Health and Wellbeing News

As the COVID-19 situation progresses and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious, tired and fed up. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered.

Now we are at the end of the year it could be considered a good time to reflect on this year. For many of us we may feel like just forgetting this year altogether due to another year interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have experienced loss, isolation, loneliness, stress and anxiety caused by uncertainty.

However, during difficult times we may learn new things about ourselves. Everyone will have had a different experience of this past year and this article looks at some of the questions you could ask yourself when reflecting on 2021. Whether you are an optimistic person or a pessimistic person – try to consider the some of the good and bad points from this year.

Questions to ask yourself when considering the good points in 2021

• What is the best thing that happened to me this year?
• What did I enjoy the most in 2021?
• What was my favourite moment in the past year?
• What was the best compliment that I received?
• What is the thing I am the proudest about during in 2021?

Questions to ask yourself when considering the not so good points in 2021

• Did I fail at anything?
•  What is the most important lesson I have learnt this year?
• What could I have done better?
• What didn’t I achieve that I would have liked to?

When answering these questions try to consider your answers carefully and reflect on why you may not have achieved what you would have liked, or why something has not gone as well as you would have liked them to. Could you do anything differently if that situation happened again in the future? What did you learn from that situation? Every individual’s experiences are different; it may be that you couldn’t do what you had planned due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so you have instead planned it for the future. When reflecting on some of the negative aspects of this year, it is important to be kind and forgiving of ourselves and those around us. We have all come through unprecedented times and everyone has faced their own challenges along the way. Try to accept that we have all had very little control of the outcomes of this year, so instead try to reward yourself for how resilient and adaptable you have been.

Reflecting on 2021 questions to consider

• What am I thankful for this year?
• What would I do differently?
• What advice would I give to myself?
• How am I different from this time last year?

When reflecting on the past year try to give yourself a fair assessment. Look at the positives and negatives. Try not to be too hard on yourself, we are always learning and sometimes making mistakes is one of the ways in which we may do this. You may have surprised yourself with how resilient you have been throughout the last year. Even if you have struggled this year, you may find next time you are in a difficult situation that you are more resilient than you were before.

Thinking about the future

• Have my long term plans now changed due the COVID-19 pandemic?
• How has this year effected what I do in the future?
• What have I learnt from this year that will change the way I do things in the future?

Future plans, aspirations and goals don’t have to be written off because of COVID-19. Whilst some aspects may need to be put on hold until restrictions are lifted fully, it is important to remind ourselves that we have all found new ways of working, socialising and living. Consider your long-term plans and how they can be adapted so that they are still achievable. Having aspirations and goals to work towards can have a positive impact on our mental wellbeing.

How can Care first help?

If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘The positives 2021 has bought & Reflecting on 2021’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 15th December at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4615803009381578509

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

Care first share research conducted by British think-tank the New Economic Foundation (NEF) which has been updated to reflect the challenges Covid-19 presents, and how we can all proactively improve our wellbeing.

1. Connect

Connecting with others is a little easier than at the start of the pandemic, this can be face to face, by using online video-based facilities, or the good old-fashioned telephone to connect with family and loved-ones through this time. It is important to stay connected as much as possible. Even sending ‘care’ packages, or post-cards to one another can be a great way of staying ‘together’.

2. Be active

Exercising has proven benefits for both physical and mental health but with people still feeling anxious about visiting gums or leisure centres, it can be more challenging for people to stay active at present. It is important to find new ways of staying active, such as going for walks, engaging in online video-based exercise content, or possibly cycling. As more and more of us return to work, it may be possible to be active on your commute by cycling or walking where possible, your employer may be part of the cycle to work scheme, which gives you discounts off new bikes.

3. Be curious

Being curious in this sense is often taken to be mindfulness and if that works for you personally then that is great. In current circumstances it’s hard not to worry about the future – of our health, our home, our family, our community and workplace. But taking some time each day to talk about how we are feeling can be helpful – even noticing the feeling of fresh air and sunshine on our faces while we are out for our daily walk.

4. Keep

learning Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy achieving. As well as being fun, learning new things will make you more confident. How often do we hear people say ‘If I had the time I’d love to….’ – well now many people do have more time on their hands than was previously the case. Find something you enjoy and give it some of your attention and energy!

