Resource Articles

​Hobbies are a great way to reduce a person's stress level, improve moods, and reduce the risk of depression. They also help you focus on the present instead of worrying about your tomorrow's to-do list. Work/Life Connections-EAP shares suggestions to use hobbies to build your mental health resilience.

​Have you ever wished you could turn off your thoughts for a moment? Our minds can easily become cluttered and inundated with information. Work/Life Connections-EAP shares some ways in which you can take a "mindful microbreak" to regain some peace of mind.

​Kindness is generally thought of as a simple act, like smiling to a stranger walking by or saying thank you to a waiter. While the act itself might seem small, the impact is big. Work/Life Connections-EAP shares some ways in which you can inject small acts of kindness into your daily routine.

​Since the beginning of the pandemic, our healthcare teams have done an awesome job in spite of the uncertainty, danger to their safety, fatigue, and the trauma to their psychological well-being. This article contains some suggestions that our healthcare members recommended for self-care during the first wave of this pandemic.

It would be great if everyone was born with a full repertoire of traits and skills for resilience. Since we are not, it is reassuring to know that with practice and training we can learn the behaviors, attitudes and skills necessary to increase our ability to spring back from challenges.

​We hoped that we were going to get back to "normal", but the Delta variant has swept through the country and made its way to Nashville. It feels like déjà vu, except at this point we still have access to toilet paper. At this juncture, Vanderbilt faculty, staff, and students are mostly protected by vaccinations.  

The one-year anniversary of the deadly March 3rd tornado brings back memories of loss, grief, and fear. It is a good time to pause and reflect. Work/Life Connection-EAP's Jim Kendall provides tips on how to emotionally prepare for anniversary reaction.

​ Join SHARE Center Specialist Lauren Dattilo for a presentation on what sexual harassment is, ways bystanders can help when they witness harassment, and what steps VUMC is taking to create a safer and more equitable workplace.

Jim Kendall, LCSW, CEAP, discusses strategies for coping with the continuing stress one may experience during the current pandemic situation.

Good mental health means that we can find joy and positively deal with life's inevitable challenges. It is a time to assess the balance we have in our lives, despite today's dramatic and unexpected stressors. This year has brought so much more than the "normal stresses of life." Paying attention to our positive emotional well-being is more important now than ever.