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LET'S TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH!
BY GRACIE NEWELL
great outdoors editor

        Let’s not talk about the pandemic. We all already know what’s been going on. We’ve experienced everything firsthand. And it’s really taken a toll on all of us. Instead, let's discuss how we’re holding up. We'll take a minute to relate and confide in each other.
         So that being said… How are you holding up? Being a teenager is rough as it is, with nosy parents, difficult teachers, never getting enough sleep, and an education system that makes going through high school hardly bearable. Maybe it’s hard for you to find motivation to clean your room, to exercise, to socialize. Or maybe you struggle with anxiety, depression, or another mental illness much like 49.5% of teenagers in America do. That statistic is from 2019, no doubt that percentage has spiked this year due to.. You know.. Everything.   
​        Statistically, young people are struggling most with their mental health. But the important thing to take away from this article, is that you aren’t the only one feeling this way. For most people struggling with mental health issues, it’s hard to comprehend that other people are struggling with very similar things. It’s easy to feel alone, and to feel like everyone else lives in this picture-perfect world. Like everyone else is moving forward, preparing for college and figuring out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. But that is the exact opposite of what’s really going on. If we’ve learned anything this year it's that the lot of Gen Z suffers from mental illnesses and because of this, it’s important that we normalize talking about it with each other. we're all going through it.
        Don’t be mistaken that this statement undermines what you are going through, your struggles are valid. It is rather meant to comfort you in the fact that you have so many people who understand you. 
        As a message to the reader, the best way to cope and have a more positive outlook on life is to spend any extra time you have doing the things you love and enjoy. Whether it’s music, art, a sport/club that you’re apart of, a person, a place, or any form of entertainment that brings you joy. Focus on that so that you can be more positive and ultimately have a happier attitude towards things. And yes, school can be tough, but do your best to push through to the end, and surround yourself with the things that you value. It will all be worth it. 




posted on 10/25/2020
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                                        __________

these images help represent how having bad mental health can exhaust your energy, and make you feel down or stressed.

talking about mental health is just fine! in fact it's really beneficial! let's help each other out and talk about it :)

What is
meditation

by Tyler lybbert
wellness Editorial

     On television shows you may see a peaceful and zen character meditating. Legs folded, hands on knees and humming is how meditation is portrayed in the media, but there are many ways to meditate. In fact, when you practice deep breathing anywhere you are practicing a form of meditation called Qigong, according to the National Qigong Society.
     As times get even more stressful with the end of the term, mediation may be a good practice to look into. A study conducted by Wake Forest Baptist concluded that  ¨Anxiety was significantly reduced in every session that subjects meditated¨. Meditation has many benefits, and they don´t stop after you are done meditating. Meditation has been proven to help with stress management, reducing negative emotions, and increasing imagination. 
     To meditate you don't need anything, just a place to sit that is relaxing. If you are able to, looking into a meditation cushion may be helpful. A Life of Productivity says, ¨a meditation cushion is the easiest to sit in an upright position when you’re on one, which improves your alertness and the quality of your meditation¨. Meditation works by limiting the amount of information coming into your mind. Buffer Blog explains that ¨we’re actually loosening the connections of particular neural pathways¨. In a more simpler form, you are basically making it harder to act impulsively and take more time to process information. 
     Meditation has been practiced as early as 5,000 B.C.E., according to Ashely Rose on Time. It used to be practiced only in a religious context in Egypt and China. It is tied to Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and other religions. Meditation was used in hopes of obtaining a higher purpose, and getting out of the worldly way of things. Meditation has been around for forever, and it has been helpful in so many ways. Why not try meditating next time you feel overwhelmed and anxious?

Posted 10/22/20

you can meditate...

In your work environment! De-stress in that stressful place.

In the great outdoors! Explore your mind while exploring the world.

On the stairs.

Outside in a park. Kids will run around the park while your thoughts run around your mind.

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Is Breakfast
Really
that important?

by tyler lybbert
wellness editor

    Last year I started a bad habit of skipping out on breakfast. I woke up and hurried to school, totally skipping out on providing a nutritious meal to start my day off.
    Over the summer it got worse. I remember waking up early to go work out, but not eating food would prohibit me from completing a full workout to the best of my ability. I realized a dramatic change of energy in myself when I would eat breakfast.
​     According to an article called Breakfast written by Better Health, breakfast ¨replenishes your supply of glucose to boost your energy levels and alertness, while also providing other essential nutrients required for good health.¨ 
    Even though breakfast is known to be important, at least 60% of teenagers don't eat breakfast according to Helping Rural Teens Eat Enough Breakfast written by Charlie Pain. Teenagers may not eat breakfast for multiple reasons such as: not having time, not having access to food, not eating in hopes to lose weight, and much more.
​     The Nutritional Effects of Skipping Breakfast talks about the daily effects of not eating breakfast. Immediate effects you see that day would be a low blood sugar, metabolism slowing down, and for your stress hormones to increase. The long term effects of not eating breakfast increases your chance of heart disease, gaining weight, and an increased risk of depression. 
     Not only is eating breakfast important, but making sure it is healthy is even better for your body.  Grabbing a monster from the gas station down the street before school doesn't count as breakfast. Cereal is a great and easy breakfast food, especially when it is whole grain and low in sugar.
     Other great breakfast foods would be eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, berries, and anything that provides enough protein and energy to suffice until your next meal. If you are not hungry in the morning, then having a smoothie or protein drink will still provide you with your energy, and is much lighter than the other foods.
​     Making sure you eat breakfast is a great way to start your day, and will help you mentally and physically.

