As February unfolds and we navigate the second month of the year, the opportunity to cultivate a renewed sense of hope and positive change remains ever-present. While the initial enthusiasm for the new year may have settled, the importance of building and maintaining healthy habits persists. Many individuals use this time to reflect on the past and reassess their resolutions. Among the most common aspirations is the commitment to adopt healthier habits. Beyond the focus on physical health, it is essential to recognize the value of a holistic approach that encompasses all facets of life, contributing to sustained well-being. This article will delve into the continued significance of cultivating healthy habits across various life areas, even as we progress into the heart of the new year, fostering a balanced and fulfilling existence.

Physical Well-being:

A cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle is physical well-being. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep contribute to overall health. Begin by incorporating simple, achievable changes into your routine, such as taking short walks, opting for nutritious meals, and prioritizing a consistent sleep schedule. Gradually increase the intensity of your workouts and experiment with different forms of exercise to keep things interesting.

Mental and Emotional Health:

Caring for your mental and emotional health is equally crucial. Practice mindfulness and stress management techniques to alleviate daily pressures. Set aside time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation, whether it's reading, meditating, or spending quality time with loved ones. Consider seeking professional support if needed. We would love to assist you on your mental health journey at Capital EAP. You can receive support on a wide range of topics, such as job-related stress, relationship issues, anxiety, depression, addictions, communication issues, child-parent relationships, caregiver stress, and more. If you would like support in any of these areas, you can reach our intake team at 518-465-3813 to help set up an appointment.



Professional Development:

Career and personal growth are often interconnected. Set professional goals that align with your passions and interests. Regularly update your skills and knowledge through continued education or training programs. Create a healthy work-life balance to prevent burnout and ensure sustained success in your career.

Relationships:

Building and maintaining healthy relationships is fundamental to a fulfilling life. Foster open communication, empathy, and mutual respect in your personal and professional connections. Allocate dedicated time to nurture your relationships with family, friends, or colleagues. Cultivating a supportive social network contributes significantly to overall well-being.

Financial Fitness:

Financial stability is crucial to our overall happiness and peace of mind. Establish a budget, prioritize savings, and set realistic financial goals. Regularly review and adjust your financial plan as needed. Cultivating responsible financial habits creates a foundation for long-term security and reduces unnecessary stress. As a part of your benefits with Capital EAP, you have access to a financial advisor who can assist you with this part of your journey. You can reach our intake team at 518-465-3813 to set up an appointment.

Intellectual Stimulation:

Continual learning and intellectual stimulation are key components of a vibrant and healthy life. Set aside time for reading, exploring new interests, and engaging in activities that challenge your mind. Embracing a curious mindset fosters personal growth and contributes to a more fulfilling life.

As we embark on a new year, let's commit to a holistic approach to building healthy habits. Recognize the interconnectedness of various life areas and strive for balance in physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Taking small, consistent steps in each aspect of your life will pave the way for a healthier, more fulfilling future. Embrace the journey of self-improvement with patience and perseverance, and the rewards will undoubtedly extend beyond the confines of the new year. Starting and committing to any journey can be extremely difficult. If you would like assistance in creating or maintaining your healthy habits, reach out to us at 518-465-3813 to set up an appointment. We would be happy to help. 

“What exactly is anxiety, and how is it related to thinking?” I often ask myself. Clearly, there is a contemporary pandemic of anxiety, and in my book, anxiety is a clinical term for what most people call “worry.” And isn’t worrying a form of negative thinking? What are the relationships between thinking, worrying, and anxiety? Some definitions may help us negotiate this quagmire.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary online, “thinking” is a noun defined as “the action of using one's mind to produce thoughts.” Hence, thinking consists in taking mental action. That sounds right. But the tricky part of the issue is this: who or what is taking the action? Is the person creating the action purposefully, or is the action happening spontaneously and/or unconsciously? Herein lies an important problem.

Let’s consider a related concept called “ANTS,” which stands for “automatic negative thoughts.” I was introduced to this concept by Dr. Daniel Amen when watching his video series called “Change Your Brain, Change Your Life,” which I highly recommend to anyone with psychological/emotional issues and/or substance use/addiction issues. ANTS are the thoughts that get generated by the mind spontaneously and repetitively, the kind of thoughts that fuel anxiety.

To me, this is the root of the anxiety problem: people are having lots of negative, automatic thoughts and then having feelings and behaviors as a result of those thoughts. It is like a train heading up the tracks with no one driving it, and with no one driving it, the train keeps going and gradually picks up speed. This is where Eckhardt Tolle is helpful. In his wonderful little treatise on the human mind, The Power of Now, he explains that the mind is a tool, a very complicated one, but a tool nonetheless. You are not your mind, he says. You have a mind, and that mind is full of all kinds of things which you can learn to manage. This is a concept I teach my clients because I have found that most people do not know that they are not their minds and that their minds are complicated tools that they can learn to manage; otherwise, it manages them. And that, to me, is anxiety: the mind going on and on along a negative train of thought and creating fear. I have analyzed the difference between fear and anxiety. What I have found out is that fear is a natural response to an immediate threat. Anxiety is an unnatural response to an imagined threat set in the future. Fear is happening at the moment to tell us that something is wrong and that we must take some kind of action to remain safe. Anxiety is a fantasy scenario projected into the future, which tells us that something negative is going to happen to us, but it is imaginary and not based on current evidence. That is why anxiety is harder to deal with, because it is about the future and based on something that has not yet happened, and yet we are experiencing fear in the present.

