Now, more than ever, personal wellness is essential. Times of quarantine and social distancing makes wellness more difficult to navigate; however, we have collected some resources to obtain, maintain, and sustain wellbeing.
We totally nailed the “brady bunch” look
7 Easy Tips for Wellness
Eat healthfully to keep your body in top working order.
Exercise reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety, whether we’re working out at home or taking a solo jog around the neighborhood.
Practice relaxation therapy. Focusing on tensing and relaxing muscle groups can help you relax voluntarily when feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious.
Let light in. For some people, increased exposure to light can improve symptoms of depression. If you can, open the shades and let more sunlight in.
Be kind to yourself! Treat yourself with the same compassion you would a friend.
Stay connected. Even if you can’t get together face-to-face, you can stay connected to friends, family and neighbors with phone calls, text messages, video chats and social media. If you’re feeling lonely, sad or anxious, reach out to your social support networks. Share what you are feeling and offer to listen to friends or family members about their feelings. We are all experiencing this scary and uncertain time together.
Monitor media consumption. While you might want to stay up-to the minute with COVID-19 news, too much exposure can be overwhelming. Balance media consumption with other activities you enjoy, such as reading, cooking or listening to music.
Resources:
Below are a few of the available resources for health care workers and UC Health Employees. For a complete and comprehensive list, please see this link.
Mental Health:
Headspace is offering free subscription to healthcare workers — you just need your NPI and an email address.
The UC Health Employee Assistance Program (EAP) remains open and is providing free and confidential consultation to all UC Health employees and adult household members via telephone.
EAP can be reached at 585-6100, Monday-Friday from 8:00-4:30.
THRIVE is a new comprehensive wellness program powered by Virgin Pulse to help you with your physical, emotional, and professional wellness. Sign up is less than 5 minutes and gives you access to multiple resources for self-care as you care for others and cope with many changes.
Use your employee number and work email for initial sign-up.
MyStrength is a platform that provides tools for cultivating resilience and strengthening skills for greater mental well-being. The home page offers resources specifically for managing stress related to COVID-19, including activities, guided meditations and coping tools.
To access myStrength, log into your THRIVE account and navigate to the ‘programs’ card (see above)
When you enroll in any wellness program, your personal information is not shared with UC Health other than the fact that you have enrolled and when you achieve reward levels.
Questions or suggestions about Employee Assistance and THRIVE: email THRIVE@UCHealth.com
UC Health Employee Assistance can be reached by phone at 585-6100, M-F 8:00-4:30.
Childcare for Health Workers:
Food:
Safe Grocery Shopping- A FM doctor shows safe ways to purchase groceries in this YouTube Video. Did you know Corona can live on cardboard for a day?!
Exercise:
YOGA: Dr. Nandyal shared that she and her husband Ray are offering free on line community yoga. Please email Dr. Nandyal,nandyali@UCMAIL.UC.EDU, for the link. Classes are held 6:30P T, R and 4P Sunday.
Code Lavender:
The purpose of Code Lavender in the TCH/UC residency program is to help cover clinical services for healthcare professionals in need so that they can better attend to their emotional needs before re-engaging in patient care responsibilities. This is in addition to support services already in place at Christ Hospital and UC including the Lindner Center for Hope, employee assistance programs, and multiple provider well-being initiatives. For full details please see this Lavender Link.
To join the Code Lavender Response Team:
• Email Dr Spata your availability for the upcoming month. Please select 1 week or larger increments of time. Ensure she has your best contact info including phone and pager number.
• You will be given a lavender ribbon to pin to your white coat lapel or scrubs top. Wear this on the weeks you are participating on the Response Team.
• Keep your pager/phone near you during the weeks you are participating on the Response Team.