Employee Wellness/EFAP

Your emotional wellness matters – at work and home – and taking care of yourself benefits us all – and most importantly you! 24/7/365 free and confidential Employee Wellness/EFAP services are available to employees and their immediate family. employee-wellness.ca #VCH #Stress

Spread the word! Well done, Ten Percent Happier 👏👏👏

When we contribute to our communities & the planet, we become part of something bigger than ourselves. This can help our mental health by thinking beyond our own experiences and making meaning of our everyday choices. Learn more here: buff.ly/2SLdFxL

Want better sleep? Try adopting a wind-down ritual! You shouldn’t expect to plop into bed and drift into dreamland. Spend a little time prepping your body for slumber. You can meditate, take a warm bath, or read a book - let us know what your nightly bed time routine is like!

Plants have become the new pets! They fulfill a desire to connect to nature, have positive psychological effects on the caretaker, increase levels of happiness, & have been known to have a relaxing effect. Try giving a plant as a gift to someone you love - it may last for years!

Shinrin-yoku, a form of #nature therapy originating from Japan, encourages being in nature in a deliberate and mindful way. Also known as forest bathing, this practice encourages focusing on your senses while outdoors. This can lower cortisol levels and increase #wellbeing.

Have troubles sleeping at night? Try getting ready for bed by candlelight (and turn off electronics!) - our circadian rhythms (bodies natural asleep/awake cycle) are greatly disrupted by modern life. Doing things by candlelight may help with setting your sleep hormones right.

Dr. Joti Samra, R.Psych., has launched a 13-video mini series designed to take psychological concepts and explain them in easily digestible ways. Here is her first, explaining CBT and automatic thoughts - give it a watch! buff.ly/36E0134

It's Bell Let's Talk day! Bell will donate towards mental health initiatives in Canada by contributing 5¢ for every applicable text, call, tweet and retweet! Let’s work together to create positive change! buff.ly/2Tp9aGq

At EFAP/Employee Wellness we incorporate the “body scan” into a lot of our work (workshops and counselling, alike!), here are just some of the reasons why: buff.ly/2uB2gqz

Are people capable of real change? In this video, philosopher Alain de Botton explains some of the barriers we should be prepared to face during relationship crises. buff.ly/2R7ZgJA

“The best way to get a new job or a new career is to love the job you’ve got” buff.ly/2trcmdb

“If you want to feel good about yourself [...] you need to regularly do the things that make you feel [...] alive. With this in mind, I recently asked twelve contributors to share one habit worth adopting in the New Year. Here’s what they had to say:” buff.ly/2SLPYW6

It’s the season for setting new goals and making resolutions, but the secret to lasting change is constructing a system of habits that make new outcomes possible. How do you nourish healthy habits? Here are three proven steps: buff.ly/2QBSfRb

Do you question every decision after you've made it? When your second-guessing weighs on your mind to the point that you find it difficult to move forward, you may be overthinking. Fortunately, you can adopt proven strategies to help you break this habit. buff.ly/2t7GZUy

The New Year can be a source of anxiety as we consider all the changes we should make to “better” ourselves. Rather than trying to improve your life, mindfulness helps you accept the life you have. Here are 3 ways to feel renewed, without the resolutions! buff.ly/350v1JC

Considering incorporating mindfulness into your daily practice as one of your New Year's resolutions? Check out the Top 10 Guided Meditations from 2019 and give a few a try! #mindfulness #meditation #Wellbeing buff.ly/2MeI9nM

Try adding a potted plan to your work space! It helps to reduce fatigue, bring down instances of minor ailments, & can act as a mood lifter. Seeing the plants grow every day and caring for them can act as a great stress buster. It can even promote relaxation by soothing the eyes.

When you keep your mind open to change, great things can happen. Adapting to the situations at hand could have a tremendous impact on your future. When you adapt and accept something you previously didn’t, you’re taking the time to learn and in turn grow as a person. #wellness

Do some #daydreaming today. It's been shown to: help us #explore new ideas, promote #creativity, improve working memory, lower blood pressure, aid brain development and #wellbeing, and can even build empathy. Try letting your mind wander in the clouds! ☁️ ☁️ ☁️

#MondayMotivation: Look back at the month and give yourself credit for your accomplishments. Practicing #gratitude and recognizing your achievements/abilities in life can keep morale boosted and #motivation high.