The Mind Hub

Feeling happy or joyful is often as a result of a dopamine hit, initially triggered by a fleeting experience or event that is temporary. To enable us to live a more joyful and happy life we must first start by understanding ourselves, what gives us purpose and feelings of contentment. Living a more joyful and happy life can take practice and sometimes requires a mindset shift, but with this understanding, insight and being more authentic to ourselves, it can be achieved.

In our latest blog, we delve into the world of cultivating happiness in the workplace. To learn more, visit: https://www.themindhub.co.uk/post/the-difference-between-joy-and-happiness?postId=af631616-66b8-4416-b301-a0a2b80ebd9e

The Difference Between Joy and Happiness. "Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." Dalai LamaThere seem to be many awareness days in the wellbeing calendar this month, but one that stands out for me is the “International Day of Happiness” on the 20 March. As the weather (hopefully) gets warmer, we natural...

We talk a lot about our wellbeing pillars and by focusing on them in our workshops we can start to create more happiness amongst our teams. Here are some examples of how happiness and joy can be triggered, in the workplace:

😊 Exercising regularly. When we exercise we release endorphins which can help us to relieve pain, reduce stress and boost our wellbeing.
😊Being outside in nature and moving your body can help you to recover from stressful events, it reduces our cortisol levels and muscle tension.
😊 Socialising and spending time with friends and family.
😊Volunteering or doing meaningful work can help us to have a sense of purpose and focus.
😊 Doing things you enjoy.
😊 Meditation or writing a journal can also help us to reflect, appreciate how lucky we are and on the positives around us.
😊Being in alignment with company values.

To learn more about cultivating happiness, visit our latest blog: https://www.themindhub.co.uk/post/the-difference-between-joy-and-happiness?postId=af631616-66b8-4416-b301-a0a2b80ebd9e

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Farewell but not goodbye!

The Mind Hub will be taking a break from here for a while, but this doesn’t mean it is goodbye! You can still find all of our useful wellbeing hints and mental health training information via our website, LinkedIn page or Instagram profiles:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciawilkie/
https://www.instagram.com/themindhub
https://www.themindhub.co.uk/

We look forward to connecting with you soon!

As February is drawing to a close, it's time for a wellbeing check in. Ask yourself:
🤔On average, how is my mood?
🏃🏻‍♂️Have I been exercising enough recently?
😁When was the last time I laughed?
😴How am I sleeping?
🍅How has my fruit and vegetable intake been?

If you notice there are some things that need to change, put some steps in place to look after yourself next month.

https://www.themindhub.co.uk

Workplaces that practice and place human sustainability as a core business priority see higher levels of wellbeing, workforce retention, increased productivity alongside meeting key regulations. An organisation should view itself as a member of society and promote business values that respect human capital. Human sustainability focuses on the importance of anyone directly or indirectly involved in the making of products, or provision of services or broader stakeholders, this is the human capital of the organisation.

Using human sustainability practices can lead to greater levels of happiness, a stronger sense of belonging and purpose among employees. Embedding human sustainability practices into business strategies can even help companies continue to gain access to talent and reduce attrition.

To learn more about human sustainability and how it can benefit your organisation, visit: https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/risk/articles/human-sustainability.html

Human Sustainability It's time to change the way we define and design work, interact with others and consider how work itself impacts employees, their families, their communities, and ultimately, the planet.

Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses. Anyone, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or background, can develop one. This Eating Disorder Awareness Week, the focus is on ARFID which stands for avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. A largely unknown and misunderstood eating disorder, ARFID can have serious consequences for health if left untreated.

The number of people affected by ARFID is unknown. Treatment is not available nationwide and people with ARFID, or who suspect they may have it, struggle to access the help they need.

As a workplace, it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of Eating Disorder. For more insights into Eating Disorders, visit: beateatingdisorders.org.uk

In a world where social media portrays people having the perfect lifestyle, remember that in reality it's perfectly normal for humans to experience a range of emotions each day.

Our 2024 Wellbeing Calendar breaks down some of the key dates for wellbeing and awareness events for the year all in one place. A wellbeing calendar can be used by HR, line managers and Mental Health First Aiders to not only inform your wellbeing strategy and programme but to also help start the conversation about mental wellbeing in your workplace.

If you would like to receive a copy for your organisation, simply get in touch and it will be sent your way.

https://www.themindhub.co.uk/contact

Our free monthly newsletters share the latest mental health and wellbeing guidance for business leaders, managers and teams. If you would like to see how a focus on wellbeing in the workplace could help support your team, VIsit: https://www.themindhub.co.uk to sign up.

With two free mindfulness audio tracks sent your way upon subscribing, show yourself some love during the month of love by joining our mindfulness club.

Our 2024 Wellbeing Survey is designed to help us understand more about our clients and how we can help them to bring wellbeing to the workplace. With this in mind we would be grateful for a few moments of your time to complete the below survey.

As a thank you, you will be entered into a draw to offer your organisation a FREE "What is Mental Health?" webinar.

