For some the opportunity to work from home has been a glorious and welcomed change, while for others this change has been difficult and the wait to return to “normal” cannot come fast enough. While there are many work environments and workplace needs, there are some things that can help make the “new normal” more manageable.
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Where possible, things to consider when working from home:

By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP

Men’s mental health in the workplace is a difficult and sensitive topic to address. 

I have always loved spending time outdoors in nature.
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As a child I have fond memories of catching tadpoles in buckets, and noticing ones that had started to develop tiny little legs and the ones that hadn’t. A few years later I recall building a “girls only” fort in the trees behind my family home and running and playing in the forest with child-like wonder and natural curiosity. 

By: Cassandra Nordal

​Returning to work after a lay off or leave in general, is difficult. You add a pandemic onto that and well, how do we begin to function properly?

​I have now heard this account from several people, and am one of these people myself. Despite the ongoing trauma, state of chaos and challenges around this pandemic, there are some people who are relieved by the break from normalcy, and in fact maybe really needed the break. If this sounds familiar: don’t worry, you are not alone, nor is there anything wrong with how you’re feeling. 

By: Jordan Gross, RN TBRHSC

Right Now I am scared…. I am a Nurse and my job is to face the beast that the rest of the world is hiding from and is informed to avoid at all costs.

By: Cassandra Nordal

This is obviously a scary time for us all. Hour by hour, we are watching our world change so drastically that we are all in a state of constant worry and panic. We have been focusing on the detrimental health risk and factors that this virus is causing, and now, we need to talk about the impact this is having on our mental health.
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​I bet by reading this title, an individual’s name came to your mind. We spend a lot of hours at work, surrounded by people that we didn’t choose. Nobody gets along with everybody, as we all have different personalities, bad habits, and varying thresholds for bull$%&#. On one hand, working with individuals that we would not have otherwise known can be great fun! Personally, I have formed deep friendships with colleagues I have encountered throughout my life, rooted in commonalities, respect, and shared humour.

​However, on the other hand, a disliked colleague can be a source of much stress and irritation.  I have spoken with many clients that are feeling overwhelmed with stress due to the behavior of a colleague. It’s important to remember: there’s no need to give another person this much power over you. No one is responsible for our emotions but us, so let’s take back that power! Easier said than done, I know, but here are a few things to try, because simply venting/gossiping to other colleagues won’t change a thing: 
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What is fear of success?
A fear of success is a fear that you will accomplish all that you set out to, but that you still will not feel happy, content, or satisfied once you reach your goal.  It is a belief that you are undeserving of all the good things and recognition that come your way as a result of your accomplishments and successes.  It is the opposite of a fear of failure, in that fear of failure is the fear of making mistakes and losing approval.  Fear of success is the fear of accomplishment and being recognized and honoured.  A fear of success is a lack of belief in your own ability to sustain your progress in your life, and the fear that your progress can self-destruct at any time.  A fear of success can result in a lack of effort to achieve goals you have set for yourself, can result in self-destructive behaviour, may affect your ability to make healthy decisions, may result in a lack of motivation to grow, achieve, and to succeed. ​

In life, we have many different roles and responsibilities related to work, physical health, a career, family, friends, and time.  It is no wonder that sometimes we find ourselves feeling stressed or overwhelmed.  It is important to remember that small amounts of stress are healthy and necessary as they help us to be motivated, efficient, helps with good mental focus, and helps us to feel more content and happy within our lives.  Whereas having too much stress for a long time results in feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, overloaded, burnt out, and exhausted.

​Work life balance does not mean that we are making our priorities between work and other aspects of our lives equal, and instead, that we are meeting our own individual needs in order to perform optimally at work, as well as in the other aspects of our lives. 
 
Steps to Achieve Work Life Balance

1. Find what works for you. Everyone is different, and therefore, everyone’s needs are different.  Our needs can change over time.
2. Set priorities.  Learn what replenishes your batteries, versus what drains them, and make this your priority.  Identify what is important to you, what you value, and makes this your priority.
3. Set realistic goals for yourself.  Break down your goals into small and more achievable steps, break down your day using a time log, and track your progress. 
4. Let go of perfectionism.  Work and life cannot be perfectly balanced and is up to you to let go of this unhealthy expectation in order that you can do the best that you can for what is required in the present moment.  Learn to delegate tasks.  Learn to let go.
5. Take breaks. You will actually be more productive if you take breaks and will be a better employee for it!  Try something different like going for a walk, socializing, reading a book, meditating, stretching, or whatever makes you feel good.  Enjoy some quiet time. 
6. Try to leave your work at work.  Help yourself to transition from work to home by taking a walk, listening to music, or something else that you enjoy.  Don’t check your work emails or answer work-related phone calls when not at work (unless you are on-call!).  This is your time and it is important!  Give yourself value outside the role of being a boss, a manager, or an employee.
7. Take care of yourself.  Engage in self-care.  Don’t skip exercise, meals or sleep.
8. Set healthy boundaries.  Don’t overbook yourself, learn to say no, respect yourself, know what you value, know what you want and need, understanding your feelings and communicate them clearly, know your limits, and ask for help when needed. 
9. Have fun!  Cultivate your interests outside of work.  Enjoy recreational activities and hobbies. Get out there and volunteer.
10. Develop a support network.  Consider who you trust, who will listen when needed, and include both personal and professional supports. 
11. Ask yourself: whether you have time in your life to set aside in order to focus on other aspects of your life in order to create a better balance for your life?  If the answer is no, then something needs to change!