Tag: mental health

It’s Your Last Chance to Take a Summer Vacation

Posted on by Jordank

#Summer 2025 is passing quickly! The long days and warm weather will soon be a memory, and the time to take advantage of them with a summer #vacation is dwindling. Nonetheless, there’s still time to schedule a getaway.

Time off is crucial to preserving one’s physical and mental health, says AFC Urgent Care. Those who skip #vacations are at a higher risk for heart attack, anxiety and depression. And those who take vacations are often less stressed and more attentive to their own well-being.

You might be worried that the stress and expense won’t be worthwhile, but “a memorable summer vacation doesn’t require months of planning or thousands of dollars,” says Yahoo! “With a little creativity and flexibility, you can find affordable ways to explore new places.”

Depending on your tolerance for car travel, roadtripping can be one of the cheapest ways to enjoy a change of scenery. Pack the car, the family and a few snacks, and you can be somewhere new in a matter of hours. Check Google Maps for places within a preferred distance from your home base, or visit Roadtrippers.com to access complete planning tools. A simple search can help chart your route and highlight points of interest, restaurants, hotel accommodations and campsites, and more.

Another way to have a cheap #getaway is to share costs with friends. Split multiple ways, an Airbnb or VRBO rental can make even exclusive locations affordable. Start texting your travel companions; you never know who might be willing to take a few days off.

With schools starting earlier every year, crowds start to ease at the end of August, Frommer’s says, and you may be able to save on flights and hotels during the “shoulder” season. Or you might be able to land a cheap flight to a fully off-season location in Mexico or the Caribbean.

Don’t despair or wallow in the fear of missing out. There’s still time to set aside a day or three to see something new, take a hike, go to the beach and otherwise shake off the same-old, same-old routine. Your health will benefit!

Your Donations Fuel Veteran Advocacy

Posted on by Jordank

This week, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) is hosting its National Convention in New Orleans, La. Representatives from chapters across the country will join to listen, learn about the issues facing veterans and strategize the next steps for the organization.

Like conventions in other industries and nonprofits (you may have been to one yourself), VVA’s will feature committee meetings, guest speakers, opportunities to break bread and socialize, and more. The difference with VVA? Everything is done in #service to #veterans.

Formed to support #Vietnam veterans in 1979, VVA now serves as an #advocate for veterans of all eras. With members having returned to U.S. soil with something less than a hero’s welcome, its motto is, “Never again will one generation of veterans abandon another.”

One of VVA’s most important missions is to ensure that all veterans and their dependents can access the #benefits guaranteed to them by the government. Its veteran service officers (VSOs) are deployed throughout the country to assist with claims.

The organization also educates service members and the public about the issues many veterans struggle with, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health, chemical dependency, homelessness, physical disability, and exposure to Agent Orange and other toxics.

It’s a precarious time for veterans’ benefits. The slash-and-burn tactics the administration is using in pursuit of government efficiency could leave many veterans and their families struggling to access critical health care, housing assistance and other resources — and soon.

That makes VVA’s advocacy — and this year’s convention — even more critical to the people who have bravely served the nation. VVA will need to defend and justify its work even more fiercely to cope with cuts to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) staffing and funding. And we can’t do this alone.

Your #generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org help fund everything we do — from the most informal morning coffee at a rural chapter to the high-level testimony VVA officials bring to the VA and Congress, your generosity and concern fuel our action. On behalf of America’s veterans, we thank you.

Organize to Improve Your Midwinter Mood

Posted on by Jordank

One of the best ways to fight the #winter blahs is to organize a space. “Being stuck inside for days on end can get wearisome and depressing, especially if #clutter is stressing you out on top of everything else,” Done & Done Home says. You don’t have to do a full overhaul; just concentrate on the areas where you spend the most time, such as the living room or kitchen. Stick to manageable #decluttering and #organizing tasks to give yourself control over the indoor environment and #donate any excess #stuff to ClothingDonations.org. The sense of accomplishment should make you feel better. #MidwinterBlahs

Using Light Therapy to Counter Seasonal Depression

Posted on by Jordank

Many people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a moderate to severe form of depression marked by anxiety, fatigue and decreased energy — during the darkest days of #winter. An ounce of prevention may worth a pound of cure, Well+Good says, if you are feeling the full effect of SAD or even a mild case of the winter doldrums. Light therapy can bring some “natural-feeling, mood-boosting” rays into an otherwise dreary space. Mimicking natural sunlight, indoor lamps can be used for just 30 minutes per day to trick the body into a more sunshiny mood. #MidwinterBlahs

How to Shake The Winter Blues

Posted on by Jordank

“More than half the people living in places where there are four seasons report having the ‘winter blues,’ a mild depression characterized by a lack of motivation and low energy,” says the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute. To elevate your mood, make peace with #winter by spending time outdoors. Eat right, but make a place for a big batch of soup. Drink plenty of water, since winter can be dehydrating even when there’s snow on the ground. And “don’t be afraid to ask for help,” CTRI says. “Speak to your doctor or call your local mental health center if your symptoms are severe and debilitating.” #MidwinterBlahs