Posted: 10/03/20​

Family french toast recipe

-1 Egg
-1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 to 1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon 
-1/4 Cup of Milk
-4 to 6 Slices of Bread

1. Mix egg, vanilla, and cinnamon together.
2. Once all stirred together, stir in milk. 
3. Dip the bread into mixture.
4. Put piece of bread into a pan on medium temperature.
5. Cook each side until it is as crispy as you want!

You can serve it with berries, whipped cream, syrup, and powder syrup!

Cheesy Eggs

-1 Tablespoon of Butter
-2 Eggs
-1/2 Cup of a Cheese of Your Choice
-Any Seasoning you Want to Add

1. Turn on stove to medium heat.

2. Put butter onto the pan and let it melt, moving it around the pan to grease it.

3. Scramble the eggs in a bowl, adding your seasonings while you beat the eggs.

4. Pour in eggs into pan, then put cheese on top.

5. Bake eggs, putting the eggs on the side of the pan into the middle of it with a spatula. 
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6. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, then serve. 

The Benefits of a Social Media Cleanse
​
BY Emma Carver 
Editorial EDITOR

 My mother used to go on cleanses. She would go weeks and completely cut out certain parts of her diet, she would always say to me, “Honey, this cleanse is terrible but it helps my body so much because all the bad stuff flushes out and it’s left with all the good.” She would cut out stuff 

like sugar and carbs and we would watch as she sat at the dinner table basically slobbering as she watched us eat our hamburgers, while the poor lady was left to her salad with no ranch dressing. Akin to food cleanses, as long as they’re for healthy reasons, an occasional social media cleanse can be highly beneficial to teenagers in this day and age. Social Media causes more harm than it helps and going without it can make a person so much more happy and healthy, mentally, than they would’ve been with social media. 
     According to a study done by Dr. Igor V. Pantic from the Institute of Medical Physiology at the University of Belgrade, “...found that increased time spent online is related to a decline in communication with family members, as well as the reduction of the Internet user’s social circle, which may further lead to increased feelings of depression and loneliness...” Basically, Pantic concluded that increased time on social media and things related to social media, decreases the amount of time you spend with your friends and family which leads to feeling lonely. Loneliness often contributes to feelings of depression and without such influences, one would have more time to spend time with loved ones and therefore increase happiness levels. Furthermore, Pantic continues to say, “...all social networking platforms where self-presentation is the principal user activity cause or at least promote narcissistic behavior...” This point addresses how social media normally highlights one’s appearance, and only the best parts of it. Photos are easily distorted and edited. Social Media only shows what others want someone else to see and can lead to a decrease in self esteem for people who compare their worst to another peer’s best. In conclusion, a social media cleanse every once in a while could do wonders for one’s mental health. Will you take the challenge and detox your mind from all the bad stuff in it? 
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Poseted: 9/11/20 

JUICE CLEANSE
DETOXES THE BODY

SOCIAL MEDIA CLEANSE CAN DETOX THE MIND AND SPIRIT FROM NEGATIVE MESSAGES

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Social media is
not
a hobby

BY tyler lybbert
wellness editorial 

Over the summer I found myself coming home from work and spending the rest of the night on my phone, scrolling through the endless social media sites. All the sudden school started, and each teacher would tell us to introduce ourselves by saying one of our hobbies. Nothing came to my mind. It was not my favorite to say that I didn't have a hobby, it was so embarrassing. I decided after that that I would from then off find a hobby to do. 
     Hobbies are a good way to explore new things, and to challenge yourself to become better. The Australian Department of Health says ¨spending time on an activity that you enjoy can improve your mental health and wellbeing.¨ When you are actively doing something you enjoy, it releases dopamine into your body. Dopamine helps to regulate stress and provides you motivation to complete a task. When participating in a physical activity, it also releases endorphins, lowers your blood pressure, and has a positive impact on you for the rest of your life. Kettering University talks about how participating in any hobby you enjoy will leave you feeling accomplished and less stressed. 
     A student from Corner Canyon said participating in hobbies gives them a ¨sense of identity¨, and they aren't forced by their parents to be someone else. Another student says her hobby, singing and guitar, helps to release her stress and clear her head because, ¨I can sing and write about things bothering me, and I am able to clear my mind through song.¨  
     Hobbies provide a way out of our stressful day-to-day life. You aren't forced to do a specific thing which will cause you to resent it. It isn't like a job where you wish you were done already, or like school where the minutes are counted down until the final bell. It can be as simple as reading a book, or as hard as running up to mountain peaks. Hobbies help to realize that your life is more meaningful than a 9-5 job. Your life is much more than sitting on your phone and wasting away your years, so go out and explore what you want!

 Posted 9/17/20

ENJoying life helps reduce stress