Today at Blue Eagle we want to examine ways to encourage Driver Mental Health:
Stop for Coffee
Start your day with a cup of coffee. That cup of coffee from Pilot or Flying J is more than just a treat; research suggests it is a mood lifter: “Coffee consumption is linked to lower rates of depression. If you can’t drink coffee because of the caffeine, try another good-for-you drink like green tea.”
Besides lifting your mood, coffee is also shown to improve long term mental health and can even help prevent mental decline like that associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Make Plans
In Pennsylvania we have great hiking and even better historical sites. So, get out and see one of the most patriotic and beautiful parts of the country, “The act of planning a vacation and having something to look forward to can boost your overall happiness for up to 8 weeks!”
Sleep
Better sleep is highly linked to getting out of a funk. Some scientists even refer to sleep as overnight therapy. For even better sleep make sure you can, “Keep it cool for a good night’s sleep. The optimal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Gratitude
Every thought releases some type of chemical. When positive thoughts are generated, when you’re feeling happy, or optimistic, cortisol decreases and the brain produces serotonin… Daniel Goleman author of “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence” states that the brain has heightened prefrontal activity and positivity resulting in enhanced mental functions such as creative thinking, cognitive flexibility, and even faster processing.”
So, “Send a thank you note – not for a material item, but to let someone know why you appreciate them. Written expressions of gratitude are linked to increased happiness.”
Take Small Steps
“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.” Mark Twain Don’t underestimate the power of breaking down your goals and to-do-list into bite size chunks. Research shows that simply writing down what you want to accomplish increases your chances of seeing your goals become a reality significantly.
Even getting your health goals like working out can be greatly impacted by making small steps, “One study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found the group who exercised for 13 minutes per session, three times a week for two months showed similar strength improvements as those who exercised for 70 minutes per session. The only catch was each session was done at maximum effort. In other words, their muscles were exhausted at the end of the set.”
So, take those small steps to start getting better mental health today!
https://www.mhanational.org/31-tips-boost-your-mental-health