Although mental health awareness overall has come a long way, we tend to leave infants and young children out of the conversation. But research shows that our littlest humans can face mental health challenges too – and the earlier we intervene, the better chance they have at growing into happy and thriving adults.

In today’s blog, we’ll cover the basics of early childhood mental health and give you some tips on how you can promote positive mental health in your own little ones.

What is early childhood mental health?

Early childhood mental health typically refers to the mental health of children between 0 to 8 years of age.

Many people are confused when they hear the term “early childhood mental health.” You might be off-put by the idea of young children being diagnosed with or treated for mental health disorders. After all, they’re only kids – right?

Sadly, many more young children live with mental health conditions than you might believe. Reports show that up to 17% of children are diagnosed with a mental illness before they’re 6. Even very young children show clear symptoms of anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress, and more.

But the topic of early childhood mental health doesn’t just affect children with mental health challenges. Mental health should be a priority for all children, especially during the important early childhood years when the brain is developing at a rapid pace. It’s not just about treating childhood mental illness – it’s about promoting strong mental health in all young children.

What do mental health problems look like in early childhood?

Young children can show signs of a wide range of mental health problems, from mood disorders to neurodivergence and sensory processing issues. Let’s look at some of the most common categories of early childhood mental health symptoms.

Attachment disorders and trauma

One of the most important things that happens during a baby’s life is the attachment they build with their caregiver(s). When there is neglect or abuse present in these relationships, then reactive attachment disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop.

Abuse and neglect can severely impact a child’s developing brain, stunt their growth, and lead to serious physical and mental health consequences further down the line.

In infants and young children, attachment and trauma-related disorders might look like:

• Severe separation anxiety
• Not being soothed when reunited with their caregiver(s)
• Being indiscriminately attached to any adult and showing no preference for their caregiver(s)
• Hypervigilance; being jumpy or easily startled
• Avoiding the caregiver(s)
• Themes of trauma in play

Feeding disorders

Feeding disorders Sometimes, difficulty with food and feeding is a physical health problem – but often, it’s related to the child’s mental health. Even so, leaving a feeding disorder untreated can lead to stunted growth and poor development in the muscles involved in swallowing.

An early childhood feeding disorder can look like:

• A lack of interest in food or eating
• Difficulty achieving a relaxed state while eating (for example, the infant may be overly agitated)
• Refusal of food
• Using mealtimes to interact with caregivers rather than to eat
• Avoidance of specific foods based on texture, taste, smell, or other features
• No age-appropriate interaction with caregivers (like eye contact) during mealtimes

Hyperactivity and ADHD

Over 250,000 U.S. children aged 3 to 5 are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This condition leads children to have difficulty regulating their focus and energy levels.

Some signs of ADHD in young children include:

• More tantrums and emotional outbursts than other children their age
• Constantly being in motion, even more than other young children
• Reckless behavior to the point of endangering themselves
• Aggression toward self or others
• Difficulty falling asleep or little need for sleep
• Extreme impatience with others
• Loses interest in activities after only a few moments, even activities of their choosing

Anxiety and depression

As unbelievable as it may seem to some, even infants can be depressed and anxious. Reports show that around 1 in 40 children aged 0 to 5 have depression. Depression in parents makes it more likely that the infant or child will also have depression.

Signs of depression and anxiety in infants and toddlers include:

• Regressing to a previous stage of development
• Being withdrawn or staring into space
• Not engaging socially with caregiver(s)
• Excessive whining
• No interest in developmentally appropriate toys and activities
• Clinginess
• Breath-holding in toddlers
• Sleep issues

What causes mental health problems in early childhood?

As is the case with teens and adults, there’s not one singular cause of early childhood mental health problems.

Experts say that many different factors come together to make some children more at risk for developing mental health issues, including:

• Genetics: Some children are genetically predisposed to developing mental health problems, but this doesn’t mean that every child with these genes will have issues 100% of the time. It simply means that they may be at higher risk.
• Toxic stress: Being exposed to traumatic and stressful events (like abuse and neglect) over and over again can lead to toxic stress. Toxic stress can severely damage a baby’s brain development and make it much more likely for children to develop mental health problems, either right away or later on down the road.
• Biological factors: Some early childhood mental health concerns, like ADHD or certain feeding disorders, are a direct result of biological differences in the brain.
• Family history and parental stress: Family history also comes into play. Babies whose parents have postpartum depression are more likely to have depression themselves.

What can we do to support early childhood mental health?

If you’re a parent, you’re probably asking yourself: What can I do to protect my baby’s mental health? How can I decrease the odds that my child will have mental health problems, either now or as an adult?

Although there are many factors outside of our control, there are many things that you can do as a parent to help promote your child’s brain and emotional development and protect their mental health.

