Let’s not forget where we started; mental health is and always has been important to our total health and well-being. The pandemic and changing work environment has brought the topic to the forefront of many individuals and organization’s minds.
Toolkit for Mental Health and Emotional Well-being
Updated August 1, 2023
Build Your Own Toolkit!
According to the CDC, mental health encompasses our emotional, social, and psychological well-being. There is no doubt that all three have been impacted as we have lived with uncertainty, fear, and isolation to some degree. We do have the power to actively work on our mental health, but we also need to be aware and seek treatment when we are concerned we are exhibiting signs or symptoms of a more serious mental illness for ourselves or a family, friend or co-worker. Help is available.
That is the first item in our Balanced Wellness toolkit: reach out to your organization's Employee Assistance Program or another trusted medical professional if you acknowledge that you need help.
We have built this toolkit for you founded upon the basics of our wellness wheel! We like to think of our wellness wheel as a tool in and of itself. When you are ‘balanced’ your wheel rolls through life more smoothly. If one area of the wheel is uneven, your journey can be negatively impacted.
The Hub of Your Wheel
Balanced Wellness views spirituality as the sum of our individual goals, values, and purpose. We place it at the hub of our wheel, as the "core" of our well-being. It is the foundation for all other dimensions of well-being.
You may not be able to summarize this in one statement, but you may find it easier to discern by focusing on words that motivate you. Joy? Vitality? Kindness? What feelings lead you to thrive in life? Our spirituality pushes us to live by and align our actions with our guiding words.
Emotional Well-being
Employee Assistance Program
Journal
Fill out your Wellness Wheel
Read
Acknowledge loss, change, and forward movement
Practice gratitude and compassion
Disconnect to Reconnect (limit social media and spend time doing something you love or with people you love)
Environmental Well-being
Declutter your work space
Create green space (add plants or calming colors, art, and decor)
Makeover your pantry, garage, or other storage compartment
Social Well-being
Ask for help, personally or professionally
Do your favorite hobby or try something new
Volunteer
Disconnect to Reconnect (limit social media and spend time doing something you love or with people you love)
Physical Well-being
Create and prioritize your sleep routine
Mindful healthy eating
Limit alcohol and caffeine intake
Go outside and get sunshine!
Stretch
Move (resistance, cardio, or yoga training!)
Meditate
Occupational Well-being
Prioritize daily tasks via a to-do list or calendar
Schedule breaks or "down time"
Know and utilize employee benefits
Attend leadership workshops – everyone can be a leader!
Develop or attend resource groups