Mental Health Tips from HealthKick Wellness Experts
In honor of Mental Health Month, we asked a few of our wellness experts to share easy tips to support your mental wellbeing.
We asked our wellness experts the following two questions:
- What’s your simple advice for how employees can relieve their feelings of stress, and overwhelming emotions or simply support their mental health?
- What do you do personally to support your mental wellness?
Beth Lipton, Health Coach, Recipe Developer:
“The quickest and most accessible way I know to manage stress is deep breathing. Taking deep belly breaths actually activates physiological processes in the body that calm us down from the inside out. Try breathing in for 4 slow counts, hold for 4, exhale for 4, and hold for 4. You can do it during moments of acute stress, and also build it into your day to help keep stress at bay. Take a few breaths when you’re commuting, waiting in line, or before meals.”
“I have a twice-a-day meditation practice that I’ve been doing for about 7 years, 15 minutes at a time. (I’m super fidgety so believe me, if I can do it, anyone can!) Regular exercise and quality sleep are also key for my mental health.”
Katie Mitchell, Co-Founder of Unfold Yoga + Wellness:
“Small changes create radical results. I believe that taking care of yourself is PART OF your work, not an afterthought. Schedule wellness breaks into your workday like you would any other meeting. Prioritize your wellbeing so you’re able to show up for your life in the ways that matter most.”
“Lately I have been finding real value in simply slowing down – from making coffee in the morning to walking my dog to bathing my daughter at night. By intentionally bringing a SLOWness to the process, mindful living becomes more accessible. It’s integrated into my day, rather than something that I need to check off my to-do list. “
Kathleen Booker, Breathwork Facilitator, and Spiritual Coach:
“Right now just place your hand in the center of your chest…lightly allow your palm to rest on your chest. Take an easy Breath…easy…do that again….take an easy breath. Now just sighhhhh.”
“Exactly what I shared! For me, just the awareness of my Breath is like a lifesaver or buoy to hold on to when the waters are a bit rough!”
Colette Ellis, Founder of Mental Health App, Libbie Health:
Move your body in ways that feel good—try dancing, stretching, walking, or yoga; focus on the goal as “movement” rather than “working out” to begin incorporating motion into your routine. Take time to just sit quietly without distractions—even if it’s only 30 seconds at first; try increasing the amount of time over time until it becomes a habit.
“To support my own mental wellbeing, I have a daily morning meditation and affirmation ritual, as well as a bedtime meditation and breathing practice. When things get hectic during the day, I’ll either do EFT-Tapping or watch ASMR videos for a soothing, tingly feeling that helps to calm and relax my nerves.”
Becca Clegg, MS, LPC, CEDS-S:
All change begins with awareness. We can’t affect anything until we see it, and come into relationship with it. So the first step to any type of change is witnessing the behavior, and becoming curious about why we feel/do/experience things this way. Once we have that information, we are more informed as to how to proceed and bring about change that will actually last.
You can start this practice by simply setting aside time in the beginning of your day, and the end of your day to do a check-in with yourself. Ask these three questions.
- What were my dominant emotions today (basically, how did I feel throughout the day)?
- What did I do today that I wish I would have done differently?
- What did I do today that I am proud of and would like to repeat again tomorrow?
These questions help to bring awareness to your emotional life and your behaviors. From that awareness, you can begin to find clarity around how to care for your mental and emotional wellbeing.
We hope these tips will give you new ideas and inspiration on your mental wellbeing journey!