• Build a secure attachment: Foster a secure attachment with your child by responding to their needs promptly and consistently. This helps them feel safe and loved.
• Create a safe home environment: Ensure that the home environment is safe, free from hazards, and provides a sense of security for your child. Consistency and predictability are key for building safety.
• Emotional regulation: Help your child learn to regulate their emotions by modeling appropriate emotional responses and providing comfort when they’re upset.
• Engage in play: Play isn’t just fun – it’s essential for a child’s development. Engage in age-appropriate play that encourages creativity, exploration, and social interaction.
• Create healthy routines: Establish consistent daily routines for feeding, sleeping, and playtime. Predictability can help children feel secure.
• Nutrition and sleep: Ensure that your child has a balanced diet and gets enough restful sleep. Both nutrition and rest are essential for mental health.
• Positive discipline: Use positive discipline strategies that focus on teaching and guiding rather than punishment. This helps your child learn boundaries without feeling shame or guilt.
• Read and communicate: Reading to your child and engaging in “baby talk” and conversations from an early age can enhance their language development and cognitive skills.
• Lean on your support system: Caring for an infant or toddler can be exhausting, and it’s important for you to take care of your own mental health and take breaks when you need them. Seek support from friends, family, or mental health professionals.
• Protect your own mental health: Your well-being is closely linked to your child’s well-being. Be aware of your own mental health and get counseling when you need it.
• Educate yourself: Learn as much as you can about child development and parenting techniques. Attend parenting classes or workshops if possible.
• Seek professional help: If you have concerns about your child’s behavior or development, don’t hesitate to consult a pediatrician or a child psychologist. Early intervention is critical in preventing these problems from getting worse.

At MINES, we want to help you and your child thrive and stay mentally healthy. We provide comprehensive Parental Coaching and Lactation Consultation services to help you be the best parent you can be for your precious little one.

Through our Parental Coaching program, you receive 4 phone coaching sessions per year to address the most challenging aspects of parenthood. Our experienced coaches are here to support you through any concerns that you may have about this journey.

If you need mental health support for yourself, you also have access to 24/7 free and confidential counseling with a licensed mental health provider.

Let’s all work together to protect the mental health of our youngest and most precious citizens.

To Your Wellbeing,

The MINES Team

The post Early Childhood Mental Health: Why It’s Important appeared first on MINES and Associates.

	Social Wellbeing, Family, and Mindfulness
Welcome to the December edition of TotalWellbeing, your guide to the 8 dimensions of wellbeing. The focus this month will be on the importance of your social wellbeing, family, mindfulness, and keeping balanced during this holiday season. We hope that you find the resources this month helpful in managing your social obligations, balancing your personal time, and maximizing your wellbeing through the end of the year. If you missed us last month you can catch up on our newsletters page. As a reminder, this newsletter is aimed at providing helpful information about various aspects of your wellbeing and then connecting it all back to important and relevant parts of our everyday life. As we near the end of the year we will continue to emphasize the concept of community and look at how our actions affect our community, country, and in some cases the rest of the world. To your total wellbeing, The MINES Team
Social Wellbeing and Your Family This is the time of year where family and friends can both be an excellent source of support as well as an abundant source of stress. It is also a time where you are seeing friends, co-workers, and family members more than you probably do during the rest of the year, so it is important to find a way to balance your time and your energy while meeting the various holiday-related obligations such as shopping, holiday parties, family dinners, and get-togethers. All of this can leave little time for yourself and make you feel drained when you want to be engaged and having fun. The key is setting expectations, being okay with saying “no” and making sure others are helping and not just relying on you for everything. To make sure you find balance and enjoy the holidays check out our guide to a stress-free holiday. If you would like to talk to a counselor or wellness coach about these topics, please call us at 1-800-873-7138 to get connected right away. Also, PersonalAdvantage has some great meditation and relaxation tips, mindfulness resources, and FREE webinars this month to focus on your wellbeing while also being productive at work.
Question of the Month What are 3 ways that your friends or family could help you with your biggest holiday stress sources?
Quote of the Month “Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are.” – Marianne Williamson
MINES Updates/Community World View The relationship between your social wellbeing and the larger communities you live in such as your neighborhoods, your cities, your state, and your country should be pretty clear, but that is not to say that these relationships are not complex. One thing is for sure though and that is that communities large and small tend to thrive when people are willing to come together, reach out, and help each other. Helping others not only brings a community together in good times and bad, but it also boosts everyone’s social wellbeing and sense of place as individuals as well. The holiday season is a great time to do just this by reaching out and helping those that may need it. If you have time, think about helping your community by volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating some clothes you no longer want, or even donate to a charity you believe in if you can afford it. Not only will this help others in need, but it will help you reinforce your role in your community and strengthen your social ties at the same time.
If you or a member of your household needs assistance or guidance on any of these wellbeing topics, please call MINES & Associates, your EAP, today for free, confidential, 24/7 assistance at 800.873.7138.
This Month’s Focus Check out this month’s webinar: Mindfulness in the Workplace MINESblog: Throwback Blog: Finding Joy Amidst the Holiday Stress Check out this Month’s Infographic Important Links Visit our BLOG MINES and Associates 2018 Training Catalog Balanced Living Magazine LinkedIn MINEs Archives Contact Us Email MINES
		MINES does not warrant the materials (Audio, Video, Text, Applications, or any other form of media or links) included in this communication have any connection to MINES & Associates, nor does MINES seek to endorse any entity by including these materials in this communication.  MINES accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided herein, nor any additional content that may be made available through any third-party site. We found them helpful, and hope you do too!