Small Print: The survey will be open until Friday 29th February 2024 and the winner will be draw by midnight on Monday 5th March 2024. Good luck!

To complete the survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KB9RQM3

Our Mental Health First Aiders (MHFAiders®) two-day course, is ideal for individuals who would like to gain the knowledge and skills to spot signs of people experiencing poor mental health, be confident to start a conversation and signpost a person to appropriate support.​ As a MHFAider® you will be able to:

✔️Recognise those that may be experiencing poor mental health and provide them with first-level support and early intervention.
✔️Encourage a person to identify and access sources of professional help and support.
✔️Practise active listening and empathy.
✔️Have a conversation with improved mental health literacy around language and stigma.
✔️Discuss the MHFAider® role in depth, including boundaries and confidentiality.

Get in touch today to receive a full course breakdown, or arrange your free no obligation discovery call to see how we can help you bring greater wellbeing into your workplace.

https://www.themindhub.co.uk/mental-health-training

When all feels lost, sometimes a simple act of self-care can work wonders for feeling like you have control of your mood and outlook. Whether its going to a exercise class or practising mindfulness, how can you put the power back in your hands this week?

It’s so important to look out for each other in and around our communities. It's how we protect and maintain good mental health for ourselves and those around us. With Random Acts of Kindness Day tomorrow, remember it's the small things in life that can make a big difference. Here are some ways you could spread some kindness tomorrow:

💗Offer to pick up some groceries for your elderly neighbour.
💗Send someone a handwritten note.
💗Offer to babysit for a friend.
💗Walk your friend’s dog.
💗Tell your family members how much you love and appreciate them.
💗Help your parents with household chores.
💗Make someone laugh.
💗Offer to cook for a friend or family member.
💗Make a cup of tea for a friend or family member.
💗Host an informal get together and invite your neighbours to get to know each other.
💗Tell someone you know that you are proud of them.

Who will you reach out to today?

https://www.themindhub.co.uk

Psychological safety describes an environment where people feel able to express themselves without fear that others will think less of them. Whether they're sharing ideas, asking questions, expressing concerns or acknowledging mistakes, in the workplace psychological safety translates to employees feeling comfortable speaking up and expressing themselves.

If you're curious about how psychologically safe your team feels, ask them to respond (perhaps anonymously) if they agree or disagree with these statements:
🔸If you make a mistake on this team, it is not held against you.
🔸Members of this team are able to bring up problems and tough issues.
🔸People on this team sometimes accept others for being different.
🔸It is safe to take a risk on this team.
🔸It isn’t difficult to ask other members of this team for help.
🔸No one on this team would deliberately act in a way that undermines my efforts.
🔸Working with members of this team, my unique skills and talents are valued and utilised.

Learn more about psychological safety from this article in HBR: https://hbr.org/2023/02/what-is-psychological-safety

From whether your organisation has a wellbeing strategy to your access to mental health training, our short survey is designed to provide us with deeper understanding of wellbeing needs in the workplace.

By completing our 2024 Wellbeing Survey you will be in with a chance to win a free "What is Mental Health?" webinar for your organisation.

Small Print: The survey will be open until Friday 29th February 2024 and the winner will be draw by midnight on Monday 5th March 2024. Good luck!

To complete the survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KB9RQM3

To me, Valentine's Day is about celebrating all of the relationships you have in your life, from your best friends to your family members. But there’s one form of love that so many people end up overlooking - self-love!

Today is perfect opportunity to show yourself some self-care and attention. Whether it's spending some time outside, doing that thing you've always wanted to do or even writing yourself a love letter, how are you going to show yourself some love today?

Sometimes it's the small things in life that brings you joy and for me, Pancake Day is one of those things! After a busy day at work there's nothing better than enjoying a pancake…or two!

What is your favourite pancake topping?

There's nothing more powerful than taking a few deep breaths.

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed, try the 4-7-8 breathing technique involves breathing in for 4 seconds, holding the breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling for 8 seconds.

Thank you for the review, Shanthi!

"Tricia has a long standing relationship with Alexion Pharma UK. My interaction with Tricia started with a workshop on the science of loneliness to help our return to post-pandemic office efforts, shortly followed by delivering MHFA accredited training. She has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in wellness, incorporating great stories, engaging practical's and facts and figures. Her delivery is authentic and very engaging. I would highly recommend!"

Shanthi de Costa
People and Culture Lead, Alexion Pharma UK

It's always a privilege to play a part in an organisations corporate wellbeing programme. It means we often have the opportunity to return to the same organisation and see the impact their wellbeing strategy is having on their team including the benefit of having mental health first aiders. If your organisation would like support fulfilling their corporate wellbeing programme, get in touch to find out more.

https://www.themindhub.co.uk/testimonials

This Children’s Mental Health Week we're celebrating the theme, ‘My Voice Matters’. When we feel empowered, there’s a positive impact on our wellbeing. Young people and children who feel that their voices are heard and can make a difference have a greater sense of community and self-esteem. Children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities should be empowered to work together to create a positive change for their mental health and wellbeing.