5. Give

This month’s Mental Health Awareness theme is kindness. With the way our behaviours have needed to change so drastically and so quickly through the current pandemic – from the way we shop, to how we interact with friends and others outside the household – being kind has never been more important than at this current time. Giving some of your time – picking up shopping for a vulnerable neighbour or friend – could make a massive difference, not just to that person, but to the NHS and wider society. It is the small acts of kindness that can make a huge collective difference.

If you feel you may need some support, you can also contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone and face to face counselling, Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘5 Ways to wellbeing’ this is being delivered live on Tuesday 14th December at 1pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/245129939768137228

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered. Where clinically appropriate Care first are continuing to offer structured counselling through phone and virtual software. At Care first the health and safety of both you the employee and our counselling team are absolutely paramount, any changes to our structured counselling process will be made in line with government guidance.

These services include:

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for  you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinary.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility. You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirstlifestyle. co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Monday 13^th December at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7719303221639398416

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

As the weather is changing and getting a lot colder, staying indoors and keeping warm and cosy sounds good but staying active is more important than ever right now, and even if you’re mostly in your house, there are plenty of ways you can still do so….

Join an online class

If you are a member of a gym, check their social media pages to see if the instructors are running any online classes! Many gyms are continuing to offer classes from home, and these do not require any specialist equipment. If you aren’t a member of a gym there are still many online videos on YouTube or other social platforms that are great for beginner’s right through to experienced fitness fanatics.

Exercise outside

If you are ready to brace the cold weather, exercising in the crisp fresh air can be much more awakening and refreshing. There is something about exercising in the cold weather that warms you in the inside.

Find exercise painful?

Many people live with chronic pain, or health conditions exacerbated by exercise. For many people, this puts them off exercising full stop. It is important to try to find suitable alternate exercises that do not place too much stress on areas of injury, or cause any issue with a pre-existing health condition. Yoga, stretching, cycling and bodyweight exercises are often less stressful on our joints than jogging and high intensity interval training (HIIT), so modifying exercise routines is important.

Avoid falling into unhealthy eating patterns

For many the current need to social-distance means working from home has become essential. With this, many people no longer adhere to the traditional ‘lunch break’ routine you may be used to at work. Many of us are now sat either in, or very close to our kitchen with access to food all day. You may find yourself snacking more often than usual. If you find this to be the case, then you may want to set yourself specific times of the day you are to eat between. It may be helpful to allocate yourself a breakfast, lunch and dinner time, and try to avoid unhealthy snacking between these times.

Check the Care first Lifestyle website for information on Physical wellbeing

Your Care first Lifestyle site has content dedicated to physical health and wellbeing, including articles and information on warm-ups, stretches you can do whilst working, ways of keeping fit for free and many more. You can also access Care first’s Wellbeing Assessment tool, which looks at 10 aspects of health and wellbeing – allowing you to take more control of your own wellbeing.

Join Care first’s daily themed webinars

The service managers at Care first have been running daily webinars since the pandemic started, these webinars have been over a number of different topics. Most COVID-19 related but also a number on Mental health and Wellbeing issues. Healthy eating, Alcohol awareness and Sleeping well.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Keeping active at Christmas’ this is being delivered live on Friday 10th December at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3575236199774376720

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place. If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

With only a few weeks until Christmas Day 2021, the shops and streets all over the UK are hustling and bustling with the festive spirit. The Christmas lights are being switched on and the sales have commenced. With this comes Christmas festivals and celebrations happening in each town and within each family. Whilst this is an exciting and magical time of year, unfortunately cases of people suffering with coronavirus are rapidly rising. This article is going to run through some of the fun activities that take place across Christmas, with advice on how to stay safe and prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Christmas Festivals and Occasions

Every year a whole range of different events, festivals and parties take place across the UK. Invitations to the general public can come from goodwill festivals, nativity plays, charity balls and the day that the Christmas lights are turned on. These events are a celebration of the festive period and can help raise money and awareness for those less fortunate over the Christmas period. Christmas parties and evening meals will be being organised by work places to give thanks to the employees for the last year and to bring their team’s together. Of course not forgetting that each family will have their own Christmas traditions, from Christmas Eve celebrations to Carole-singing and parties at home. Christmas is a time for loved ones to come together and celebrate.

