This 30-Day Mental Health Challenge Is Like a Makeover for Your Mood

You’ve heard of money challenges , gallon water challenges , and of course whatever weird social media challenges the kids are up to these days, but the most popular challenge is all about you. Searches for 30-day mental health challenges grew by 668% over the past year, Pinterest recently revealed. But do these mini, month-long resets actually work? They can, but you have to approach them the right way, says Helen L. Coons, Ph.D. , ABPP, Clinical Director of Women’s Behavioral Health and Wellness Service Line at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "We know that small, realistic, and attainable steps help us sustain good health behavior," she says. "So if we think that we’re going to lose 50 pounds this week, we tend not to do it, but if we think about ‘I’m going to skip the cookie today,’ that’s a good start. Same thing in mental health." So, we teamed up with Dr. Coons to create a 30-day mental health challenge that aims to help you leave you feeling calmer and happier at the end of the month. Even better: You don’t need to spend a lot of money or have tons of free time to participate. How to Do the 30-Day Mental Health Challenge Position yourself for the best results by following four core guidelines: Don’t think it’s selfish: "When we’ve taken good care of ourselves, not only do we have more energy for others, but we we tend to be more focused and more present," Dr. Coons says. Tap a friend: When we share our goals, we do better. Get a group of two, three, or four friends for added accountability. If you miss a day, don’t give up: The goal isn’t to be perfect. Even if you just do 25 or 15 days, […]

Click here to view full article