Your Well-being Matters How do you feel?

Amid the joy of life, many of us also experience feelings of stress or isolation.

Also, there can be a sense of uncertainty as many things remain out of our control. If you’re feeling this way, you’re not alone. That's why we gathered these simple tools to help you create more calm, hope and connection and handle difficult feelings throughout life.

You can find practical support offered by our dedicated team of work-life and well-being experts in the sections below. You can start by assessing how you’re feeling, then explore the blog posts, videos and audio to learn more. Be sure to check back as we add more to the page.

I feel...

Stressed or overwhelmed. I need more calm and space.

Burned out. I need more energy, rejuvenation and balance.

Worried or frustrated. I need more peace and stability.

Sad or languishing. I need more comfort and hope.

Disconnected. I need more genuine connection and to feel more meaning and purpose.

Not even sure where to begin. I need to identify my needs or just want to explore my well-being further.

I need additional support.

I feel stressed or overwhelmed.

Do you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders? Do you feel like your mind won't turn off? When under a significant amount of stress, you may find it difficult to concentrate, even on small tasks. Stress may even lead you to feel paralyzed. By recognizing what you can and cannot control, and practicing some research-based problem-solving skills, you can more easily handle difficult feelings. Then, you can focus on the joyful and important things around you.

How to tame emotional eating

Many of us turn to food to feel comfort or relieve stress. Current events may increase our desire to go to food as a solution. But there are other ways to decrease stress and enjoy your daily life.

Loosen Up: A Short Chair Yoga Routine

Are you looking for a quick way to release tension, relieve anxiety and reduce stress? Gentle chair yoga is a quick, easy way to accomplish all three while leaving you refreshed and focused on your day. All you need is a chair and a few minutes.

Guided body scan

Give yourself a moment to relax and cultivate more grace as you are guided through this 5-minute body scan. You’ll notice how unwinding your body can calm your mind and release stress and anxiety.

Life beyond your caregiving role

We all want to feel like we have a purpose in life. Some caregivers find their purpose in caregiving, but many do not. Instead, many caregivers accept the caregiver role out of a sense of duty, loyalty and love.

Symptoms of stress and relaxation techniques

People respond to stress and anxiety in different ways. With some research-based tools, you can learn to manage these feelings and increase your calm.

Real talk: Stress

At this roundtable-style discussion, therapists from UK HR Work+Life Connections will answer real questions about stress, its effects and how you can manage it daily.

Embracing "good enough" choices

Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed by everyday decision-making? Next time, you can try "satisficing." Learn about this mental hack for getting things done.

A Meditation for Slowing Down

Health coach Jackie Carroll recently joined host Jakob Hester on the "Becoming Wildly Resilient" podcast to talk about slowing down. She recorded this 10-minute meditation to help you practice slowing down.

Back to Nutritional Basics

As humans, we are quite good at overcomplicating things. A lot of this can be attributed to the many choices the modern world provides us. It’s no wonder healthful eating feels impossible to many of us.

I feel burned out.

If you feel like your tank is empty and you are deeply exhausted physically and emotionally, you may be experiencing burnout. It is often related to constant and considerable demands at work, home, or everyday life—possibly even a combination of these things. You may feel like you just can't manage everything, and you've now lost the motivation to make an effort. Even though you may feel like you can't do one more thing, consider this an invitation toward self-care that may help you feel more balanced and rejuvenated while you work through the sources of your burnout. Here are a few quick ways to get started.

Build your own self-compassion meditation

Practicing self-compassion can help reduce burnout, anxiety, depression, plus increase life satisfaction, happiness and self-confidence. Learn how you can create your own self-compassion meditation.

Completing your body's stress response cycle

When you face anything the brain perceives as a threat, stress is the body's natural response. Here are some ways to get through stress and avoid burnout.

Aromatherapy for better sleep

Studies show that on average most adults get about 6 hours of sleep per night. Sleep impacts our physical health, emotional well-being, work performance and overall safety. Learn how to use aromatherapy to reduce stress and get more zzzzzs.

Exercising safely

An important way to fend off burnout is physical activity. Physical activity is not just going to the gym. It could also be walking or jogging, dancing, playing with your kids or grandkids, swimming, or hiking. The important point is that you move, and you keep moving.

Caregiver burnout

Caregiver burnout leads to fatigue, anxiety, depression, resentment and a sense of hopelessness. Learn how to recognize the signs of caregiver burnout and what you can do to prevent it through self-care.

Guided meditation for ease

Gift yourself a moment to be present as you follow this 5-minute guided mediation. Give yourself permission to build trust and tune in to where hope grows.