5 of the best Christmas traditions

1. Counting down to the big day – Sure, you can buy an advent calendar based on your kids’ favourite activities and watch with joy as they get a new goodie each day. But it’s even more fun to make your own. Fill 24 bags, boxes or drawers with love notes, candy, small toys or ideas for good deeds they can do that day to spread good cheer. Or, keep special ornaments aside in a box and add a new one to the tree each morning!
2. The Christmas Tree – Whether you prefer a real tree or a reusable one, decorating the tree is a nationwide favourite activity at Christmas. It is a great time to be with the family and to work together to make the tree look magical.
3. Christmas Jumpers – You leave it in the back of the closet all year long, waiting for its day in the spotlight. Now it’s time to bust out your tackiest fashions and wear them with pride (and possibly a Santa hat).
4. Secret Santa – This is a fun and great idea for giving gifts to your work colleagues or extended family, whilst keeping to a budget. Secret Santa gifts can range from thoughtful to hilarious, and are a fabulous way to bring everyone together.
5. A bit of friendly competition – Organise a marathon of your favourite board games, or DIY holiday twists on classic games like Pin the Nose on the Rudolph. Keep a running tally of who in the family is most victorious, and that person is Champion of Christmas … until next year.

At Care first, we want to support everyone during this time to ensure that Christmas is not only joyous but safe. Here are some tips below to prevent the spread of Covid-19 this Christmas.

Ways to keep your Christmas safe from Covid-19 this year

1. Gather outdoors or in a well-ventilated room – It’s not quite the cosy scenario we imagined for Christmas, but gathering outdoors where possible is much safer than piling into a warm, stuffy room with a group of people. Aerosol transmission is less likely to happen outdoors.
2. Think twice about pre-Christmas COVID-19 tests – It might be tempting to just order a coronavirus test to check whether you’re infected before you meet up with loved ones. But testing is not a silver bullet and you need to be realistic about what results can actually tell you. NHS coronavirus tests are intended only for those with symptoms.
3. Stay safe while shopping for the big day – Many shops have implemented systems to limit crowds, and allow elderly or vulnerable shoppers to shop at quieter times. Wearing a face covering, keeping your distance from other shoppers where possible, and paying attention to face mask hygiene and good hand hygiene will all help to minimise the risk.
4. Stay vigilant on the hand and surface hygiene – Experts suggest having a hand sanitiser pump by the door for your Christmas bubble guests to use when they arrive and to make sure you apply this vigilance throughout the festive period with frequent hand washing. This is especially important if you’re preparing food for others.
5. Avoid physical contact where possible – It’s understandable that you may to want to give those you haven’t seen in a long while a big hug or a kiss, but this year it’s best to avoid physical contact.
6. Bring your mask – While it might seem a bit impractical or even just depressing to have the family sat around wearing masks on Christmas Day, the fact is wearing a face covering can greatly reduce the risk when gathering in groups indoors. Consider this especially if you’ll be seeing elderly or vulnerable relatives or friends.
7. Consider a virtual or smaller Christmas – Nobody wants to cancel Christmas gatherings. But the simple fact is, the more you can do to minimise time spent in big groups indoors with people from outside your immediate household, the lower the risk will be.

More information

If you would like to hear more about this topic, please join our live Webinar on ‘Celebrating festivals and occasions this Christmas’ on Thursday 9th December at 12:00pm-12:30pm. To register, please use the following link –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4600528593691672845

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place. If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

As the COVID-19 guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious, particularly about their finances. Many of us are facing uncertain times and may be worried with Christmas fast approaching. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered.

Financial tips in the run up to Christmas

• Try not to plan the perfect Christmas – Work out what you can afford and then plan Christmas with your budget in mind. You could use the budgeting tool that is on page 2 of this article to help you with this. Sometimes it may be easy to think about having a brilliant Christmas and worrying about how much it costs next year. This could lead to trouble. After all Christmas is one day and you could end up paying for that one day for the whole of next year for example.
• Make a list – Impulse buying can add up and become expensive. Once you have your budget make a list and stick to it. This way you will get everything you need and you should stay within the budget you have set yourself.
• Avoid buying unnecessary gifts if you can – You could suggest not doing Christmas presents this year with friends and extended family members for example. Sometimes by you buying a gift for someone else they feel obligated to buy something back for around the same value. This could put a burden on them as well because they may be struggling financially.
• Think outside of the box – If you do still want to exchange presents with friends and extended family maybe there is another way of doing it, such as a secret Santa with a £10 limit on what you buy for example. Then everyone will only have to buy one gift and everyone will each receive a gift too.
• Utilise presents from last year – Maybe you received a present last year or a gift during the year that you did not really want or need. You could re-give this to someone else who may really appreciate it.
• Use cashback websites – You could shop via cashback websites to buy gifts from for Christmas. These websites usually give you a small percentage back just for going through their website. Make sure you do your reading on these first and be careful of scams. For more information on Cashback websites visit: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cashback-websites/

