"Wellness is about how we live our lives and the joy and fulfillment and health we experience." ~ SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, "Creating a Healthier Life - A Step-by-Step Guide to Wellness."
With our focus on creating sustainable PRACTICES, we can look at WELLNESS as a state of BEING. By creating healthy habits, we set ourselves up for sustainable wellness.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease.” ~ World Health Organization
5 TOOLS TO IMPROVE YOUR WELLNESS:
Inspired by 9 Tested Tips to Improve Your Wellbeing and Quality of Life by John Adams, The Wellbeing Project
- FOCUS ON THE FAB 3: Sleep - nutrition - movement. Get enough sleep (6-8 hours is recommended). Eat healthy, balanced meals & stay hydrated. Move your body ... more!
- MANAGE YOUR STRESS: Learning how to cope and manage stressors is essential. NOTICE what causes you stress; where do you hold stress? ... BREATHE ... How do you cope and manage stressful situations?
- STAY CONNECTED: Social isolation has been found to be as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day! Find ways to connect daily with others: family - friends - neighbors - colleagues - support groups! Start a conversation in the checkout line at the grocery. Smile at a stranger. A short call - FaceTime - Zoom - all provide human connection.
- BE PRESENT: BREATHE. You're doing the best you can with what you have in this moment. Remember, caregiving is a JOURNEY. Do your best to be fully present in your wellness journey, too. Where do you want to start? Set micro-goals that are SMART. Find an accountability partner. Then, don't forget to celebrate your successes as you progress!
- AVOID THE BAD: Focus on all the GOOD you are doing for you, and work to avoid or limit the BAD for you: alcohol - smoking - drugs - sugar - caffeine.
At Courage to Caregivers we know that healthier, stronger caregivers provide healthier, stronger care to their loved ones, and in turn create healthier, stronger families.
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“Health is a state of body. Wellness is a state of being.” ~ J. Stanford
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WELLNESS AFFIRMATIONS
Use affirmations to inspire you or reframe your thoughts
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I am committed to doing the work to grow into the next best version of ME.
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I know that sleep will come and I will be patient with myself until it arrives.
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My body responds positively to nourishing movement of all kinds.
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Cultivating my inner state, I am growing into the next best version of ME.
WELLNESS APPS
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PODCASTS
- The Art of Being Well with Dr. Will Cole - Exploring ways to nurture your body, spirit, mind and relationships.
- Radio Headspace - how we can live a life that best reflects our limitless potential.
- Rethinking Wellness with Christy Harrison - how to break free and find true well-being.
BOOKS
ARTICLES
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Courage to Caregivers believes that when you take better care of yourself, you provide better care to those you love. The journey to Courage to Caregivers begins with the courage to reach out and ask for help. We launched Courage to Caregivers because we believe no one should take this journey alone. While the journey begins with courage it continues with intention. Check out our 2022 Annual Report with all of our accomplishments and milestones.
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It's NOT too late! 4th Annual Day of Giving
ALL donations are matched dollar for dollar through August 24! We chose our theme of "Journeying With Courage and Intention" intentionally. The journey of providing support to someone living with mental illness or chronic or serious illnesses is indeed a long, complicated JOURNEY. As we work to prevent caregiver burnout - we empower caregivers to better cope and manage the stress of caregiving in order to be the healthiest, strongest, best version of themselves. Please consider supporting our mission with your donation as we continue to guide caregivers through their journey of self-care and wellness, equipping them to better care for their loved ones.
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We are thrilled to have been named the nonprofit partner for the 10th Annual Believe in CLE! Celebrate Cleveland the evening of Friday, September 1, 2023 with yoga and breathing meditation on the steps of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! We are thrilled to partner with Inner Bliss Yoga Studio for this event benefiting Courage to Caregivers. Experience the power of moving and breathing together at this famous Cleveland location! ALL levels of yoga practice are welcome - from novice to advanced! You may register here - space is limited. You may donate to Courage to Caregivers for your participation here.
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Planning committee volunteers needed! Do you love creative expression?! Please consider volunteering for the Create with Courage fundraising event on Sunday, November 5! We are seeking volunteers to guide creative stations with a variety of materials and activities along the themes of Inspiration, Self-Care, Creative Artistic Expression and Gratitude. Please email Melissa at melissa@couragetocaregivers.org if you are interested in this opportunity!
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Grace is one of our Summer 2023 Nonprofit Management Interns. Grace is a rising senior at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree and double majoring in Public Health and Computer Science with a minor in Spanish. Grace was interested in Courage to Caregivers because of her interest in volunteering and her passion about mental health and related groups. The main project that Grace will be working on during her time with us is the Ripple Effect Quiz. Grace is thrilled to be a part of the Courage to Caregivers’ team and helping to make a difference. Read more about Grace here.
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Kahli is the Community Outreach Intern for the Summer of 2023. She will be a senior at the University of Charlotte in North Carolina this year with a degree focusing on Sociology. Kahli is working on the Monthly Newsletters and Micro-Challenges Calendars, and collaborative intern projects this summer. Kahli was inspired to intern for Courage to Caregivers due to her giving personality and desire to give back! Read more about Kahli and what has inspired her to work for Courage to Caregivers.
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August’s theme is ADVOCACY, and we will focus on caregiving advocacy, creating your support network, managing stress, and effective communication! As we continue on the journey of discovering our true selves, setting micro-goals will guide us. With micro-goals, it’s easier to take the next right step - as Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.” Check out August's Micro-Challenges Calendar.
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Courage to Caregivers Breathing Practice for August: Sighing Breath
As we support caregivers to make breathing and meditation a practice, we're pleased to share our Breathing Meditation Facilitator Cathy and her monthly breathing practice how-to videos. You can join us for August’s Breathing Practice: Sighing Breath. With this practice, we will improve lung function, relieve tension in the neck and shoulders, and calm the central nervous system. You can watch August's instructional video here, and remember to subscribe to our Monthly Breathing Practices playlist to stay updated each month! You can also subscribe to our Breathing Meditation playlist, where we upload our weekly breathing meditation recordings, and follow along on our Spotify Breathing Meditation playlist.
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The mission of Courage to Caregivers is to provide hope. support and courage to caregivers and loved ones of those living with mental illness.
©2023 Courage to Caregivers, Inc.
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