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	Social Media, Family, and Your Intellectual Wellbeing
Welcome to the July edition of TotalWellbeing, your guide to the 8 dimensions of wellbeing. This month we are going to take a look at intellectual wellbeing with a focus on social media and your family. If you missed us last month you can catch up on our newsletters page. As we make it through the year we will continue to emphasize the concept of community and look at how our actions affect our community, country, and in some cases the rest of the world.   To your total wellbeing, The MINES Team
The impact of social media on your family and intellectual wellbeing Social media is a key part of our culture, our expression, and our connectivity. From using social media as a platform for expressing opinions to sharing pictures with family and friends, social media has many applications. Your intellectual wellbeing can be improved by social media by giving you access to information and topics of interest to you. It also allows you to look at things differently and to explore topics that pique your interest you may not have investigated otherwise. Using social media with your family allows you to connect in different ways, stay close if you are far apart, and to keep up with their new adventures or read about their experiences. It is also important to remember that Social Media can impact your intellectual wellbeing negatively. As we have been reminded in the last several months, your preferences are tracked throughout social media and the articles you choose to read may influence the other articles that show up in your news feed or advertisements in your apps. This can help shift your perspective one way or another and unless you are vigilant to check out information outside of your readily available feed to find out the whole story. It is also important to take time away from social media or using the internet to engage in good old-fashioned face to face time with your friends and family members. Don’t forget that these people in your life can engage your intellect as well. Learn new and amazing things from the children in your life. They can have a fresh perspective or may be studying something new and cool in school they can share. Or take advantage of one of the most popular knowledge sharing methods of human history and tap into the vast life experience of your older family members. It doesn’t always have to be about shares and likes! If you would like to talk to a counselor about these topics, please call us at 1-800-873-7138 to get connected right away. Also, PersonalAdvantage has some great tools and webinars this month to improve your knowledge around dealing with stress and maximizing your life by reducing worry. For more be sure to check out our “Internet Mindfulness” infographic.
Question of the Month When was the last time you asked a family member how they would handle a situation?
Quote of the Month “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” – Benjamin Franklin
MINES Updates/Community World View There is so much knowledge that each culture and community has to share, from tricks to make the best pasta to how to clean off stains from clothing, to traditions around how to engage your family. Take time this month to talk to a co-worker, friend, or family member and see what you can learn from them to help improve your intellectual wellbeing and what tidbits you can impart on them as well.
If you or a member of your household needs assistance or guidance on any of these wellbeing topics, please call MINES & Associates, your EAP, today for free, confidential, 24/7 assistance at 800.873.7138.
This Month’s Focus Check out this month’s webinar on Harnessing the Power of Social Media MINESblog Review: Foster Families and Mental Health John Oliver: Rehab, Last Week Tonight Psychology of Performance Check out this Month’s Infographic Important Links Visit our BLOG MINES and Associates 2018 Training Catalog Balanced Living Magazine LinkedIn MINEs Archives Contact Us Email MINES
		MINES does not warrant the materials (Audio, Video, Text, Applications, or any other form of media or links) included in this communication have any connection to MINES & Associates, nor does MINES seek to endorse any entity by including these materials in this communication.  MINES accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided herein, nor any additional content that may be made available through any third-party site. We found them helpful, and hope you do too!

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Celebrating National Father Daughter Take A Walk Day

Tomorrow we celebrate the special bond between fathers and daughters and making the effort to spend quality time together by taking a walk. Although this idea can be easily applied to parents spending time with their kids, this is a unique day evokes memories and reminds me of the important role my father has played in my life. So, if you are a father or a daughter, try to find time this week to take a walk together in some fashion. Check out https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-father-daughter-take-a-walk-day-july-7/ for more information.

The Gift of Time

Time is so valuable, especially when you are a child. You observe those around you to see how they spend their time and there is nothing better than to have someone give you their undivided attention and time. No matter what age you are, the time you have with your parents can be both valuable and enjoyable. And the time you take out of your busy schedule to be with your children can only help your overall wellbeing as there is much we can take away from our children and the younger generations as a whole. In today’s society, it is common to have the father out of touch with his kids as he works long hours to provide for the family. It has changed a bit over the years, but this day is a great reminder of the importance for not only fathers to spend time with their daughters but every parent out there to mindfully spend time with their children. It can be as simple as taking a walk around the block or laying in the yard finding animals in the clouds, or it can be taking the time to do a craft or go to the zoo together. The important thing is to give your undivided, focused attention and is something that is mutually beneficial and enjoyed by both parties (i.e. not going to the grocery store because you have to).

Walking and Wellbeing

As mentioned in one MINES’ previous blogs, walking is healthy and a great way to exercise. Walking reduces various health risks and is fairly easy to do. Walking can be a great excuse to get outdoors and enjoy your environment. Our world is an amazing place to be in and there are so many things you can observe while you are walking outdoors. Walking also lends itself to help you be mindful of your surroundings and gives you a quieter time away from your computer to think things through. Whether it is a short walk to the grocery store, or a longer hike to see the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, walking is a great exercise to do with the whole family.

Walking and Defining My Identity

One of my favorite memories growing up was taking walks with my dad. Whether it was walking the dog around the block, walking to the nearby lake to go fishing, or hiking while camping, my dad and I always had a great time talking and learning from each other. I learned the importance of integrity through his stories of his business successes and failures. I learned the importance of understanding your history and background through his storytelling of my ancestors’ adventures and how they persevered through the Depression and helped everyone they knew. I learned the importance of failing and hardships in order to ultimately succeed through his descriptions of his misspent teenage adventures and losing his father. I learned all about love and sacrifice through listening about how he and my mom met, dated, and the struggles of their marriage. Most importantly, I learned how to forgive and be positive, especially when it is hard, through our conversations about family relationships and the wrong that has been done to him and seeing how he dealt with those situations.

