I've spent a lot of time this year encouraging you to take a break, but how do you know when you need one ? Here are some key signs its time for a break that you need to be paying attention to! You're Tired: I know, I shouldn't even need to state this "out loud" BUT I meet many people who are pushing themselves too far. Persistent fatigue is a common indicator that your body needs rest. This can show up as physical tiredness, mental exhaustion, or both. You feel like you c

As a workplace leader, a huge piece of burnout prevention for your team is around a) supporting a manageable workload for each team member and b) encouraging good work-life balance (easier said than done!) you can read more about this in the " is your team at risk of burnout? " post. Even when we think we are doing a good job of supporting our team, there may be subtle (or not so subtle) ways that we are rewarding the idea that they always need to be "on" or be available. Her

Here are some mental health awareness dates to add to your professional or workplace wellness calendar for 2024. Mental Health Week in Canada May 6 - May 10, 2024 Safety and Health Week in Canada May 6 - May 11, 2024 Action Anxiety Day June 10, 2024 PTSD Awareness Day June 27, 2024 International Self-Care Day July 24, 2024 World Suicide Prevention Day September 10, 2024 World Mental Health Day October 10, 2024 National Addictions Awareness Week November 24-30, 2024 Where avai

Life isn't lived in a straight line. It's filled with ups and downs, good days an bad days. For some of us, the ups and downs are like rolling hills. For others, it's like a rollercoaster that doesn't seem to ever end. At any time, you will find yourself somewhere along this continuum. (I made this version, my version in my brand colours to go in a presentation, you can see a more detailed version here ). Are you aware of these signs? We can move either way along the continuu

Did you know that the US Surgeon General reports that loneliness is a serious mental health hazard? Given my work in mental health and burnout, this is such an important topic for us to explore further in our workplaces and communities. In fact, " findings show that loneliness is as bad as smoking and has profound effects on mental health, increasing the risks of heart disease, stroke and dementia." Social connection significantly improves the health and well-being of all in

Mental Health First Aid - Standard virtual training is a fantastic training option for many teams for a variety of reasons: 1. Access - you, or your team members can join from wherever you work without having to travel to an in-person course or wait for a course to be offered in your area. 2. Virtual training accommodates hybrid employees or groups with team members in multiple Provinces  3. My team works hard to ensure that virtual training is engaging and interactive . The

There are many reasons why a team member may experience burnout at work . Burnout can be a result of workplace or individual factors, or both.  Are you prepared to support your team members who may be struggling? Do you know who may be at higher risk? The most common causes of work-related stress are: heavy workload (caused by either employer, employee, or both) balancing work and personal life (raising children, caring for aging parents, supporting health issues for self or

1.Mental Health First Aid If you are a person who works with people, Mental Health First Aid is an important skill to have in your toolbox! - Increase your awareness of mental health and well being -Increase confidence to have conversations about mental health if you notice that someone is struggling. - Increase confidence in how to support someone in crisis. - Decrease stigma around mental health Available in 3 formats: Mental Health First Aid Standard (Face to Face) Mental

Today I'm interviewing Mark Kibyuk as a follow up to my post about the importance of taking your lunch break ! This 10 minute interview with Mark packs a punch with a lot of helpful information, including: What's happening in our bodies throughout our work day Why we need to eat properly throughout our day The concept of being "wired and tired" How we can better manage our stress responses What "eating a fire extinguisher" means About Mark Mark is a Naturopath focused on GUT

I'm here to help you take back your lunch break...I'm starting a lunch break REVOLUTION! Not joking. When I speak about burnout prevention, I often ask "who takes a regular or consistent lunch break?" In a recent session of about 40 participants, only 1 person raised their hand. ONE PERSON. Let that sink in for a moment. Here's a couple of reasons why taking breaks in our work day is SO important. Need to double-down on prioritizing your own lunch break? Here are 5 practical