How the NAVCA team takes care of our mental health

This week for Mental Health Awareness Week, we asked the NAVCA team what they do to look after their mental health.

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As professionals in the charity sector, working to improve the wellbeing of communities and individuals, it is important that we take care of our own mental health too. This enables us to have a healthy work-life balance, be more resilient in our work, and work together well as a team.

You can read more about Mental Health Awareness Week, which is focusing on loneliness this year, here. You can also access campaign resources from Better Health - Every Mind Matters, here.

Below are just some of the ways that our staff look after their mental health. We hope you enjoy reading, and feel inspired to do something that's good for your wellbeing, whatever that might be.

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Anne-Marie, Health and Wellbeing Manager:  

I practice the 5 Ways to Wellbeing in my daily life and am a big believer in the small steps we can all take to improve our wellbeing. Keep Learning (challenging myself) is the most difficult one for me to achieve so I recently took up sea swimming!

Taking up a new hobby later in life offers a chance to learn in a non-conventional way. This also fits with Be Active and Connect, as I do it with friends. The exhilaration of pushing myself outside my comfort zone, even if only for a few minutes, lasts all day.

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Lydia, Health and Wellbeing Officer:

Whenever I'm feeling a bit low, I try to go out for a walk to clear my head, get away from screens and spend some time in nature. I also try to read for at least 20-30 minutes a day as I find it really relaxing. Instead of staring at my phone or laptop, reading before bed helps me to sleep better - and when I've had a good night's sleep I always feel more able to face the world!

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Cheng Ee, Membership Officer:

I do stretches and gentle exercises during the work day for my back and joints (definitely easier to do at home than in the office!). Sometimes it’s good to do meditation or breathing exercises before sleep, and I use an app for this.

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Beck, Resources Officer:

I enjoy walking, and this is a picture from the walk I went on last Saturday and overlooks Derwent. There’s nothing better than being outdoors, whether it’s spending time by myself or an opportunity to catch up with family and friends. Being able to work flexibly at NAVCA has meant that I can start and finish earlier on a Monday, so that I can walk locally with a friend.

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Karen, Resources Manager:

I look after my mental health and wellbeing by dancing! I go out dancing at least twice a week, and when I couldn’t do that due to social distancing, I followed a dance teacher’s workouts on YouTube at home.

I also like to get out in the fresh air and go walking, outdoor swimming and running if I’m feeling energetic.

Thirdly, checking in with my friends and family and being there for them to offer support helps my mental health as well as theirs.

We hope that this article has given you an insight into how we take care of our mental health, and has encouraged you to do something that you enjoy, too. Check out #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek on Twitter for more useful content, and Mind has lots of useful resources too.