When we’ve had long days at work, it makes sense to use this time to disconnect from the working day and not take the stress of the day home with us. This means it’s important to make sure your commute is taking care of your mental health and helping you to create that separation.

 Ben Mercer of Leisure Lakes Bikes has identified a few ways to make sure your commute is doing everything you need to prepare for a workday or unwind after one.

 Driving and its alternatives
Another Statista survey asserted that the most common form of transport for commuting is driving, with 64% of journeys happening in an owned or household car. While it’s an efficient way to get to work, traffic jams and spending a long time in a car on your own can have a huge impact on your mental health.

 Ben Mercer suggests: “One option you could try is switching the method of travel you use to get to work. If you’re within a good distance from your workplace, you can try walking to work. Or even better, why not hop on a e bike and cycle in? Not only can it be refreshing to get out in the fresh air rather than being stuck in your car, but the exercise can help pump positive endorphins ahead of or after your working day.”

 However, driving might be the only suitable option to get to work, especially if it’s a tricky location to get to through other methods. If that’s the case, why not organise a carpool with your colleagues? Sharing the experience and socialising could help to improve mentality and outlook.

 Trying different routes
Not only could your commute improve by changing the method of travel you use, but it could benefit from trying out different routes. This doesn’t necessarily mean taking the fastest route to and from your workplace, as the longer travel time could help give you time to work through your thoughts before your working day starts and after it ends.

 The morning commute being longer does mean if you were to experiment with different ways of getting into work that you may need to get up earlier, but there are plenty of benefits to waking up earlier than you normally do.

 It can help to regulate your circadian rhythm, which helps both your sleeping pattern in the long-term as well as benefiting your mental health. You’ll also have more time to get a hearty breakfast and set yourself up for the day. And if you find yourself having to skip showers or brushing your teeth as you’re strapped for time, you’ll be able to look after yourself more.

 Soundtracking your journey
When you’re travelling, unless you’re joined in a carpool or around others on public transport, you often spend a lot of your time in silence or surrounded by the sounds of the road or your environment. That’s why stimulating your audial senses can help to improve both directions of your journey, both to and from your workplace.

 Ben Mercer is an advocate of music to soundtrack your journey; “Building a playlist for your drive, cycle, or walk means you can integrate your favourite artists and tracks that make you feel both comforted and energised. You could even create different playlists for your travel into your workplace and your journey home, with more energetic music for your morning to wake you up and slower tracks to help unwind and digest after your day.”

 Alternatively, if you’re more into spoken word, learning, or storytelling, there are plenty of options from soundtracks to audiobooks for you to enjoy. It also helps to provide an escapist option to help unwind and detach from thinking about work.

 Connect with others – don’t forget about your phone
How often do you find yourself thinking about the last time you spoke to friends, relatives, or loved ones? You might not have spoken to them in enough time that you may have missed updating them on significant moments in your life, or even just missed catching up with them.

 Texting is all well and good, but nothing beats a good old-fashioned phone call. Using your commute to get in touch with the voices you want to hear the most can help to strengthen or re-establish those connections. Plus, there’s no better feeling than knowing someone is thinking of you and wants to talk and catch up.

 Sources
https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997868/duration-of-daily-commute-in-the-uk

https://www.statista.com/forecasts/997849/most-common-modes-of-transportation-for-commuting-in-the-uk

https://www.nike.com/gb/a/benefits-of-waking-up-early

The post Switching Off from Work – Does Your Commute Look After You? appeared first on CEO Medium.

Shared Value Model

Vitality’s Dr. Katie Tryon emphasized the significance of incentivizing behavior change to cultivate healthier habits. Vitality believes in delivering shared value—benefits for the individual, the insurance company, and society. Sophia Weber from Allianz Partners supported this, discussing their rewards model that encourages health and wellbeing. This approach enables them to support employees to take small steps towards building a whole person and whole life attitudinal and behavioural plan that embraces overall health.

Meeting Employees’ Needs

Geetika Arora Bhojak from Accenture underscored the importance of proactive health initiatives tailored to individual needs. “We have pivoted from health to wellbeing,” she said, emphasizing a focus on overall well-being rather than just tackling health issues as they arise. Recognizing potential barriers, Bosch has transitioned from using the term ‘mental health’ to ’emotional health’, hoping this shift will make employees feel more comfortable addressing issues. Dr. Rahul Kalia from Bosch noted that a proactive approach to emotional health is crucial, much like how chest pain, an early symptom, is addressed before it escalates to a heart attack.

