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10 ways to break free from the stress of a high-pressure job

Have you ever yelled, Freddie Mercury’s song lyrics, “I want to break free!” - only you mean it on a professional level? You’re in a high-pressure job, embodying a high-pressure role. Perhaps you are a fire-fighter, police officer, or a healthcare professional, and are feeling the stress spiral

The role of nutrition in maintaining optimal mental wellbeing

"Eat well if you want to become stronger." Perhaps this is one line we have all heard from our parents when we were growing up. But what they meant by "becoming stronger" was becoming physically stronger. Yes, healthy eating habits make us physically strong. But what our parents often fail

World Hello Day: Why is communication a better tool to manage conflicts in the workspace?

All organizations have their fair share of disputes. It is nearly unavoidable in a workspace. You are interacting with your colleagues every shift, and there may be some miscommunication along the way. In fact, in a study conducted by US firm Gartner, 70% of corporate errors are a result of

15 tips to nurture your inner child for a fulfilling life

A popular Hindi film ‘Dear Zindagi’ showcases how a person’s life evolves as she navigates through her life challenges with the help of therapy. Once she starts reconnecting with herself, she starts enjoying life and connecting with parts of herself that she was earlier unable to. Connecting with your

How to support your male employees' mental health the right way

Tomorrow is International Men’s Day, one of the many things related to men that is less talked about and celebrated. But how does this come to happen in a world where there are major patriarchal societies? For men, with authority, there came an overbearing sense of responsibility and the

10 ways your body says you're stressed

Stress is an unavoidable part of life. The first step to controlling stress is to know the symptoms of stress. But recognizing stress symptoms may be harder than you think. Most of us are so used to being stressed, that we often don't know we are stressed until we are

11 tips to manage anxiety in your workplace

After home, our workplaces consume most of our time. While some might enjoy this, others struggle to cope, and inevitably, once in a while, all of us feel overwhelmed and just want to go home. In this article, you will learn to manage workplace anxiety. But first, what is workplace

How mental wellbeing impacts goal persistence and resilience in adverse situations

Life before the COVID-19 pandemic looked very different for everyone. But ever since the pandemic, we have been getting used to what is popularly called the “new normal”. The greatest asset that we use in dealing with changes and challenges around us is the ability to cope and evolve with

What is imposter syndrome?

Do you ever find yourself succeeding while privately dreading that you're on the verge of being revealed as a fraud? You're not alone. Big names like Maya Angelou, Albert Einstein, and even Michelle Obama have had their moments of imposter syndrome-induced self-doubt. Imposter syndrome is a subtle confidence killer that

Debunking 10 myths surrounding male mental health

Poor mental health can affect people of any gender, but mental health outcomes for men and women aren’t equal. For generations, the true nature of men’s mental health has been hidden behind a mask of toxic, misplaced masculinity. A mask that defined vulnerability as a weakness; never to

Understanding perfectionism

Imagine a perfect way of doing your job. Now think about all the factors that it can include. Perhaps sustained focus, the highest level of motivation, your skillset, and co-operation from your colleagues. Now all of this may help you achieve the best and the highest result but someone else

Resilience building: a key component of mental wellbeing

It has been six months since you got your dream promotion. Let's say you're acing your new job and you're always on time with your submissions, and your boss is impressed. Everything is on track. And then fine one day, you happened to stumble and hit a big roadblock. Suddenly

Exploring the generational shift in attitudes towards mental wellbeing acknowledgment

There has been a noticeable shift in conversations around mental wellbeing in the last decade. With more and more organizational leaders talking about their own struggles with their mental health, there is an increase in knowledge and a slow movement toward acceptance. This points to a shift in how we

How do I live my life to its full potential?

The subject of mental health evokes a range of reactions. From denial to othering. From apprehensions to confusion. Rarely do we find someone acknowledging the need to prioritize our mental wellbeing in our life. After all, it’s such an intangible aspect to make sense. We believe that we are

Breaking the silence -overcoming societal hurdles in discussing mental wellbeing

Every single person faces an emotional difficulty once in a while. Like any other physical injury or illness, mental illness also requires proper care and nourishment for healing. India as a country has faced a lot of barriers in the form of stigma and taboos in addressing mental health issues.

4 Strategies to Encourage Self-Acceptance and Wellbeing

Across the globe, people, companies, leaders, and commoners have slowly begun taking baby steps to support people struggling with mental health. Oftentimes, we stand in our own way, restrict ourselves from seeking help for fear of being judged, and shy away from participating in wellbeing initiatives, only moving further away

Workplace mental health: Is it a good idea to talk to my manager about my stress?

The pressure to meet deadlines, the stress of traveling to the workplace, the workload, and the office environment are some of the stressors that many employees face on a daily basis. These can significantly impact a person's mental wellbeing. Many people choose not to talk to their colleagues about their

Is employee mental health a worthwhile investment?

Paying attention to employee mental health can prove highly rewarding for everyone involved. The WHO report states that for every USD 1 invested in the treatment of common mental health issues, there was a return of USD 4 by way of improved health and productivity. In the UK, a major

Leveraging Wellbeing Champions For Your Mental Health Program

Good mental and physical health of employees contributes to higher output, better retention levels, and lower absenteeism. Creating an organizational culture of wellbeing requires commitment and sustainable efforts, carried ahead by all members of the company, which will definitely yield results for your organization, as well as the workforce that

Why should your workplace have trained suicide prevention gatekeepers?

Suicide has been a prevalent issue in the world. It has been incredibly detrimental to the world at large. We’ve lost wonderful human beings to suicide when it can be certainly prevented in the first place. It is crucial to actively tackle this issue to minimize the consequences of

5 Visual Messages You Need to Have in Your Workplace to Drive Awareness about Suicide Prevention

In a fast-paced, and demanding work environment like yours, it’s relatively common to feel exhausted when working continuously. This can take a toll on your and your employees’ mental health, in the short and long run. To ensure wellbeing is duly nurtured in your workplace, you need to make

Demystifying Suicide: Let's Unlearn Some Myths

One of the biggest causes of death across the world is suicide, making it a public health concern of priority. It is also known that many attempts and deaths by suicide go unreported. The complexity of the problem and religious, political, and personal beliefs, the thick cloud of stigma around

Creating Awareness of Suicide Prevention Among Employees and Building a First Responder Team

Someone considering (or attempting) suicide is nudged by feelings of overwhelming hopelessness or helplessness, lack of support or connection, immense pressure, or systemic oppression. It is not an act of cowardice or lack of resilience, but a choice made to end suffering, or not being able to see a better

How to care for suicide-ideating employees in the remote workplace?

With the rising preference for working remotely, you must be mindful of the certain negatives that come with it. This may include mental health-related issues which may lead to suicide ideation for employees. As a people leader and a team member, it is important to be empathetic and supportive of

Self-care in the immediate aftermath of a loss to suicide.

Let’s admit it. Self-care is hardly a priority for most people. This isn’t surprising though—we overvalue caring for others and downplay or minimize caring for ourselves. Worse, self-care is perceived as selfish or self-indulgent! What does self-care mean, and what does it involve? Simply put, it implies—

You can save your coworker's life - Here's how.

When a person is distressed, depressed, or has suicidal thoughts, it is the people who are closest to them who are able to pick up cues from their behavior. In our workplaces, we spend more time with our colleagues than we do with our team leaders or HR managers. We’

How to know if your teammate is showing signs of suicide ideation, and what to do about it?

When your co-worker or teammate approaches you and hints that they’re thinking of suicide, what can you do? How should you respond? Can talking about suicide plant the thought in their head?   We'll cover all the essentials in this blog – keep reading. A few things need to be kept

Why organization leadership matters for employees' mental health

Leadership at workplaces can catalyze the much-needed transformation in addressing the challenges of mental health. They say that mental health issues are a fast-growing concern all over the world. One in five of us will suffer from a mental health problem in our lifetime. That’s a lot of people.

