BOOST your winter wellbeing

Looking after each other and yourself during winter

Our wellbeing offer is available to colleagues throughout the year (here), not just for winter.

If you are in acute distress and require immediate mental health support there is a dedicated self-referral staff helpline that has been provided by VIVUP, our employee assistance programme 24/7, 365 days a year.

📞03303 800658

💻 or browse vivup.co.uk for support guides and self-help information

We understand colleagues continue to face challenging and demanding periods when at work. We thank you for your dedication towards our patients, your colleagues, and the community we serve.

As we fast approach winter, and flu and COVID rates continue to rise in our community, we want to ensure you that we are putting plans in place to look after your wellbeing, and to support your teams. From now until March we’ll be focussing on a different wellbeing theme each month and looking at what we can do as a place to work to support you during this busy period.

We’ll also be asking line managers and managers to support teams further throughout the winter period. If you are a leader who is looking to support your team further, please visit our toolkit here.

Click the sections below to see an overview of each month's theme.

BOOST your home life

Work-life balance

We recognise that colleagues are working above and beyond in busy teams and departments leaving you feeling tired. When you are exhausted it is hard to connect with family members or friends yet that connection and feeling close to, and valued by, other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to functioning well in the world.

Check out Mental Health Foundation's top tips for work-life balance.

Self-care

One way to reduce stress levels throughout the day is by self care. But what do we mean by this? Everyone’s self care is slightly different, it doesn’t just mean candle-lit baths and body massages; self care can be anything you do regularly which reduces your level of stress by a notch or two. Self care is meant to be helpful, rather than another pressure or demand on your time, so adding small acts of self care (just a few minutes at a time) throughout your day can be more beneficial, rather than trying to carve out an hour or two when you already feel under pressure.

Here's some ideas:

Are you a parent, or carer?

For those who are parents, feelings of guilt are often par for the course, but if we are snappy and irritable at home because we’re so tired, that heaps more guilt on by the truck load. It can then be especially hard to put yourself first and look after ourselves. But that old message about putting on your own oxygen mask first fits very well here – if we are not looking after our own needs, how can we best look after those of others?

Financial Management

Debt and money - Citizens Advice

BOOST your physical health

Better Health

If you're overweight, losing weight has many health benefits. Making small, simple changes to what and how much you are eating and drinking can really help you lose the pounds. Download the free NHS Weight Loss Plan to help you start healthier eating habits, be more active, and start losing weight.

Visit here: Lose weight - Better Health - NHS (www.nhs.uk)