Holistic Approach to Health

All panelists felt passionately about linking physical and mental health. Accenture’s model covers six dimensions of human potential, including mind, body, heart, and soul. Sophia mentioned that viewing individuals holistically—considering both their mental and physical well-being—is crucial. It’s essential to consider the overall wellbeing of employees rather than segregating physical and mental health. This approach facilitates a broader spectrum of interventions, that tackle specific needs in a way that works for the individual, when and how suits them. It is possible to measure the magnitude of an issue and provide general and targetted programmes, and by using technology ensures access to care even in countries where not always available.

Shared Responsibility

Wellness isn’t only the employee’s responsibility. Leadership plays an essential role. Dr. Rahul highlighted Bosch’s leadership commitment to health. At Accenture, mapping on-ground support and offering resources like Wysa’s AI-based solutions has been crucial. Allianz’s CEO producing a podcast discussing his mental health journey exemplified the leadership’s commitment to transparency, aiming to reduce stigma and foster a supportive environment.

Early Detection and Intervention

The panel agreed on the importance of early intervention to prevent minor mental health concerns from becoming severe issues. Rahul detailed Bosch’s comprehensive approach, which encompasses mental health awareness, advocacy, and resources such as counseling sessions. Having a multi-faceted approach, including both human therapists and AI chatbots, ensures that employees have access to the support they need when they need it.

Personalized Tools

Bosch emphasizes the importance of tools tailored to individual needs, covering both general well-being and condition-specific wellness. Offering a variety of tools acknowledges the diverse needs of their workforce. Katie from Vitality highlighted the importance of immediate support, noting that sometimes an instant chatbot response might be more beneficial than a long-term program.

Evaluating Effectiveness

All panelists agreed on the importance of assessing the effectiveness of wellness programs. Given the increasing mental health issues despite significant investments in employee well-being, there’s a clear need for outcome-focused evaluations. Rahul introduced the concept of Value on Investment (VOI) instead of traditional ROI. This measure, he said, better reflects the objectives of wellness programmes and echoes the holistic nature of their approac. Vitality measures healthspan (mortality and morbidity combined) to prioritize interventions, while Accenture focuses more on understanding the needs and challenges of its workforce. Embedding analytics in wellness pathways, as mentioned by Ramakant from Wysa, ensures real-time, actionable insights.

The Role of AI in Future Wellness Initiatives

Ramakant elaborated on the evolution of AI in wellness, emphasising the role that must be  its role in ensuring clinical safety and efficiency. However, the challenges of data privacy laws and ensuring data accuracy loom large. The power of AI lies in its predictability, with Wysa logging over 550 million conversations to refine their AI chatbot’s responses. However, maintaining clinical safety standards, like those of the NHS, remains paramount.

Putting Employees First:

Katie underscored the primary goal of all these initiatives: the well-being of the individual employee. It’s easy to get entangled in data and technology, but the focus should always remain on the tangible benefits to the individual. Only by prioritising the holistic well-being of employees—emotionally, physically, socially, and mentally—can companies effectively address the looming mental health crisis.

A proactive approach to employee wellness is imperative in today’s work environment. By integrating personalised interventions, holistic health models, and effective evaluation tools, businesses can foster a healthier, more productive workforce, ultimately benefiting individuals, companies, and society at large.

About Wysa

www.wysa.com

Wysa is a global leader in AI-driven mental health support, available both to individuals, through employer benefits programmes and healthcare services. We believe access to support should be available whenever people need it. Stigma prevails, so we take away the need for people to ask for help and eliminate the need for people to make a judgement call on when they should seek professional support. Proven to improve depression and anxiety scores by an average of 31%, Wysa’s AI-first approach enables employees to improve their mental health before symptoms become severe, by understanding an individual’s needs and guiding them through interactive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) exercises. Wysa’s clinically safe AI encourages users to take additional support, whenever it’s needed, by guiding them towards Wysa’s human coaching, employer benefits programmes (EAP) or national crisis lines. Wysa has helped over 6 million people through 550 million AI conversations across 95 countries. 

The post Proactive Employee Wellness Programs: Key Insights and Approaches appeared first on CEO Medium.

