Gillette Law - April/May 2021

Gillette Law - April/May 2021

Call Now! 757-220-4529 GilletteLawGroup.com

ILLETTE

GAZETTE

APRIL/MAY 2021

STAY STRONG

LET’S KEEP OUR FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

It was a little over a year ago that the COVID-19 pandemic truly struck the world. Businesses closed, people lost their jobs or began working from home, and everyone was encouraged to follow stay-at- home orders. At the time, we had no idea how long quarantine and shutdowns would last or that we’d still be feeling the impact of them 12 months later. It’s not surprising it took a toll on people’s mental health. Even though we’re seeing positive changes this year to combat COVID-19, it’s still important to take the time to reflect and examine our mental well-being. To help you maintain your mental health, here are a few great methods and tools to use. Mental Health Apps If you’re looking to work toward improving your mood, mental health apps are a great tool. Apps, such as Moodfit, MoodMission, and Talkspace, give people a chance to set goals, track their progress, or even speak to a mental health professional. They can help keep you motivated about maintaining your mental health. However, as beneficial as these may be, understand that they are no substitute for professional help for serious mental health issues. Physical Health Our physical health is linked to our mental well-being. To improve overall health, our bodies need three essential things: exercise, sleep, and good nutrition. By incorporating each of these aspects into our daily lives, we feel more positive about ourselves and our surroundings. Lack thereof can increase or lead to feelings of irritation, anxiety, and depression. Give yourself the time you need to meet these needs, even if it’s a 15-minute walk down the street or an hour nap, and it will help you feel better. Relationships Both family and friends are essential in our lives. Being separated and alone, just as most of us have been this past year, has a significant impact on mental health. The people closest to us can help support us through difficult times or when we’re feeling down. Many people have found ways to stay connected with one another by chatting online or by setting a time each week to FaceTime each other. Now that the

weather is warming up, we can also spend more time outside and have socially distant picnics.

You can also make connections with people by volunteering for a local charity or joining a group focused on a favorite hobby. With the COVID-19 vaccine distribution progressing, we’ll see more and more people getting together and more of these opportunities available. It’s a great time to start searching. Less Screen Time Spending time away from our electronic devices can be difficult. Because of online school, kids rarely seem to have a break from the computer. However, making sure kids spend less time staring at a screen — computer, television, or video games — is good for their overall health. Taking breaks prevents eye strain, blurry vision, or dry eyes, which can make it difficult for the child to stay focused on any tasks. Stepping away regularly throughout the day ensures their motivation stays peaked and their eyes stay healthy. Traditional Therapy One of the biggest problems that has surfaced because of the pandemic is many people are struggling with mental health problems (such as depression or severe anxiety) for the first time. What’s more, they may not even realize they have mental problems. According to a study in The Lancet, “People without depressive, anxiety, or obsessive- compulsive disorders showed a greater increase in symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.” Some of the above measures can help regulate mental health but are not meant to replace professional treatment. If you are struggling with your mental health, it could be time to reach out for help. Call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800- 662-HELP(4357) or visit them at SAMHSA.gov to learn of available treatments and reliable resources. –Brian Gillette

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3 SAFE APRIL FOOLS’ PRANKS YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE DITCH THE DANGER AND PLAN FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

Every year, a prankster makes headlines on April Fools’ Day for taking their joke too far. In 2001, a DJ in England famously broadcast that he’d spotted a replica of the Titanic floating off the coast. Hundreds of people scrambled to the spot, and their combined weight actually caused a cliff to collapse into the ocean! Luckily no one was hurt, but a Montana man who played a different joke years later wasn’t so lucky. He donned a Sasquatch outfit and lept from the forest to scare travelers. Unfortunately, he traumatized two teens so much that they lost control of their car and ran him over. If you’re a prankster, you can probably understand what drove the radio DJ and Sasquatch to their doom. It’s easy to go down the April Fools’ rabbit hole and plan a prank that’s too elaborate for adults, let alone your kids. But don’t worry — the internet is full of funny ways to introduce your little ones to the holiday safely. Instead of concocting a potentially harmful prank, try one of these harmless jokes instead, courtesy of Parenting magazine.

old), make a batch of Jello and let it set in a juice glass. When they try to drink it later, enjoy the hilarity that ensues.

2. Rocks — It’s What’s for Dinner! If you want to confuse and horrify your kids, scatter chocolate rock candy (treats that look like real rocks) in the backyard before dinner. Then, when it’s time to eat, head outside and chow down on a handful of “rocks.” Your kids’ faces will be priceless! (Visit Nuts.com to score this candy for $8.99 per pound.) 3. Stinky Caramel ‘Apples’ Everyone loves caramel apples, but caramel-covered onions … not so much. This April Fools’ Day, swap the tasty fruit for its smelly vegetable counterpart and watch as everyone in the house falls for your trick! These are just a few pranks you can have up your sleeve for April Fools’ — or any day of the week. For even more hilarious ideas, check out the book “Pranklopedia: The Funniest, Grossest, Craziest, Not- Mean Pranks on the Planet!” from your local library.

1. The Undrinkable Juice You know what looks a lot like grape juice? Grape Jello! To baffle your toddler (or even your 10-year-

THE CAUSE OF YOUR EYE STRAIN It Might Not Be Blue Light After All

The 20-20-20 Rule The best way to reduce eye strain is to use the 20-20-20 rule; every 20 minutes, look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds before looking back at a computer screen. This guarantees your eyes have regular breaks throughout the day. You can also adjust your computer screen’s brightness, color temperature, and text size to prevent over- straining to see what’s on the monitor. If you have regular symptoms of eye strain, visit your optometrist for an examination. They can give you a professional diagnosis and prescribe the best treatment for you.

Today, it’s almost impossible not to expose your eyes to a screen that emits blue light. However, a common misconception is that blue light from digital screens causes eye strain, mental fatigue, and headaches. There simply isn’t enough information for researchers to say it’s fact. Blue Light Glasses Many people have purchased blue light glasses to protect their eyes from the artificial blue light emitted by digital screens (smartphones, laptops, tablets, televisions, and computers), LED lighting, and fluorescent bulbs. Yet, they might not be needed. According to the Texas Medical Center (TMC), blue light glasses are not necessary for computer use. Amir Mohsenin, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor in the Ruiz Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at UTHealth‘s McGovern Medical School, further explains, “There’s really no evidence that [blue light glasses] help. We don’t really have any >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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