March 09, 2021

Self-care does not have to be complicated, but it should include actions that promote your physical, mental and emotional health. “Self-Care | Made Simple” offers practical tips - easy, actionable steps you can take to enhance your personal well-being that follow three key pillars:  Eat Well. Stress Less. Move More.  This month’s focus is to “Stress Less” with this tip: Take a Moment to Try Guided Imagery.

Given the significant amount of stress everyone is trying to manage, it can be especially helpful to allow your brain to rest 2-3 minutes through guided imagery. Close your eyes and picture yourself someplace that makes you feel really good.  If it is the beach for example, imagine yourself in the scene.  Picture the beautiful blue water.  Look at the sky as the white puffy clouds as they roll by.  Listen for the waves.  Hear the seagulls calling.  Feel the warmth of the sun as you dig your toes in the sand.  Smell the salt air.  Allowing your brain this time to relax and focus on something positive can help lower your stress level.

Additional resources for guided imagery and meditation are available on TriHealthEAP.com, including free, brief Guided Meditations and EAP’s Mindfulness for Life series. This series incorporates 14 recorded webinar modules with each session offering mindfulness exercises.  Click here to access the Mindfulness for Life webinars, select a topic and enter the pass code:  trihealth  

Visit the Self-Care | Made Simple page on Bridge for additional monthly tips to help you form habits that will integrate self-care into your daily routine.