One Source EAP Connections

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  Wellness Planning for 2026

  It’s that time of year again - making New Year’s resolutions that may not last to the end of the month, forget about the end of the year. As with any successful venture, the key is planning! As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” One area where many of us fail to plan is our mental health and wellness, which is more important than ever. Even one goal to improve self-care and mental wellness can make a positive impact. Whether it is improving your sleep, eating better, or moving more, good self-care helps reduce stress and improve resiliency when things go awry. One Source EAP can help you improve your mental health and wellness planning with our January seminar, “Creating A Wellness Plan,” and can help you work toward your SMART goals: Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-bound. Learn more about SMART goals by reading the newsletter.

  Jan 05, 2026
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  The Benefits of Giving Back

  Giving back is an act of generosity that strengthens communities and enriches the lives of both the giver and the receiver. During the holidays, there are many opportunities to give back to our communities and those around us. Events such as food, blood, and coat drives are increasingly visible this time of year. It can take many forms, from volunteering time and talents to donating financially. Giving back creates a positive ripple effect, inspiring others to get involved. Studies have shown that generosity releases "feel-good" chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin, providing a psychological boost often called a "helper's high." These benefits contribute to reduced stress, increased feelings of happiness, a greater sense of purpose, and improved self esteem. The motivation to give back is deeply personal, driven by a desire to help others or guided by personal values and convictions. Ultimately, the act of giving back reinforces the idea that we are all interconnected and that our actions, no matter how small, can make the world a better place.

  Nov 26, 2025
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  Developing Your Listening Skills

  Listening is a critical component of effective communication. Effective listening leads to greater understanding, stronger relationships, better collaboration and problem-solving and even greater success. If there is one communication skill we should all aim to master, it is definitely listening. We’ve all experienced those who don’t listen effectively: the half-listener, the “um hmm’r,” that doesn’t listen at all, the “multitasker,” who may or may not be paying attention, and the “responder,” who is just waiting for you to stop talking so they can interject. Barriers to effective listening In our 24x7 world, it is easy to get caught up in things that interfere with effective listening, such as: • Being wrapped up in our own thoughts • Being distracted • Having already formulated a response • Hearing something that conflicts with our opinion Practicing active listening skills, such as the techniques at the right, can help you overcome any barriers to listening. Interested in 7 Active Listening Techniques? Click on the link for newsletter.

  Oct 31, 2025
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  Putting a Stop to Workplace Bullying

  From the time we entered the social scene as children, bullies were a fact of life. We found them in the neighborhood, at school and, sadly in workplaces. In a 2024 survey, the Workplace Bullying Institute found that 32% of working Americans reported being bullied, while a staggering 72% were aware of workplace bullying. Bullying is about power and is characterized by repeated, intentional behaviors of individuals whose purpose is to intimidate, degrade, humiliate or undermine another employee. A bully may start out alone, but their behavior infects the workplace and may lead to isolation, due to others not wanting to become the next target. The result of bullying creates psychological and/or physical harm to the target, such as a loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, stress, depression, sleep and/or digestive problems. The good news is that bullies can be stopped! The steps at the right will walk you through how to thwart bullying in the workplace. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Read more in newsletter on how to put a stop to bullying and regain your self-esteem.

  Sep 30, 2025
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  Kinder Workplace

  We all want to be in a workplace that encourages and values kindness. Being kind comes from a place of genuine care, empathy, and a desire to make a positive impact. It involves deep connections with lasting effects. While we may think kindness is just being nice to each other, niceness can sometimes be more shallow and focused on social expectations or politeness without the same level of authenticity or impact. When our workplace embraces kindness toward one another, it makes us look forward to being at work, increases employee morale, enhances teamwork, and promotes personal growth. During this month of Suicide Prevention Awareness, a kind act toward someone who may be having difficulty, could be the difference that makes life seem worthwhile. Kind acts don’t have to be big, just a smile at those around us, whether they are other employees or clients, can have a big impact. For additional ways to build more kindness in your workplace, try some of the ideas at the right and you may just find that being kind becomes infectious. Read more in newsletter for Ideas To Promote Kindness at Work. 

  Sep 02, 2025
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  Stress Relief for a Calmer Day

  We all have stress. Some of it we put on ourselves by looking for doom and gloom in the future or obsessing about past events. Even if we are able to focus on the present, external events or other people seem to add stress into our day to day lives. One Source EAP maintains a keen focus on stress relief and we constantly teach methods to reduce stress. From square breathing, guided visualization and Drumming Away Stress, to our Calm Collection video series, which offers 13 different ways to reduce stress in about 3 minutes. Managing stress when it happens, is a start. However, we need to proactively prepare ourselves to start each day without stress and know how to avoid letting external stressors impact us so much. This is great self care which starts with the three basics to prepare our minds and bodies through good nutrition, exercise and at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Beyond the basics, there are additional ways to bring calm into your day. Try practicing one or more techniques to train yourself to better respond to stress inducing events and people. Get started with the 7 Habits of Calmness in the newsletter.

