POSITIVE MENTAL WELLBEING

Maintaining positive mental health is an act of self-care. Just as we take action to keep our bodies healthy, taking care of our brains, thoughts and emotions is important, too. Your EAP can help with this. A few suggestions on how to maintain mental wellbeing are provided on this page, but you are always welcome to call us to discuss anything on your mind. We help members talk through hopes and dreams just as often as we help members talk through their stress and challenges. We always say: "Call us early and call us often! There is no problem too big or too small."

Mindful Optimism. Feeling hopeful enables us to handle stress and supports mental and physical wellbeing. Optimism also helps reduce risky behaviors such as overeating, smoking, and excessive alcohol use that lead to illness and emotional distress. An encouraging attitude can even improve immunity. Scientists conducted a study exposing people to rhinovirus and influenza virus and found those with the highest levels of optimism were less likely to get stuffy noses and sore throats.

Positivity Takes Practice. Studies show that focusing on something positive reduces stress and anxiety and alleviates depression, often reducing symptoms as much as antidepressant medications do - without the drugs' side effects. When we experience stressful events, as psychologists suggest, the key to rebounding is to balance negative emotions with positive ones. For example, if something bad happens, look for humor, sing a happy song, or help someone in need. Or, if we find ourselves dwelling on negative thoughts, we can choose to accentuate the positive to improve our outlook. When we really can't do these things, it is a good time to reach out to Invest EAP for support.

Find Three Good Things. Gratitude makes us happier. When researchers picked random volunteers and trained them to practice gratitude over a few weeks, the volunteers reported feeling happier, more optimistic, socially connected and enjoyed better quality sleep compared to the control groups. Here's how we can practice gratitude: Each day try writing down three things you are grateful for and why. The three "gratitudes" should be different every day and specific. Instead of saying you are grateful for your family or your health, say you are grateful for your health because it allowed me to take a walk and spend time with my daughter. It's helpful to choose the same time each day for writing, such as right before bed or at the start of your day. "Gratitudes" can be written in a journal or typed on a smart device. Taking time for this provides an opportunity to slow down and open up to feelings of appreciation for a loved one's hug, a word of encouragement from your partner, a few minutes of extra time spent doing something for yourself, the food in your pantry, the warm sunshine during your walk, or the generosity of friends. The key to increasing our happiness is to transform these practices into habit - something we do daily and consistently. Spending just five to ten minutes a day practicing gratitude can improve focus, reduce anxiety and tap into all the benefits of a happier mindset - better health, less binge eating, less distracted driving, stronger relationships, and more success in the things we do.