  However, improving employee engagement is no easy task. Building a sense of connection and loyalty that fosters long-term retention and resilience within your organisation can be challenging, particularly when dealing with a sizable workforce. So, how can you identify potential employee engagement issues before they escalate into serious problems? The answer may lie in mindset. 

Understanding the Relationship between Employee Engagement and Retention Employee engagement encompasses more than just your team member’s commitment to their roles and your business; it also pertains to their interest in their work and their level of emotional investment. A disengaged employee may not actively seek a new position, but most will readily consider one if the opportunity arises.  On the other hand, engaged employees find both quantitative and qualitative value in their roles. They genuinely enjoy what they do, feel they contribute value, and believe their employer values them in return. Engaged employees often have a positive influence in the workplace, which can boost morale, thereby increasing overall team engagement and significantly reducing employee turnover. 

Recognising that individuals who are happy at work, enjoy their responsibilities, and have positive relationships with their colleagues are more likely to remain in their roles is one thing. However, understanding how to proactively support employee engagement to retain your top performers is an entirely different matter. 

  How Businesses Can Foster Employee Engagement 

  The difficulty in addressing employee engagement stems from the fact that each employee is unique, with different needs. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are multiple approaches that can be beneficial. 

•     Building a Strong Company Culture: While company culture is often discussed, many businesses face a disconnect between their stated core values and the day-to-day reality experienced by employees. Bridging this gap can restore employees’ faith in the organisation, helping them feel that the brand’s ethos has genuine substance.

•     Encouraging Communication: Effective communication is a vital aspect of employee engagement. It is impossible for an individual to feel valued if they do not feel heard. Providing employees with a voice and opportunities for open, two-way communication fosters a positive mindset, especially when accompanied by regular feedback, guidance, and positivity.

•     Investing in Individual Growth: Another crucial area impacting both engagement and the development of a positive mindset is personal growth. By providing individuals with the necessary tools for success, including training and personal development opportunities, you convey the message that they are valuable to the business.

•     Prioritising Mental and Physical Health: In the past, mental and physical health were considered personal matters, but we now recognise their impact on professional performance and how work-life influences overall wellbeing. Improved mental health support in the workplace can save businesses a significant amount annually. In 2022, 185.6 million working days were lost due to sickness or injury. By caring for employees’ health, organisations not only enhance productivity but also improve engagement since individuals struggling with their physical or mental wellbeing cannot fully engage in their work.

•     Supporting Mindset Change: Mindset is a recurring theme in employee engagement. It is an area that businesses often struggle to address, yet it permeates most aspects of our work and enjoyment. While mindset can influence employee resilience and be influenced by mental health, it also needs to be considered independently. Even the happiest and most enthusiastic employees can have mental barriers that hinder them from reaching their full potential. Mindset plays a significant role in our work and the satisfaction we derive from it, and it can be influenced by various factors, such as feeling valued within a team or managing stress levels.

How Shifting Self-Limiting Mindsets Boosts Collective Employee Engagement  

Our personal mindset plays a crucial role in our day-to-day lives, influencing every aspect of our actions, from how we handle criticism to how we approach new challenges. While there is no universally correct mindset, a self-limiting mindset can hinder our work and diminish our enjoyment of it. Mental barriers convince us that certain things are beyond our capabilities, and the problem is that most of us are unaware of these barriers. 

 However, with mindset coaching, we can remove these mental blocks and unleash our full potential. At an individual level, the impact can be profound, enabling the fulfilment of goals, uncovering hidden skills, and making previously daunting scenarios—such as task completion, public speaking, and personal development—surprisingly accessible. This, in turn, makes the workplace more fulfilling and work more engaging. On a team level, mindset coaching holds transformative potential. When every employee is freed from the barriers that were unknowingly holding them back, productivity, engagement, happiness, and loyalty all increase.   

Implementing Mindset Change 

 Achieving team-wide mindset change requires a holistic approach. Businesses need to address a range of issues, including those mentioned above: mental and physical health, company culture, communication, and employee development. Mindset coaching can be a powerful tool, enabling the identification of individual and team-wide challenges. Unless you understand the reasons behind employees’ behaviours, finding effective solutions will be elusive. 