Walking and Developing New Relationships

My dad opened my eyes to a lot of things through our walks and talks and it has shaped me to strive to be all those things. I loved when I could make my dad’s eyes dance with mirth as I told him stories of my struggles at school or with friends, and I loved when I asked him questions and he would become serious as he considered the best way to answer. He never ducked behind the “because I said so” excuse and always treated me as a whole person. When I first introduced my husband, then boyfriend, to him, the walks became faster and longer as he tried to decipher how his little girl was growing up and liked this “boy”. His questions were good and brought lots of discussions between my husband and me, but in the end discussing those things, allowed us to build a strong, lasting relationship. Throughout the time my husband and I were dating, we would go on long walks around the city to talk things out and learn about each other. That time away from distractions was an amazing bonding time. In fact, to this day, I love going on walks with my dad or my husband to talk and figure things out.

Walking with the One’s You Love

This day celebrates Fathers and Daughters joining each other for a walk. However, the spirit of the day is to share a healthy lifestyle and spending time with your family. Whether you are a dad with a daughter or a friend of a busy family, dedicate some time today to take a walk with someone you care about. Take a deep breath of the fresh air, appreciate the woodland creatures that you see in the trees around you or in the sky, and just talk. Enjoy your social connection with those you love and let someone see a different side of you by sharing stories about yourself.

Concluding Thoughts

Whether it is a brisk walk or a leisurely stroll, enjoy the company of someone you love. If you are a parent, you only have 18 summers, unless you are a parent of a millennial then you could have 36 summers before your child could be gone from your daily life. Take advantage of this time and look for a way to connect and listen to what your kids have to say. And if you are unable to walk with your father or daughter, take a walk and think of all the wonderful memories of each other.

Happy National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day!

To Your Wellbeing,

Raena Chatwin

MINES and Associates

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From celebrating pets to ferrets, zoos, and dolphins, April is an animal lovers’ dream month as we celebrate National Ferret Day on April 2^nd, 2017, National Zoo Lovers Day on April 8^th, National Pet Day on April 11^th, and National Dolphin Day on April 14^th.

As I snuggled up with my business of jills (my group of female ferrets) during National Ferret Day, I thought about what lessons ferrets can teach us as a society. I submit to you that there are several key characteristics that ferrets, along with our other furry, feathered, and scaly friends, have that we could develop more extensively in ourselves.

Curiosity

Ferrets are phenomenal animals to own and watch as they test their limits and expectations with everything they encounter, not to mention their boundless curiosity. Whenever they come across something they would like to have as their “treasure” and they haven’t seen it before, they perform a ritual of tasting, circling, poking with their nose, and if the “treasure” passes their test, they then determine the best way to move it to their stash. No object is too heavy or bulky and everything is up for claiming. I cannot recount how many times my left shoe, box of garbage bags, or napkins have gone missing no matter how high or hidden they are.

What if we took lessons from this, and approached each new task, co-worker, or call and found a way to use your skills to test new things and find ways to make it your own? Ferrets both in the wild and as pets look at the world as endless opportunities to explore everything around them. Take time to be curious about new systems at work or about your newest co-worker. Talk to them about where they come from and what their experiences are. By developing new skill sets and relationships, you are ultimately setting yourself up for success both professionally and personally.

Intelligence

Besides being incredibly curious, ferrets are very intelligent. They can sense danger ahead of time and are attuned to human emotions. They know the difference between my left and right shoe, they can be potty-trained, and can do obstacle courses. They are ever learning new ways to get to where they want to go and they aren’t discouraged when they don’t “know” something. They simply observe what happens when they do a certain activity and try it differently if it doesn’t get the desired results they wanted.

Can you imagine how much life would change if we open our minds up and allow our brains to be re-wired to change our biases and perspectives on life? We could accomplish so much more as a society if we could just switch off our prejudice and focus on our common goals. So how do we use this knowledge about ferrets? The next time you are angry about how you were treated by your co-worker or boss, step back and filter that experience through their eyes. Do you think it was intentional or could they have been busy and not realized what they did or said could have triggered you? If you do that with every situation instead of automatically having assumptions, you will start to see the world differently and maybe you will be able to explain what about the incident made you angry so your co-worker and boss can try to adjust their actions.

Companionship

My ferrets, like most animals, are social creatures. They seek out attention and want to have a community. They don’t shy away from being around others or seek isolation 100% of the time. Ferrets tend to want to be around their own kind, whether they are sleeping, hunting, or committing larceny. My ferrets sleep in the most awkward positions on top of each other and don’t seem to mind as they are near each other. If you remove one of them, the other will wake up and want attention too. Now I may never have seen my ferrets hunt, but I have watched wild black-footed ferrets hunt and it is very similar to when my ferrets are up to their thieving ways. Cooperation is key.  They know that between the two of them they can figure out how to climb the cabinet to get that hidden bag of potato chips or how to move a pair of crutches from the closet to under the couch.

We should try to do this as well. Not the team larceny of personal property, but the seeking out of companionship and friendship. Don’t isolate yourself. Take that 5 minutes to talk to others at work, go out to lunch, or discuss what is going on. Surround yourself with supportive people and lean on your friends and family when times are tough or when you want to share your success and laugh.

Final Thoughts

Animals have lots of lessons they can teach us. From their character traits to their social interactions, if you pay attention to them, you can see an unbiased version of what it means to live contently, take risks, and thrive on adventure. Take a minute the next time you are at the zoo, outdoors, or cuddling with your favorite furry, feathered, or scaly friend, and thank them for showing you how to live. Enjoy your animals as I know I will be enjoying my beloved teachers. And don’t forget to give them a special treat to say thank you on one of these fun “holidays”.