Thinking is a complicated process. It generally includes judging, reasoning, problem-solving, concept formation, deliberation, and other mental processes like having an idea or a memory and using one’s imagination. Deepak Chopra said in one of his lectures that the average person has about 60,000 thoughts per day. He then said such a number of thoughts is not a problem. The problem lies in the fact that most people are having the same thoughts today that they had yesterday. You can see that if many of a person’s thoughts are negative, falling into the category of worry, those thoughts resurface day after day. And so the question becomes, “How can I learn to manage my mind so that I am not worrying?” 

Going back to the dictionary definition, let’s look again at thinking as a mental action. Did you ever notice that you can consciously generate some thoughts if you intend to think along a certain track, but many thoughts seem to generate themselves? You aren’t trying to think of them; they just show up. Sometimes, you are taking the mental action to think something, but other times, the thoughts keep getting generated without your intention to have those thoughts. Those are the ones that tend to be problematic. The ones that get generated without your consent. And those are the ones that tend to be the negative, anxiety-provoking kind of thoughts. And as Dr. Chopra said, the ones you have today are, for the most part, the same ones you had yesterday.  How to manage this? 

Most of us are familiar with the concept of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of watching the mind, observing the mental actions of the mind, and not judging them. It is about becoming aware of one’s thoughts, worries, and fantasies and not holding on to them. Watching them come and go. Watching the actions of the mind. That is mindfulness. What can mindfulness do for us? It can allow us to have some leverage over the negative actions of the mind and its tendency to go off on its own and entertain negative thoughts. By watching the mind, you can become conscious of its mental actions, and this can give you some leverage to change thoughts, slow the mind down, reign it in, and direct it in more productive ways. When I did a yoga teacher training some years ago, one day, our instructor made a statement that seemed so important that I thought, “I have to remember this.” His statement was: “Your mind is like a kite, and your breath is the string.” The mind, when anxious, is like a kite flying in the wind, being tossed and turned, doing somersaults. How can you get some leverage over it, and get it to settle down and become controlled? Through the conscious action of your breath. Conscious, intentional, controlled breathing is the way to reign in the anxious mind. With this kind of breathing, the mind settles down. With the practice of mindfulness and conscious, intentional breathing, one can gradually learn to manage the mind, redirect it, change negative thoughts to positive ones, and hence feel better and produce more intentional and constructive actions. 

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) play a critical role in creating a healthy and productive work environment by offering free support to employees dealing with personal and professional challenges. However, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding EAPs that often cloud their true purpose and potential. While I cannot speak for all EAPs, Capital EAP's mission is to help employees improve their overall quality of life in every way possible. Let's dispel some of the most common misconceptions about EAPs and shed light on the reality behind these often misunderstood services.

Myth #1: EAPs are only for serious issues.

One common misconception is that EAPs are only for employees dealing with severe mental health crises or significant life challenges. At Capital EAP, we aim to provide support for a wide range of life concerns, from everyday stress and work-related issues to more critical situations. Whether you're feeling stressed about a strict deadline at work, dealing with workplace conflicts, wanting to improve your organizational skills, or struggling with personal problems, Capital EAP is here to provide support and guidance in a variety of ways!

Myth #2: EAPs are only for therapy.

Another common misconception is that EAPs only offer traditional therapy sessions. While confidential and free therapy sessions are a significant benefit of working with Capital EAP, we also offer a broader spectrum of support. Whether you need financial counseling, legal advice, or resources for childcare and eldercare, Capital EAP has you covered. Our Employee Assistance Program is versatile, addressing the multifaceted needs of individuals and helping to solve everyday problems.

Myth #3: EAPs are time-consuming and intrusive.

A significant reason why many people do not use their EAP benefits is that they believe using the services will be time-consuming and intrusive. However, Capital EAP has made it as easy as possible by answering calls live with our intake team Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Additionally, they have an email address, and you can even leave voicemails to be reached back at a convenient time. Capital EAP respects individuals' privacy and is designed to be flexible, with sessions often scheduled during non-working hours and the level of involvement determined by the client's comfort level. The goal is to provide support without causing additional stress or disruption to one's professional life.

Debunking these common myths and misconceptions about Employee Assistance Programs is crucial to encourage employees to take advantage of the valuable resources available to them. EAPs are not limited to crisis management or specific types of issues; they are versatile, accessible, and beneficial for all employees, regardless of their current situation. By fostering a better understanding of EAPs, organizations can create a supportive and thriving workplace culture that prioritizes the mental and emotional well-being of their workforce. To learn more, I encourage you to go to capitaleap.org or even talk to your HR department and ask for your member benefits summary. We’re always a phone call away at 518-465-3813!

"Hello, all! I'm Zahra Tlaige, a 27-year-old professional with an Associate's Degree in Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the College of Saint Rose. In my free time, I enjoy traveling to the beach, making podcasts, singing, working out, and spending time with friends and family. I also have a very sophisticated Yorkie. My past work experience journey has led me to meaningful experiences working with children, including those with disabilities/special needs. In my previous role, I worked with refugees and immigrants, finding immense satisfaction in positively impacting lives and guiding individuals toward a better future. Joining Capital EAP, I'm enthusiastic about understanding the organization's client support initiatives and the resources provided. I am looking forward to immersing myself in the role, exploring its different aspects, and connecting with the incredible team at Capital EAP."