The Care first Budgeting Calculator

(Available at https://carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk/extranet/at-home/finances/budgeting-calculator)

If you would like to try the Care first budgeting calculator this can be accessed using the link above. You will then need to enter your organisations unique login details, if you are unsure of your organisations login details then check with your HR team or line manager. Once you have logged in then you can complete your details on the above forms(all information is held confidentially). Once you have completed this yourresults will then appear on the below form, helping you to budget your finances to a weekly, 4 weekly or monthly amount. You could use this tool to help you to start to take control of your own finances.

Understand your current thoughts towards your finances

There are no right or wrong answers to the five questions below. Instead, use them as an indicator of whether you need to change something in your life or if you feel they are spiralling out of control.

1. Do you ever feel guilty about spending money? If so, think about why that could be.
2. Are you often worried about the amount of money that you have?
3. Do you feel comfortable talking about money with loved ones?
4. How happy are you to open a bill, or would you hide it and put it off?
5. If you are struggling to make repayments, how does it make you feel to speak to a professional to get help?

If you are experiencing problems with finances or dealing with debt, you can also contact Care first. Care first are an independent, leading provider of professional employee support services. Care first employ professionally qualified Counsellors and Information Specialists, who are experienced in helping people to deal with all kinds of practical and emotional issues. We recognise that having money worries and/ or being in debt can make you feel isolated, scared and anxious. It has a negative effect on your work, your health and your family. Making that initial request for help is always the most difficult – but once you have made that initial call you have taken the first step towards getting the right help to a better quality of life. Care first Counsellors are available 24/7 to support you with the emotional impact of financial difficulties.

Most people delay dealing with their money problems longer than they should. Finances are a core part of our lives and can be the root of many issues. Asking for help early on may help prevent problems later down the line. A good starting point would be to talk it all through confidentially with an Information Specialist at Care first, who will help you make informed choices about what to do and how to do it. Care first Information Specialists are not Financial Advisors but are money trained experts, so whether you are at breaking point and need ongoing guidance to resolve debts, or just have a simple question – our Information Specialists are here to help with a range of issues, some of which include; debt, budgeting, rent/mortgage arrears, reduced income, tax, benefits and many more.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Budgeting for Christmas’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 8th December at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1051496374258248975

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered. Where clinically appropriate Care first are continuing to offer structured counselling through phone and virtual software. At Care first the health and safety of both you the employee and our counselling team are absolutely paramount, any changes to our structured counselling process will be made in line with government guidance.

These services include:

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focussed counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for  you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinary.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility. You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirstlifestyle. co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Tuesday Tuesday 7^th December at 12pm, using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1246307844422978059

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

With the festive period upon us many have been or will be starting to plan and think ahead, which can increase our pressure levels with the additional stresses and strains of buying presents and not knowing who we will be able to see this Christmas. Many may be looking forward to the Festive period as it may bring a break from work or our normal routine.

However for many people the festive period is not a happy one. It can be a lonely or sombre time. Perhaps one where we are remembering friends or family that are no longer with us. In this article and the supporting webinar we hope to discuss some tips and ideas for everyone this year that may help with getting through the festive period. Below are some simple suggestions that we will expand on in the supporting webinar:

Make Time for Yourself – It is easy to get caught up in the plans of family and friends but make sure that you make some time for you too.

Eat healthily – It can be difficult at Christmas but eating well is good for your mental health as well as your physical health.

Drink sensibly – A bit of alcohol can make you feel relaxed but too much can leave you feeling irritable and low, so try to avoid drinking in excess and be aware of healthy alcohol limits.

Get enough sleep – Try to keep a regular sleep pattern over the Christmas period, feeling sleepy can make you feel low.

Keep active – Exercise can have positive effects on your mental health. A walk around the block is a great way of getting exercise and also some fresh air.