To Your Wellbeing,

Raena Chatwin

The MINES Team

http://www.petdayusa.com/

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From the original to Disney®

This month Disney® released the reimagined Beauty and the Beast in a live-action retelling of a story that was originally written by a French novelist in the 1740s to audiences (http://bit.ly/2mNh3EU). Disney’s® 1991 version brought a variation of the original story that wowed audiences. Disney® captured the story of a beast, a magical castle with a magical rose, and the love between a father and daughter and transformed it into a story of love and exploration with plenty of imagination thrown in with talking furniture and accessories. However, even with adding some elements to the original story, Disney® honed in on life principles that can be applied to everyone. Both the original story and the 1991 movie focus on the love between a father and selfless child, and about giving up something precious to discover more. It is about looking beyond the veil and not accepting the status quo.

Takeaways from the new Beauty and the Beast

The new rendition that debuted this month focuses on a girl trying to find her place in the world and includes plenty of imagination and laughter. Bringing together elements from the original story, the Broadway musical, and the 1991 Disney version, this story centers on looking past first impressions and addressing the pain and hurt each character dealt with in the past. (Spoiler alert! The remainder of this paragraph contains minor spoilers for the new movie. Please skip to the next section if you wish to avoid this.) This version hones in on the explanation of why the rose is important to Belle to why the Beast reacts to everyone around him, along with closing the other characters’ stories. Belle discovers the truth of her past and the Beast realizes he is stuck in the past. Maurice is a grief-stricken father who struggles providing for his daughter and feeling guilty of his past actions. However, both Maurice and Belle allow their imagination to rule and accept magic which in turn allowed them to explore their past so they could succeed in their future. The movie concludes with all the characters being reunited with their loved ones and they all, well almost all, lived happily ever after.

Are you a Beast, Belle, or Maurice at work?

No matter which version you watch or read, these characters appear as a prince turned into a beast due to his arrogance and self-focus, a young lady who loves knowledge and sees past initial impressions, and a father who loves his daughter and will do anything to see her succeed. Each character makes good and bad choices along the adventure and it isn’t until they learn to get along that they can reverse the bad situation they are in.

Everyone has bad days and it can be hard to let go of the past. However, if you take the time to look deeper, you will see that not everything is the way it appears. When you are feeling frustrated by a co-worker’s actions, take the time to review the situation and check in with your co-worker to see if there is something going on in their lives that may have caused them to react other than you were expecting. Review your past and see what is holding you back from building relationships with your co-workers or seeking to improve your work-life balance. Each Beauty and the Beast character drives home another point about not accepting things at face value and using the talents of those around you.

Imagination is key to all ages

The imagination that Disney® brings to the screen helps provide a formula that makes the movie a success. Imagination is a great tool, whether it is with inventing something that can take you where you need to go or helping you find solutions to problems at work. We all go through changes at work and at home and struggle with how those changes affect us. Next time you are struggling, think outside the box to find solutions. You will be amazed how a little imagination will help you achieve your goal. If you struggle with staying engaged with your work or with your team, find a creative team-building activity to do or use your imagination to find new ways to stay engaged. Sometimes you need to explore new avenues to find joy in your job.

Exploration is essential

Let your imagination take you places so you can continue to succeed and grow both professionally and personally. Take time to explore and enjoy the world you live in – both at home and at work. Spending time in nature is known to help reduce anxiety and stress. Whether it is taking five minutes see what is outside your work building or taking the time to look at your company’s website, take the time to explore what new things you can find and appreciate. You never know what new possibilities you might find or new ideas that will come through exploration. When Belle showed the beauty that surrounded Beast’s castle, the Beast’s eyes were opened and his heart began to heal. Without exploring what can be, it is easy to become disillusioned with your job and lose that joy of working for a great company.

Take action

Using these key things, do something. Don’t sit and complain. Be like Belle’s dad, Maurice, and take action. Don’t sit back when you see something isn’t going right. Stand up for what is right even if you co-workers think you are “odd”.  Do something to make work even better! Does your company have a Wellness committee? Would this help you be more successful? Your “happily ever after” is possible only if you act to secure it.

From work to your community

March 30^th celebrates Little Red Wagon Day and provides a chance to celebrate imagination and to encourage kids to get outside and be active.  Radio Flyer, which is perhaps one of the most well-known red wagon producers, states that “The majority of Americans have owned a red wagon, and a majority of those people will pass their wagon down to the next generation.” For almost 100 years, Radio Flyer has been creating warm memories that last a lifetime and support unstructured outdoor play.

Use this day to see how you can use your imagination and explore ways to help your community live up to the spirit of this day. Check out Radio Flyer’s website here for more information and suggestions on how you can do this. http://www.radioflyer.com/little-red-wagon-day/

To your wellbeing,

Raena Chatwin,

The MINES Team

The post Through Imagination and Exploration, Find Joy at Work appeared first on MINES and Associates.