  Employee engagement and retention are intrinsically connected. If your employees are not engaged, it is highly unlikely they will stay with your organisation for the long term. However, once you grasp the power of mindset and the importance of removing self-limiting mental barriers, you gain the ability to take control and support your teams in accessing their full potential, thereby building engagement naturally and positively. 

  Lisa Collinson – Chief People Officer and UK Country Manager, TheNextWe: 

With over 22 years of experience in people leadership, Lisa Collinson brings a background in HR strategy development, implementation, and measurement. As an accredited coach, popular speaker, and presenter, she has worked across various sectors throughout the UK, Europe, and internationally. Lisa specialises in supporting businesses with change management, restructuring, and performance management, emphasising the study of behaviourism, and understanding why people act the way they do. 

  Lisa holds the designations of FCIPD (Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), a Member of the Institute of Training & Occupational Learning (MInstTOL), Applied Behaviour Analysis trained, an APMG Change Management Practitioner, and a Member of the Institute of Leadership & Management (MInstLM). 

The post Enhancing Employee Retention and Engagement Through Mindset  appeared first on CEO Medium.

How did you create your brand and what was the reason behind it?

As a mother of two, I am constantly trying to juggle daily routines whilst managing my family. Many people don’t know that I went through two challenging pregnancies due to a rare condition called Familial Chylomicronaemia Syndrome (FCS).

FCS is an ultra-rare genetic condition that affects around 1 in a million people. Those with familial chylomicronaemia syndrome have difficulty metabolizing or absorbing fat. This is usually because of a shortage in the enzyme lipoprotein lipase. When someone with FCS eats fat, it travels around within the blood. These then clump together causing symptoms of ‘milky white’ blood.*

*https://www.actionfcs.org/about-fcs/the-facts-about-fcs/

I nearly lost my life because of it and it caused me to develop psychological issues that lead to further demise in my mental health. This is where the concept of ‘SoniyaFit’ started. Sharing my experiences and speaking transparently has allowed me to overcome these hurdles and my objective with this brand is to help women who may be experiencing similar life-challenging events.

How does your brand work?

Coming from a South Asian background, my main aim is to encourage women to look after their mental health as well as their physical health, to break the stigma and talk about things that people are scared to talk about including illnesses, divorce, fertility issues, sexuality, etc. I strongly believe in chasing dreams irrespective of whether you have drawbacks. Life was never intended to be easy and what makes one win in life is based on how you get up after being knocked down.

What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?

I faced a number of challenges whilst building this brand. I started working on this in 2013 shortly after the birth of my son. Shortly after I faced postnatal depression during a period when I was attempting to manage a rare medical condition and not stay in employment due to recurrent hospital admissions. This is when I decided that I needed to do something for myself and at the same time help others.

Being a woman of South Asian descent, it’s not always normal to talk about and be open about personal issues nor is the family positioned to know what to do. I have always been aware of the problems I may face but I would rather start a business and fail than to not try at all. Learning to accept, grow and become stronger is part of evolving as a human being and I believe in tackling my issues head-on.

How do you manage your finances through the services you offer?

I have self-funded this business through savings and built momentum by remaining thrifty in all my decision-making processes. Self-discipline and financial acumen are paramount to running any successful business.

How far do you want to take SoniyaFit? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

My goal is to help as many women as possible, if I can help even one woman I will be very happy. Of course my aim to provide guidance and support to as many people as possible and if I can branch my business overseas and build my team that would be a dream come true.

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

Never think you can’t do anything. Never feel you’re not good enough. I firmly believe that you can do whatever you want but you need to put the time and energy in to create the luck needed for business success.

Currently, Soniya is in the process of writing her first book, which will be published in the near future.

“A lot of my posts on Instagram are quotes and small parts from my book, almost like a teaser”.

SoniyaFit

Email Address : soniyafit@gmail.com

Website URL : www.soniyafit.com

Instagram URL : www.instagram.com/soniyafit

The post I am My Brand: Soniya Vadher-Patel on Turning Her Suffering into Her Passion appeared first on CEO Medium.

www.dietengage.com

Tell us about who you are and what you do.

I hail from India where I engaged as a dietician for 7 years whilst pursuing Masters in Dietetics and Food Service Management (India). I have experience of more than 1000 diet consultations in therapeutic, fitness, and weight management. Continued education pursuing Masters in Human Nutrition and Public Health from LMU, London UK registered under ‘UK Association of Nutrition’. My research dissertation is published in the EC Nutrition International journal.

