04.29.20 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: Find a way to help others. Studies of volunteers show that do-gooders have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol on days they do volunteer work. Unfortunately, with our current situation many folks feel a bit hopeless and believe there is no way to help others, but there are lots of ways to make an impact right now! Consider finding a way to give back to the community. Whether it’s supporting a local business by purchasing a gift card or a yummy meal, crafting up some face masks or ear savers for healthcare workers or others in need, assisting the elderly or disabled in your community by dropping off groceries or other necessities, or even just making some cards for your local nursing home to let them know someone is thinking about them, there are lots of ways to help out. If you are interested in finding other ways to give back, United Way has also created a database of volunteer opportunities in Wisconsin –http://volunteerwisconsin.galaxydigital.com/need/ and the Madison General Defense Committee has been linking folks who need resources to those who are able to volunteer thru this form.   Campus/Community Resource: Resilient Wisconsin provides a variety of resources to help you cope with staying at home and the current changes to our lives. The section on coping with COVID-19 is particularly helpful – https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/resilient.htm. Cute Video of the Week: Badger Cub & Fox Cub – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aYL3ydPL0o. Podcast of the Week: Pivoting Around a Pandemic a Pivot Podcast with Jenny Blake – http://www.pivotmethod.com/podcast/pandemic?utm_source=Monthly+Zing&utm_campaign=b0e32f8a70-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_06_30_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d3093876e9-b0e32f8a70-233969033. This podcast takes a look at how to navigate the pandemic from a business perspective and how to ensure you take care of yourself while working from home. The podcast is about an hour and a half long.