It’s the little things . . . It’s the big things and every thing in between that makes and breaks us.
They say that when a major life event happens, it creates a tsunami effect that affects everyone.
Did you know that unsupported mental health creates volcanic effects that cost organisations £53bn annually? This doesn’t include the cost to families and communities.
It’s the little things . . . It’s the big things and every thing in between that makes and breaks us.
Burnout is one of the things that breaks us.
Burnout isn’t stress. Stress is what happens when the demands on us outweigh our available resources. Chronic stress is a build up of negative stress that has been left unchecked.
Burnout on the other hand, is the complication of chronic stress, it often crosses over into depression
It isn’t sudden, it is a slow burn. One day, you look up and realise you simply can’t go on. You’ve got no more to give.
It’s the little things, it’s the big things and everything in between that makes and breaks us.
“We give all that we can, for as long as we can, and then it’s time. And for me, it is time.” - Jacinda Arden, New Zealand Prime Minister.
Jacinda Adern has given us a very powerful reminder that we are human and it is the moments we stop to exhale and inhale that give us strength to go on.
An inspiring leader to the end, reminding us that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to step back and say: “Not this time”.
Jacinda Arden stepping away will have volcanic effects, on her, her family, her country and the world.
This is a reminder to be intentional about kindness in our demands, in our policies, in our interactions.
A reminder to prioritise the wellbeing of our people.
A reminder that mental health isn’t a fad, a nice to have.
A reminder that everyone has mental health and no one is immune to poor mental health or mental ill health.
Proactive Wellbeing
Poor mental health and mental ill health create volcanic effects that affect everyone. So what can you do to support yours, and other people’s wellbeing?
Infuse the 5 ways to wellbeing into your everyday life.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing are a set of evidence-based public mental health messages aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of the whole population. They were developed by New Economic Foundation following a commission by Foresight, the UK government‟s futures think-tank, as part of the Foresight Project on Mental Capital and Wellbeing. It was launched in October 2008.
Ways To Implement The 5 Ways to Wellbeing
Here are some practical ways to implement the 5 ways to wellbeing for yourself and others.
Connect - Have meaningful conversations with people around you. Conversations are an underrated wellbeing tool. They help you build bridges, connecting you to others. Delegates who join my conversation workshops are always amazed at how relaxed and invigorated they feel afterwards.
Learn - Everyday is a school day. Proactively learn something new daily. A random fact, a new word, a new skill. Broaden the scope of your Learning and Development plans for your teams, ensuring that there’s something for everyone, to fit the different learning styles and needs.
Take Notice - Being observant helps you learn so much more about yourself, people, and your environment. What can you introduce to promote observation? Journaling is a good way to start as an individual effort. A team Away Day that encourages you all to notice something out of the norm, is another. Also, observe yourself and take note of when your stress levels are rising, so you can unplug to refill.
Be Active - Just 10 minutes of intense cardio is enough to release pheromones and oxytocin. Dancing, fast walking, running, cycling, swimming, jumping jacks. How can you introduce and maintain physical activity to your lifestyle and that of your people?
Give - the most effective way to get lasting happiness is to develop a culture of giving. Giving could be through volunteering your time, skills or presence. Donating money to worthwhile causes or adopting a small not-for-profit as your organisation’s Not-for-Profit is a fantastic way to make a difference because the positive impact is immediate for you, your organisation, team members and the not-for-profit you choose to champion.
For example, you can choose to support a cause like our Crowdfunder project which seeks to minimise the risk of burnout for support workers through social inclusion and wellbeing workshops. Find out more here - Link
You can also choose to volunteer with us or adopt us as your chosen Not-for-Profit organisation, helping us deliver more essential wellbeing services to communities. Find out how here - Page
Finally, we subconsciously emulate what we see. So, be intentional about practising wellbeing in a holistic way. Others are watching , and you can be the light that sparks them to be intentional about their wellbeing. The inspiration for them to unplug and rejuvenate.
It’s the little things, it’s the big things and everything in between that makes and breaks us.
It’s the moments we stop to exhale and inhale that give us strength to go on.
Be intentional about finding and creating these moments for yourself and others.