression, Mental Health Topics Can You Feel Depressed After a Breakup? How Can You Feel Happy Again? by Taylor Bennett on May 10, 2018 If you’re anything like me, you don’t take change or rejection well… which means you probably don’t take breakups so well. I mean, who does? Breakups—whether you’re the one who has initiated the split or not—aren’t fun. In fact, they’re the very opposite of fun: they’re emotionally, mentally, sometimes even…
Health & Exercise, Mental Health Topics What Constitutes An Unhealthy Lifestyle? Can An Unhealthy Lifestyle Lead to Depression? by Taylor Bennett on May 8, 2018 Depression—a mental health disorder characterized by a depressed mood, which causes significant impairment in one’s everyday life—is the leading cause of disability worldwide, according to a recent study by the World Health Organization. This illness comes with crippling symptoms, from feelings of hopelessness to fatigue, irritability, and suicidal thoughts. Some…
Community, Mental Health Topics Why Is Connecting with Others Important? by Taylor Bennett on May 4, 2018 I’m guessing you’ve heard the term “self-care” before, right? And you probably associate it with a few specific images: sinking into a warm bubble bath, scribbling in a journal before bed, or maybe meditating quietly on a yoga mat. These are all accurate representations of self-care (or at least they…
Loneliness, Mental Health Topics Spend time alone without feeling lonely: A simple, beneficial self-care strategy by Taylor Bennett on May 4, 2018 A year or so ago, I read a poem that really resonated with me: “Loneliness is a sign you are in desperate need of yourself.” This one-liner, which is written by Rupi Kaur and featured in her best-selling book Milk and Honey, sums up the importance of spending time with…
Health & Exercise, Mental Health Topics Exercising and Eating Well: These Two Self-Care Practices Are Vital to Your Wellbeing by Taylor Bennett on May 4, 2018 For some reason or another, people roll their eyes at the term self-care. But really, we should all be talking about self-care and bragging about how we prioritize our wellbeing rather than feeling ashamed or embarrassed. Because without implementing the proper self-care techniques, we are nowhere close to becoming our…
Mental Health Awareness, Mental Health Topics, Self-Care, Work & Careers Mental health days: What are they? When are they appropriate? by Taylor Bennett on May 2, 2018 When we’re debilitated by a painfully sore throat, stuffy nose, and pounding headache, we’re quick to call out of work. When we’re injured with a broken arm or sprained ankle, we don’t think twice about taking a couple days off. But when we’re stressed out of our minds or struggling…
Mental Health Topics, Self-Care Give Yourself a Break: Why Taking a Break Is a Good Thing by Taylor Bennett on May 2, 2018 Two words: snow day. Kids everywhere scream excitedly because they don’t have to go to school and adults breathe a sigh of relief because they get an unexpected day off of work—guilt-free. That’s why snow days are magnificent. They give you a break, from school or from work, and there…
Mental Health Topics, Psychology, Self-Improvement How Can Journaling Help Me? Tips for Keeping a Self-Care Journal by Taylor Bennett on May 1, 2018 I’ve always loved to write. (Go figure.) Therefore, I’ve always loved journaling. I got my first journal in elementary school; it was a bulky, white, furry diary with a rainbow patch in the center of the front cover. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and wrote in it…
Mental Health Topics, Psychology Mindfulness: What Does It Mean and What Can It Do for Me? by Taylor Bennett on May 1, 2018 A lot of people are intimidated or turned off by the terms “mindfulness” and “meditation.” But in reality, there’s nothing to be afraid of. And there’s no reason not to give them a try. Because time and time again, the same individuals who were skeptical of the practices discover just…