Is your workplace motherhood friendly?

Motherhood is a crucial time in the life of a working woman. Expectant mothers who are working full-time require support from their employers in the form of maternity leave and other health benefits. While the extent of these benefits depends on the HR policies of each organization, there are some

Unlocking Diversity: Exploring LGBTQIA+ Terminologies During Pride Month

Pride Month in June celebrates LGBTQ+ diversity, history, and accomplishments. It goes beyond parades, emphasizing the significance of LGBTQ+ terminologies in broadening understanding and breaking free from binary thinking. Understanding these terminologies fosters empathy, builds connections, and promotes a society where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

5 Warning Signs That Your Work is Affecting Your Mental and Emotional Health

Work stress can manifest in different ways. Are you experiencing any of these signs?

Is Workplace Bullying a Reflection of Your Leadership?

Leaders need to step up and take charge to nip bullying in the bud

How to Keep Non-Promoted Employees Motivated

Your commitment to your people’s growth should go beyond just the annual appraisal exercise. Here’s how.

A Guide for Laying Off Employees with Dignity and Empathy

Use these strategies to be fair, transparent and sensitive while letting go of colleagues.

10 Office Games For Building a Positive Culture

Want to build a positive culture?

7 Ways to Reflect on Your Management Skills

Use these structured steps to improve your management skills.

Skills To Acquire If You Want To Become An Influential Leader At Work

A guide to developing the key skills needed to build and expand your influence at work

How to Stay Strong After a Layoff

With the rise in layoffs across industries and sectors, it can be a challenging environment to navigate. These four tips can help you cope with a layoff so that you land on your feet.

7 Employee Motivation Strategies and Rewards to Win in 2023

All of us tend to begin a new year with a burst of enthusiasm – with renewed energy to do more and better. But how long does this new energy last? A supportive environment or appropriate incentives go a long way in sustaining motivation and energy. This is especially true in

10 Fun employee engagement activities for 2023

Top 10 fun employee engagement activities of 2023

How to Improve and Increase Employee Satisfaction in 2023?

Tips to improve and increase employee satisfaction

Signs that a candidate may not be an excellent emotional fit for your organization

Recruiting an employee is not only about selecting a candidate based on their qualifications or experiences but also the one with a good emotional fit for your organization. When seeking suitable candidates, you have to be attentive to the red flags they may show during the interview process. Some clear

5 employee wellbeing initiatives you can launch in 2023

Here's how you can ensure physical and mental wellbeing for your employees in 2023

How to Improve Teamwork at Workplace in 2023

More companies are realizing the importance of teamwork in the workplace. Teamwork is a core value every team should strive for as it enhances group efficiency and productivity while boosting team bonding. You may have the most skillful team members. However, without teamwork, these skills will do you no good.

Should a manager or colleague reach out to a distressed employee?

Any sudden changes in behavior or work might be an indication of emotional distress.

The 6 Best Fitness Trends for Companies in 2023

4 out of every 10 Indian adults are physically inactive! These simple and effective 2023 fitness trends can help keep your team healthy in the new year.

How to Ease the Return to Work for Parents after Maternity Leave

Getting back to work while dealing with the demands of parenthood is not easy. Here’s what companies can do to make this an easier process.

Employers Need More Sensitization And Awareness About Mental Illness

The absence of intentional policies means that there's little inclusion for people with mental illness in our workplaces. What can organizations do?

Workplace Mental Health: Is Employee Wellbeing a Worthwhile Investment?

How organizations can take a proactive role in promoting wellbeing

How To Build Resilience?

Here are 10 ways to build resilience

Hooked To Your Phone Or Computer? It May Be More Serious Than You Think

Technology addiction is emerging as a serious issue among teenagers and young adults

What Grief Can Look Like

If you’ve lost a loved one to suicide, you are likely to experience intense grief, sadness, guilt, regret, anger, shame and loss. Here's how you can cope

Can you break a habit?

Once a habit is formed, breaking it can become difficult. Here are some practical ways

How Habits Become Addictions

If a habit offers some sort of relief or positive feedback, it may become an addiction

Bullying In Adolescents

Bullying can manifest into mental health issues, know how you can talk to your child about bullying

Body Image And Mental Health

We all have body image issues, but when do we know that it's connected to something deeper than just changing something about our looks?

Getting back to work after a mental health episode

Every day I am reminded of the life I used to lead. On bad days, that meant not being able to get out of bed, barely eating, being exhausted all the time yet being unable to sleep. The good times were getting out of the house battling crippling anxiety.

Is It a Good Idea To Talk To Your Manager About Your Stress?

If you are wondering whether to talk about your mental health issues at work, this one is for you

Why Does Your EAP Have Low Utilisation Rates?

People are often reluctant to engage with employee assistance programmes at work. Here’s why.

Grief in the Workplace: Impact and How to Cope

Grief is a heavy emotion and not many people know what to do about it, especially in the workplace. Here are a few ways for you to cope while grieving.

How To Care For a Partner With a Mood Disorder

You can't pour from an empty cup. Here are some tips and strategies to take care of yourself and your partner.

Can You Use Food to Fight Stress?

The right dietary habits can do wonders to control the damaging effects of stress on your mind and body

How to Stem High Employee Turnover

High attrition is a major problem for employers today. But it’s important to look inwards and identify the areas where you can do better to retain people.

Are You in a Mid-Career Slump? Here’s How to Overcome It With the Right Mindset and Tools

A mid-career slump can affect anyone, but there are ways you can overcome it to have a fulfilling career again!

Why It’s Unhealthy to Compare Yourself With Your Colleagues

Constant comparisons at work can kill your creativity and potential besides affecting your mental health

Ten Tips To Stay Mentally And Emotionally Healthy

Taking care of your mental health is as essential as staying physically fit

Why Even Senior Leaders Can Use Mentors

A good mentor can shorten the learning curve and prevent the leader from making costly mistakes

Sexual Harassment Of Women At The Workplace: Mental health Impact

The emotional impact of sexual harassment at the workplace can be damaging to the victim, and needs to be addressed in a more sensitive manner.

Physical Health Conditions That Can Mimic Depression

Signs of depression can also be seen in some physical health conditions.

5 Productivity-Killing Habits Leaders Must Stay Wary Of

Are any of these habits holding you back from being at your professional best?

Are You Addicted to Work? Here Are Some Tell-Tale Signs.

Far from being a matter of pride, addiction to work can take a toll on your health, relationships, and personal growth

The Many Advantages of Cross-functional Teams in the Workplace

Read on to know how cross-functional training is a valuable tool for business performance as well as employee engagement

Understanding Social Anxiety Disorder

Your common questions, answered

How to Make Change Less Stressful for Employees

Significant organisational changes can have implications for employee wellbeing. Here are some ways to prevent the stress from overwhelming your people.

Unpacking Insomnia

Your questions about insomnia, answered.

How Educators Can Steer Clear of ‘Stigmatising Language’

No teacher wants to hurt their students. But when you’re a role model, a single inattentive word or deed might end up causing immeasurable harm to your students’ mental health.

Getting Over An Alcohol Addiction

What makes a person heavily dependent on alcohol? Once addicted, what can the person do to create a new, clean lifestyle?

How to Support Your Employees Through Financial Stress

Financial worries are a contributor to mental health problems in many households. Here’s how your organisation can help employees undergoing financial stress.

Why Leaders Should Embrace Vulnerability

Demonstrating vulnerability can be scary for those in positions of authority. However, it can also be an emotionally freeing experience

How to Lead Your Ex-Peers as Their Boss

Being promoted to a leadership role can change your equation with your former peers. Here’s what you can do to make it a smooth transition.

