Julie White - Bright White Life Coaching & Wellbeing

Today, on 10th October - World Mental Health Day - many across the UK are saying in support of young people’s mental health.

Right now, the world is a really tough place for children and young people to grow up in. YoungMinds want young people to know that they don’t have to go through this alone. Things can get better.
Because we stand brighter, together. 

This year’s theme for World Mental Health Day set by the World Federation of Mental Health and Mental Health Foundation is workplace mental health. What are you or your organisation doing today to support mental health in the workplace? And not just today but every day?

How do you manage your mental stress😵‍💫?

Your stress greatly affects your mental health, so when you keep an eye on your stress it will make it easier to manage your mental health😮‍💨.

Some of the ways you can manage your mental health are, staying connected to friends and family🫂, doing something creative like drawing✍️ or writing✏️ or painting🎨, and taking a moment during your day to take breather🧘.

All of these things will greatly help your mental stress.

What are you doing this weekend to reduce your stress levels?

Some mid week fun: 'this or that' question!

Coffee☕️ or Tea🫖

Camping⛺️ or Hotel🏢

City🏙️ or Countryside🌳

Cat🐈‍⬛ or Dog🐕

Early Bird🌅 or Night Owl🌌

PS anyone guess where the picture is taken? Clue: it is somewhere in Sheffield (one of my favourite places)

When do you really get the space to talk openly and without judgement about mental health?
Do you feel like you want to learn and understand more to support others, but are not sure even where to start?
As a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, I feel privileged to hold that space and offer that learning to others. It's something I wish some of my managers and colleagues in my earlier career had the opportunity to do, as I might have felt less judged, more able to open up, and sought the support I needed sooner before it affected my work and my confidence.
Thankfully, I found the support I needed. But then I may well have not ended up doing what I do now - coaching and supporting businesses to make mental health and wellbeing a priority.
So it's heartwarming to know that the training I provide does just that. But don't just take my word for it. Read some of the testimonials provided by those who have attended my courses. Feedback is given anonymously (another way that it's a safe space).

What is the difference between a Growth Mindset and a Fixed Mindset?

When you approach a task with a fixed mindset you will see something that you cannot achieve or accomplish.

But if you approach a task with a growth mindset you will see something that you can learn from and improve from.

Instead of seeing failure as a limit you see failure as an opportunity.

The dreaded 'smear test'... but is it really something to dread? I don't believe so, but many do - and for many different reasons; pain, trauma, embarrassment, to name a few.
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This week is in the wellbeing awareness calendar. Not the most enjoyable of tests to experience, many of us ladies perhaps have this important health check on our overdue to-do list ... I encourage you to take this week as an opportunity to speak about it, get it booked and done - and demystify it for those around you who may have never had it done before.
There is some great information available from the charity Jo's Trust, not just about why it's important to get checked, but also how to make the experience more comfortable. In terms of supporting access to testing and raising awareness in the workplace, here are some suggestions of what you might do:
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- A simple action such as putting information posters on the back of toilet doors could help get people talking and prompt them to get tested
- Put helpful information on your intranet; perhaps even sign up for Jo's Trust's 'Time to Test' initiative.
- 1 in 5 women and people with a cervix who work say they haven’t been able to book a convenient appointment for their cervical screening. Having flexible options for medical appointments can really help. It's not just about the right time of day, but also the right time of the month for testing.
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To the women in my network, if you are overdue your own test then I encourage you to take this as a reminder to get it done.

When do you really get the space to talk openly and without judgement about mental health?
Do you feel like you want to learn and understand more to support others, but are not sure even where to start?

As a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, I feel privileged to hold that space and offer that learning to others. It's something I wish some of my managers and colleagues in my earlier career had the opportunity to do, as I might have felt less judged, more able to open up, and sought the support I needed sooner before it affected my work and my confidence.

Thankfully, I found the support I needed. But then I may well have not ended up doing what I do now - coaching and supporting businesses to make mental health and wellbeing a priority.

So it's heartwarming to know that the training I provide does just that. But don't just take my word for it. Read some of the testimonials provided by those who have attended my courses. Feedback is given anonymously (another way that it's a safe space).

How are doing this Monday morning? Summer is off to a very slow and false start it seems…
When things get hard, I like to remind myself of the song ‘Just Keep Swimming’ from Disney’s “Finding Nemo”. It reminds me to keep going and that I can do it. But recently I've also come to realise that sometimes it’s ok to simply float, to just be still and let all the worries, all the anxiety, just wash over me. To rest and just be for a little while is sometimes needed, and I will still be ok.
What songs (Disney or otherwise) come to mind to keep you motivated or hopeful when things get hard?
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Just A Reminder

Working for yourself means you get to choose when and how often you take a holiday… but I’m not the best at planning to take proper breaks from work. Thanks to my coach (yes coaches have coaches too!) I’ve made sure this is something I schedule in (and have done for the rest of 2024) so I don't end up committed to too much and unable to take a decent break.

I’m off on holiday today for a week - so this is my reminder to you to get that rest planned in and make sure you refill your own tank before it gets too low.

PS. Same applies to the actual fuel tank.. I’m notorious for running it empty.. how about you? Or do you never let it go below half as tank?