I have been a keynote speaker at several health conferences, seminars, lectures, schools, and corporations focused on weight management in adults, children, and older groups, diabetes, healthy eating, and motivation techniques. Also besides being an article writer in newspapers, medicine magazines I was training dieticians and collaborated with other healthcare professionals.

Presently I am based in Canada working with one of the largest health care companies in the country – Bayshore Healthcare.

Tell us how you created this brand and what was the sole idea behind it.

I thrive on making difference in people’s lives for healthy living and encouraging them to make healthier choices. 

The idea to name ‘Dietengage’ was directed to engaging people by providing authentic passionate diet service while creating a meaningful significant healthy difference in one’s life.

My philosophy is to enjoy all food and stay healthy. This inspired me to pen down a book called ‘Ramadan Diaries 2020’ which was published as a best seller under the etiquettes category at Amazon Kindle last year. Currently, I am working on a continued edition of this book centering on Ramadan 2021.

Go in detail and tell us about how your brand works. You may keep this from the audience’s perspective.

I assessed the demand for a flexible diet and the idea of online nutrition counseling instilled in my mind. I noticed the difference I could bring in to such people by imparting selfless knowledge. The experience I had working in pediatrics and geriatric Nutrition helped me grow my subjects. I started designing the flow of my work technique. 

My program includes:

• In-depth nutrition assessment
• Personalized diets as per the needs and requirements
• 1 on 1 skype calls
• Daily monitoring
• Grocery list
• Tweaked recipes
• Healthy lifestyle modification tools

I gained expertise in various domains of Dietetics and Nutrition by engaging with varied cross-national clients while I specialized in the following disciplines:

• Weight loss and obesity management
• Cardiovascular and hypertension care
• Prenatal and Postnatal nutrition
• Teenage diet management
• Geriatric nutrition
• Gastroenterology
• Bariatrics
• Diabetes
• Fitness
• General Nutrition, healthy eating, and more…

The initial interview would help me understand the patient’s needs and design a customized diet plan. I have a questionnaire in place to document all essential details of the patient with respect to dietary choices and medical state. I set goals for the patients at each milestone to keep them motivated and going. Also provide helpful resources for counting calories on daily basis, physical activity, and much more holistically depending upon the need of the client with timely follow-ups. I also feature the success stories on my website for more visibility and appreciation.

What is your giveaway idea through this interview? Highlight something that may interest the readers on a one-to-one basis.

Dietengage is a perfect place for people who are ready to engage and are looking for specific advice and personalized counseling. My platform provides a continuous customized nutritional streaming confined to the specific needs of the client whereas a traditional setup is more mechanical and without a continued follow-up on improvements/success stories.

Explain the challenges you went through while you were working on brand creation. What are the challenges you go through on an everyday basis?

With my virtual contributions in newspapers, magazines, and hospital setup experience, I was very excited to design a system where I could see my clients succeed and achieve their health goals more efficiently. I was more focused to have my clients enjoy the being healthy journey rather than practicing dieting because they have been suggested by a physician. 

I first created a website with information about me and my programs. My website has expanded now and has recipe blogs. I gained around 10,000 followers on Instagram. I am approached by various brands to introduce to my clients and followers on my Instagram handle.

I was able to write a book that was listed as a bestseller under the etiquette category only through word of mouth. 100% of the sales proceeds were donated to Islamic Relief Canada.

My biggest challenge is the time which I try to streamline living in different time zone through reminders and prompts. I have learned to be confident in service with a sincere goal of helping people and always be ready with a plan A, B, and C to never give up.

How do you manage your finances through the services you offer. Any fundings etc received?

My client referrals are mainly by word of mouth. Working in different setups from hospitals to fitness clubs, lifestyle clinics, MNC’s, and research within the nutrition/dietetics domain have been a catalyst that gathered most of my clientele. I am closely involved with South Asian communities in India, Middle East, and the UK through virtual platforms. I am also an author at Just for hearts (India). I work for one of the largest health care companies in Canada. 

Tell us your future vision about the brand. How far do you want to take it? What is your dream about taking it to the next level?

It is highly important to align the need of the people and what I think. Reviewing Google analytics for the coming traffic and popular pages helps me improve my content.

