In this ridiculous time we live in it is easy to let our own personal mental health deteriorate. Since I don't want to see you all fall apart, start wearing pussy hats, and voting Dem this year, I'm going to post a few tips to help everyone do some routine mental healtg maintenance. 1. Maintain a routine: Many of you are off work or even lost your job. It's easy to start letting things slip. The temptation to remain in your underwear and sleep all day will be there. Print out a paper schedule! Fill it up with important stuff first. Then fill it with self care stuff like exercise or bathing. Then schedule fun. Make sure to actually get dressed daily. Lack of goals and achievements is a quick road to depression and thinking that Biden is an eloquent speaker. 2. Feeling anxious? Take slow, full breathes. I like to teach clients to breath in slow over 4 seconds, hold it for 4 seconds, out for 4 seconds, and hold the empty breath for 4 seconds. Repeat 4 times. Slow breathing lowers the heart rate and blood pressure which will signal the brain to reduce the adrenal and norepinephrine systems. Fast breathing leads to REEEEEing while watching CNN. 3. For God's sake, exercise: Anything counts. Walking (even around your house) calisthenics, and body weight training are all good options for when you're stuck at home. Exercise has been shown in trials to be as or more effective to treating mild to moderate depression as antidepressants. Lack of exercise will result in your girlfriend's boyfriend having to defend you when the mobs come after you. 4. Limit the amount of news you consume: It's still being studied, but there seems to be a strong link between news consumption and anxiety levels. Can't imagine why... 5. On the same note, set a limit on your social media use. Depression and anxiety both appear to be affected by this. Too much and you'll start a Tumblr and list your preferred pronouns. 6. Have regular, meaningful contact with important people in your life. Physical is best, even if it is just a handshake or hug. That might not be an option for a lot of us so have meaningful conversations instead. No "how was work today" bs. More like "what do you hope to accomplish in the next year". Real meaty stuff. 7. Conversely, give little time to those who don't matter. Toxic friends or family? Cut them out. Jordan Peterson said it well, make friends with people who want the best for you." Don't let worthless people live in your head rent free either, like AOC or the potato girl. 8. Get some sun! Seriously, go outside if you can. If not, sit in front of a sunny window. Lack of sun exposure on our skin and eyes disrupts a lot of our hormone cycles. It even lowers your testosterone. Low T is correlated to voting Dem so there's that. 9. Go to bed and rise at the same time every day. A poor sleep cycle is a quick road to depression and one of the symptoms looked for. 10. Eat healthy, wholesome meals. I love junk food like everyone else, but make sure most of what you eat looks like real food. Too many processed sugars and fats can throw insulin levels out of whack and make you feel depressed or anxious. 11. Finally, control the things you can and let go of what you can't. We can't change what others do, but you control what you do. Make any preparations you can and save the energy by not worrying about the rest. We tend to be more self reliant on this boars, I think, but it is easy to worry if someone else will solve our problems. They won't. Spend the energy solving it yourself. Please add any other helpful tips.