Hooked To Your Phone Or Computer? It May Be More Serious Than You Think

Technology addiction is emerging as a serious issue among teenagers and young adults.

How to Stay Calm Through Pre-Meeting Jitters!

Speaking in front of large groups can be stressful. We give you some tips to manage this anxiety before, during, and after meetings.

Self-care Tips for Shift Workers

Over time, working late shifts can affect your physical and mental wellbeing, if you don’t take the proper precautions. Here are some tips to safeguard your health.

All About Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Answers to some of the most common questions about OCD - from causes and symptoms to treatment and care.

How Women Leaders Can Manage their Mental Health Better

Leaders undergo immense stress at work, and for women this pressure can be higher. Here are some mental health tips that may help.

How HR Teams Can Win a Seat at the Decision-Making Table

Tips for HR teams to emphatically communicate their worth and claim their rightful place on decision-making platforms.

When stress becomes a way of life

Our natural stress response cycle breaks when we experience chronic stress.

Bouncing Back from Campus Recruitment Rejection

Lack of success at campus placement interviews can give rise to many negative emotions. Here are some mental health tips for students to use the experience as a stepping stone.

Are You Getting the Expected Returns on Your Employee Assistance Programme?

Asking these pointed questions will help you evaluate whether your EAP is working for you

Anxious about your appraisal conversation? You can now prepare for it

If you find your annual appraisal conversation stressful, a bit of preparation and awareness can help you manage it better.

The Underrated Role of Sleep in Wellbeing, and Tips To Sleep Better

Everyone sleeps, but not everyone sleeps well.

How Parents with Mental Illnesses Can Raise Healthy, Happy Children

Use these tips to create a healthy and positive environment at home.

Check Out Manah’s July Blog Round-up!

A look at all the stories we published in the month of July 2022.

Tips for caregivers

Here are some suggestions that experts ask caregivers to follow

Time-Saving Health and Wellness Hacks for Busy Corporate Workers

Starting a healthier lifestyle doesn’t have to be intimidating! Use these hacks to kickstart your wellness journey today.

Going Beyond EAPs: How to Make a Holistic Shift Towards Employee Wellness

Use the following tips to build a comprehensive and responsive wellbeing programme that actually works.

How HR Can Weed Out Mental Health Problems in The Workplace

Use these tips to create a psychologically safe and supportive workplace

Why the Hybrid Work Model is a Win-Win for Employers and Employees

Hybrid workplaces might be the future of work. Here are some of the benefits of introducing a hybrid work policy at your organisation.

Your Common Queries about Sleep Disorders Answered

When it comes to health, one of the most common issues people face, apart from weight gain, is sleep loss. Studies indicate that people today are sleeping less than in the past. But what causes sleep disorders , and what can one do about them? In this FAQ, we cover everything

Addressing the Mental Health Challenges Women Face at Work

Mental health challenges can affect anyone, but there is a clear connection between gender and mental health in the workplace.

6 Things to Avoid Saying to Someone With a Mental Health Challenge

It’s often difficult to find the right words to say to a colleague or friend who’s struggling emotionally. But here are some (well-intentioned) cliches and homilies to steer clear of.

The Role of Mental Health Advocates in the Workplace

Find out how mental health advocates play a vital role in proactively identifying and addressing mental distress in the workplace

How Startup Founders Can Break Bad News to Their Teams

The slowdown and funding freeze has forced many startups to downsize or shelve their growth plans. As a founder, here’s how you can share bad news with your team.

Dos and Don’ts for Conducting Mental Health Awareness and Training Sessions at Work

Use these dos and don’ts to make your workplace mental health initiatives sticky’, meaningful, and successful.

Employee Satisfaction Surveys: Benefits and How to Get Them Right

Use these tips to create meaningful and action-oriented employee satisfaction surveys at your workplace

Beyond relocation: Being away from parents in college hostel was not easy for me

A youngster talks about his experience of migrating to study in Bangalore and coping with his illness and loneliness at the hostel

Understanding the Problems with Employee Assistance Programmes

When it comes to employee wellbeing, are EAPs a boon or bane? We help you decide!

Everything You Need to Know about Setting up Peer Support Groups at Work

It is difficult for individuals to deal with mental health challenges alone. But when people come together, real change can take place.

A Guide to Mindful Leadership and its Benefits

These mindfulness practices will take your focus and emotional health to the next level.

Coming Out vs Fitting In: Mental Health and the LGBT Person in India

By Mahesh Natarajan Gender and sexuality differences bring up questions that others may never face: What does one reveal about oneself to others? How much to disclose and to whom? How to look for relationships? Where does one meet others like oneself? How does one access health, education, employment? How

Student Mental Health: How to Spot the Signs of Distress

Worldwide, an alarming number of students and young adults suffer from mental health conditions or disorders. However, most of these issues go undiagnosed due to the stigma surrounding mental health issues and the lack of support available to students within educational campuses or at home. In order to provide timely

How to Ensure the Wellbeing of your Frontline Employees

Customer-facing jobs come with many mental health risks and challenges. Here are some workplace wellbeing tips for frontline workers that you can implement today

Manah Wellness Reviews 2022: Read What Clients Have to Say

For over two years now, Manah Wellness has been helping progressive organisations build a culture of wellbeing. With its expert team of mental health professionals, it is supporting thousands of corporate employees with its emotional health and wellbeing services. Having worked with companies across sectors, from insurance and healthcare to

Check Out Manah’s June Blog Round-up!

A look at all the stories we published in the month of June 2022.

How to Manage the Wellbeing Needs of Your Distributed Workforce

The modern workplace brings its own set of challenges for HR leaders. Here’s how to address the common wellbeing-related challenges that crop up with distributed and hybrid work setups.

Campus Mental Health: Creating a Supportive Environment for Students

Looking for ways to improve campus mental health and address depression, anxiety, and other issues faced by students? Here are some tips.

Subtle Signs That You May Have Anxiety

From digestive issues to a tendency to procrastinate, here are the less-obvious ways in which anxiety can manifest itself.

How HR Managers Can Protect Their Wellbeing in Stressful Times

Use these mental health and wellbeing tips to thrive even in stressful times

Why Teaching Students 'Intellectual Honesty' Can Make Them Mentally Healthier Adults

Education ought to be about teaching children to rely on their own minds to reason things out and form opinions. It starts with emphasis on intellectual honesty from the beginning of their lives.

A Guide for Setting Up Your Company’s Employee Volunteering Programme

Volunteering programmes are a great way to get your staff involved in worthy causes and also give them a deeper sense of purpose

The Importance Of Life Skills For Adolescents

Adolescents require a combination of cognitive and social skills to tackle their problems, and prepare for future challenges

How to Help Your Adolescent Child Develop a Positive Body Image

How to create a positive body image

How to Create a Great Employee Handbook

An HR managers’ guide to creating a robust employee handbook, with samples and best practices included.

A Guide to Calm, Mindful Leadership

Learn the powerful secrets of mentally calm leadership.

7 HR Trends Worth Watching and Implementing in 2022

7 trends in the HR industry worth watching and implementing in 2022. Manah Wellness brings you the HR trends that are shaping workspaces in 2022.

How To Talk To Your Child About Mental Illness: With Age-Specific Pointers

A guide for parents to help their children become more aware of mental illness with easily understandable scientific advice and strategies.

How to Build a Great Team at Work in 2022: 10 Tips and Ideas

Expert tips to build a great team. 12 ideas and tips to create a strong team at work for success and business growth.

How to Introduce a ‘Gratefulness Culture’ in Your Company

Mentally healthy workplaces are quick to acknowledge meaningful contributions from people. Here are some tips to make gratitude a part of your workplace culture.

‘The Big Quit’- Why It’s Happening and What Employers Should Do

How to retain your high-performing employees in times of high attrition.