I would take this forward by creating a platform for other dietitians to do more through content creation, partner with different brands aiding weight loss and mental health during the journey for the ease of clients. I also want to liaise with an app for easy documentation, reminders, diet journals, and calorie count for the clients.

What message would you like to give to anybody who has a plan of creating something of their own and making a living through it?

The priciest thing as an entrepreneur is time. So organizing and being committed to it needs a priority. Having complete knowledge with timely updates is essential in the healthcare business. Allow yourself to gain hands-on experience and best practices before coming into the market as each lead is a business you need to crack and sustain with reliability. Do not haste it is a process, keep your grounds strong to hold the fort of success. Be passionate aboutcare and remember why you started.

Company name : Dietenage

Email Address: sabafirdous@dietengage.com

Website: www.dietengage.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/dietengage

The post Saba Firdous on Her Journey Towards Building Dietengage appeared first on CEO Medium.

Even more alarmingly, there is the strong possibility that the Covid pandemic will be replaced by a mental health pandemic and this one could last years. Both the government and employers will have to tread the next few months very carefully if they want to ensure that the working population stays on the mental straight and narrow.

However, there is an unlikely source of help to be found and it’s available to everyone.

Creativity!

Yes, creativity is good for your mental well-being.

How does creativity boost your mental health?

There are a number of factors that contribute to the therapeutic effect that creativity can have on mental well-being.

1. Meditation Plus: When you are creative, your brain enters a state of flow and becomes totally absorbed by what you are doing. It’s like meditation or mindfulness, but better, because you have something tangible to show for it!
2. Dopamine feel-good factor: The reward centers in our brain release dopamine; it’s this chemical surge that boosts your mood. Dopamine, sometimes referred to as the feel-good chemical, is a neurotransmitter that acts as a natural antidepressant. When we engage in creative pursuits and the neurons in our brain start firing, we receive positive re-enforcement. So not only does being creative feel good at the time, but our brains are also essentially telling us to keep going. More of the same, please.
3. Therapy: The British Journal of Health Psychology published a study that highlighted the benefits of journaling as a way of improving mental health. The study showed that writing about an emotional topic lowered people’s cortisol levels. Similarly, painting or drawing about the struggles a person is going through is a good way of expressing emotions or experiences that they are not able to verbalize or write down.
4. Socializing: Creativity doesn’t need to be an individual pursuit. It can be something that is enjoyed collectively. During Lockdown, this could be an easy, effective and entertaining way of staying connected with others……as well as being good for your mental state of mind. And when we do return to the workplace, we will be returning to a social environment.

But not only is creativity good for everybody’s well-being but it is also greatly beneficial for the commercial welfare of every single company emerging from the grip of Covid-19. Never before has creativity been more important than it is today.

What can companies do to foster creativity during Lockdown…and beyond?

1. Zoom control. Stress and pressure are not conducive to creativity. If employees are now working from home, it is counter-productive to fill up the day with back-to-back Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls. If 2 hours of commuting time a day has been saved by the mandate of Lockdown, avoid the temptation of filling this time with the more day-to-day nitty-gritty. Give this time back to employees and ask them to get creative.
2. Creative oases – Have employees got places and spaces in the home that can serve as ‘creative oases’? A home office or a corner of a room full of color, photos, and quirky little objects? A ‘Costa Kitchen’ where they can meet up daily with housemates or family to banter and brainstorm. A bathroom infused with gentle music and lavender smells to reward body and mind!
3. Moving with your mood – Do your employees know where their brain is at its creative best throughout the day? Which room in the house is good for what kind of thinking?
4. Creative twists and turns – What are you doing to encourage creativity at the very tactical level? Does every Zoom call have to follow the same format? Why not set the team a creative challenge for the week, something useful for the company, but also playful at the same time? How about sending the team a great example of creativity demonstrated during Covid-times every day at 4 pm and ask for comments? Little boosts of dopamine every day will help keep the stress away!
5. Ready for the return – What plans do you have in place for the return to normality once Covid has left our shores? Three days at the office, two days working from home? A more creativity-friendly working environment? Employers have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to re-think the workplace and work routines. We mustn’t waste it.

Biologically speaking, creativity is good for the preservation of mental health! It’s free and there are no side-effects. Mental health is also good for creativity. So, if companies can create an environment that fosters both creativity and mental well-being, then it really is going to a big win-win all around.