	January 2017: Occupational Wellbeing and Retirement Planning
Get Involved!   Welcome to the January issue of TotalWellbeing! If you have been following TotalWellbeing you know that every month we focus on one of the 8 Dimensions of Wellbeing. This year will be looking at these dimensions in conjunction with a monthly topic and how those two things vary in our communities. This month we will hone in on Retirement Planning and how different people may view how to go about that and how planning for your retirement affects your Occupational Wellbeing. For a closer look at this month’s topic and helpful resources please check out The Path and The Connection below. Last month MINESblog saw two important posts that we hope you found useful. To recap, in case you missed them, we talked about Colorado Gives Day which is an annual charity day that supports Colorado non-profit organizations that do great work all year around. If you missed it but still want to donate head over to coloradogives.org to see how you might still contribute. Next, we know that the holidays can be a stressful time of year so we posted a guide to find joy amidst all the holiday madness. As always, for more information please check out the links to the left or hit the share button to send us a message, and to be notified when we post more resources and articles make sure to subscribe to MINESblog. See you next month! To your total wellbeing, The MINES Team
The Path: How Retirement Planning Affects Your Wellbeing Did you know that almost every country has some form of pension and social security benefits whether it is government funded or paid into by the employee? It is pretty incredible to think that so many countries see the importance and value of planning for the time when you will no longer work, either voluntarily or due to circumstances out of your control. Italy even has an elective residency visa that is generally used by foreigners who are retired and want to live in the Italian countryside. So how are you preparing for your retirement? Whether you are at the beginning or the end of your career it is important to your overall wellbeing to think about and find ways to start planning for retirement. Your occupational wellbeing is an important aspect of this. If you prepare for your retirement, you will feel happier as you get closer to that point. You will be able to focus your energy for your occupational wellbeing toward other work related issues rather than having to scramble that last year before you retire or feeling like you will never be able to retire. It is never too early to start preparing for your retirement. Check out these resources.
Tips for you: Talk to your co-workers or Human Resources and see what they have done to start preparing for the future. It is never too late to start that 401k or talk to a professional about it and you might have some great resources available at work.
The Connection: Get Involved Wellbeing does not simply start and stop at the individual. Our community is connected to each of our own individual wellbeing in a huge way. When we are well we can better function within our community.  We can help our fellow humans thrive, and in turn, when our community is prospering, it helps each of us reach our goals as individuals. So why not help our community so we can all thrive together? Each month we will strive to bring you resources that can help you enhance the wellbeing of those around you or get involved with important causes.
Community Wellbeing Resources: This month, think about contacting your local shelter or organization and helping others work on their occupational wellbeing, whether it is helping them write a resume, coaching them on interview techniques, or helping them develop computer skills. Use your individual skill set to help someone else take a step toward keeping their occupational wellbeing strong and healthy. Check out this website and look for ways you can help in your community here! Don’t forget that PersonalAdvantage, your online benefit through MINES, has tons of great resources for all the dimensions of wellbeing that we discuss here, along with some articles and assistance for Retirement Planning. If you haven’t checked it out yet, or want to see what resources they have for this month’s topic check out the link below. You’ll need your company login, so make sure to get that from your employer or email us and we’ll be happy to provide that to you. Check Out PersonalAdvantage Here!
If you or a member of your household needs assistance or guidance on any of these wellbeing topics, please call MINES & Associates, your EAP, today for free, confidential, 24/7 assistance at 800.873.7138.
		MINES does not warrant the materials (Audio, Video, Text, Applications, or any other form of media or links) included in this communication have any connection to MINES & Associates, nor does MINES seek to endorse any entity by including these materials in this communication.  MINES accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided herein, nor any additional content that may be made available through any third-party site. We found them helpful, and hope you do too!

