Now more than ever, it is imperative that companies create cultures where employees have the awareness, language and psychological safety to speak up, ask for help and leverage the mental health and well-being resources available to them. Changing the culture and communication around mental health won’t just increase utilization of mental health benefits, wellness programs and preventative measures. It will increase productivity, job satisfaction and sense of community within the organization, while decreasing attrition rates, absenteeism, presenteeism, organizational risk and disruption to teams. Perhaps most importantly, it will also give employees the tools, resources and support they need to survive one of the most challenging years in our country’s history.
Read MoreOver the past 10 years, I have continued to add more tools and build upon the ones I find most helpful. Thanks to individual therapy, couples therapy, workshops, retreats, continuing education courses, books, podcasts and confidants, I’ve built a robust toolkit that helps me both proactively and reactively manage anxiety, depression and stress (because aren’t they all so intertwined?!) Nothing changes overnight, but together, these tools have helped me stack up more daily moments of peace, calm and joy than I ever experienced before they entered my life. They are like beautifully simple little bricks that have helped me build higher levels of consciousness, gratitude and content. I hope they do the same for you.
Read MoreFood comas, books and escapism helped me avoid my feelings through the first decade+ of my life, but once adolescence and the associated hormonal hell came a-knocking, they weren’t enough. By junior year in high school, I discovered how blissfully detached alcohol could make me. For a naive teenager looking to avoid feelings of discomfort, fear, sadness and loneliness, alcohol seems like a good option. For a lost young woman struggling with depression, disordered eating, body image issues and a desperate need to escape all of the aforementioned, it seems like a great option.
Read MoreI’ve spent much of my life hiding my depression, avoiding the causes, or trying to escape the effects. I used to view depression as a weakness, a failure, a flaw. I was both afraid to admit I struggled with depression to myself and to anyone around me. I was so focused on trying to project an image of the perfect person I wanted to be, I never considered embracing with compassion the imperfect person I am.
Read MoreI started Misfit Wellness because I want to make a healthier and happier diet and lifestyle more accessible, approachable and sustainable - especially for those of us who have struggled with mental and physical health. Unfortunately the basic fundamentals of living and eating well often get sexed up and overcomplicated to the point where they seem completely inaccessible and unattainable to the average American. I might not be able to change the fact that our healthcare system and food supply in this country are beyond broken, but I can help you take your health into your own hands with simple diet and lifestyle choices made each day.
Read MoreWhen I started to open up about disordered eating and body image, I learned that shedding light on the darkest corners of my life can help shed more light on a path to healing for myself and others. In the hopes that opening up about depression will do the same, I’m sharing the below list. These are the things I believe have transformed my experience with depression, or in the very least, have kept me out of bed when I just want to pull the covers over my head.
Read MoreBy the time I committed to healthier habits around managing stress, it had already wreaked havoc on my digestion, immune function, sleep, weight and sanity. I no longer had the energy to have or be fun anymore. Don’t let stress make you a Debbie Downer too. Use these simple but transformative tips to help you manage stress before you find yourself perpetually frazzled, bloated, angry, and downright miserable.
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