Depression and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

Anxiety and depression are common mental health problems among children too

8 Fun Ways and Ideas to Boost Morale at Work in 2022

Fun ways to boost employees' morale and engagement at the workplace. Manah Wellness shares creative ideas to improve morale in the workspace.

Tips to Manage Your Mental Health as a Single, Working Parent

Stress is a constant part of many single parents’ lives, especially those with demanding jobs. Use these tips to safeguard your mental wellbeing.

Resilience in the Workplace: A Mental Strength Guide

Learn how to build resilience at the workplace. Use these expert tips and ideas for building employee and team resilience in the workplace.

Check Out Manah’s May Blog Round-up!

A quick glance at all the stories we published during the month of May.

10 Tips for New Managers to Make a Great Impression

Becoming a manager for the first time is a great feeling. Here are some tips to make a great impression with your team and organisation.

Parents and Teachers Should Collaborate to Help a Child with a Learning Difficulty

Effective parent - teacher communication is key to helping children who struggle in school.

Parental Neglect and its Effect

How parental neglect can affect your child

Tips to Build an Effective Workplace Safety Training Programme

Healthy and safe workplaces promote employee wellbeing. Follow these tips to start building your company’s safety training programme.

Dealing with Microaggressions in the Workplace

Microaggressions at work are more common than we think. Here’s a guide to identifying and addressing mini acts of workplace microaggression.

How to Overcome Awkwardness and Talk about Mental Health

If the thought of reaching out to someone scares you, here’s what to do.

Is Someone You Know Being Bullied at Work?

It is important to recognise the signs of bullying at the workplace to aid in prevention, and early intervention

7 Post Pandemic Workplace Trends That Will Shape the Way We Work

Manah Wellness brings you some key workplace trends for 2022.

A Leaders’ Guide to Preventing Groupthink and Cultivating a Diversity of Opinions

Groupthink differs from group culture and results in suppressed opinions, poor decisions, and a lack of innovation. Learn how to combat groupthink as a leader.

10 Ideas to Improve the Health and Wellness of Your Employees

Discover the best ways to promote health and wellness among employees with these expert tips on improving productivity, engagement, and wellbeing at the workplace.

Emotional Cues to Look For When Hiring an Employee

Smart employers look for more than a great resume; they look at emotional intelligence. Here are 11 cues you should be looking at when interviewing a candidate.

What is ‘Pandemic Brain’ and How Has it Affected Workers?

Learn about ‘pandemic brain’ and its impact on corporate workers. Manah discusses how the pandemic brain is affecting the mental and physical health of employees.

Managing Introverted and Shy Employees at the Workplace

Leaders sometimes have the wrong idea about managing introverted employees. Here’s what you should know about dealing with introverts in the workplace.

The Top Physical Symptoms of Work Stress and How to Deal with Them

Work Stress: Causes, Physical Symptoms and Management

How to Stop Using Alcohol to Deal with Work Pressure

Stress is a regular part of any work environment. However, reaching for alcohol is not the way to tackle stress. Read on to find out how to manage this problem.

Tips To Avoid Distractions at Work and Stay Focused on "The Moment"

Looking for ways to stay focused on avoid distractions and get stuff done at work? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

A Guide to Improving Employee Satisfaction in 2022

Learning how to improve employee satisfaction is crucial in a time when workers are quitting more than ever before. Let’s see some great ways to do that

How to Get Employees to Participate in Wellbeing Initiatives

Low participation and utilisation is the bane of workplace wellbeing initiatives. Use these strategies to fix this problem for good.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Tips for Employees: Self Care Hacks

Are the daily stresses of work wearing you down? Follow these mental health self-care tips to bounce back!

How to Encourage Your Team to Stay Healthy through Another Grueling Summer

Summer can be an energy drain for busy office workers. Here are some workplace wellness tips for summer that you can share with your colleagues.

How to be a Good Mentor at Work

Are you looking for ways to be a good mentor to someone at work? Here are some easy stepwise tips to follow.

Check Out Manah’s April Blog Round-up!

A compilation of all the workplace wellbeing content you enjoyed in the past month.

Tips For Working Moms to Have Better Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance may seem a distant dream for many working moms. Here are some tips that may help!

How to Lead in the Age of Employee Activism

Responding to employee activism at the workplace is not an easy task for any business leader. Here are some ideas on how to avoid common leadership pitfalls.

How to Deal with a Professional Setback

Dealing with setbacks at work can be one of the most difficult things to experience and can also have a negative effect on personal and professional life.

10 Personal Productivity Hacks for Busy Office Workers

Taking a strategic view of your productivity can help you get more done. Get started by implementing these simple productivity hacks.

Why Being Polite in the Workplace is Underrated (and Misunderstood)

We'd like to think that efficiency is more important than politeness, but the fact is that this lost art should be trending now more than ever.

How to Run a Successful Anti-Addiction Campaign at Your Workplace

Employers need to acknowledge addiction as a workplace health risk and support employees dealing with it. Here’s a guide.

Why Employees Resign, and Retention Tips To Hold Them Back

High staff turnover is a major cost for organisations and can also lead to continuity and motivation issues for those staying back. Use these tips to stem employee resignations and hold back your valued employees.

Simple Steps to Find Purpose In Your Existing Job

Finding your purpose at work makes you more committed and excited and improves your performance. Learn how you can find purpose in your current job.

PTSD in the Workplace: How to Support Someone Dealing with It

Workplace PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder is lesser-known, but it does exist. Here’s how to recognise the symptoms of PTSD at work and support those in need.

Improve Your Workplace Culture With These 10 Tips and Ideas

The best ideas for improving workplace culture. Manah shares the 10 best tips for improving organisational work culture in companies.

Entrepreneur Mental Health: Tips and Advice for Startup Founders

Entrepreneurs are a highly stressed group. Here are some wellbeing tips for founders who are low on time for self-care.

Supporting Maternal Mental Health and Wellbeing

The Manah Wellness team recently underwent training on how to support pregnant women and new mothers in their emotional journey

10 Workplace Wellness and Fitness Competition Ideas For 2022

Workplace wellness challenges are all the rage. But if you’re wondering how to begin your first challenge, here are some ideas to get you started.

5 Principles of Providing Emotional First Aid at the Workplace

Follow these ‘emotional first aid’ principles to reach out to a distressed co-worker and sensitively guide him or her towards the appropriate channels for getting mental health support

How Entrepreneurs Can Identify And Overcome Anxiety: 10 Actionable Tips

Learn how to overcome anxiety and fear. Manah shares 10 practical tips for entrepreneurs to fight anxiety and improve mental health.

How to Groom Future Leaders for Your Organisation

Developing the next generation of leaders should be an ongoing activity. Here’s how to build a pipeline of capable leaders at your firm

10 Tips to Eliminate Workplace Misconduct

Workplace misconduct, if left unchecked, can cost organisations money and their reputation. Follow these strategies to prevent and address workplace misconduct

Check Out Manah’s March Blog Round-up!

A quick glance at all the stories we published during the month of March.

Improving Internal Communication at Workplace: A How-to Guide for Employers

Workplaces thrive on smooth and constant communication, and organisations that recognise this fact can break silo-isation and enable teams to work collaboratively and cohesively. Use these tips to improve internal communication at your business.

How to Address the Common Signs of Job Dissatisfaction among Employees

Here are the common symptoms and root causes of job dissatisfaction and some solutions for meaningfully addressing them to improve job satisfaction at your workplace.

How to Say Goodbye to an Employee Leaving the Company

When a valued employee decides to leave the organisation, it’s important for the manager and team to bid them farewell the right way. Here are some tips.

Should Your Company Offer ‘Unlimited Paid Time Off’ to Employees?

Here’s a look at the pros and cons of unlimited paid time off – one of the latest trends sweeping the modern workplace.