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	September 2016: Physical Wellbeing
Get Involved! Welcome to the September issue of TotalWellbeing! This month we circle back around to Physical Wellbeing. In February we talked about goal setting. How have yours been coming along? If you’ve found it hard to stay motivated you’re not alone. To help with this, look to friends and family for encouragement and shared goal setting/achieving. Feed off of each other’s achievements and hold each other accountable for getting out there and working towards your objectives. To make it even more fun check out the community resource section below for some great apps to help keep track of your activity and compete against your workout buddies! For a closer look at this month’s topic and helpful resources please check out The Path and The Connection below. Last month on MINESblog we were in the Olympic spirit. There were certainly some amazing performances this summer in Rio from all around the world. Our CEO, Dr. Robert Mines couldn’t help but examine the psychology behind Olympic athletes and the immense pressure they have to endure while preparing for and competing in the games. In a second post, Dr. Mines also explored the importance of curiosity and its role in intelligence and life-log learning. If you like what you read, there’s always more great posts coming up so make sure to subscribe. As always, for more information please check out the links to the left or hit the share button to send us a message. See you next month! To your total wellbeing, The MINES Team
The Path: Spiritual Wellbeing and Perspective Last time we talked about physical wellbeing we looked at goal setting. We asked you what do you wanted to achieve, and how you planned to reach those goals. We hope that you were able to go out and set those aspirations for yourself, but now we ask another question. What will keep you striving to achieve what you set out to do in the long run? The key behind this question is motivation. Motivation, like most aspects of wellbeing, is a personal concept that is most definitely not a one size fits all sort of thing, and staying motivated can be just as hard as the work itself. The good news is that you do not have to go it alone. One of the greatest sources of motivation are the other people in your life. Strive to find the family members, friends, and co-workers that may also have some goals and hold each other accountable for achieving them. Ask each other how it’s going, give encouraging words, or even use an app to track progress and have a little competitive fun trying to outdo one another. Remember to keep the competitiveness on the light side. The goal here is to encourage and have fun so that you enjoy reaching your goals as well as watching other reach theirs.
Tips for you: Are you looking to make your occasional strength class or Sunday spin session a regular ritual? Many casual exercisers want to sweat more often, but they struggle with finding the workout motivation to make fitness a part of their daily routine. Check out dailyburn.com’s motivation tips to give yourself a boost when you feel like you need a little extra pep. Check Out Tips Here!
The Connection: Get Involved Wellbeing does not simply start and stop at the individual. Our community is connected to each of our own individual wellbeing in a huge way. When we are well we can better function within our community.  We can help our fellow humans thrive, and in turn, when our community is prospering, it helps each of us reach our goals as individuals. So why not help our community so we can all thrive together? Each month we will strive to bring you resources that can help you enhance the wellbeing of those around you or get involved with important causes.
Community Wellbeing Resources: Social media and social apps make it a breeze to keep in touch with those you care about in your life. It’s great to be able to send someone a message or find out how they’re doing with a few swipes or key strokes. But did you know that social apps also make it easy to share each others’ workouts, goals, and activity? It’s a great way to stay motivated, have fun, offer encouragement and be encouraged, and maybe get a little competitive in the process. Don’t know where to start? Check out Active.com’s review of the 16 best fitness apps of 2016. Read Review Here! Don’t forget that PersonalAdvantage, your online benefit through MINES, has tons of great resources for all the dimensions of wellbeing that we discuss here. If you haven’t checked it out yet, or want to see what resources they have for this month’s topic check out the link below. You’ll need your company login, so make sure to get that from your employer. Check Out PersonalAdvantage Here!
If you or a member of your household needs assistance or guidance on any of these wellbeing topics, please call MINES & Associates, your EAP, today for free, confidential, 24/7 assistance at 800.873.7138.
		MINES does not warrant the materials (Audio, Video, Text, Applications, or any other form of media or links) included in this communication have any connection to MINES & Associates, nor does MINES seek to endorse any entity by including these materials in this communication.  MINES accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided herein, nor any additional content that may be made available through any third-party site. We found them helpful, and hope you do too!

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	June 2016: Occupational Wellbeing
Get Involved! Welcome to the June issue of TotalWellbeing! This month we discuss Occupational Wellbeing. We’ve all heard the concept of work/life balance before, but when you think about it, isn’t work part of life? In fact, many of us spend a substantial amount of our lives at work. This way of looking at it highlights the importance of supporting ourselves and our goals while at work rather than just putting our lives on hold when we clock in every morning, or night depending on your schedule. Maintaining perspective on your ambitions and goals while at work is critical to maintaining occupational wellbeing and avoiding burning out. Look for opportunities at your job to grow and support your mind and body. For a closer look at this month’s topic and helpful resources please check out The Path and The Connection below. MINESblog saw some interesting posts last month, it being Mental Health Awareness Month and all. We looked at the mentality and systemic causes of bullying and why it is important to treat even bullies with empathy. Next in our latest Psychology of Performance post we explored the critical interplay between innovation and maintenance within an organization and how our assumptions on these concepts need to be updated. Finally, we discussed the importance of family involvement in the therapy of children with a mental health diagnosis. As always, for more information please check out the links to the left or hit the share button to send us a message. See you next month! To your total wellbeing, The MINES Team
The Path: Environmental Wellbeing and the Future Occupational Wellbeing is about balance, usually between work and life, but life doesn’t stop when you arrive at work and start again when you go home. To properly support occupational wellbeing many of us can’t afford to put our life on hold while at work. Think about ways to develop yourself while on the job. Ask yourself in what ways your job can help you learn new skills, how you might be able to connect better with co-workers, and identify opportunities to support your health and wellness in other areas while at work. Stay connected with co-workers to avoid working in a secluded environment if possible, set goals you can achieve at the workplace to work towards in order to give yourself something to strive for both personally and professionally. Stay connected with the outside world as well. While on break, check in on family members or take a moment to yourself to read, play a quick game, or study something new you are learning. Make the most of your time while at work as well as at home and you will be more satisfied with both.
Tips for you: Making work/life balance work for you is important. No two people have the same set of circumstances and demands, so figuring out what works best for you is crucial. Work-life balance, says Nigel Marsh, is too important to be left in the hands of your employer. Marsh lays out an ideal day balanced between family time, personal time, and productivity — and offers some stirring encouragement to make it happen. Watch Talk Here!
The Connection: Get Involved Wellbeing does not simply start and stop at the individual. Our community is connected to each of our own individual wellbeing in a huge way. When we are well we can better function within our community.  We can help our fellow humans thrive, and in turn, when our community is prospering, it helps each of us reach our goals as individuals. So why not help our community so we can all thrive together? Each month we will strive to bring you resources that can help you enhance the wellbeing of those around you or get involved with important causes.
Community Wellbeing Resources: If you are successful and happy that is a great thing. You know what else is great, when those who know what it takes to be happy and successful share their knowledge and help others achieve. A great way to do that is through mentoring. Did you know that through www.Micromentor.org you can sign up to help mentor young professionals and help them get a leg up in their careers? If you’re a young professional, you can find a mentor here, too! Check it out! See how you can help!
If you or a member of your household needs assistance or guidance on any of these wellbeing topics, please call MINES & Associates, your EAP, today for free, confidential, 24/7 assistance at 800.873.7138.
		MINES does not warrant the materials (Audio, Video, Text, Applications, or any other form of media or links) included in this communication have any connection to MINES & Associates, nor does MINES seek to endorse any entity by including these materials in this communication.  MINES accepts no liability for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided herein, nor any additional content that may be made available through any third-party site. We found them helpful, and hope you do too!

