Wellbeing Resources: Virtual Kid's Cooking Classes, 2021 Resolutions and More!

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  Below is this week’s curated list of wellbeing resources. Feel free to share these resources, as appropriate, with your team.  Have a safe and healthy week!

Career Wellbeing

• Collaborating with Someone You Don’t Really Know – When we are meeting a new collaborator for the first time, many of us are inclined to dive in and “get to work” after quick introductions. But taking a step back to get to know your colleague will help you get to know each other better and work together more effectively.  Start with these five questions.


• A Mental Habit to Shed in 2021 – Have you ever felt anxious about your job but don’t know why?  Feel like you are falling behind but not exactly sure behind what?  Perhaps you have been keeping score.  See if you can relate to this article by Todd Henry, of the Accidental Creative podcast, and reframe your viewpoint for 2021.

• New Year’s Resolutions for Parents – 2020 was relentless for parents (and everyone else).  In 2021, it’s time for parents to put themselves first.  If your reserves are long since depleted, here’s how to make New Year’s resolutions to take care of yourself in small, significant ways.


• 8 Online Cooking Classes for Kids – If you are running out of ways to keep your kids occupied, an online cooking class may be a great option that also teaches them life-long skills (courses range from free to $$).  For kids age 8+, The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs is also a great resource.

• 5 Toxic Money Habits to Let Go of in 2021 – Money is tough for so many reasons: we aren’t taught about it, it’s taboo to talk about, and we derive a lot of our self-worth from our financial status.  Personal finance is anything but one-size-fits-all but despite that, many people encounter similar pitfalls when it comes to personal finance.  If you feel stuck, this article discusses a few simple steps you can take to make headway in your financial wellness goals.

• 7 Easy Health Habits That Will Set You Up for Success in the New Year – Here are some small goals that can help you jump-start your New Year.  Consider adding in one habit a week through the month of January!


• Your Best January – If you don’t like the pressure of goal setting or resolutions, perhaps try this daily action calendar to take the pressure off of doing big, overwhelming goals and resolutions and live each day doing a healthy inspired action.

• A 30-Day Yoga Journey – A daily practice can be one of the strongest guiding forces that lead us toward growth.  This series, with the popular Yoga with Adriene, is designed to help you build muscle tone, improve spinal alignment, and optimize body function.


• An Optimist’s View Going into 2021 – Optimism is the ability to see good in the face of the bad.  Author and inspirational speaker, Simon Sinek, shares some of the silver linings and lessons that came out of 2020 that will help make 2021 a remarkable and inspiring year.

• Give the Gift of Life by Donating Blood – January is National Blood Donor Awareness Month.  The holidays are typically a challenging time to collect enough blood donations so now is a great time to support your local Red Cross to ensure that hospitals can meet patient blood needs.  Read more to learn how and where you can donate.

• Mental Health in the Workplace: The Coming Revolution – In this piece by McKinsey, they propose that companies that make mental health services more accessible and intervene in the workplace in ways that improve well-being, will simultaneously make investments that will provide real improvements in employee outcomes and consequently in company performance. The article also provides examples from companies that are taking the lead in addressing mental health.


• 4 Post Pandemic Mental Health Trends and Predictions for 2021 - The pandemic has changed the workplace forever, adding pressure to an already stressed-out workforce. In a post-pandemic world, businesses are making drastic changes in how they work. In the new year, company leaders cite a number of trends and predictions that will be essential for businesses to survive. Making discussions of mental health a standard practice and de-stigmatizing mental health issues are at the top of the list along with prioritizing self-care and workplace wellness.