Mental Wellness
Your mental, social and emotional health is essential to your overall well-being. Learn about the factors that affect your mental wellness, and ways to improve it.
Stress
Stress is a normal response to challenging situations. However, stress can negatively affect your mood, appetite, sleep and overall mental and physical health. Learning healthy ways to cope can help you better manage stress.
Goal setting can help you manage stress related to everyday challenges, such as problems with work, family and relationships. Goal setting can help you build a sense of control and optimism.
Maintaining healthy habits is important to reducing stress. Eat healthy meals with whole foods and plenty of plants, get at least seven hours of sleep each night and exercise at least two and a half hours each week.
Connect with others. Talking with friends, family or a mental health professional can help you process feelings of stress.
Make time to unwind with activities you enjoy. Relaxation activities such as meditation and yoga can reduce your body's stress response. Limit news intake to a couple times a day. Consider disconnecting from or limiting social media when you are stressed.
Lastly, avoid using alcohol and drugs to cope with stress. Drink alcohol in moderation – one drink or less each day for women, and two drinks or less each day for men.
Self-Care During Large Citywide Events
Large citywide events can bring excitement, celebration, and positive feelings. They can also feel busy or overwhelming at times due to crowds, noise, changes in daily routines, increased activity across the city, and occasional disruption to usual services and resources.
Everyone reacts differently to a busy, high-energy environment. You may notice in yourself or others:
- Changes in mood or energy
- Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or irritable
- Trouble sleeping or feeling more tired than usual
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feeling uncomfortable, stressed, or even panicky
- Needing more personal space or quiet time than usual
These are common and usually temporary reactions.
Taking small, practical steps can help you, your family, and your friends manage your experience and have fun. Try to:
- Allow extra time for travel
- Prepare yourself mentally — expect delays or crowds
- Take breaks from busy or noisy environments
- Stay hydrated and eat healthy, nourishing meals
- Keep regular sleep routines
- Limit alcohol and avoid using substances
- Limit media overload
- Do activities that help you relax
- Stay connected with friends, family, or your community
Children and families may experience citywide events differently. Prepare together:
- Discuss what challenges to expect
- Check in with each other throughout the day
- Create a plan in case you get separated: Agree on meeting spots and how to stay in touch
- Be patient with each other
- Expect different reactions — not everyone enjoys crowds in the same way
- Be aware of how your reactions may affect your children
- Watch for signs of stress in children, such as clinginess, irritability, or trouble sleeping
- Build in breaks and quiet time
- Keep familiar routines where possible
- Build in breaks and quiet time
- Limit television and social media use
Older adults and individuals with accessibility needs may find busy environments more tiring or challenging. The following may help:
- Allow extra time and avoid overcrowded spaces where possible
- Plan ahead to ensure access to essential services and resources
- Let others know what support is needed
- Use mobility aids, quiet spaces, or assistance services where available
- Check in regularly and ensure basic needs are met
- Plan for rest and a slower pace during the day
- Have someone check in regularly and offer support as needed
Looking out for one another can help everyone feel more supported during busy periods. You can:
- Check in on friends, neighbors, and family
- Be patient with others in crowded or stressful situations
- Respect that people experience events differently
- Offer support when someone seems overwhelmed
Most stress related to busy events is temporary. Support is available if it becomes overwhelming or begins to affect daily life:
- Text or call 988, or visit nyc.gov/988 for chat and other mental health resources
- Call 311 for local services
- Call 911 for immediate safety concerns
Social Connectedness
Social connectedness involves having a variety of meaningful and supportive relationships. It is a key part of your mental and physical health.
Social connection can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression and anxiety. It can also help improve your sleep, your ability to manage and recover from stress and your ability to keep up healthy habits around eating and physical activity.
Consider some ways to improve your social connectedness:
- Devote time and attention to strengthening your social network. Spend time with family and friends or join a group, club or class that interests you.
- Connect with your community. Be friendly with your neighbors, or volunteer with a local organization.
- Reach out to others when you need support. Check in with the people around you and see if they need help or support, too.
- See tips and resources to reduce loneliness.
- Talk with a doctor or mental health professional if you are concerned about feelings of isolation and loneliness. They can find ways to help.
Sleep
Adults should get at least seven hours of sleep each night. Sleep is essential to your brain health. Not getting enough sleep is associated with poor mental health, including depression. It is also linked with health conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Many people have trouble with getting enough sleep. Talk to a health care provider if you have symptoms of a sleep disorder like insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea. Everyday stress and anxiety can also interfere with sleep.
These habits can improve your sleep:
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule.
- Set a relaxing bedtime routine, such as reading or journaling before bed.
- Do your best to keep your bedroom dark, quiet and at a comfortable temperature.
- Turn off your electronic devices at least 30 minutes before you go to bed.
- Avoid having caffeine in the afternoon or evening.
- Avoid having alcohol before bed.
- Do not eat a large meal before bed. If you get hungry at night, eat a light snack.