HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Feeling stressed or anxious? HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED MANAGING YOUR STRESS.
• Recognize your symptoms of stress. • Look at your lifestyle and see what can be changed in your work situation, your family situation or your schedule. • Use relaxation techniques .
about healthy eating. • Get enough rest and sleep. • Talk with others. Talk with friends, professional counsellors, support groups or relatives about what’s bothering you. • Help others. Volunteer work can be an effective and satisfying stress-reducer. • Get away for a while . Read a book, watch a movie, play a game, listen to music or go on vacation. Leave yourself some time that’s just for you. • Work off your anger. Get physically active, dig in the garden, start a project or get your spring cleaning done. • Give in occasionally. Avoid quarrels whenever possible. • Tackle one thing at a time. Don’t do too much at once. • Don’t try to be perfect. • Ease up on criticism of others. • Don’t be too competitive. • Make the first move to be friendly. HAVE SOME FUN!! Laugh with people you enjoy!
to become more resilient. It’s important that these sessions keep going so people can come back and talk. And even though the stigma associated with mental health has been reduced, it does still exist, so we still need to make mental health something we talk about more freely. We need to create safe workplaces where people can express their emotions. It’s very important that employers ask employees what they need to recover a better sense of well-being. Q: What else can employers do to help employees get back on the road to better mental health? A: They can provide employees with mental health supports that they view as useful. For one, they can promote getting active. We know that exercise can help combat the recurrence of depression. We’ve become quite sedentary during the pandemic, so it’s important to re-institute an active lifestyle. Nutrition is another key. If people exercise more and eat better, their mood, sleep and physical health will improve because they’re managing stress better. Q: Granted, life is starting to become more normal again. That said, are we out of the woods with the pandemic? A: We’re not quite out of it yet. Again, the pandemic is like a natural disaster — you see its effects both immediately and over time. And we haven’t fully seen the effects of the pandemic yet. It’s going to take time for people to recover. Q: If you had one last piece of advice to give employers, what would it be? A: Consult with your employees and be flexible in creating pandemic recovery initiatives and programs. Be kind and supportive and have compassion for others and yourself. The pandemic has been a traumatic, life-altering event. We can’t diminish the impact it has had on our lives. ■
Yoga, meditation, deep breathing or massage.
• Exercise . Physical activity is one of the most effective stress remedies around! • Time management. Do essential tasks and prioritize the others. Consider those who may be affected by your decisions, such as family and friends. Use a checklist; you will receive satisfaction as you check off completed jobs! • Watch your diet. Alcohol, caffeine, sugar, fats and tobacco all put a strain on your body’s ability to cope with stress. A diet with a balance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods high in protein but low in fat will help create optimum health. Contact your local Heart and Stroke Foundation for information
From the Canadian Mental Health Association Manitoba and Winnipeg. For more information and resources, visit mbwpg.cmha.ca or call 204-982-6100.
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