How to Replace Workplace Negativity with Positivity

Negativity can arise due to job dissatisfaction, a lack of appreciation, or simply basic indifference to your colleagues. Here are the common signs of workplace negativity and some ways to build a culture of positivity.

8 Workplace Wellness Initiatives You Can Launch in 2022: Download the Free Guide!

Download this free HR guide that will help you map out and plan your business's workplace wellbeing strategy for 2022.

Employee Retention Strategies to Lower Attrition in 2022

Tracking the workforce attrition rate is an important part of employee retention. However, ‘attrition’ is different from ‘turnover’, and companies need to learn the difference

Virtual Employee Engagement Activities and Ideas for 2022

Use these simple strategies to get your remote staff more mentally and emotionally connected to their work and workplace.

How to Track Employee Performance: An Expert HR Guide

Your organisation’s performance management system is closely linked to your employees’ satisfaction and engagement levels. Here’s how to get it right.

How to Build an Ethical Workplace

Strong ethics are key to becoming a profitable brand and sought-after employer. Read on to know how to drive home the importance of business ethics at your workplace.

Common Myths about Work-life Balance

The benefits of work-life balance are often extolled. However, the concept itself is quite subjective. Here are some of the common myths about work-life balance.

Workplace Bullying: Definition, Causes, and Remedies

Common reasons for workplace bullying, and how you can deal with it.

Check These Unconscious Biases to Become a More Efficient Decision-Maker

The decisions we take at work are often influenced by our perceptions of others and the world around us. Here’s how to take more mature decisions by eliminating unconscious bias in the workplace.

Check Out Manah’s February Blog Round-up!

A glimpse of our employee wellbeing content from the month of February.

Is a 4-day Workweek Good for Employee Wellbeing?

The 4-day workweek could, one day, become a common standard within different industries and countries. But how would it impact employee wellbeing and productivity?

The Top 10 Signs of Bad Managers

Being a bad manager isn’t ONLY about being temperamental or a bully. Here are 10 signs that betray bad managerial qualities.

Performance Anxiety at Work: Meaning, Causes and Treatments

Here’s how you can deal with performance anxiety at work by understanding the triggers and responding appropriately.

Workplace Violence and How to Prevent It

Violence at the workplace can take many forms: bullying, harassment, theft, or abuse. Here’s how to identify, prevent, and mitigate workplace violence at all levels.

11 People Management Skills Every Manager Should Master in 2022

Make the transition from manager to leader by cultivating people management skills related to communication, patience, trust, respect, openness to feedback, and more.

Manah Team Completes Gatekeeper Training for Suicide Prevention

Gatekeepers play a valuable role in preventing deaths by suicides by providing timely and appropriate counsel and action.

Self-compassion: Basics and Best Practices

Most of us believe in being kind to others. Why, then, are we so critical of ourselves? Here are the advantages of practicing self-compassion.

Mastery and autonomy: A Beginner’s Guide

Having the independence to live according to your own standards is associated with greater happiness, emotional wellbeing, and overall life satisfaction. Here’s how to achieve greater mastery and autonomy in your life.

Wellbeing: Basics and Best Practices

Use this simple, actionable guide to find out your current state of wellbeing and be at your best every day.

Stress: Beginner’s Guide and FAQs

Sustained stress over a prolonged period of time can lead to various health issues and psychological disorders. Here are some easy ways to manage stress in your life.

Mindfulness: Myths, FAQs, and more

Read on to find out how mindfulness reduces stress, improves clarity and memory, and has all-round benefits for your health and relationships

Mental Balance: Aspects, Barriers, and More

Just as balance is vital in other aspects of wellbeing – like our diets, our work, and our relationships – mental balance is also a key determinant of our wellbeing

Happiness: A Quick How-to Guide

Check out this easy guide on how to invite genuine and lasting happiness into your life.

10 In-Office Games for Team Building

Team-building can be easy if you know how to go about it. One way is to create in-office games that everyone can participate in.

How to Keep Your Employees Happy and Engaged: Detailed Guide

Studies show that engaged employees tend to be more productive and loyal and go the extra mile for their employers. Here’s a simple guide to improve the engagement levels of your workforce.

10 Work-Life Balance Tips Managers Can Use to Improve Their Mental Health

Use these simple tips to maximise your me-time as well as your peace of mind!

What is Quality in Mental Healthcare?

Organisations are becoming more quality-conscious about the mental healthcare services they pay for. Here’s how Manah Wellness has kept quality at the forefront of its services from day one by ensuring dignity, confidentiality and accessibility at every step.

10 Ideas to Promote Safety in the Workplace

The pandemic has made physical safety our number one priority at work, but many other threats are less evident. Here are some tips you can follow to improve the physical and emotional safety of your workplace.

How to Find the Right Mentor and Work With Them for Best Results

Always wanted a mentor but didn’t know where to start? Here’s an easy guide to find and retain a mentor who can help you achieve your professional growth goals.

Free Office Reopening Checklist for HR Managers: Download Now

Download a free office reopening checklist that covers everything you should know before getting your colleagues back to work. Exclusively curated by Manah Wellness.

How to Give Feedback to Employees for Triggering Change

Managers are required to give their teams feedback. But in order to work, feedback might be consistent, considerate and forward-looking. Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Manah Wellness Trains 100 Wellbeing Ambassadors and Champions to Support Workplace Mental Health

The 100 Wellbeing Ambassadors and Champions have been trained for Manah Wellness’s clients across India and Southeast Asia.

How to Build a Positive Workplace Culture

A culture of positivity at the workplace fosters an environment of empathy, collaboration and creativity. The driving force behind it is putting your employees first!

The Dangers of Hustle Culture for Workplace Health

Hustle culture is a creeping danger to workplace wellbeing. Here are some tips to help employees and leaders identify whether they are becoming victims of toxic hustle culture.

How to Improve Teamwork at the Workplace: 2022 Guide

Strong teamwork skills are essential for organisations to ensure high productivity, engagement and loyalty. Here’s an easy guide to get your team on the same page in 2022.

9 Employee Motivation Strategies and Rewards to Win 2022

High levels of employee motivation result in more creative and productive teams. Here are some strategies managers can use to keep team morale high in 2022.

How Would You Rate Your Workplace Negotiation Skills?

Regardless of your title or role, having strong workplace negotiation skills can come in handy. Read on for some pointers.

Signs Your Future Employer May Have a Toxic Workplace

Watch out for these warning signs during the interview process to avoid inadvertently becoming part of a toxic work environment.

Why Good Leaders Take Good Care of Themselves

These emotional and physical wellbeing tips for leaders will help them function at their optimal best by transforming their self-care routine.

Warning Signs of Poor Mental Health and What to Do About Them

Use these simple and effective techniques to take better care of your mental health.

5 Simple but Relaxing Hobbies for Remote Workers

Try out some of these hobbies to banish the work-from-home blues and feel healthier, happier, and more creative.

How To Prevent Work Stress From Affecting Your Family and Relationships

Try out these work stress management tips for better work-life balance.

Should you disclose your mental health issues to your employer?

The content of our thoughts and the working of our minds are our deepest secrets. But what if a health condition or illness impacts your productivity, focus levels or relationships at work? In that case, speaking to a boss or colleague might be the best thing to do. Just keep

7 Tips for Implementing Your Corporate Wellbeing Strategy

Use these tips to design and implement the optimal workplace wellbeing strategy.

“The Pandemic Is an Opportunity to Be a More Humane Leader”

In conversation with Mohana MD, Head HR, Standard Chartered Bangalore Hub, GBS

Social, Mental, and Emotional Skills that Make You Indispensable to Your Employer

Emotional skills are critical if you want to stay productive in today's fast-paced workplace.

Self-care Lessons from the World’s Top CEOs

Learn the secrets that help top leaders solve problems and increase their focus.