Kitchen burnout

After a full day of work, educating, caregiving and more, creating a meal can be a struggle mentally and physically. Here are some suggestions for ways to make the task less daunting.

I feel worried or frustrated.

Sometimes we can experience unusually high amounts of uncertainty, worry and frustration. Staying on high alert can interfere with everyday functioning. If you're having trouble managing daily routines, or maybe feeling as though you're consumed with frustration and worry, you're not alone. The links below offer practical support to help you feel more grounded and find more peace and stability in the toughest of times.

Circle of control: A tool for rumination and worry

As our lives evolve, our regular activities may change, causing us to rave some semblance of control. When you focus on the areas you can control, you reduce anxiety, offering yourself the self-compassion that can be a comfort amid worry and stress.

Is it worry or anxiety? Detecting the differences

We all struggle with life's concerns. But when is it worry and when is it anxiety? How do your mind and body react differently, and how do you address each?

Real talk: Anxiety

At this roundtable-style discussion, therapists from UK HR Health and Wellness will answer real questions about anxiety, its effects and how you can manage it.

Webinar: Money Aside, Are You Financially Well?

Financial wellness is about more than just making money and using it wisely; it's also about understanding and accepting the truth of your financial life.

I feel sad or am languishing.

Most people go through periods of sadness and grief. If you're feeling down, or even a sense of stagnation or emptiness, you're not alone. The links below offer strategies to help you cultivate more hope and comfort.

Laughter IS the best medicine

A good laugh has great short-term benefits on both your mental and physical health, including reducing stress and anxiety. Learn how laughter impacts the body and discover ways you can make laughter a part of your daily life.

Real talk: Depression

At this roundtable-style discussion, therapists from UK HR Work+Life Connections will answer real questions about depression, its effects and how you can manage it.

Letting Go of an All-or-Nothing Mentality

Are you a black-or-white thinker that leaves little room for grey? Maybe you find yourself getting discouraged easily, or even giving up on, something you intended to do when you couldn't do it to the maximum? You might have an all-or-nothing mentality.

Are You an Emotional Spender?

Emotional spending is a type of behavior that causes people to spend money whenever they're experiencing negative or positive feelings. Generally, it's used to fulfill whatever emotional needs the person has at the time.

I feel disconnected.

Even though we may constantly be in touch on Zoom, Facetime or social media, we may still feel disconnected and alone. So, how can you increase meaningful engagement with others as we continue to work in remote and hybrid environments? These resources can help point you toward authentic connection wherever you are.

Moment of appreciation meditation

All of us deserve the peace, harmony and space to foster acceptance and resilience, both individually and collectively. Take a few moments to sit in reflection as you're guided through a meditation for unity and appreciation for one another.

Nature Meditation and Haiku Writing Exercise

Meditation and mindfulness help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Creative practices like expressive writing can create an increased sense of psychological well-being. This season, try combining meditation outdoors with a spirit of play and creativity.

Connecting with Colleagues and Giving Praise

It is important to take time to connect with our co-workers and show appreciation to each other for all that we contribute to the University of Kentucky. Technology is an essential part of the modern workplace and has made this easier than ever.

Tools for Hosting Trivia at Work

Playing trivia as a group is a great way to take a break and have fun together. Especially while some co-workers work on-site and others work remotely, trivia over Zoom is easy to set up and engage everyone at the same time.

I’m not sure where to begin.

Have you been experiencing a feeling that something “isn’t quite right,” but you just can’t put your finger on it? You aren’t the only one. Fortunately, we have tools to help you identify those feelings so you can better address your needs. And if you just want to explore your well-being further, we’ve got resources for you too.

Becoming Wildly Resilient

This monthly, three-part podcast series consisting of a practice, meditation and conversation, explores a variety of well-being topics to help you thrive at work, home and beyond. You can find it here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Identifying feelings and needs

When we can identify and name a troubling feeling, we can better calm our response to it. Learn how you can use this technique to cultivate a more peaceful, resilient brain.

Discovering and Living Your Values

Discovering our values and then living into them can connect you with more resilience, meaning, and well-being, even during difficult days.

We're here for you

Seeking additional support for your well-being in a more personalized way? Human Resources has an in-house team of dietitians, exercise specialists, health coaches, mental health clinicians and social workers ready to meet you wherever you are. Learn more about the ways we can support you by clicking the links below.

Mental health
Personal finance
Personal resilience
Nutrition
Physical activity
Flexible work
Working parents
Elder care
Employee engagement