3 Actions to invigorate your mental wellbeing
It is great that we see so much about awareness in the month of May but we are firm believers that ACTION is even better. Action can be big or small - whether you attend a Mental Health First Aid Training or reach out to a friend who has been going through it, it all works towards a more mentally healthy industry.
This month we are encouraging everyone in the industry to make some time to take care of themselves and reach out to someone on their team to have a proper chat and check in. With that in mind lets kick off with action number 1.
Action 1 - practice active listening.
Taking care of your team is one of the top most influential ways in which you can improve the mental well-being of your colleagues in hospitality. By creating a workplace where open and honest discussions are encouraged, team members are going to be more likely to open up about how they are feeling. To help people feel comfortable talking openly it is important that they are being actively listened to.
Listening skills are not something we are explicitly taught but they account for more than half of all communication.
We can all listen more actively by following these steps:
1. Becoming comfortable with silence and allowing someone to continue talking, rather than trying to fill the silence.
2. Asking open-ended questions that allow someone to elaborate rather than provide yes or no answers.
3. Maintaining comfortable eye contact and appropriate body language so that someone feels listened to.
Action 2 - book yourself onto a course to learn something new. It could be a skill you've wanted to try for ages. Maybe pottery? Dancing? Writing comedy?
Did you know that learning something new improves the quality of your life and also deepens the relationships you have. It can boost your self-esteem, give you a sense of purpose and help you meet new people? All great ways to bolster your mental well-being!
As part of Mental Health Awareness week we held a half day Mental Health Awareness course for free. Our half day and two day courses are subsidised so that they are as assessable as possible to all in the hospitality industry.
You can book onto one of our courses here.
Action 3 - get moving your body in a new way!
It can be dancing around your bedroom, roller skating or taking the dog for a walk. Exercising has been proven to help reduce the risk of developing mental illness and is an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety!
As part of our Mental Health Action Month some of our Kelly’s Cause Alumni came together to run Chase the Sun as part of their commitment to support their own mental wellbeing and raise money for Kelly’s Cause. Thank you team! It was a dreamy evening spent in a sun drenched Hyde Park.
If you’re interested in joining our relaxed, supportive running group, please email melissa@kellyscause.com.