Budget-friendly Ways to Invest in Your Team’s Health

Implementing workplace health initiatives does not always require deep pockets. Here are some ways to fix work culture and improve team health and wellbeing on a limited budget.

Virtual Onboarding Best Practices to Make New Hires Feel Welcome

Use these virtual onboarding tips and ideas to absorb your new remotely-located employees seamlessly and efficiently.

How to Unlock the Benefits of Mindfulness at Work

Get more work done and tap into your energy and efficiency reserves with these mindfulness and meditation techniques.

Dealing With an Emotional Breakdown at Work

How to identify the signs of a breakdown, and what to do about it

The 15 Qualities Of Good Managers

These skill-sets are important for leaders in any domain or sphere of life.

10 Fun Employee Engagement Activities and Ideas: 2022 Edition

Do you want to transform the work culture of your organisation in 2022? We bring you ten fun and interesting ways to do just that.

Leadership and the Art of Dealing With Stress

Being a leader is tough. Here are some strategies to manage stress.

How to Improve Team Morale and Bonding in the Hybrid Workplace

Strategies to improve workplace connection, engagement, loyalty, and collaboration among your distributed employees.

5 Things to Keep in Mind as Companies Get Back to Office

Here are some post-COVID-19 office reopening guidelines and tips to keep in mind as your organisation transitions back to a physical or hybrid workplace.

Simple and Effective Yoga Poses You Can Do at Your Desk

Beat stress and burnout with these highly effective desk yoga poses for office workers and students that combine exercise, breathing, and meditation techniques.

4 Tips to Improve your Communication Game at Work

Facing difficulty communicating at work? Here are some tips for you.

Workplace Stress and Depression: Signs, Causes, and Management

A guide to how workplace stress starts and builds up, and how you can address it before it get worse.

The Importance of Psychological Safety at Work

When organisations allow employees to bring their real selves to work every day, it improves productivity, creativity, and workplace culture and mental health, among other benefits.

The Definitive Guide to Employee Wellbeing

Dos And Don’ts for Dealing with a Colleague With a Mental Health Condition

Offering understanding, flexibility, and support can go a long way in helping the person effectively manage or even overcome their mental health issue.

How to Send the Right Workplace Wellness Message to Your Team

Hint: be approachable, listen closely, communicate clearly.

4 Signs of Deteriorating Mental Health in Your Employees and Teams

Want to help your employees? Look out for these signs.

How to Handle the Emotional Fallout of a Failed or Failing Venture

'Bouncing back' is easier said than done. Here's what to do.

How To Practice Kindness at Work

The Three Tenets of Kindness at Work

How to Prevent Work Disagreements from Turning into Conflicts

We walk you through some conflict management techniques that will help you as a leader or manager.

The Subtle Ways in Which Work-From-Home Culture Can Drain Your Emotional Health

Is your emotional health deteriorating due to work-from-home culture? Here are some suggestions to keep tabs on your emotional health.

A Great Pre-work Morning Routine to Kickstart Your Day

Many of us take our morning routine for granted. We wake up filled with boundless reserves of energy and positivity. But then, we pick up our smartphones and slide down some or the other rabbit hole, swiping and scrolling away the precious minutes that follow. Ultimately, you end up running

Experts and Influencers On How Mental Healthcare Access in India Can Become Fairer

Mental healthcare in India is broken. Here are some ideas that could fix it

The Importance of Humane Leadership in the Post-COVID Workplace

On World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2021, Manah Wellness is bringing together experts to discuss how inequalities in mental healthcare access can be corrected. Register for the free event here: http://www.manahwellness.com/wmhd [http://www.manahwellness.com/wmhd?fbclid=IwAR0TlAY--K1UbE0Jr4uPx8nS4ms7_OrMxiQ_OyaitimS9yugbiFt0vyVPAo] The need for humane leadership

Why do Minorities Experience Higher Stress at Work?

Many employers pride themselves on their commitment to diversity and inclusion. But workplaces are run by humans, not robots. It can be hard to prevent majoritarian attitudes and biases towards women, religious minorities, scheduled castes, LGBTQ+ individuals, or disabled people from spilling over into common workspaces. Such biases - also

Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic for Leaders

The COVID 19 pandemic was a wake-up call for leaders. Here are some key lessons from the COVID 19 pandemic that you need to take note of.

Productivity Tips and Hacks for Working Effectively from Home

The tools and techniques for enhancing work from home productivity have never been discussed as widely as they are today. Mandatory work-from-home rules have introduced us to all kinds of distractions and concentration-sappers. From sore backs caused by uncomfortable chairs to the constant seduction of Netflix, we’re surrounded by

Combating Anxieties over the Newly-Reopened Workplace

Office re-openings might stoke anxiety in employees returning to the office, as they contemplate the risks of using public transport and sharing desks, canteens or restrooms with other workers. Here’s how employers can allay those fears and help people transition safely back to work.

Bicycling: On Tomorrows

A purple ribbon fell to the ground. I watched a child topple over from their tricycle. Before I could reach out, their parent walked over to help them get off the ground. The child began looking at their bruised elbows, dejected. One of the wheels of the tricycle spun to

Rewriting our headlines

I have observed that a warm drink and the newspaper is a morning ritual in many households. I skim through the headlines as reading on my phone has grown on me. Last year's headlines could not have been imagined. As these papers are archived, I wonder how the children of

Being Enough

I look around me as the team goes over their introductions. I begin to notice institutes, grades, internships, faces, and the people fade into the background. I check in with myself to understand the way I feel. I notice a sense of enough-hood crop up. Enough-hood, I think about the

Nightmares

Do you have nightmares? I am not talking about dreams, a nightmare is the evil twin that wakes you up at 3 am. Dreams are usually pleasant, even silly on some occasions. Nightmares make kids scream, and adults weep. I have had nightmares since I was a little kid. It

Inward Love: A to-do list trick

Square boxes and a task listed on its side. I look down at my phone and brace myself for the day that follows. I hold a gentle space for how I feel overwhelmed at the tasks ahead. I try to invite curiosity for today, curiosity allows me to feel the

Band Aid

Joe washed the onions and started chopping them at his usual rapid pace. He kept stealing glances at the TV in the corner. Chef Marco was explaining what went into making a delectable stew. Joe wanted to make sure everything tasted perfect, these were important guests after all. The phone

On Teachers and Mentors: Beyond the Classroom

Teacher's Day, a reminder blinks on my phone. I spend a few moments reflecting on how we would celebrate our teachers in school, with acts of gratitude. We curated plays, poems and worked on handmade cards. The essence being, 'Thank you for this, this classroom and all that you do

Loving: In Simple Recognition

The most moving message I have received from someone reads, "Thank you for existing. Sending you love today." I noticed how I am mindful of expressing gratitude when I receive acts of love and kindness. This message stunned in its simple expression of "I love you for being. You do

Growth requires Stillness

I carefully place seeds in a pot of soil, leaving it by the window sill. I look at the pot for the days that follow and notice how I can only see earthy soil. No visible signs of growth or sprouting. I recall vividly how my 6th-grade science teacher spoke

Kites: Shaking and Vulnerability

She pulled at the kite, shook it, and then leaned back. The kite sprawled out against the cottony sky fluttered in the wind and found a smooth breeze to sail on. I write this piece as I look through my journals describing a mental picture of a teenager flying kites

Whole Days

Antara: Have a nice day, Eli! E: Have a day, A! A chuckles. A: An odd way to phrase it, don’t you think E? E: Maybe I want you to be okay with your day, even if it isn’t as ‘nice’? A: That’s an interesting proposition. E:

If it ain't broke....

