Sharing inspiration for self-care

In honor of Mental Health Awareness month, we invite you to share your self-care to inspire your colleagues who view the board to take action on their well-being. By encouraging each other to take care of ourselves, we can help each other through both minor and major life challenges. 

Many of us may be feeling burned-out, stressed or anxious, which can manifest physically through fatigue, lacking motivation or being easily distracted from the task at hand. When you feel this way, please remember that Stanford offers you resources to support your mental well-being:

• The Stanford Faculty Staff Help Center provides up to 10 free counseling sessions for you and your family. All appointments are currently virtual. 
• Meru is a 12-week online mental wellness program available for free to employees and adult dependents enrolled in a university medical plan. 
• BeWell offers personalized wellness support through your annual, free Advising session and STAP-eligible Multi-session Coaching. 
• A myriad of Healthy Living offerings and Continuing Studies courses can help you develop mindfulness, stress management and resiliency.  

BeWell also has several articles with Stanford experts on strategies to improve your mental and emotional well-being:

• Boost your energy
• The happiness story
• Easing anxiety
• Letting go of distractions
• Self-care: The gift that keeps on giving
• The benefits of self-forgiveness
• Tending to your emotional health
• Self-compassion: The best medicine

This May, we encourage you to honor what you need, lean into your resources and support systems, and practice self-care in honor of Mental Health Awareness month. Remember that your well-being supports those around you, so try to drop any feelings of guilt you may have around putting you first. And don’t forget to share your self-care to inspire and encourage the community.