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Five Tips to Preserve Your Mental Well-Being

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BY KEISHA JOHNSON

Did you know that in any given week 500,000 employed Canadians are unable work because of mental health issues? That’s striking. And so is the fact that in any given year, 1 in 5 Canadians report experiencing a mental health or addiction problem.

According to Life and Economic Impact of Major Mental Illness in Canada prepared by Risk Analytica on behalf of the Mental Health Commission of Canada in 2011, “by the time Canadians reach forty years old, 1 in 2 [50%] report having or have had a mental illness.”

This means they may have experienced or are struggling with issues such as mood or anxiety disorder (e.g. depression, phobias), conduct disorder, ADHD, ODD, substance use disorders, problem gambling, schizophrenia or dementia.

The projections are that by 2041, approximately 20.5 percent of the population or an estimated 8.9 million Canadians will be living with mental health issues.

If we adopt the definition of mental health or mental well-being as a person’s capacity to enjoy life and cope with challenges, the implication is that many more persons than we imagine are not coping. Some aspect of life is out of balance and they are compromised or impaired in their capacity to not only enjoy quality of life, but to optimally contribute to society.

“It could be anything that throws someone over the edge: a letter, a call, an accident, exposure to violence or tragedy, loss of a loved one, etc., any trauma,” explained addictions counsellor at Toronto’s Seaton House, Richard Brown.

The fact is, all of us across all age groups face challenges that could threaten our ability to maintain balance in our physical, social, spiritual, economical or mental life. Adults are at highest risk of mental imbalance at the significant thresholds in their journey to maturity Brown suggests. For example, “when they take on more responsibilities such as the start of a career or family or at the start of retirement when they begin to process end of life issues, quality of life concerns and financial responsibilities [post employment].”

Maybe that accounts for why the highest incidence of mental illness is among 20-49 year olds, with 25-34 year olds spiking among employed Canadians.

Still, youth 15-24 years old is the most vulnerable group. They are more likely to experience mental illness and/or substance use disorders than any other age group.

The vulnerability to mental illness is pervasive and early detection is key to recovery, yet most people experiencing mental health challenges shy away from help primarily for fear of stigmatization.

“Many people living with a mental illness say the stigma they face is often worse than the illness itself. It can manifest in the loss of friends and loved ones—the people most critical to one’s social support network. It can limit employment, housing and educational opportunities. Through all these forms of reinforcement, stigma is often internalized by those with mental illness. They come to self-stigmatize, which can be an obstacle to accessing care—and to their quality of life,” documented a report of the 5th International Stigma Conference held 2012 in Ottawa, ON.

Fear of stigmatization is not unfounded. Thankfully, there is a progressively positive shift in the awareness of mental health issues and the general population’s attitudes towards people with mental illness. We leave you with five tips from Richard Brown to help you preserve your mental well-being.

(1) Get connected with supportive people. Have regular face-to-face contact. Don’t isolate yourself. (2) Get involved with a hobby that you enjoy and that relieves stress in a positive way. (3) Get moving: Run. Walk. Exercise your body, it exercises your brain and is a great stress reliever. (4) Learn how to manage stress constructively: Stress is a part of life. (5) Diet: What you eat can affect your brain and emotions. Eat to not just look good but to also feel good.

Bonus: Invest in self-care – “put your own mask on first” and focus on yourself and your well-being before that of others. Find what is your niche, what is it God designed for you to do for your enjoyment and your fulfillment and don’t compromise or negotiate that for anything or anyone.

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Professional Development

As a community we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street?

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Photo Credit: Christina @ wocintechchat.com

BY DAVID ANDERSON

Do you know what the problem is? We can never stand up as one and unite for change. I am getting really sick and tired of this crab in a bucket mentality. As a community, we have not done enough. We have not built enough. Instead of correcting history, we have chosen the path of repeating it. I mean it is true we cannot hide from who we are but grow and learn from who we were. We cannot be afraid to let our brothers and sisters continue to separate.

As a community, we lack unity. How are we supposed to rebuild the Black Wall Street? How come it has never been remade since the tragic Tulsa race massacre that took place May 31st and June 1st 1921? City officials, to attack Black business owners, and residents gave the people weapons. They destroyed homes in Tulsa Oklahoma. What was once a flourishing community in Tulsa Oklahoma was reduced to nothing but campfire stories. This left a negative impact on the Black community.

Have you ever heard the phrase crabs in a bucket? This is a metaphor for people who either live in the same environment or are after specific goals. What we all get confused about is that there is enough for everyone.

I used to hate the saying “Let’s get this bag,” because it puts one trophy at the top of the pedestal. Humans are so competitive that they would rather sabotage their future as long as they beat you or finish first. This is how you burn bridges that you will have to cross again in life.

Working towards one goal usually is beneficial to each individual or as a collective (team). Every sports team makes it clear what their goals are in the pre-season. This allows coaches and players to develop a relationship that is based on trust and personal development. Each time they step out on the field or court they have their teammates’ best interest at hand. This will create chemistry, which only strengthens relationships and performance. We have to be able to depend on and trust one another. We need to learn from our mistakes and be proactive in correcting them.

