In both the best of times and the most challenging of times, it's critical to keep your mental health first aid kit fully stocked. During these strange days of COVID-19, make time to reflect and refresh your strategies for well-being.

1. Get Proactive:
Building Your Mental Health First Aid Kit
“Mental health is not a destination, but a process.
It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going.”
Samantha Gluck

2. Strange Days

3. • Even beyond the illness itself, COVID-19
has led to strange days of stress, anxiety,
and depression for many.

4. • During such stressful challenges, it’s always
a good time to pause and take stock of our
mental health first aid kits.

5. • To take care of each other, we must take
care of ourselves, which starts with
reflection.

6. Get Proactive

7. • Managers and employees, students and
teachers – basically all human beings today
know that “business as usual” just isn’t on
the table.
• What, then, are you doing to deal with
“unusual” business?

8. • In additional to informal “water cooler” or
“coffee break” catch-ups, our team conducts
regular employee pulse checks to stay
connected.

9. • In a recent check-in, we asked our
colleagues to share their strategies for
taking care of their mental health.
• Perhaps this list will be inspiring for you,
too!

10. How to Take Care of Yourself

11. • Sleep more / on a regular schedule
• Show appreciation / kindness whenever
possible
• Start / continue an exercise regime
• Eat a healthier diet
• Learn something new
• Volunteer / be of service

12. • Regularly connect with friends and family
• Spend more time outside
• Take time off
• Appreciate / make art
• Organize your desk / space / life
• Create new traditions / celebrations

13. • Read / write
• Listen to / make music
• Practice / play a sport
• Share / express your feelings
• Take up a new hobby
• Set up casual catch-up chats with colleagues

14. • Limit / schedule “screen time”
• Meditate / pray / reflect regularly
• Practice breathing exercises
• Send “real” mail
• Stretch / practice yoga

15. But What About…

16. • Watching TV or movies, scrolling
through social media, or shopping online
can be relaxing…
• However, overindulgence can suck your
energy and leave you feeling even more
disconnected. Use with discretion.

17. • In most cases, pets are a huge plus –
providing structure and routine to the day,
physical exercise, and emotional benefits.

18. • While there are plenty of other items that
are probably on your list, that’s the idea –
your list is unique, suited to your needs and
your preferences.

19. Final Thoughts

20. • If it seems ridiculous to have to plan to
relax, do it anyway.

21. • For example, even if you don’t have any
major vacation plans this year (yet!),
consider how to use those days off.
• You might join the (totally made up!) Day A
Month Club, dedicated to the practice of
scheduling time to take a break.

22. • Whatever it is that works for you, make it
work for you.
• Is it really that hard to take a day off or to
send a card? Nope – just make it happen.

23. Take care of yourself – you deserve it.

24. Want more?
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building-your-mental-health-first-aid-kit/

25. Connect: support1@sogosurvey.com

26. Thank You!
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