Mark Simmonds is a creativity, insight, and innovation expert and the founder of GENIUS YOU – a company that helps teams develop winning ideas by strengthening creative muscles

The post Creativity is Good for Your Mental Health appeared first on CEO Medium.

1. Marie Kondo that ish – Physically go through your house and declutter. If you haven’t used it in 3 months – donate it! A good way to go about this so you don’t feel overwhelmed is to pick one room at a time. Make sure everything in that room brings you joy or is a necessity. Create a home for every item in this space. If your feeling attached to an item that you no longer use, ask yourself why. My life memo is we can’t accept new manifestations and new things in our lives if there is no space for them. Go make that space. 

2. Brain Dump – We have so many things circulating in our minds at all times (especially if you’re a creator archetype) sometimes you just need a good ol’ fashion brain dump. Get that journal out and just let it flow. All the to-do’s, all the things heavy on your heart, all the thoughts that are creating chaos – get it all out. Do not worry about it being organized, you can sort out a to-do or inspiration list from it later. Just free flow, messy write, and release all your holding on too judgment-free. Take up space and be proud of it. I highly encourage you to write pen and paper, there is just something about the connection of physically seeing it leave your mind to the paper. Your brain scientifically feels safe seeing it visually and will release it. Doing a voice memo on your phone or in notes just does not have the same effect. 

3. Have a solid morning routine – A morning routine will change your life, I promise you this. Do not pick up your phone until these five things have been completed. I have all of my clients get up and first thing drinks water. Our bodies are dehydrated and have not had water in eight hours so you’re starting off by immediately nourishing your body and showing yourself some self-love. Next is to move your body for 10 minutes. There are so many ways to incorporate this but just do what feels good to you. A few of my favorites are stretching, spiral movement (releases feminine energy), a quick yoga flow, or stretching. Meditation for ten minutes. Be still and see what downloads for you. After your meditation picks your top three intentions for the day. I usually pick something I have to do, something I want to do, and something that will put me one step closer to my BIG GOAL. The last thing before you can move and groove on with your day is to gratitude journal for ten minutes. This can include affirmations, free-flow writing, a traditional “I’m thankful for..” list but it is setting up the emotion of gratitude to carry with you throughout your day. 

4. Get Outside – We need mother earth to ground and be centered. If you don’t have time for a hike or adventure then simply go lay your hands on the earth for five minutes. Remember the ground has always got you. There’s nowhere else to fall. You feel safe, secure, and at peace doing this simple practice. 

5. Be Present – Mindfulness is an amazing way to feel centered and eliminate overwhelm. “I can’t though it’s too hard to keep my mind quiet.” I’ve got you –  Light a candle and stare at the flame. Any time thought about the past or future pops up just observe it. Imagine it just floating by. Do not get mad at yourself for having it, just notice the thought and then let it go. Keep your eye on the flame. Notice a smell around you. Feel the ground beneath you. What’s the surface like? Be in your body for that moment. Start small – 1 minute and then work your way up in time increments. There are a ton of options for free meditations.

6. Breathing – Our breath is POWERFUL. A few quick breathing techniques you can do to feel decluttered are balancing your right and left brain. Plug one nostril and breath in and out through your nose for ten breaths and then switch nostrils. This will also help in balancing your masculine and feminine energy. Another favorite is to take a breath in through your nose for 5 seconds, hold for 6 seconds and exhale through your mouth for 7 seconds. Do these as many times as you need until you feel a sense of calm. 

7. Distraction – Sometimes to declutter we need a distraction. Maybe you’re going through a break up? Dealing with something heavy? We can’t always be clear and focused and when we get in these states it’s a good idea to distract. Call a friend, see how they’re doing, take your dog for a walk, make a painting, tap into that inner child and play.

8. Dance – I have a standing desk so I can dance and shake it throughout the day. Our hips are where the majority of our trauma is stored so when we shake our body and dance we are clearing our energetic fields on a scientific level without even knowing it. Sometimes that clutter in our minds needs to be moved through our bodies and released or we just simply have stagnant energy that needs to move and flow. 

9. Data Declutter – I know it sounds silly but sometimes taking an hour and clearing your email inbox, sorting it in folders, and responding to all of the “I’ll get to it later” will motivate you like no other. 

