Spotlight on Wellbeing
Commencing a series of monthly articles focused on wellbeing, our first post talks about reviewing your own wellbeing. You can also read about how CRA members can access wellbeing resources via the Retail Trust, and as part of your CRA membership fee, here.
It’s really important to stay on top of your mental health and wellbeing, with the charity Mind reporting that 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem of some kind each year in England.
Here are some things you might want to explore…
Happy Place: The brain child of Fearne Cotton, Happy Place is a place to connect and through story sharing and insight from experts, aim to inspire self-empowerment. There is something for everyone, in a variety of mediums to suit everyone’s different learning styles. You may want to dip into the Happy Place podcast for regular content on grief, prioritising your mental health and awakening your spirituality. Or for a summer read try one of their books such as Calm the journal, Quiet or Happy. Plus, they have a Happy Place Festival in Tatton Park in September combining all the elements of the brand for a day focused on wellbeing.
Being in nature: It’s well-documented that being in nature and being outside is good for our mental health and wellbeing. A 2019 study of 20,000 people led by the European Centre for Environment & Human Health found that those who spend 2 hours a week in nature were more likely to report good health and improved psychological wellbeing vs. those that didn’t. Why not pop along to your local National Trust property for some fun exploring in nature; throughout the summer they have a range of activities available including daily tours, film making, photography courses and craft workshops. Or English Heritage have their ‘one extraordinary summer’ campaign with a range of events to choose from.
Exercise: Check out the NHS website for details of the amazing benefits exercise has on both your physical and mental health and wellbeing, including reducing your risk of depression. There are lots of free exercise resources available including the popular Couch to 5k or check-out Joe Wick’s The Body Coach YouTube channel for lots of free exercise routines to follow along at home or in the garden. The NHS Fitness Studio also have a range of 23-instructor led videos covering exercises like pilates, yoga and belly dancing – so there should be something for everyone!
Wellbeing resources via the CRA
Don’t forget that as a CRA member you get access to Retail Trust’s range of wellbeing resources. Especially for the summer they have articles on:
- Your summer reading list
- Your summer listening list
- Eight wellbeing trends for summer
It is a great resource for anyone who needs additional support or doesn’t have access to their own Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) through their workplace, with regular content on financial wellbeing, career development, coping with menopause, managing stress and lots more. If you are a manager they also have a section specifically for you, with advice around EDI, how to give feedback and managing a critical incident.
Find out how you can access Retail Trust’s wellbeing resources here
Next month we talk about financial wellbeing.
03/08/2023 14:28