WELLBEING & SUPPORT
Wellbeing strategies for challenging times SARAH EL SAYED, SOLICITOR, JONES HARLEY TOOLE
T
he Law Society’s Well-being and Resilience Committee held their first well-being webinar during COVID-19 on Friday 26 June 2020. The webinar was hosted by Dr. Tom Nehmy of Healthy Minds Education and Training and was aimed at providing those who tuned in with a toolkit for maintaining a healthy mind while working from home in selfisolation and equipping them with the skills to deal with the contemporary challenges presented by COVID-19. Tom is a clinical psychologist who has adopted a preventative approach to psychology and well-being. Tom works with companies of all industries and sizes on developing preventative strategies in the workplace to help eliminate the onset of preventable psychological disorders and to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to maintain an optimal level of mental health and well-being. Tom recognises that given the current climate, there has been a lot of additional stress placed on all of us. Some of the challenges we are each experiencing include reduced freedoms; physical or geographical isolation; loss of control and uncertainty; and an overall sense of increased pressure. Although we may be experiencing a heightened sense of stress and pressure, Tom identifies that these challenges can be used as an opportunity for us to renew our sense of self-reliance, enhance our relationships and teach us to become proactive self-managers of our well-being. During the webinar, Dr. Tom Nehmy provided us with some great take-away tips to help arm us with a toolkit to have a healthy mind. Some of the core recommendations he made include:
MINDSET A mindset of Optimalisim will help you make the best of whatever does happen. Our mindset refers to our general
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outlook and approach to life and work and plays a significant role in dealing with life adversities. Some common outlooks and approaches to life include perfectionism; optimism; pessimism; and optimalism. Tom identifies optimalism as the most ideal approach as it involves making the best of whatever does happen and provides you with the freedom to adapt and step outside of your comfort zone. As tough as things may currently be, if we acknowledge both the difficult challenges and the growth opportunities at hand, we are best placed to handle things in a psychologically balanced way.
LIFE MEDICINES Prioritise your Life Medicines Life medicines are those little everyday things that discharge stress. They help us to feel calm, more relaxed, and/or boost our mood. These can include meditation; exercise; speaking with friends on the phone; watching comedy on YouTube; taking a bath, or listening to music. Tom recommends making a list of your 5 most effective life medicines and ensuring you prioritise these 2-3 times per week or more, especially during times of stress.
VISUAL CONNECTION Stay connected with your family and friends It is important to stay connected with your family and friends, as connection is a protective factor in mental health. Even if you cannot physically be with your friends and colleagues as much as before, you can use technology to see them. Seeing and interacting with others is associated with the release of oxytocin, a brain chemical that helps relieve stress, reduce anxiety and improve mood. Tom recommends looking at your loved-ones faces when speaking to them and to smile as it will give them a release of oxytocin. Tom concluded the webinar with a gracious reminder that human beings have survived and thrived throughout the ages, despite formidable dangers and obstacles. We are resourceful, purposeful and resilient creatures who have prevailed over many great challenges – both natural and man-made throughout human history. We have that strength of spirit within us and there is much we can do to help ourselves and each other to continue to thrive. If you would like to know more about Dr. Tom Nehmy and the Healthy Minds program, visit https://www.healthymindsprogram.com.