10. Unplug and Unwind – Our bodies need stillness. We are humans not machines. Sometimes all we need is a solid unplug. Put the phone in a different room and take some time doing something you love. Maybe it’s a book you’ve been meaning to read, a podcast you’ve been dying to tune into, whatever your jam is, make time for it. We come back to the task at 100% instead of the procrastination and dread which has been driving us with no breaks. 

Decluttering your mind all starts with one simple thing. A choice. You make the decision to do it and pick one thing a day to incorporate into your routine. Decide who you want to be and start showing up for her every single day. Most of all allow yourself grace. As cliche as it sounds life is a journey and we are here to learn lessons along the way. 

The post 10 Ways to Declutter Your Mind. appeared first on CEO Medium.

Her story of personal transformation is truly remarkable. In 2019 Adrian’s life could be described as anxious, depressed, with little to no understanding of her purpose in life where she was suffering from chronic illness, unhappy in her romantic relationship, lacking community, and struggling financially. By 2020 she had done a complete 180!

She created the life of her dreams with the help of boundary work and alternative healing modalities such as plant medicine. Through her holistic journey, she created a thriving 6 figure + coaching business, an aligned romantic partnership, and healed herself from chronic mental and physical illnesses.

Along the process- Adrian captivated and built an inspired community of thousands of people around the world!  

In 2020 Adrian founded The Alpas Project, a retreat company that means The “becoming free” project where she began facilitating conscious retreats and workshops on topics that were inspiring her healing journey.

Her current retreat Project is hosted with Vylana Marcus, you might know her as Aubrey Marcus’s wife, called Awaken Your Medicine Woman. This collaboration provides a potent container for women to deepen their spiritual practices and learn what it means to connect to the healing of radical feminine embodiment.

In addition to Retreats and collaborations, Adrian started The Self Healer Mastermind for individuals looking to heal their trauma and unconscious patterns with the help of holistic and alternative healing techniques such as inner child healing, boundary work, vision boarding, & shadow work. 

Both Adrian as a Coach and The Alpas Project provide a safe place for practicing healers and curious individuals seeking mental, emotional, and physical healing to connect and collaborate. The Self Healer Mastermind is a virtual experience for the community to find holistic methods of healing their past and creating the future that sets their soul on fire. 

Adrian believes our pain is our purpose. Only when we decide to dive deeper and do the inner work – we cultivate the language to heal ourselves and serve in healing the world around us. 

Adrian’s contribution to your audience is her Manifestation 101 Class for those looking to get clear on not only their deepest desires but the limiting beliefs and unconscious patterns that hold them back from claiming the life of their dreams. 

The biggest differentiator about Adrian’s brand … 

What is so special about Adrian’s Brand is that it is 100% a reflection of her own healing journey and the inner work she is doing on a daily basis. As she continues to teach what she has been practicing, her practice must deepen within the of unlimited levels of mastery. 

Adrian teaches her community a lot on manifestation and creating the space in your life to call in your deepest desires. Part of this process is in TRUSTING THE PROCESS. When she was hit 6 months ago with endometriosis, all her trust was shaken up and she was left to decide if she was a teacher of these principles or an embodiment of them!

Adrian says the topic of boundaries & taking back her personal power has impacted her the most to build her internal integrity, and therefore the language for her audience.

Adrian’s personal brand as well as, The Alpas Project brand have little to no overhead depending on the project at work. Adrian owns 100% of both brands. 

The future for this brand is truly limitless!

 That’s the whole point of the brand – humans are limitless beings that create limitations in order to feel safe and in control. Adrian believes we only manifest what we feel safe enough to experience. In making the choice to do the inner work to heal, we expand our capacity to create and experience more!

Adrian can not stress the importance of creating a foundation that provides the feeling of safety aka boundaries with yourself. She describes this as coming home to yourself daily through grounding rituals and awareness so people can feel safe in knowing where they stand in every given situation. It’s the concept that internal safety creates external growth. We can say and act as if we feel safe but energy does not live.

What you feel underneath all the masks is the truth and from that truth, life will be manifested for us.

Get in touch with Adrian on

Instagram: @adrianellison 

Company / retreats: @the.alpas.project 

Website: www.thealpasproject.com

Clubhouse: @adrianellison 

The post MEET ADRIAN – Healer, Coach, Spiritual Leader: On A Mission To Impact The Future of Mental Health & Put The Healing Power Back In Our Own Hands appeared first on CEO Medium.