In 1984, October was designated as Crime Prevention Month through a Presidential proclamation. Since then, NCPC has been working with local law enforcement, government agencies, civic groups, schools, businesses, and other organizations to help them spread the word about crime prevention and personal safety. With shrinking law enforcement budgets across the country, the role that each of us can play in preventing crime is more important than ever.

Click HERE for info on crime prevention!

It's National Coffee Day!

Coffee Lovers finally have a special day! It’s the perfect day for caffeine addicts to drive that extra mile to their favorite coffee bar, buy the larger cup, order a decadent flavor, or even an excuse to have an extra coffee today!

Click here for a variety of coffee recipes to make at home in celebration of National Coffee Day!

1. Buy yourself or someone else a Pumpkin Spice Latte

2. Bake an Apple Pie

3. Make Pumpkin Pie or a Pumpkin Cheesecake

4. Take a Hike

5. Go Horseback Riding

6. Attend a Fall Fair or Festival

7. Go to a Pumpkin Patch

8. Have a Fall picnic

9. Roast pumpkin seeds

10. Make homemade soup or chili

11. Donate to a Food Bank or Shelter

12. Have Date Night at home

13. Tailgate for a Football Game

14. Throw a Halloween Party

15. Take Fall photos

16. Make Caramel Apples

17. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen

There are days or weeks that go by with so much stress and distraction. We stop thinking about what we enjoy in life… memories, places, people etc. These help soothe our stress and bring into prospective what is important to us. Writing it down can help us to remember the good, on those stressful/distracting days.

10 Minutes to Recognize the Good Stuff

10 Ways To Calm Your Mind

1. TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND BREATHE SLOWLY

2. TRY GUIDED MEDITATION OR VISUALIZATION EXERCISES

3. DO MINDFULNESS EXERCISES

4. REFRAME NEGATIVE THOUGHTS

5. GO FOR A LEISURELY WALK

6. TAKE A WARM SHOWER OR SOAK IN THE TUB

7. WRITE IT ALL DOWN IN A JOURNAL

8. REMIND YOURSELF THAT DISTRESS IS TEMPORARY

9. DISTRACT YOUR MIND (LISTEN TO UPLIFTING PODCAST OR MUSIC)

10. UNPLUG BY A CERTAIN HOUR

Self–Care Awareness Month in is a time to remind us that taking care of ourselves, first and foremost, is essential. Self-care is often neglected in our everyday lives. We all tend to put others needs before our own and it is crucial to remember, that we cannot fill another’s cup from our own empty vessel. While getting a massage or taking a walk are just a few examples of taking time for our well-being, self-care can be more expansive than that.

Self-care knows no boundaries. It is something that everyone, without any exclusions, can benefit from practicing on a daily basis. True self-care is not self-centered nor selfish; it is simply keeping yourself the focus of your own life. It’s about paying attention to how you feel in each moment, communicating clearly, speaking up for yourself and saying yes or no…guilt free!