  Aug 04, 2025
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  July 2025 Your Emotional Intelligence

  It is well-known that people with a high IQ learn quickly and are generally considered smart. But those with high Emotional Intelligence (EQ or EI) seem to have more self-control and can help others calm down in a multitude of situations. For example, the friend that responds rather than reacts when presented with criticism or a problem, or diffuses an argument by reflecting the feelings of others, or shares individual praise by citing the team for the accomplishment. WNBA player, Caitlin Clark, has shown high EQ in many interviews in these ways. Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify and manage your own emotions and understand the emotions of others. Those with a high EQ tend to have enhanced leadership abilities, make better decisions, contribute to increased team performance, and have greater personal well-being. There are five key elements to EQ: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. The more we develop these attributes, the greater our emotional intelligence becomes, which can lead to better personal and professional relationships. See the 10 Ways to Enhance Your EQ at right.

  Jun 30, 2025
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  Yoga for Wellness

  Yoga has become increasingly popular in the United States as a form of exercise and relaxation. It is believed to have originated in India thousands of years ago and is a holistic approach to well-being. Yoga can enhance physical health, reduce stress and improve mental clarity. The Beatles are credited with introducing yoga to the US in the 1960’s after their tour of India. Since then, there has been an explosion of yoga in this country. People are practicing all forms of yoga, including hot yoga, chair yoga and goat yoga. So what’s behind the popularity? Many people are attracted to yoga for its physical benefits, including reducing chronic pain, but the benefits extend much further. According to Harvard Medical School, when you practice yoga, your brain cells develop new connections, and changes occur in brain structure and function, resulting in improved cognitive skills. Yoga strengthens parts of the brain that play a key role in memory, attention, awareness, thought, and language. It is like weightlifting for the brain. Yoga may even counteract declining memory and other cognitive skills as we age. Click on the newsletter link to read about Nine Benefits of Yoga.

  May 30, 2025
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  The Power of Commitment

  During May, we have many celebrations, including Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and Mental Health Awareness Month, along with weddings, anniversaries, and graduations. The common thread to all of these is commitment; to loved ones, to achieving goals, to Country, to patients, and to self-care. Commitment is an important component in our lives; it enables us to achieve our goals and lead purposeful and meaningful lives. Purpose or motivation starts us on a given path, but commitment is what keeps us going through difficulties and bumps along the way. Anything worth attaining requires commitment, whether it is a fulfilling relationship, raising great children, achievement in school, sports or a career, is guaranteed to present challenges. When we are committed to these outcomes, we’re willing to do whatever it takes to follow through on our responsibility. Commitment is also good for our overall mental health as it helps reinforce a sense of purpose, and provide direction and structure, which can help us cope with challenges and foster resilience. It also helps build stronger relationships while reducing stress and anxiety. Please read the newsletter for Three Keys to Staying Committed to Your Goals.

  May 01, 2025
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  Enhancing Your Creativity

  The word creativity likely brings to mind thoughts of painting, drawing, musical ability or literature. Given that description, many of us may not consider ourselves terribly creative. However, creativity is a skill that can be useful in all aspects of life, including work, where creative thinking and problem-solving can bring about innovations that help organizations thrive. You are creative if... 1) You look at difficulties and see unusual or unique ways to address them 2) You think of things to make your department or workplace more efficient *3) You find ways to make your department more enjoyable If none of these apply to you, you can Jumpstart your creativity by using some of the ideas at right. Employees who are encouraged to be creative at work find they are more productive, happier, and contribute to new ways of solving problems. Creativity also results in higher engagement and satisfaction for both clients and employees.

  Apr 01, 2025
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  Simplify Your LIfe

  Americans are known to over schedule, over spend, over commit and strive to overachieve. This leads us to being over stressed and overwhelmed. This month, we are taking a step back to focus on simplifying our lives, which has physical, psychological and financial benefits. More isn't always better. Sometimes it's just more. Many times, we don’t need more – clutter in our homes, on our phones, and on our calendars. It leads to stress and a feeling of being overwhelmed on a regular basis. Simplifying isn’t about removing enjoyment, it’s about making room for things that bring peace and joy to your life. When you declutter your surroundings, you have more space to enjoy the things you treasure most. When you start saying no to commitments that aren’t critical, you have more time for spontaneity, for loved ones, and for yourself. When you cut back on non-essential spending, you have more savings. Simplifying relieves stress so you have more calm and ease in your life. Click on link for newsletter to read tips on how to start simplifying.

