For many, navigating through cold weather and shorter days requires a self-care toolbox filled with tips and strategies to bolster themselves. This year, we are entering into unchartered territory with the many unknowns a pandemic brings. We are experiencing isolation, change, worry, and various unique obstacles, all while our home and work lives are blended, making it harder to disengage at the end of the day.
One thing’s for sure….this is hard. If you are having a difficult time, know that you are not alone in feeling this way. If you are managing okay, it is still important to have tools at your disposal, if not for yourself, then to share with a colleague, friend or family member. So read, click though, bookmark, share, and add to your toolbox the following resources and strategies to help prepare you for the winter months ahead.
Mental Health
There are several indicators that affect your mental state, and actions that can be taken to help with your well-being. We are all capable of moving along this continuum with the tools, support and knowledge of where we are at. It is important to assess your mental health, and check-in with yourself.
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Use the Mental Health Continuum from the Mental Health Commission of Canada to do a self-check.
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For members of the McGill Benefit Plan, contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program for 24/7 access to counselling and additional support.
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Wellness Together Canada is a free online platform, funded by the government of Canada, offering many resources and online support, including a self-assessment tool to check-in on how you are doing. It also offers tailored programming to provide you with inspiration or direction (mindfulness programs, stress reduction programs).
Physical Wellness
It is important to take care of our physical bodies by moving throughout the day, taking breaks, stretching, getting enough sleep and ensuring that our home office space is set-up properly. Some important physical well-being resources to consider when working from home include:
Videos from McGill’s Occupational Therapy students : DIY Home Ergonomic Solutions, Breaks at work and Preventative stretching
Visit our Physical Well-being resource page for more information, tools and strategies for fitting more movement into your life.
View this video for Sleep Hygiene Tips
Financial wellness
Financial stress can lead to sleep deprivation, absenteeism, reduced productivity, and mental illness. It is important to remain proactive by assessing your financial situation, and creating goals to ensure financial wellness using the following resources
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Online tools and training related to financial wellness
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Financial wellness sessions to boost your financial literacy
Nutritional wellness
Eating well contributes to our overall health and can help lower the risk of chronic health conditions. Here are some resources to help equip you with healthy eating tools and strategies at home:
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Videos created by Dietetic students in McGill’s School of Human Nutrition program for McGill employees during the pandemic:
Create a healthy eating environment at home, Cooking workshop: balanced bowls, Making Cooking Part of the routine,
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Our resource page on nutrition for information on eating and living well
Social connection
We are all going through this shared pandemic experience together and although we cannot be physically together, human connection is an important part of our well-being.
Call a colleague or friend, reach out and check-in with someone to ask how they are doing. We are all in this together!
For additional resources or inquiries on health and well-being, reach out to healthandwellbeing.hr [at] mcgill.ca