Hobbies make you feel good. They help you relax and unwind from your day, with the added benefit of lowering your stress levels and blood pressure. Hobbies can help ease existing depression symptoms and decrease your risk of developing depression by up to 30%.

Ways that hobbies improve your mental health:

• Improve neuroplasticity: According to the StatPearls, neuroplasticity describes our brain's ability to adapt its activity and structure by forming and using new synaptic connections. You can think of your brain as a big map -- there are many ways to get to your destination, and sometimes you have to change which way you're going. Hobbies and habits require you to form new neural pathways, which provide new reference points for the brain to recognize.

Keep reading here. 

When was the last time you took a mental health day?

https://www.togetherwell.org

https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/new-skills-brain-study

Happy World Book Day!

The world has been collectively experiencing trauma a result of COVID-19. We, as mental health practionners are not immune. The past year has affected us like none other and we’re still learning how to deal with the mental and emotional effects not only for ourselves but our clients. 

As mental health professionals, it's important we lean toward each other, colloborate and share as many resources as we can during tiring times. That is exactly why our team at Washington Psychological Wellness put together this list of mental health resources and books we jointly love. 

Here are two books we love:

􀀀 “It Didn’t Start with You” by Mark Wolynn

􀀀 “The Body Keeps Score” by Bessel Can Der Kolk 

For a complete List of Resources Check Out:

       https://washington-psychwellness.com/books-we-love/

       Feel free to use this resource or share it with clients or colleagues! 

       What are some mental health book suggestions to add to our list!?

       We are always looking for more recommendations!