Joe walked into the bar and headed to the cashier. Only two tables were occupied. A month ago, by this time, the place would be full. John was waiting for him near the cashier desk. John-“You are late, and your restaurant is empty, care to explain?” Joe-“I have

Don't Clip My Wings

To clip one’s wings means restricting one’s freedom, power, or full potential. A reference to the practice of clipping a bird’s wings to prevent it from flying. It’s unfortunate that more often than not, the people who are closest to us are the ones who end

Kinder Conversations with our Bodies

Cara asks her Dad. C: Would you be thin, if you could, Dad? C gently nudges at his belly. D looks at his toddler and wonders how to approach this conversation. D: Do you like your body, C? C looks down at her clothes. C looks up at Dad: I

Take Me To Church

Do you believe in God? Do you believe there is a supreme entity at the center of the universe that connects everything? Irrespective of what your answer and beliefs are, the impact that religion and spirituality have on our day to day lives can’t be overlooked. Religion and science

Plant Parenting: Communities Matter

Yellowing leaves are not a great sign, I was never great with plants and an honest confession to the internet will not change that, unfortunately. I look at my plants on the window sill and my heart goes out to them. I named them, I tried to nourish them, rattled

Lemon Juice: On Loving

A jug full of lemon juice. I grew up being greeted with lemon juice after hot school days. Pondicherry, a coastal town made for unusually warm summers and winter days were lukewarm. I always looked at the jug on the table and wondered how much was left, how many glasses

Meeting Ourselves: How do I feel now?

I begin this by acknowledging that all of us may share a different relationship with yoga or any form of exercise. Our bodies may allow for a certain range of movement, and we are allowed to respect, offer kindness to our bodies, in all their capacities. I am acutely aware

On Groups: Valuing Ourselves

For those of us who watched movies set in schools and colleges, we learnt of groups and the cliches that come with them, early on. A group sometimes has a shared identity. It could be their interest in sports, environment, policy, or any niche that presents itself. I think about

Bodies: Through the Other

“This does not fit!” I gasp in horror at how clothes that perfectly fit a few months, seem to have shrunk. ‘Shrunk’, I wrap my arms over my body and wonder. I found myself reluctantly trying on a larger one and my face contorted with worry. I wonder how I

Sour Grapes

I remember reading this story about a fox who tries to eat grapes from a vine but can’t reach them. He walks away, proclaiming that ‘the grapes are sour’. The moral of the story is that we often hate what we can’t have. Foxes are supposed to be

Conversations through Masks

Muffled words echo through them. I try to listen, and politely ask them to repeat themselves a little louder. A few years ago, if you had told me I would have to listen to people wearing masks throughout the day, I would have laughed. I recall working with mice at

Occam's Razor

Occam’s Razor- An injunction not to make more assumptions than you absolutely need/ the simplest explanation is usually the best one. Joe works as an accountant with an MNC. For the last six months, maintaining a healthy work/life balance has become a difficult affair for him. As a

Homes: Piecing Together Parts

Hostel rooms, dorms, paying guest accommodations, elicit an odd sense of nostalgia. Having walked into, stayed with, spent months in and been invited to all of these places, I am struck at how each room or flat I walk into is nothing like another. The room with posters, walls with

Intersectionality: We Are Many

White sheet of paper, I sit down and look at it. I begin to think about how so much of life is constructed and sometimes, shaped out by my identity. Parts of my identity, I had the privilege to construct, to choose and parts were lent to me. I draw

Four Simple and Effective Wellbeing Initiatives for Employees Any Company Can Adopt

Last week, we worked with the leadership of FMC (APAC Region) [https://www.fmc.com/en] to curate a conversation around emotional health at workplace and how leaders can build emotionally healthy workplaces. [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ashwinnaik_emotionalwellbeing-workplace-mentalhealth-activity-6829315403123044352-6Px1] FMC is an agricultural sciences company with operations in over

Physical Health versus Mental Health

‘A stitch in time saves nine’. It has taken some decades for people to let this wisdom sink as far as their health is concerned. Till 1960s and 70s, fitness was not a popular and common term. Having a healthy weight, a functioning life with no ailment was a matter

Hakuna Matata

Hakuna Matata is a phrase in Swahili.  It literally translates to ‘no worries’ or ‘there are no troubles’. Timon and Pumba are two characters in the Disney epic, The Lion King. They have adopted this phrase as their life philosophy and are not concerned with anything that’s happening around

Sherbet Lemon

How many meals do you have in a day? 2, 3, 4? All of that’s normal. Some people even have 5 meals in a day. As long as you are doing some physical activity and your calorie count doesn’t exceed requisite level, you’ll be healthy. But what

Reality vs Wonderland

“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality” -The Mad Hatter (Alice in Wonderland) While I was growing up, I didn’t like my reality. So I opted to stay in a wonderland of my own creation. My musings distracted me from all that was going on around

Memory

The average human mind has the capacity to store up to 2.5 million GB of data. The irony is that more often than not it chooses to save embarrassing moments where we are making a fool of ourselves. The lecture you attended gets deleted and the incident outside of

Paths and Possibilities

People in rectangles. A newlywed couple, baby wraps, first days at school, defending a Ph.D. thesis, cooking a meal for the first time, vehicle’s birthday, a cat snuggled up, aging parents in the glow of their anniversary cake, celebrating oneself, a day off, an after-therapy selfie, the view

The Light Bulb Moments

It was the time of 'Month End' and all the cubicles in the Finance Centre were buzzing with activity.  We were just a couple of months into managing the financial process on our own, post the transition to our Center. The Month End close would determine how we performed during

Fitness; a lifestyle

''Do your squats!" "Run those miles" "Lift that weight" ‌‌Yeah, that's some workout hype right there. Its definitely cool and exciting to have these fitness victories. What's more? Fitness isn't limited to great shape, instead its how much strength the body gains. ‌‌When the pandemic started, life seemed like it

The Devil's Workshop

You must have heard the phrase- ‘An empty mind is the devil’s workshop’. While I was growing up, my mother used this phrase a lot. She didn’t like the fact that I had little interest in academics and would try to keep me busy with activities. Over time,

Compassion over Comprehension

“I don’t understand why.” I find this line running through my head. As I type this, I wonder if you have had thoughts on similar lines before. You find yourself wondering “Why would they do/believe in that? Why do they choose to be in a certain way?”, I

Joy Minus Validation

Wildly moving my limbs, I try to follow a dance workout routine. I allow myself to admit that I will never be someone who dances at a party nor will I receive compliments for how amazingly beautiful that routine was. I chuckle, as I type this. Do you find yourself

An Allowance: 'I don't know'

Blank space, I am trying to find the right words. The ‘right words’, I wonder. I listen to someone describe a rough day. I pause, I want to let them know they’ll get through this and it will be okay. How do I do this? I think about how

Deep Listening

The voices are loud. Whose voices? My own. I go over my mistakes, I try to hold my stance. I can hear a friend defending their position. We're at an impasse, disagreement of sorts. And so it continues, sentences volleyed back and forth. Some sentences are accusatory, some as disguised

A Table: On Safe Spaces

D’s daughter, H came home unusually quiet. H was out cycling with her friends, D noticed H fidgeting with her toys. D began to play with H, and H happily chose to engage. D chose to talk to H over dinner, a time where H is receptive to conversation.

Knowing Fear Intimately

Blue shimmery rectangles of water. Pools frightened B, sprinklers did too. 7-year old B, wears a pink polka-dotted swimsuit and walked to the steps of the swimming pool. B tries to ignore her mother in the stands. A kind woman approaches B from the water and holds her hands out.

