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Insure’s Blog

“How YOU doin’?”

Your mental health is really important to us. So we were delighted to discover that this week is Mental Health Awareness Week.

We are committed to promoting strong mental health, so we are excited to announce a new joint venture, helping companies ensure strong mental health in the workplace. See the end of this blog for details.

The past few weeks have been tough for many of us. The changes to our lives cause lots of us

feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, lonely or frustrated.

Above all, reassure yourselves that it is okay to feel this way. The lockdown is only temporary so these difficult emotions will pass.

Here’s some simple and easy tips which we find very effective for boosting our wellbeing. We hope they help you too:

Stay connected

Keep in touch with friends and family through phone calls, video calls or social media.

We also have fun alternatives to meeting in person including weekly family FaceTime chats, Zoom pub quizzes with friends and WhatsApp chat groups with our closest friends.

Talk about your worries

Your feelings are important so voice them with people you trust – it may help them too!

If you can’t do this, or don’t find it helpful, try helplines. Remember that the person at the other end of the phone is there for you to confide in them.

Support and help others

Help friends, family or neighbours if you can; join community groups; or donate to charities assisting the most vulnerable.

Many close neighbourhood groups have set up WhatsApp groups to help out each other – and those most affected by today’s changes.

Anxiety makes us all react in different ways so be more understanding of other people’s behaviour. We are all just trying to do our best.

Look after your body

Unhealthy behaviour might just make you feel worse so try to eat healthily, keep up your water intake and get exercise regularly.

There are lots of online workouts to try. Here are some of our favourites:

NHS 

Joe Wicks

Yoga

Team GB

Stay away from ‘Fake News’

If anything is going to give you mental anguish, it is the sensational (often fabricated) clickbait areas of the internet. Switch off that noise right now!!

Stick to credible sources (NHS website or GOV.UK). Fact-check information you get from newsfeeds, social media or other people. Don’t share information without fact-checking – it might heighten others’ anxiety.

Stay informed but also limit time spent watching, reading or listening to news. A couple of our team found they felt much happier when they only watched updates a couple of times a day at specific times!

Focus on what you can control

Acknowledge that some things are outside of your control but keep your focus on what is within your control: your daily tasks, your exercise, your entertainment, who you are in touch with.

Try not to worry about the future – focus on your present.

Do things you enjoy

Spend time on a favourite hobby, relaxing or connecting with others – all of these help us deal with anxious thoughts or feelings.

If you are unable to do things you normally enjoy, think about how you could adapt them, or try something new – there are so many free online tutorials and courses online to choose from!

Relaxation techniques

Relaxation techniques can help deal with feelings of anxiety. Again, you will find lots online so look for the one that suits you.

Here’s a simple – but surprisingly effective – trick we picked up from the Harvard Business Journal!

“If you feel overwhelmed, fix your focus on five objects which you can see. Slowly point to them and name them out loud, one by one taking long soft breaths for each one.”

Look after your sleep

Sleep is massively important to good mental and physical health. So try to get plenty, maintain regular sleeping patterns and encourage good sleep practices.

Now for OUR exciting news!

We are reaching out to local businesses offering our support and expertise to help them come back from the lockdown stronger. A robust mental health strategy will be crucial.

It is our great pleasure to announce that we have joined forces with leading specialist, mental health experts Mental Health in Business (MHIB).

MHIB’s highly experienced team help organisations build strong mental health strategies and implement tangible changes that truly address employees’ mental health needs. They also provide guidance on the training, education and support needed for a positive culture.

MHIB have launched their new on-line magazine Mental Health Matters, please click here to view.

And finally…

We hope you are keeping well in mind and body, whether you are back in the office, still in lockdown, furloughed or seeking new opportunities. Whatever your situation, we are here to help.

If you have any questions about this or any of our other blogs, or if you are interested in ways to boost your career, please call our friendly and helpful team on 01483 668700.

We have complete confidence that, with fortitude and by looking out for each other, we will all come back from lockdown stronger and fitter.

For further essential guides to help you through the recruitment process click here.

You can find recent vacancies click here.

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