Staying Active for Your Body & Your Mind
When it comes to bolstering your overall well-being, keeping your body and your mind active are both great strategies. But sometimes that seems to be easier said than done.
We all fall into routines (a polite way to say “ruts”), and those routines can start to feel automatic. Even when we know we need to get a bit more exercise or try something new to stimulate our brains, it can be hard to overcome the inertia of our habits.
One way to combat that sort of inertia is to take advantage of things that make your community unique. Oftentimes there are plenty of things to see and do that we somehow never get around to seeing or doing.
Let’s use Johnstown and its neighboring communities as an example. Johnstown offers a number of places to explore that can energize your body and your mind—and support your mental health in the process.
Devil’s Backbone Open Space
The name is a little weird. It’s like they threw all of their creativity into the first two words and then couldn’t come up with anything cool for the second two words. Still and all, Devil’s Backbone Open Space is a great place to, well, get out into open spaces and enjoy things like birdwatching, hiking, or biking.
The park, which is located in nearby Loveland and is free to visit, is made up of more than 2,000 acres. More than 12 miles of multi-use trails are available, so you can get plenty of exercise while enjoying the natural beauty all around you.
Devil’s Backbone Open Space is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset (which means you can soak in plenty of mood-boosting Vitamin D while you are there).
Fort Collins Museum of Discovery
Fort Collins is just half an hour away from Johnstown, and it is worth the trip to visit the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. First established in 1941, the museum has grown to the point that it now boasts a permanent collection made up of tens of thousands of artifacts—many of which are related to the history of Northern Colorado.
The museum describes itself as the place “where history meets hands-on science.” That means there is a lot to see—and also a lot to do. Admission prices are relatively modest ($12.50 for adults; $9.50 for kids), and the museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Benson Sculpture Garden
Here’s a great opportunity to get outside and to see some amazing art at the same time. The Benson Sculpture Garden features 172 sculptures on permanent display. These works were created by artists from all over the world, and a wide range of materials make up the collection, including glass, stone, ceramics, wood, and bronze.
The 10-acre park, which is free to visit most of the year, includes picnic areas, accessible sidewalks, and a public restroom so you can explore without worrying about needing the facilities. Each summer, the Sculpture in the Park event brings artists and art lovers together for a huge celebration of sculpture (and plenty of sales, too).
Staying Active: There Is Much More to Explore
The Johnstown area is filled with beautiful natural settings to explore, a range of museums, an 18-hole golf course with an unusual name, a respected dinner theater, and more. When you find yourself in a rut, it is time to try something new—especially the kinds of things that keep your body and your brain engaged. Staying active and interested in the world around you is a great way to support your mental health—and to have some fun doing it.
Johnstown Heights Is a Top Attraction for Mental Health
If you are struggling with a mental health disorder, it can be tempting to try to hide it—from yourself and from others. You might be embarrassed or afraid or simply unsure what you should do to improve the situation in which you find yourself. But you can’t find relief from depression, anxiety, or a trauma-based disorder by pretending nothing is wrong. Instead, you need compassionate, evidence-based, personalized care.
And that is what we offer at Johnstown Heights Behavioral Health. We are prepared to listen intently so that we can craft a treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. We have the resources and expertise necessary to help you move toward better mental health—and to sustain those gains over time.
