Keep Spirits High With These 5 Mental Health Tips

May is Mental Health Awareness month, but prioritizing mental health is not limited to just 31 days. Since property managers interact with residents, you can work to help improve overall morale. You have the opportunity to share resources, spread awareness and bolster an empathetic living community all year round.

As more people share their experiences with mental health struggles and the conversation becomes more mainstream, it is helpful to share different ways to work through tough times. Encouraging community activities or sharing positive quotes and tips to improve mental well-being can make a difference. Here is a list of some tips that you can suggest to lift spirits, encourage community engagement, help practice mindfulness and foster a positive environment and mindset for your residents—and yourself!

Exercise: A great way to let out negative emotions is getting some exercise in. Plan some classes or set up some routines in your community gym that could interest people. You can put together a nature walk at a nearby park or green space. Various studies have shown that fresh air and calming scenery can help manage mild depression and anxiety symptoms.

Revisit old hobbies: Sometimes life gets in the way of spending time doing things you find enjoyable. In times of stress, picking up a paintbrush, a book, a musical instrument (even if talent doesn’t come naturally—sorry to my neighbors, I’m really trying to improve on my piano). Anything that has previously been a source of enjoyment is a great way to get out of your head. Offer beginner classes on instruments or a paint and sip night as a community stress relief activity.

Puzzle Party: Get your mind off negative thoughts by putting that energy into puzzles. Between jigsaw puzzles, logic puzzles, crosswords and sudoku (it’s a lot less math than you think!), there are a lot of options. Set up a common area with various jigsaw puzzles or books with varying difficulty to create an atmosphere where residents can get their minds off their troubles and put energy into a different activity.

Volunteering: Giving back to the community is a great way to boost positivity. Create a bulletin board with ongoing community projects. Feel free to plan a specific activity and encourage residents to get involved, for example, a community clean-up project.

Give yourself grace: While it’s important to check in and help others, it’s just as necessary to do the same for yourself. Experiencing low periods is normal; remember that in these times, you are not alone, and it is okay to feel how you do. Try and list things you are grateful for, take a deep breath then identify triggers. Without these low periods, recognizing the positives wouldn’t be possible.