Take appropriate steps to de-stress

To the editor:

Wow, Jay County residents and the people who work in the county are seeing a big surge in COVID-19 cases right now. It seems as if everyone is affected in some way or another.

December is always an extra busy month with the holidays and adding COVID-19 to the mix has not helped.

If you are finding yourselves having more stress than normal right now, you are not alone.

Below are some tips that may help:

Tip 1 — Take time to breathe; breathe in slowly to the count of four, hold your breath to the count of four, slowly breathe out to the count of four. Do this at least four times. You will actually feel tension leave your body.

Tip 2 — Be realistic about your life right now. (Yes, Hallmark movies are wonderful and always have a happy ending; however, we all know that real life doesn’t always present itself to us in that light.)

Tip 3 — Plan ahead for the holidays. (Dedicate at least a half hour each evening to complete a task now so when the time arrives for the event, it doesn’t overwhelm you.)

Tip 4 — Give to others. This not only helps them but it helps you as well. Your generosity often has a ripple effect and sometimes is returned to you.

Tip 5 — Don’t abandon healthy habits. This is easy to do during the holidays because of all the yummy food. Time for exercise is easily given up because of all of the other priorities that come your way this month.

Tip 6 — Seek professional help if you feel as though you need it. If anything positive has come from this pandemic, it is that mental health has been brought to the forefront for all of us. This is something that should have happened decades or even a century ago. Please do not be afraid to reach out.

Remember, kindness is free; sprinkle that stuff everywhere.

Stephanie Patterson

Member of Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition