December 2015:  Be Aware of Your Occupational Wellbeing

Wellness through Awareness!

Welcome to the December issue of TotalWellbeing, the last issue of 2015! This month we wanted to talk about work/life balance around the holidays and how it relates to occupational wellbeing. Occupational Wellbeing is a tough one this time of year, mainly because the holidays truly put our work/life balancing skills to the test as we strive to meet end of year goals and deadlines at work while also managing social holiday events with friends and family. Relatives coming into town, social gatherings, shopping, and whatever else you have going on during the holidays can be fun but can also add on heaps of stress to your already busy schedule. This is why it is imperative to manage stress and time wisely to get the most out of your time at home, while maintaining your drive at work, all without pulling your hair out. For a closer look at occupational wellbeing and how it relates to our topics this month please read The Path, below.

You may remember us mentioning last month that it was Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. If you kept your eye on MINESblog you would have seen our expert associate JJ Jordan’s post about Alzheimer’s and what it means to be diagnosed with the terrible disease and warning signs that you should watch for if you have aging loved ones and as you age yourself. It’s important information you don’t want to miss. Check it out!

As we head into 2016 continue to watch the MINESblog to see the latest discussions about wellbeing topics and tips on staying healthy and living a life in balance. Next year, involvement will be the focus as we keep you involved with MINES and involved with the world around you. MINES will be packing our information with ways for you to support yourself as well as others and get involved with topics that matter most to you – can’t wait to see what you think. For now, check out the links to the left for more important resources such as our LinkedIn showcase pages and Balanced Living Magazine. We look forward to seeing you next year!

To your total wellbeing,

The MINES Team

The Path

A major factor contributing to your level of occupational wellbeing is how well you are able to balance your priorities between work and home. Work obligations can often interfere or distract you from personal time, and in turn the needs of your personal life can distract you at work. This is exacerbated during the holidays as end of year needs and increased customer activity can make for longer hours than normal, which often clashes with your family needs at home. A lot of this is out of your control. The answer? Practice healthy stress relieving techniques and focus on the things that you can control and don’t worry about what you can’t. Practice mindfulness to help keep work at work and home at home to help ensure that you stay focused when you need to be productive, and when you are at home that you are truly able to be present and relaxed with your loved ones.

Whether at home or at work, the holiday season can be stressful.  But don’t worry, there are things that you can do to lessen the stress that you feel during the busy times. Check out what the Mayo Clinic has to say about minimizing your stress levels this December.

Read the full article here!

Another important factor to your occupational wellbeing this month will be your ability to juggle work and home needs. If you’re finding it more challenging than ever to juggle the demands of your job and the rest of your life, you’re not alone. WebMD has some great tips to keep the work/life scale balanced this holiday season.

Read the full article here!

 Chakra To Your Senses

Many cultures believe in Chakras (shock-ras) which are, simply put, energy centers in your body that govern various aspects of your physiology. We will stay away from any religious aspects of these, such as their Buddhist symbolism, and instead focus on the general concept behind them to bring you more ways to nurture your body as well as mind. Click here to see a complete list of the 7 chakras and their properties.

Chakras to nurture this month: Crown and Solar Plexus

In order to support your occupational wellbeing it will be important to be aware of, and nurture, your Crown and Solar Plexus. The Crown Chakra, located at the top of your head, is the location of your center for conscious awareness and intelligence. Your Solar Plexus Chakra, located at the bottom of your sternum, embodies your will, motivation, and self-esteem. It’s easy to see why these factors might be impacted by your level of occupational wellbeing and work/life balance. Support your centers of motivation and self-esteem by setting achievable goals for yourself and making it a priority to reach those goals. Hitting your goals will instill a sense of accomplishment which will snow-ball, building confidence as well as your drive for success and happiness. Now get out there and have fun and be well!