04.08.20 Mental Health Wellness Update

While we all are telecommuting, OSFA will be sharing some ideas to boost your mental health during these difficult times. If you know of any videos, podcasts, articles, events, ideas, etc. that would be perfect to include in these emails, please send them along to Erica Tisdale at erica.tisdale@wisc.edu.   One Way to Improve Your Day: Prep healthy snacks. Working near your kitchen or pantry can make snacking not only super easy but also a way to procrastinate. While snacking is not necessarily bad, eating unhealthy snacks can have an impact on your mental health. Studies have shown that eating junk food causes inflammation which negatively impacts neurotransmitter production thus impacting your mental health. Consider purchasing and prepping some healthy snacks each week. Cut up any fruits or veggies and put them in snack-size containers with crackers, cheese or nuts to make grabbing them easier. A good rule is to eat a protein if you are eating a carb. Campus/Community Resource: The Employee Assistance Office has developed a webpage for managing anxiety during this time – https://covid19.wisc.edu/for-employees/tips-for-managing-anxiety/. It has good reminders as well as a link to reach out to the Employee Assistance Office and LifeMatters if you need more assistance during this challenging time. Cute Videos of the Week: Kittens at the Georgia Aquarium – https://www.fox5atlanta.com/video/671005 and Puppies at the Georgia Aquarium – https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/animals/see-adorable-puppies-run-around-the-georgia-aquarium/vi-BB11Nkvf. Podcast of the Week: Soothe Away Your Anxiety and Fear a Meditation Minis Podcast – https://meditationminis.com/soothe-away-your-anxiety-and-fear/. This podcast takes about 10 minutes to listen to fully.