September 2022
· 3 min read
There’s been so much going on in our world, especially during the last couple of years, when the COVID-19 pandemic has left us feeling completely out of control. We’re often so accustomed to feeling stressed that we forget how it can negatively affect our minds and bodies and the toll it takes on our health.
NSF recently held a wellness month for all our employees, and here we share some of the ways you can start feeling calmer today:
No question — two-plus years of nonstop Zoom sessions have taken their toll on many of us. Are you overwhelmed with meetings? Clearing your calendar can boost creativity and improve your productivity. At NSF, we’ve even instituted “Meeting-Free Fridays.” Many of my peers tell me this is a game-changer, and I love the time to regroup, reflect and catch up on emails.
NSF’s Marcela Alarcón Rodarte offered several ways to recharge. Rodarte, Business Lead, Consulting, Training and Technical Services, LATAM, recommends “using breathing as a tool to calm your mind and bring focus to what you need to do.” Indeed, her tips include taking time to pause and just breathe:
Brain Gym is a series of simple exercises that can boost your mood and memory and increase your attention span — plus they’re fun. You can practice Brain Gym in the morning, after lunch or during the day, when you start to feel your energy slipping.
Emotional freedom technique (EFT) helps ease physical pain and emotional distress. This technique uses fingertip tapping to apply pressure, creating a balance of energy and treating pain points.
“If we add up the time invested in these exercises and techniques, we are talking about 15-20 minutes per day to create a balance,” says Marcela. “Twenty-five minutes is what we spend on social media! So why not use it for our wellness instead?”