UGA Cooperative Extension - Laurens County

06/26/2026

June is Men’s Health Month—a month dedicated to raising awareness about the health challenges men face and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men. Stress can give you a rush of energy when it’s needed most, but if stress lasts a long time—a condition known as chronic stress—those “high-alert” changes become harmful rather than helpful. Learning healthy ways to cope with stress can also boost your resilience. Share these tips for reducing stress with the important men in your life:

1) Get enough sleep. Adult males need 7 or more hours each night.
2) Exercise regularly. Just 30 minutes a day of walking can boost your mood and reduce stress.
3) Build a social support network. Spend time with your partner and with your friends.
4) Set priorities. Decide what must get done and what can wait. Say no to new tasks if you feel they’re too much.
5) Show compassion for yourself. Pat yourself on the back by acknowledging what you’ve accomplished at the end of the day, not what you didn’t.
6) Schedule regular times for a relaxing activity that uses mindfulness/breathing exercises, like walking or tai chi.
7) Seek help. Talk to a mental health professional if you feel unable to cope, have suicidal thoughts, or use drugs or alcohol to cope.

Happy Men's Health Month!

06/24/2026

Good communication starts with listening.

06/24/2026

June is Men’s Health Month—a month dedicated to raising awareness about the health challenges men face and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men. Encourage the men in your life to follow these strategies to improve their environmental health:

Make your home healthier:
1) Clean with non-toxic products.
2) Dust using a damp rag instead of a spray cleaner.
3) Vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.
4) Open a window or use a fan to improve air circulation when using chemicals inside your home.
5) Have and maintain a good ventilation system in your home.
6) Wash your hands often!

Stay safe during hot weather:
1) Do outdoor activities during the coolest part of the day, in the early morning or evening. Avoid being outside between 10 am and 2 pm if possible.
2) Wear protective clothing, such as hats, long-sleeve shirts, and long pants when you work or do other activities outside to block out the sun’s harmful rays.
3) Use sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15, preferably 30. Reapply at least every two hours.
4) Use sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB - this will help prevent cataracts and other eye diseases.
5) If possible, exercise in an air-conditioned, or do water workouts.
6) Drink plenty of liquids, especially water. Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine.

Happy Men's Health Month! Don't forget to share these tips with the important men in your life!

06/22/2026

June is Men’s Health Month—a month dedicated to raising awareness about the health challenges men face and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men.

Stay healthier by clearing toxins out of your home. Some hazards in the home are easy to see. Like a loose electrical socket. Or torn carpet on the stairs. But others are harder to spot. And some are invisible, in the very air you breathe. These include lead, mold, and radon. But there are ways you can find and fix these unseen hazards. Learn how to reduce your exposure to these health hazards:
1) If your home was built before 1978, test exposed paint for lead. You can buy test kits yourself or hire a professional.
2) Use vent fans in rooms that have lots of moisture, like the bathroom, to prevent mold growth.
3) If you have a leak or flood in your home, quickly dispose of damaged items to prevent mold growth.
4) Clean small areas of mold on walls or fabric with hot, soapy water. Be sure to wear a mask, gloves, and goggles while cleaning.
5) Test your home for radon. For more information about radon and radon testing, go to https://radon.uga.edu/

Happy Men's Health Month!

06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth! ♥️💙🖤💛💚🧡

Happy Juneteenth! ❤️💛💚🖤

Today we honor freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward equality. As we celebrate this historic day, we recognize the power of community, connection, and hope for the future.

06/19/2026

Great movies to watch with your partner ❤️

06/19/2026

June is Men’s Health Month—a month dedicated to raising awareness about the health challenges men face and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men.

In an earlier post this month, we talked about the importance of improving physical health. Here are some strategies to help the important men in your life improve their physical health:

1) Move more - Sedentary behavior has been linked to many medical problems. Moving more and sitting less can have major health benefits. Experts recommend adults get at least 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate physical activity a week. You can benefit from even a little activity at a time. Every minute counts when it comes to movement.

2) Build and maintain muscle - Building muscle helps you keep up the activities you enjoy at any stage of your life. Some types of strength training keep your bones healthy, too. Experts recommend strength training activities for all the major muscle groups two or more days a week for adults.

3) Find a healthy weight - Keeping your body at a healthy weight may help you lower your risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer that can result from carrying excess weight or obesity. Take charge of your weight and your health.

4) Eat a healthy diet - We make dozens of decisions every day. When it comes to deciding what to eat and feed our families, it can be a lot easier than you might think to make smart choices. A healthy eating plan not only limits unhealthy foods, but also includes a variety of healthy foods. Find out which foods to add to your diet and which to avoid.

5) Build healthy habits - We know that making healthy choices can help us feel better and live longer. If you smoke, quit - many insurance plans offer smoking cessation programs - check with your provider. Reduce your alcohol intake - experts recommend that men limit their alcohol intake to no more than 2 drinks per day. One drink is a 12 oz beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of liquor.

Share these physical wellness tips with the important men in your life in honor of men's health month!

- https://www.nih.gov/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits/physical-wellness-toolkit

06/17/2026

Our office will be closed Friday, June 19, 2026 in observance of Juneteenth. We will return Monday, June 22, 2026 at normal business hours.

06/17/2026

June is Men’s Health Month—a month dedicated to raising awareness about the health challenges men face and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease among men. Healthy relationships are an important part of your overall health.

From the time you’re born, your relationships help you learn to navigate the world. You learn how to interact with others, express yourself, conduct everyday health habits, and be a part of different communities from those around you. Positive social habits can help you build support systems and stay healthier mentally and physically. Here are some ways you can improve your social health:

1) Make connections - Social connections may help protect health and lengthen life. Scientists are finding that our links to others can have powerful effects on our health. Whether with family, friends, neighbors, romantic partners, or others, social connections can influence our biology and well-being. Check on the important men in your life in honor of Men's Health Month.

2) Take care of yourself while caring for others - Many of us will end up becoming a caregiver at some point in our lives. The stress and strain of caregiving can take a toll on your health. It’s important to find ways to care for your health while caring for others. Depending on your circumstances, some self-care strategies may be more difficult to carry out than others. Choose ones that work for you.

3) Build healthy relationships - Strong, healthy relationships are important throughout your life. They can impact your mental and physical well-being. As a child you learn the social skills you need to form and maintain relationships with others, but you can learn ways to improve your relationships at any age.

4) Be a good father - bond with your kids - Parents have an important job. Raising kids is both rewarding and challenging. Being sensitive, responsive, consistent, and available to your kids can help you build positive, healthy relationships with them. The strong emotional bonds that result help children learn how to manage their own feelings and behaviors and develop self-confidence. Children with strong connections to their caregivers are more likely to be able to cope with life’s challenges and grow up to be healthy, well-adjusted adults.

- https://www.nih.gov/health-information/your-healthiest-self-wellness-toolkits/social-wellness-toolkit

06/15/2026

A little friendly debate is healthy - which side do you fall on? Share your choices below in the comments and share this post with your partner so they can weigh in! 💙

A little friendly debate never hurt anyone. 😉 Which side are you on? Drop your answers below and see if your partner agrees! 👇❤️