Place2Be has shared some helpful resources for families on how to talk to children about mental health and encourage them to feel empowered to express themselves. To learn more, visit:https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/media/vxgdpw3x/cmhw-24-top-tips-for-families.pdf

When we start to think about staff retention or human sustainability, we need to move away from the notion that work is primary, if we look after the employee first, the rest will follow. A recent study by Oxford University showed that employees were 13% more productive if they were happy, certainly something to strive for. So, if we start to consider how as an organisation we might bring the idea of human sustainability or staff retention into our wellbeing strategy, it starts to present some interesting ideas.

In our latest blog we've shed some light on how you can create an organisation where our teams feel valued, trusted and able to grow: https://www.themindhub.co.uk/post/what-is-human-sustainability

What is Human Sustainability? A committed and motivated team is essential to the growth of any organisation, focusing on staff retention and wellbeing is a top priority for many. When companies focus on their staff retention they experience many benefits, including: lower training costs, strong company culture, an increase in pr...

I am very much looking forward to delivering our free webinar later today!

With insights on mental health first aid training, we plan to de-bunk all of the myths and share the facts to help you to decide whether MHFA is right for your wellbeing strategy and understand how to best recruit the right team of MHFAiders.

There's still time to book! To reserve your place, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-truth-about-mental-health-first-aid-mhfa-tickets-772329467227?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Truth about Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Is MHFA right for your organisation? How do you recruit the right MHFAider's & support them effectively? Join us for the answers and more.

When things are feeling tough, remember this too, shall pass.

There's not long left to book your place on our FREE webinar, 'The trust about Mental Health First Aid'. Taking place on Tuesday at 1.30pm we will be covering:
🔸What is mental health first aid?
🔸How to recruit the right team of MHFAiders and provide ongoing support.
🔸Where is a good place to start?
🔸Why it's important to get right.

If you would like some clarity about whether or not MHFA Training is the right option to explore for your organisation, book your place by visiting: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-truth-about-mental-health-first-aid-mhfa-tickets-772329467227?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Truth about Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Is MHFA right for your organisation? How do you recruit the right MHFAider's & support them effectively? Join us for the answers and more.

When you feel connected to your colleagues, you are more likely to feel motivated and engaged at work. Leading to not only increased productivity, job satisfaction, and overall wellbeing, but improved mental and physical health, too. Despite more people returning to the office, there is still a risk of loneliness and lack of connection for those who are still working remotely or a hybrid of the two.

On Time to Talk Day, take some time to reflect on how connected your team is. Are there some team members who you haven't checked in with for a while? Perhaps it's been a long time since you've all been in the same room together?

Our Speed Talking workshop brings team together to help foster connection, engagement and build relationships. Get in touch to find out more.

https://www.themindhub.co.uk/contact

It's not long now until our free webinar, 'The truth about mental health first aid'. With insights into mental health in the workplace, it aims to raise awareness of the benefits mental health first aiders can bring.

There are still spots available, to book your place visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-truth-about-mental-health-first-aid-mhfa-tickets-772329467227?aff=oddtdtcreator

Yet to complete our 2024 Wellbeing Survey? Don't forget as a thank you for your time you will be entered into a draw to offer your organisation a FREE "What is Mental Health?" webinar.

The short survey is to help us understand more about our clients and how we can help them to bring wellbeing to the workplace. With this in mind we would be grateful for a few moments of your time to complete the below survey.

Small Print: The survey will be open until Friday 29th February 2024 and the winner will be draw by midnight on Monday 5th March 2024. Good luck!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KB9RQM3

I love this quote. It highlights how powerful will and determination is when it comes to looking after our mind and body.

Tomorrow is Parents Mental Health Day. As parents, our priorities are so centred around protecting our children's health and wellbeing that we often neglect our own wellbeing. Being a parent can be overwhelming at times but it's important to remember that your health, matters. Exercising, finding a space to be calm and using your support network are just some of the ways you can prioritise your needs.

For those parents amongst us, what strategies do you use to manage your mental wellbeing?

https://www.themindhub.co.uk

With every training course we run, we are breaking down stigma and arming workplaces with informed mental health first aiders but don't just take our word for it, here's what a recent MHFA participant had to say.

"Tricia Wilkie was a fantastic trainer. She was knowledgeable, relatable and passionate about the subject matter which made the training engaging and enjoyable. One of my key aims in attending the training was to ensure that I could equip myself with the knowledge to support those in crisis with humanity and dignity, this course gave me that knowledge in spades. My second aim was to continue my journey in helping to reduce stigma around mental health - I feel even more confident to do this now as I have the language and links to support to inform myself and others and help change the narrative to a more positive and inclusive one"

MHFA participant, BCS Chartered Institute for IT

To find out more about our Mental Health First Aid course, visit: https://www.themindhub.co.uk/mental-health-training