Self-care refers to our engagement in activities that protect our work-life balance, provide stress relief, and attend to our overall wellbeing. Self-care impacts our wellbeing most positively when we incorporate it into our everyday lives.
As well as practising healthy sleep habits, eating a balanced diet, and engaging in regular exercise, research has proven the importance of practising mindfulness in our daily lives.
To be mindful is to consciously notice what you’re experiencing without judgement. Research shows we can better understand and regulate our difficult emotions by doing this, which makes us more resilient to any mental health challenges we may face.
Visit the Monash Mindfulness page for free and discounted mindfulness programs. The Staff Wellbeing Activity Program (SWAP) also offers mindfulness activities to support staff mental wellness.
If you exercise, you’re less likely to experience poor mental health. Monash offers many programs and facilities to help you integrate exercise into your daily routine.
Monash Sport offers a range of facilities and programs that promote physical wellness across the Caulfield, Clayton and Peninsula campuses. And Monash Sport and Monash Wellbeing have teamed up to offer SWAP Flex, which allows staff to attend any 10 classes listed in the group fitness timetables across Caulfield, Clayton and Peninsula for a discounted rate.
Our sleep quality impacts our overall wellness. Poor quality sleep is linked to poor mental health and reduced concentration and focus levels. By improving your sleep, you may also see improvements in other areas of your life – both physically and emotionally.
The Sleep Health Foundation offers a range of fact sheets about how sleep impacts mental wellness.
If you want to improve the quality of your sleep, the Healthy Sleep Clinic is available to support anyone experiencing sleep-related issues (such as challenges with falling asleep, staying asleep, and feeling well rested).
The Clinic offers in-person services for those who have obtained a referral to a sleep professional from their GP. For more information see our Monash University Healthy Sleep Clinic page, or call 9905 1428.
Having a poor diet has been linked to a number of mental health challenges, such as anxiety and depression. When we take care of what we put into our bodies, our mental and physical health can improve as a result.
Monash staff can access the Monash Nutrition Clinic. Appointments are available at University Health Services, Clayton. For more information, visit the Nutrition Clinic’s website.