Taking Time for Self-Care: Managing Stress & Anxiety During Uncertain Times

05/18/2023 R.C. Liley Leave a comment

Stress and anxiety can be overwhelming during uncertain times, but you can manage them by engaging in self-care practices. Making time for yourself will allow you to cope with uncertainty by providing moments of clarity and relaxation. By adding healthy habits into your routine such as adequate rest, mindfulness activities, physical exercise, connecting with people and more you can manage stress more effectively and positively manage anxiety in an effective way.

Photo by Leah Kelley:

1. Ensuring Adequate Sleep –

Adequate sleep is vital to managing stress and anxiety effectively. Lack of restful slumber can take its toll on both physical and mental wellbeing, so aim to get at least 7-9 hours each night to recharge both body and mind. To ensure a restful night’s rest, establish a consistent bedtime routine by going to bed at the same time each night, foregoing caffeine before sleeping, and not using electronics for an hour or two prior to going to bed. Sleep also plays an essential role in emotional regulation so if you feel anxious or depressed make sure you get adequate rest!

2. Engaging in Mindful Activities –

Mindfulness can be a useful way of keeping stress at bay during times of emotional difficulty and uncertainty. By staying present in each moment, meditation, yoga, tai chi or even deep breathing activities can help bring calmness and ease tension from everyday stresses.

Mindfulness also applies to other aspects of your life such as eating habits and physical activity. Being mindful about food means being conscious about the type and amount of foods eaten as well as how they make you feel; in terms of physical activity, mindfulness helps maintain motivation levels by reminding us when to take breaks when necessary.

3. Regular Medical Check-Ups –

It is especially important to take care of your physical health during periods of stress and anxiety. Everyone should make sure to visit their doctor for regular check-ups, even during uncertain times. Make sure you are up-to-date on any medical conditions or treatments you may have, such as ketamine treatment for depression. This way, if there are any changes in your condition or medications that need to be adjusted, your doctor will be able to help you immediately.

4. Connecting With Others –

In times of change and uncertainty, social bonds can provide much-needed comfort and stability. Make sure to reach out regularly – video calls, text messages or spending time in person (safely!) can all help us stay in touch! Additionally, speaking to a mental health professional may also prove beneficial.

5. Staying Positive and Hopeful –

While current situations can be trying and distressing, it’s essential that we remain hopeful and optimistic for their resolution in the future. Remind yourself that everything will turn out okay in due time, look for what good there is in each day, write out your hopes, goals and writing down thoughts can provide clarity during uncertain times; volunteering or giving to charities that benefit others gives us a sense of purpose that’s hard to put a price on.

Self-care is crucial when managing stress and anxiety during uncertain times, such as during transitional times. Devoting some time each day to cultivating healthy habits such as getting enough restful sleep, engaging in mindful activities, exercising regularly, connecting with others and staying positive will help ease the uncertainty that surrounds you. Remember to take it step by step and find silver linings wherever possible.

Books

KATY ON BROADWAY: BY ELLA ENGLISH

05/13/2023 R.C. Liley 13 Comments

ABOUT THE BOOK

I’m a Superstar!
Katy Cat loves to sing and practices every day. Gerry the squirrel says she can’t, and her owner Lilian says New York is too dangerous for such a small kitty. But now she’s ready to try! She escapes her yard and makes it to the city. But it IS a big scary place! Now she’s all alone and lost. How will she find her way? Can she really become a superstar?

Katy on Broadway, written and illustrated by Ella English, is a fun chapter book for readers aged 5-7, published by Crimson Dragon Publishing. It is the first book in the Kitty in the City series and follows the adventures of Katy Cat, a brave and determined feline who dreams of making it big on Broadway. Along the way, she learns the power of perseverance and the importance of never giving up on her dreams.

The Author Ella English and her daughters

Life, Tips

The Employee Training You Need To Have In Place

05/11/2023 R.C. Liley 1 Comment

You will already understand the importance of employee training, as the better equipped they are to their jobs, the better your business will become. However, when looking at their training needs, it is important to look beyond the skills-based courses that are directly linked to their job roles. It might be worth checking out 8 communication examples for engaging your frontline to help give a better idea of how to implement your own training. There are other types of training that should be offered to your team and these include the following.

group of employees looking at a laptop, employee training, career, job, work, business

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#1: Diversity training

Diversity training is any type of program that is designed to facilitate positive interactions in the workplace. It will help your employees understand and become more respectful of one another, regardless of their culture, skin color, disability, gender, age, or sexuality. The training should also encourage them to report workplace harassment if they see any instances of discrimination. If an employee is facing any type of discrimination from their gender to their skin color, they have to report it so it can be stopped as quickly as possible. If they have already done so with their employer and steps have not been put in place to stamp it out, the next port of call would be a lawyer as this can cause great distress and depression. After all, employment lawyers work on your behalf, so they’re the best people to turn to if you feel like your voice isn’t being heard and your complaint isn’t being taken seriously.

Statistics have shown that a third of adults have experienced some form of workplace discrimination, so the importance of diversity training cannot be underestimated. By investing in the necessary courses (or by carrying out the training yourself), you will reduce the chances of workplace bullying and make your employees feel safer within your business. As such, there will be fewer complaints, less chance of anyone needing a disability lawyer, reduced risk of employee turnover, and increased productivity due to a happier working environment.

#2: Health and Safety training

How safe is your workplace? If there are any potential hazards, your employees could be at risk of an injury. Health and safety training can minimize such risks, so this is something that needs to be considered. Generally speaking, such training can be delivered with the help of HSEQ management systems and should include advice on avoiding trip and fall hazards, fire safety tips that include a discussion of the different colors of fire extinguisher used in your business, and practice of the emergency procedures that should be used if anything goes wrong. Training should also be tailored to the specific dangers in your business, including those related to machinery and equipment.

This type of training is clearly important as employee safety has to be paramount. However, you are also required by law to provide health and safety training so you do need to make sure you’re complying with legislation. You will run into fewer legal difficulties if you do, including those that your employees might cause if they ever suffer an injury on your premises.

#3: Leadership training

Not every employee will need leadership training. But if you are looking for people to fill management positions or to head up small teams for short term projects, then leadership training is a must. It will help your chosen employees to hone their communication and people skills and will give them the ability to manage crisis situations.

While this type of training will obviously be beneficial to the people you select for leadership positions, it will also benefit your wider team. If they have a good leader to look up to and learn from, you will better engage your employees and increase their productivity. This type of training will also improve retention rates in your business, as those who want to work their way up the career ladder will be happier to stay with you if you provide them with leadership opportunities.

We haven’t covered every facet of employee training here so there may be other types for you to consider. Think about both the needs of your employees and the needs of your business and then look for the relevant training courses. By doing so, you will strengthen your team and improve your business, so consider the investment worth it.