As an entrepreneur, you need to be able to build strong relationships and communities. This might not be easy, but it is beneficial for you, family, business and community. As a leader you must have the ability to rally people in your community towards a cause. You have the ability to start a community organization. You possess the skills to make a change in your life, for your family and community. Don’t let opportunities pass you by. We need to learn more about our history, or it will repeat itself. We need to learn from other great cities, villages, and kingdoms.

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Professional Development

How to Boost Your Marketing Agency’s Growth in 2022

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Want to boost your marketing agency’s growth over the course of the next calendar year? If so, you’ve found the right article. Below, you will find insightful information regarding the current scalability of the advertising sector, as well as comprehensive advice on what you can do to play an active role in this ongoing development.

Here are three things you can do to boost your marketing agency’s growth in 2022:

Home in your niche market
You aren’t going to grow your marketing agency until you showcase your skill, credibility, and reliability. In order to cultivate this type of reputation for yourself, you need to offer a specific service incredibly well. Distracting yourself with unnecessary service ranges will detract from your ability to build this authority, which is why you are advised to home in on a niche market segment. This will entail you providing a narrow yet effecting promotional service until you are capable of taking your agency to the next level.

There are plenty of niche marketing markets for you to tap into, eight of which include:

  1. Digital marketing
  2. Outbound or inbound marketing
  3. Content marketing
  4. Social media marketing
  5. Voice marketing
  6. Email marketing
  7. Influencer marketing
  8. Word-of-mouth marketing

Embrace white label SEO
If you choose to go down the digital marketing route in your expansion endeavor, you should seriously consider embracing white label SEO. This will allow you to expand your web-based advertising initiative without draining your time, effort, money, or resources.

To ensure that you receive a substantial ROI from white label SEO, it’s recommended that you partner up with a reputable reseller such as Click Intelligence Canada. This industry authority will help you to generate a new source of revenue, they will offer SEO solutions tailored around your specific expertise, and they will provide a cost-effective platform for your agency’s growth. Ultimately, this level of assistance will allow you to focus on what truly matters — your company’s ongoing scalability.

Simplify your project management
The way in which you manage your projects will have a profound effect on your marketing agency’s success going forward. In this instance, it’s important that you avoid overcomplicating things at all costs. This will only make life ten times harder for yourself, s it will eat away at both your time and effort. Ultimately, this will decrease the likelihood of you meeting your crucial advertising campaign deadlines.

When attempting to simplify your project management process, your first port of call should be to prioritize your daily tasks by level of importance. This will help you to screen out unimportant tasks and subsequently aid you in your attempt to focus on critical marketing matters.

Are you determined to take your marketing agency to the next level in 2022? If so, be sure to heed the growth and development advice laid out above. Home in on a niche market, embrace white label SEO, and simplify your project management — do all of that, and you’ll be scaling the lofty heights of your niche industry sooner rather than later.

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Professional Development

Ergonomic Home Office- Choosing The Best Furniture Pieces

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BY ELLA BRAUN

The COVID crisis has brought a sudden transition for the world, particularly in the form of the work from the home switch. The biggest challenge, however, is that most of us are not equipped with a proper working area at home. Like everyone else, you would also want to have a dedicated office space that makes you feel productive. When it comes to creating such a home office, comfort is important. After all, you cannot expect to do your best in the workspace if you are not comfortable enough. If you are planning to create an ergonomic home office, choosing the right furniture pieces matters the most. Here are some tips to pick the best ones.

Assess the available space
Even before you start preparing a wishlist of furniture pieces, assess the available area. Not everyone has a spare room for creating a dedicated office, so space struggles are more real than you think. Measure the area and consider the essential pieces you would want to fit in. You may have to differentiate between needs and wants and skip some things if there isn’t enough room.

Consider the work hours
From the ergonomic perspective, it is important to consider the number of hours you would be working every day. For example, you can give precedence to style if you plan to use the home office for only a few hours in a day. However, comfort is absolutely essential if you have long working hours. You may even consider having a standing work desk apart from the sitting arrangement to prevent the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.

Have a budget to start with
Right now, you may be pressed for cash but a proper workspace is something that you can’t do without. Having a budget before you start shopping is a good idea. You may even look for deals like an IKEA flyer or coupon online to fit the best-branded furniture in your budget. Quality is vital when it comes to ergonomics because good brands go the extra mile to create designs that are easy on the body.

Choose pieces that fit you
If comfort is your top priority while picking furniture for your work area, you need to go the extra mile to find pieces that actually fit your body. Consider proportioned height for your chair and table if you are too tall or too short. Exploring and trying before buying is a great idea. Of course, your office furniture should look great but ease is something that you cannot ignore.

Don’t forget your personal style
Even as you look for pieces that are comfortable, don’t forget your personal style. Also, make sure that it blends with your home decor, particularly when you are creating a workspace in your living room or bedroom. Consider the aesthetic elements such as colour and design. At the same time, invest in durability and quality as well.

Although creating a home office can be easy, you need to be extra sure about ergonomics. After all, an easy space makes you feel more productive and keeps you healthy as well.

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