Talk to someone – Talking about your feelings can improve your mood and make it easier to deal with the tough times. Care first are available 24 hours a day every day of the year for you to speak with a Counsellor in confidence.

Ask for help – It’s ok to ask for help if you’re struggling at Christmas. You could talk to family, a friend, neighbour, or colleague or contact Care first.

Volunteer – This is a good way to give something back, which can help you feel good about yourself. If you are alone at Christmas it is also a good way to find company.

The festive period can also be a difficult time financially for many. Recognising so and being mindful of your spending can help to manage this period. Some simple things to consider as we edge closer to the festive period are:

• Set yourself a realistic budget and don’t be tempted to exceed it
• Think about making gifts instead of buying them – chocolates, jams and preserves etc
• Instead of buying presents, spending time with a friend or family member can be a valued gift
• Care first have a finances calculator on the Lifestyle website, that may help you to plan ahead so that the cost of Christmas can be spread throughout the year

Another issue we will be speaking about on the webinar and in upcoming webinars is “the pressure of buying at Christmas”. This topic has been discussed by Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis in recent years. You may find the following article interesting to read ahead of the webinar

https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/martin-lewis-money-saving-christmas19100397

If you are spending the festive period alone this year think about planning what you want to do beforehand to fill your time. This might include:

Going for a walk – getting some fresh air can be a perfect start and will be an opportunity to have some human contact with others out doing the same

Favourite films/TV shows – plan your day to incorporate all of your favourite films or comedy so it feels like a day of lovely indulgence

Volunteering – you certainly won’t be the only person on your own at Christmas, perhaps volunteer to help others.

We will discuss this topic in more detail during the ‘Festive Wellbeing’ webinar on Friday 3rd December 2021 at 12pm. You can register to join the webinar at

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3153539405524657935

If you are unable to attend the live webinar it will be available to watch afterwards, using the same link.

If you feel you may need some support, Care first is available 24/7 to provide confidential, impartial support. You can contact Care first 24/7 using the Freephone number provided by your Organisation.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.

With the past 22 months has been challenging and individuals may be feeling anxious, tired and fed up. Mental Health support during times like these is paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remained available 24/7 throughout the pandemic and still now to provide both emotional and practical support, and to ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered.

There are many factors which may have impacted our mood and wellbeing throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of these have been directly impacted by the virus, information overload by consuming too much information, or watching too much news. This can be overwhelming and part of the fatigue is the uncertainty, unpredictability and the unknown in all of this. Key workers who have worked throughout the pandemic may now be feeling fatigued.

It is important that we take charge and take steps to boost our emotional and physical wellbeing. Some ways to do this could be to try Yoga, meditation, reading, taking baths, getting out in to nature or even watching a funny movie. These are all great ways to relax your mind. Staying connected with people in our lives is also important, now being able to see people in person as well as having a video call or by picking up the phone is helping people massively.

Sometimes it may be useful to consider how we can change our approach or perspective in situations. For instance; focussing on the future in more positive ways – A routine may help. Think about tasks, chores and responsibilities that you have today. Practice good self-care with healthy sleep habits, healthy food, physical activity these are also great ideas for stress relief.

Try not to focus on the negatives – Allowing the mind to spin into “what if…” thoughts without solutions can lead to heightened anxiety

If a concern is beyond your control, it is important to recognise that you cannot do anything to change the outcome. Work on letting it go and try to focus on the things in life that you can control; like our own self-care, our routine and positive thoughts about the future.

Tips to beat tiredness and burnout

1. Get a good night’s sleep – This may sound really obvious but it is vital to try and get eight hours sleep a night or as close to it as you can. Lack of sleep is likely to lead to feeling run down.
2. Reduce caffeine intake – Try not to drink too much caffeine especially in the evening or before bed.
3. Exercise regularly – Regular exercise can make your feel more energetic and less tired. It hasn’t got to be running a marathon. Just going for a brisk walk can help.
4. Stress management – Although we all have different pressures in our lives it is important to plan time to relax into our days.
5. Plan your week – Cramming everything into one day can make you feel tired for the rest of the week. Try to organise your week as best as you can and make sure you allow some time for self-care and relaxation.

How can Care first help?

If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Tips to manage Burnout’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 2nd December at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4682842432017843982

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

Please be aware that Care first is an external provider and the information in their webinars may not fully align with advice from the University on some subjects.