The Price is Right

I know most of the people reading this article are either mental health professionals or students. But in case you are neither, let me ask you a question. How much do you think a trip to the therapist costs? If you know the answer, good for you. If you don’

NO COMPLAINT DAY

‘NO COMPLAINT DAY’ a practice I got introduced to during the personal development coaching was an experience worth reckoning. ‘ No complaint’ meant REFRAINING from making a statement that something was not satisfactory or could not be accepted. The challenge was to earmark a day when we would NOT pick on

All Eyes On Me

You walk into a room and everybody starts staring at you. You try to find a reflective surface so that you can check whether you look okay. You can hear them murmuring amongst themselves and are sure that somebody just said your name. You can feel them looking at you

Connecting with a Larger purpose

A friend of mine sent a story a few days ago. Something about this intrigued me. A king had a huge army that consisted of men, horses, and elephants. A particular elephant was his favorite. It was his trained accomplice in the war field. It complimented the King’s valor

Routine

I wake up in the morning on rare occasions . I believe my job has been responsible for this to a great extent as I have mostly done the same shift (Afternoon) over and over again. By the time I wake up, half the day is over and whatever is left

Self Help

Have you ever read a self-help book in your life? You know, the kind of books which claim that they will change your life and how you look at the world. By the time you are done reading the book you will be able to live your life the way

The Mindfulness Gap

Viktor Frankl, Nazi holocaust survivor, psychiatrist, philosopher, author and founder of logotherapy has said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” This space between stimulus and response that he talks

Pushing Back: Ball in a Pool

“I love the detailing on this, the colors blend so well. Wonderful illustration, D!” A graphic designer, she is listening to her mentor’s feedback on an illustration for a publication. D repeats the words to herself: “wonderful illustration, wonderful illustration, wonderful..” D stops mid-thought: “Was it really? The edges

To Strive or Not To Strive

Humor me; just Google “Strive for Perfection”. You will see one image that says Strive for Perfection in Everything You Do. Then there are articles that say Strive for Progress, Not for Perfection, or Strive for Excellence, Not for Perfection. And then there are articles on Why Striving For Perfection

Teams: On Learning through Relationships

“Groups of 4, please. I hope all of you have a wonderful time building this together!” I remember looking at the three strangers beside me. My earliest memory of working with a team was in elementary school, an exercise to create environment-friendly posters for Environment Day. As a young adult,

Sudoku: On Coping

My grandmother is amused that I would like to share an anecdote about her online, she laughed and agreed. I watch my grandmother solve the Sudoku, a habit she has resolved to commit to religiously over the years. She has watched the news for longer hours over the week. It

An Ode to a Chair: Accessing Emotions

I write this as I think about a chair. A chair, you ask. The chair, I reply definitively. Perhaps this chair was a corner of your bed, a designated space in your room. Spaces where you allow things to pile up, the stack of old clothes, a missing sock, books.

The F-Words in Anxiety

Caught your attention, didn’t I? Well, there is not one, but two F words in anxiety, just not the ones we’d like to utter. These are Fight and Flight. When we encounter potentially anxiety-inducing situations, the body rapidly goes through some changes that make us assess the situation

Pro at Procrastination

The irony of this article is that I wanted to write this sooner but I kept procrastinating. You may not find a bigger procrastinator than me. But here it is now. So, what is procrastination? Procrastination is the act of delaying something important and doing something else, which is not

Do I like this? Offering Kindness to Ourselves

I finish an assignment and wince at the screen of my laptop. Review content, formatting, word limit, references. I run through a mental checklist. 'Turn In', my work will now be graded by a Professor. "Will she approve of this?", comes to me with ease, I chuckle. I wonder how

Unveiling the inferences

My experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD as it is commonly known gave me a totally different perspective on thoughts and feelings. Until then,  any thought that surfaced in my mind meant it was I who thought it- A deliberate action on my part. If I felt a feeling,

Inclusive Introductions

Can introductions create safer spaces? Let us reflect on F's story. F listened in to everyone introduce themselves, quietly nodding and acknowledging the wonderful team he was going to work with. It was F's turn to speak. "Hey everyone! I am F, my pronouns are he/him. I’ve majored

The Self: A Deeper Dive

‌‌I looked at an image in the mirror. It is a human figure of what I am seen as by the people around. But I walked a few steps closer, to the mirror and my self; and I asked: Who am I? ‌‌I like painting, I enjoy travelling, I also

The Hidden Pouch: Holding On

Mid-year cleaning. I find myself sitting amidst a room with books and surprisingly, bags. Laptop cases, old school bags, reusable jute bags, colorful cloth pieces. I hold an old backpack and open it to find notes that date back to a few years ago. I chuckle as I notice a

100 Days of Happiness

Years ago, there was a challenge on Twitter called 100 days of happiness. The objective was to click a picture of something that makes one happy for 100 days and tweet about it. I decided to take it up and started clicking pictures of things that made me happy. For

Packing Mindfulness into your Lunch

A deadline approaches, a new project, peers who are working to meet targets, a to-do list that looms over you, and a full calendar. You break for lunch. Walk over to your space for lunch and open up your packed lunch or set out your food in front of you.

Overwhelm and Focus

How often are we really present in what we are doing! Does family time go without checking notifications or responding to messages on phone? Does work move without getting caught up in surfing random websites? For that matter, does even checking an intended 5 minutes video go without hopping on

A Leaking Roof, Marathons, Exams, and Positive Affirmations

"I am the best” Vs “I can’t do this” “Today is going to be a good day” Vs “Today looks like a bad day” “I am my own superhero” Vs “I am useless” Spot poll - how many of us think that the statements on the right side of

A Primer on Apologizing

How do we approach apologizing? We have all had to admit our shortcomings and hold space for another, too. Apologizing, on the contrary, does not create a binary of right and wrong, it fosters space for understanding. Perhaps, apologies can strengthen our relationships. V and R are friends. V forgets

The Secret Sauce

Often people feel that life has been unkind to them. In my profession, I come across loads of people who are not happy either with their spouses or with their jobs, or finances or kids or something else. They find something or the other to feel unhappy about, something or

Paramour

I have been in a relationship for over eleven years now. It started right about when I entered college. She tapped me on my shoulder and whispered in my ear sweet nothings about how I didn’t belong there. We hit it off instantly and she would be with me

Gratitude

What is Gratitude? Gratitude is commonly understood as being thankful for what we have, when others don't have it. That is to an extent correct, but it is not a complete definition. Like, if you're going through a tough time with an illness or a financial loss, and I say

Doubt

How many times a day do you doubt yourself? The answer can be anything on the scale of zero to all the time. How you answer this question says a lot about who you are as a person. Say zero, and you can be perceived as over confident. Say all

Motivation: Honoring how we feel

Motivational posters lettered as "Positive vibes only", "Work harder", “Just do it.” stifle how we may feel in the moment. When we hold back on how we truly feel, we tend to pile these feelings inside us. If you kept pushing paperwork to the edge of your desk, you would

EAP is dead. Reimagine emotional wellbeing at workplaces

EAP is dead. Working with over 50 companies as our partners, big and small, one thing is clear. Employee Assistance Programs are dying. What started as a great opportunity to support employee wellbeing has degenerated into bland, reactive service with low utilisation numbers across the world. The EAP model was

How to become a mental health champion in these tough times

When discussing mental health, our society often falls back on its favourite archetypes: the impoverished farmer, the dejected student, the troubled celebrity. However, the pandemic has demolished all these myths once and for all. Months after the UN predicted a long-term upsurge in mental health problems, reports indicate a rise

In the post-covid world, long term well-being depends on community mental health champions

India witnessed the biggest containment experiment in history when its 1.3 billion citizens battened down the hatches in an attempt to flatten the Covid curve. The lockdown may be ending in a few weeks but a new epidemic is emerging. According to a survey conducted by the Indian Psychiatry

4 Indicators to check if your mental health at the workplace initiative is working

What started out as “work from home” has slowly turned into “live at work”. With increasing work hours, lack of boundaries in personal and work spaces, uncertain future all have led to deteriorating mental health for employees. Recent reports suggest that 1 in 6 employees in the corporate world suffered