  Feb 28, 2025
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  Build Stronger Relationships in 2025

  As humans, we have an inherent need for companionship and feeling connected. Whether it’s through friends, co-workers, family members or romantic partners, we crave the support, encouragement and perspective we get from being in relationships with others. Just one relationship can’t give us everything we need, so we require a variety. We crave unconditional love of family, social interactions with friends, camaraderie and respect with co-workers, a sense of common purpose with our communities, and intimacy from romantic partners. Healthy relationships require trust, openness, mutual respect, and good communication skills along with the ability to give and take. When both parties are willing to dedicate themselves to these characteristics, the payoff for doing so is huge! Being in strong relationships is associated with a reduction in stress and a greater sense of purpose, which makes sense. But those with close ties also tend to heal quicker after illness or injury, tend to live a heathier lifestyle and have increased longevity from living a more meaningful life. Click on newsletter link to read about ways to strengthen relationships.

  Jan 31, 2025
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  Your 2025 Wellness Plan

  Happy New Year from the EAP Team! It is common for many of us to make “New Year’s Resolutions,” beginning January 1st. Unfortunately, many of us stick to those resolutions for only a few weeks or, best case, a few months. By creating wellness goals, as a result of a total Wellness Plan, you set a clear vision for your wellbeing journey. Wellness has seven dimensions: Physical, Mental/Intellectual/Emotional, Occupational, Social, Spiritual, Financial, and Environmental. If your resolution focuses on one dimension, that may conflict with the stability of another. For example, a very common weight loss goal could conflict with social goals of seeing friends and family more often. As a result, proper wellness planning seeks balance by looking at the big picture and ensuring that the goals you set are in alignment with each other, which will help you accomplish all your wellness goals. Remember that wellness is a journey, not a race. Lasting wellness involves creating healthy habits to live your best life. For how to start wellness planning, visit the newsletter.

  Jan 06, 2025
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  The Joy of Giving

  At this time of year we embrace the saying, “It is better to give than receive.” T’is the season of giving to friends, family and charities. While shopping and wrapping can be a chore, the joy we get when those gifts are opened is always gratifying. So is it really better to give? Science has also shown the benefits of giving, including greater self-esteem and satisfaction with life, with lower risk of depression. When you give, your brain releases “feel good” chemicals that help to improve your physical health, including lowering your blood pressure, cortisol levels and stress, contributing to a longer lifespan. “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” - Winston Churchill

  Nov 27, 2024
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  Focus on Gratitude

  Many of us spend much of November preparing, shopping, cooking and spending Thanksgiving with friends and family - if we’re lucky. For others it can be the beginning of a lonely time of year. There is one thing that can make the holidays feel less hectic or less lonely is focusing on gratitude. We tend to think gratitude benefits the person who is thanked, but science has proven that by focusing on the good things in your life, you will improve your mood and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. You may even notice increased self-esteem and stronger relationships. Gratitude also has physical benefits like helping you sleep better, lowering blood pressure, boosting your immune system, and reducing your risk of disease and chronic pain. To read more about activities to increase gratitude, open link for newsletter.

  Nov 01, 2024
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  Crafting Your Path to A Longer, Healthier Life

  We all strive to live a long life, but quality of life is also critical. Think of how it would be to live into your 90’s and beyond with the energy and mental acuity of someone much younger. If this sounds like an impossibility, look no further than the “Blue Zones.” Blue Zones are five geographic areas where people have lower rates of chronic diseases and longer lifespans. Many residents live past 100 years old. The Blue Zones are located in Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica and even the one Zone in the United States. There are two factors that determine our longevity: genetics, which accounts for 20 - 30% and lifestyle. This means our daily life choices make a big difference in how long we can live. The list at right gives some insight into Blue Zone habits that contribute to a long and healthy life. To read more about why people in Blue Zones live longer than the rest of the world, click here for an article from Healthline.com. Click on newsletter to see 7 Habits To Live a Longer, Happier Life.

  Sep 30, 2024
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  Connect to Help Prevent Suicide

  September is the month we set aside to discuss the difficult topic of suicide. Suicide is preventable if we pay attention to those around us and connect with a caring attitude toward those you suspect may be at risk. If you feel someone is in pain, connecting with them is the first step to protecting them. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) discusses warning signs of suicide to look for to try and connect with an individual who may be in crisis. Click on the link for the newsletter to read more.

  Aug 29, 2024
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  Laughter is the Best Medicine

  You may have heard the old adage, “Laughter is the best medicine.” The first reference is attributed to the Old Testament in the Book of Proverbs, “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” Research now shows it to be true. A hearty laugh relaxes the whole body, enhancing your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulating your heart, lungs and muscles, increasing blood flow, and boosting endorphins that are released by your brain. Physical tension and stress also melt away as a result. To read more about the benefits of laughter, click on the link for newsletter.

  Jul 31, 2024
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  Become Your Own Best Friend

  Of all the relationships and friendships we cultivate during our lives, the relationship that will endure the longest and needs the most cultivating, is the friendship we have with ourselves. It's important to treat ourselves with the same honesty, kindness, and care we generally reserve for others. Self-care, self-compassion and putting your needs on the same footing as the needs of others is a great place to start learning to be your own best friend. And once you learn to befriend yourself, odds are that you'll be an even better friends to others. 

  Jul 01, 2024