Content provided by the Health & Wellness Team at GBS Benefits
Expand the foundation of your mental health beyond the general (and still important) reminders of getting adequate sleep, exercise, and a balanced diet. Strengthen the roots of your mental well-being by developing core strategies, values, and lifestyle choices that allow you to properly manage a fluctuation in workload, a new challenge at home, or a big life change. Here are a few ideas:
Stay connected: Build upon your social network and spend time with friends and family. Try the Marco Polo video chat app to stay in touch with loved ones, use social media to your advantage, speak the nice thought you had into existence. Connection is key to maintaining a sense of belonging.
Set goals and priorities: Identify something to work towards. Maybe it’s a raise or a new DIY project. Find a reason to wake up excited for the upcoming day.
Practice gratitude: Be mindful of everything available at your fingertips. What resources do you have? What went well for you today?
Find your passion: Remind yourself why you love your job. Maybe the daily tasks excite you or you’re working towards a big payoff. Do you love the cause your company supports or are you working to earn money for people you love? Reignite your passion for work or personal interests to keep your love moving in a positive direction.
Reflection: Reflect on difficult moments with a learning mindset. What did you learn? What could have gone better? This allows you to flip negative experiences into growing opportunities.
Learn new skills: Expand your knowledge by learning a new skill. Feeling productive in new ways can add satisfaction to your daily routine!
Develop coping skills: Take a break from negative information. Establish healthy boundaries and techniques that allow you to properly cope with your stress.
Make meaningful contributions to your community: Feel connected to your community by volunteering at local retirement centers, hospitals, or rec centers. Learn about people in your neighborhood — discover what makes them unique through acts of service or meaningful conversations.
Find help when necessary: You’re not alone in your struggles. Rely on your social network, your family, or find help in the form of a doctor or therapist. The national suicide hotline (988) has professionals trained to help handle emergencies and provide additional resources.
Reference: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health
