Mental Health and Work-Life Balance
As we all know, work-life balance can be a challenge, and just thinking about how you need more of it can be a bit stressful and overwhelming. However, knowing that taking as little as fifteen minutes a day to check in and incorporate some simple therapies can positively affect our mental health, might help to ease the tension a bit.
Taking Time to Recharge
We checked in with American Fidelity (AF) Colleagues during Mental Health Awareness Month to find out how they liked to improve their mental health. Though there are numerous ways to achieve the same results, some similar activities and practices popped up. It turns out that many Colleagues found spending time with family and friends (the animal variety included) restorative. Other common practices were gratitude lists and journaling, exercise, meditation and prayer, reading, listening to music and of course spending time enjoying nature. A few somewhat unique strategies that were shared included playing with a baby goat, reading mathematical proofs and having a steam.
Tip to Get Through Anxiety
One specific technique shared was the 5,4,3,2,1 technique. AF Colleague Ruby S. suggests trying this practice to bring you back to the moment or helping you get through anxiety.
- Name five things you can see in your space in the moment.
- Pause and acknowledge them, you might see something you never noticed before.
- Name four things you can touch around you.
- Take note of the different textures that you feel on your fingertips.
- Name three things you can hear.
- If you’re comfortable, close your eyes and listen to the different hums around you.
- Name two things you can smell.
- Pause to enjoy the scent of your coffee, tea or maybe the lotion you have on.
- Name one thing you can taste.
- Take the opportunity to take another sip of your drink or recall the last thing you ate/drank.
No matter what your method is for downshifting, be patient with yourself and remember that it is a practice with accumulative effects.
Finding Your Purpose
If you are interested in additional ways to improve or maintain your mental wellbeing, taking time to discover your purpose can help! Research has shown that knowing what your purpose is not only improves your mental health but can add years to your life.
American Fidelity offers tools for our Colleagues like our free digital wellness platform where Colleagues can take courses on determining and living their purpose. We also have a Company e-library with books that can help guide Colleagues on their wellness journey. At American Fidelity, it is important for our Colleagues to thrive so we can provide excellence to our Customers.
Looking for a new job to help you find your way? Check out our openings at jobs.americanfidelity.com.
This blog is up to date as of February 2025 and has not been updated for changes in the law, administration or current events.