The post Total Wellbeing: June 2016 appeared first on MINES and Associates.

The social influence of family on health and fitness affects all  family members of all ages. It can be both for better and or worse in terms of the types of habits your social connections can have, even as adults. One study published in The American Journal of Health Promotion said that, “Data clearly indicate that social relationships have the potential for both health promoting and health damaging effects in older adults.” (Seeman 2000) Now this study may have been looking at adult influence but it extends to children as well. In fact the influence that parents have is much more persuasive, especially the younger a child is, so it is important to start training healthy, sustainable habits as early as possible.

Even with outside influences such as physical education in schools, how well children and teenagers adopt these programs depends largely on how the principles presented in the program are reinforced at home. One study looked at the efficacy of physical education programs in elementary school in relation to home support. The study took took two groups of elementary level students and gave them both the same physical education at school but only one group received the additional requirement  that parents also conduct health and nutrition study at home. In the end, the students who had the at-home component scored significantly higher on physical education and nutrition testing, as well as more improved body fat composition and blood sugar levels  than the students who had no at home participation. “The family component of the program provided a practical approach to improving physical activity and nutrition behaviors for elementary school teachers who teach many participants in a crowded curriculum” (Hoper, Munoz, Gruber, Nguyen, 2005).

Another way parents sway children’s health is by controlling access to certain healthy outlets. Until they are old enough and financially able to move out, children are, for the most part, at the mercy of the rules, standards, and family customs set by their parents. Parents are the gatekeepers. Make no mistake about it, kids may have preferences; however, their desires and what they are actually capable of are two different things. For example,12 year old Sally might really want to play soccer and get the outdoor exercise, but if her parents cannot or will not accommodate Sally’s desire to play soccer for whatever reason, such as being too lazy or busy to drive Sally to practice, access to this outlet is barred.  “Parents’ reported physical activity was not associated with child activity or fitness. However, availability of transportation by parents to sport and fitness activities was significant…” (Sallis, Alcaraz, McKenzie, 1992).  So all you soccer moms and dads can rejoice, for you are truly doing your children a favor and contributing to their future health habits. But encouragement sometimes isn’t going to be enough and that’s where engagement comes in.

Increasing the frequency that a person has in opportunity to engage in healthy activities with one another, increases the chances they will adopt the behavior in their life going forward, meaning that children, as well as adults, are much more likely to participate in an activity if they have a friend, family member, or spouse participating in the activity with them. This can be for various reasons that differ from individual to individual; whether it is a feeling of social obligation, a role model’s influence, or that it’s just more fun to do things with friends or family.

It’s not all about physical activity alone; diet plays an important factor as well. The food we eat and our likelihood of choosing the healthier option is weighted in the homestead as well. And it’s no joke just how much it matters that we are exposed to good balanced diets and nutrition information growing up. One study suggests, “Family and home environment factors explained more than 50% of the variance in students’ FV (fruit and vegetable) consumption.” (Gross, Pollock, Braun, 2010). Providing fruits and vegetables, teaching children about the importance of nutrition, and restricting processed and sugar-filled foods, are all important steps to contributing to a healthy lifestyle that will stick with children throughout their lives.

So with all this in mind we need to look at this from two directions; as influencers and as well as  the influenced. As influencers, especially if you have children, you must be aware of the message you are sending whether it is by consciously or habitually setting an example, make sure it’s an example you want to set.  Children learn by the do as I do rather as I say approach to parenting. As you take care of your own health by eating well, exercising, and showing that living well is a priority for you, friends, co-workers, children, and other connections in your life will be subtly swayed by your choices. As the influenced, it is all about awareness. By being aware of the influence that others may have, you can begin to choose what habits of others to adopt and which to ignore. Your friend that asks you to go hiking with them all the time, they might be making you a little more active; your friend that wants to go out drinking and eats nothing but junk food, maybe not so much. But don’t let this information keep you from hanging out with your favorite buddy just because they have some unhealthy habits or make a bad choice here and there, just be aware of their influence and maybe try and sway them to the side of wellbeing with a little social influence of your own.

To you wellbeing,

• Nic Mckane
  Business Development Coordinator
  MINES & Associates

Sources:

• Chris A. Hopper, Kathy D. Munoz, Mary B. Gruber & Kim P. Nguyen (2005) Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport Volume 76, Issue 2 pages 130-139

• Teresa E. Seeman (2000) Health Promoting Effects of Friends and Family on Health Outcomes in Older Adults. American Journal of Health Promotion: July/August 2000, Vol. 14, No. 6, pp. 362-370.

• Susan M. Gross, PhD, MPH, RD Elizabeth Davenport Pollock, MS, LGMFT Bonnie Braun, PhD, CFCS. (2010) Family Influence: Key to Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Fourth- and Fifth-grade Students. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior Volume 42, Issue 4, July–August 2010, Pages 235–241

• James F. Sallis, PhD; John E. Alcaraz, PhD; Thomas L. McKenzie, PhD; Melbourne F. Hovell, PhD, MPH; Bohdan Kolody, PhD; Philip R. Nader, MD. Am J Dis Child. 1992;146(11):1383-1388. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1992.02160230141035.

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