Four natural ways to boost your mood and wellbeing

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The pandemic has had a profound effect on all of us, but there is a silver lining for mental health in the form of greater awareness and increased resilience, according to the AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing 2022.

The Harvard Medical School Health Blog also published an article positing how positive emotions can help us live longer and healthier. While there are countless factors that influence our mood such as our diet, physical activity, amount of sleep, and social activities, there are also some simple things you can do to help you give your mood a boost that contributes to your overall wellness on the road to a long and happy life.

As a company that protects people’s health and wellness, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, shares these four things you can do to help uplift your mood and live a healthier life.

Look out the window and get some natural light. Being in an environment with access to windows and natural light can improve your mood and help your body deal with stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even prevent infections, according to the American Psychological Association. Simply keeping your window areas clear and opening your curtains can allow maximum natural light to enter your home and give you a much-needed boost.

Unplug, at least for a while. According to a study, people who use social media for more than three hours daily are more likely to experience stress, anxiety, depression, isolation, and fear of missing out or FOMO. Try to make a conscious effort to limit your usage and log off from social media even just for an hour to focus on relaxing non-digital activities like meditation, journaling, or even decluttering. Something as simple as refraining from bringing your phone with you to bed can also help spare you from the unnecessary stressors associated with social media, allowing you to sleep better.

Get on your feet and exercise outdoors. Regular physical activity improves mental health and helps prevent and manage diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several cancers. This can be as simple as taking a 15-minute walk outdoors or even riding your bike to get around instead of driving to nearby locations. Moreover, spending time and feeling connected to nature is also linked to cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health, and emotional wellbeing, according to the consumer health education division of Harvard Medical School. If you live in the city and are unable to head to a nearby province to commune with nature, there are still lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors, such as taking a walk at a strip mall, or doing activities like cycling, jogging, and doing yoga in an outside.

Build meaningful connections. Filipinos are known to have strong family ties, giving them a support system made up of generations of family members. This is just one example of how we make positive personal connections in life. Personal connection creates emotional stimulation, which is an automatic mood booster, according to a study by Harvard University School of Public Health Study. The AXA Study of Mind Health and Wellbeing also identified connectedness as one of the 10 key skills that help one become ‘fit to flourish,’ reaching the peak of mental health.

On the other hand, people with fewer active social contacts are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, cancer, delayed cancer recovery, slower wound healing, and mental health concerns. While activities such as volunteering and meeting up with loved ones can help you build meaningful connections, talking to mental health professionals can also help improve not only your mental health but also your overall health. By talking about your feelings and being honest and open, you can get the support that best suits your needs.

When we feel safe and protected, we find it easier to relax or focus on the things we need and want to do, resulting in better overall wellness. That’s why for many people, having health insurance coverage equates to peace of mind because of the feeling of security and protection that it gives.

For health care protection needs, Health Care Access from AXA Philippines is a comprehensive and affordable health care solution for hospitalization and medical needs. It comes with 24/7 teleconsultation, a Longevity Fund that you can use for medical emergencies when you reach age 76 and up, and life and accident coverage up to P500,000. Moreover, AXA also offers Health Max, a lifetime health coverage which has a critical illness coverage against 56 major and 18 minor conditions until age 100, plus an Advance Health Fund for medical emergencies, and life insurance.

Knowing you have a reliable partner like AXA Philippines to support your wellbeing through life can empower you to keep doing what matters most to you. To know more about AXA Health Care Access and Health Max, visit https://www.axa.com.ph/health-protection/health-care-access and https://www.axa.com.ph/health-protection/health-max.

Bayanihan for WellBeing invites all families to join the Philippines’ first-ever Filipino Family WellBeing Virtual Conference

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The Bayanihan for WellBeing Initiative led by Unilab Foundation, Inc., is bringing us the first-ever Filipino Family WellBeing Virtual Conference happening on February 12 and 13.

With the theme “Pagsulong ng Pamilyang Pilipino sa Panahon ng Pagbabago”, the virtual conference is set to open and steer a discussion that offers various perspectives on family wellbeing.

Challenges of the Filipino Family

In 2020, Filipino families went through various challenges brought about by the pandemic and natural calamities, creating drastic changes in family dynamics, such as financial and economic concerns. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 73.5% of Filipino households had at least one member of the family experience job loss or workload reduction. This resulted to financial instability, with 85% of households experiencing financial difficulty during the pandemic.

In terms of psychological impact, a study entitled “Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines (Tee, 2020)” showed that a significant percentage, ranging from 13% to almost 17% of respondents have rated the psychological impact of the pandemic, its effects on depressive symptoms and anxiety levels to be moderate to severe. Meanwhile, the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) noted a significant increase in monthly calls from 80 pre-lockdown to nearly 400 during the quarantine.

Meanwhile, among the unprecedented social concerns that surfaced during the lockdown is families worrying over their children’s education when schools shifted to online, remote, or distance learning. Children who would normally play outside are required to stay within their homes and adults who have shifted to working from home now had to balance household and career responsibilities, according to a 2020 report by the Humanitarian and Social Research Center (INSAMER).

Role of Family Wellbeing

Family wellbeing is central to addressing issues associated with these challenges. The National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement (NCPFCE) defines family wellbeing simply as the “safety, health, and financial security of the whole family”, which encompasses both physical and mental health.

The vision of the Bayanihan for WellBeing (BWB) Initiative is for mental health and family wellbeing to be holistic, inclusive, and empowering, targeting particularly families in the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to join the discussion. The BWB Collaborative is led by Unilab Foundation, Inc. through its Heads Up PH program with the support of the Philippine Psychiatric Association, Psychological Association of the Philippines, Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association, and Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Executive Director of Unilab Foundation Lilibeth Aristorenas shared, “Months long after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Filipinos still experience the effects of social confinement, financial disruptions, and burdens of work-life integration. Amplified by different crises in the past year, these stressors continue to debilitate the youth, families, and communities from maximizing their daily life activities. “

“It is in uncertain times like this that mental health and wellbeing must be put at the forefront to address these stresses. Forming healthy familial relationships do not only help the youth cope with the effects of crises but are also essential helping them feel love and security, which impacts their brain development and sense of self and helps them grow up to become confident and resilient individuals,” added Aristorenas.

The 2-day conference will have three sessions that will be delving into different aspects of Filipino family wellbeing, raise awareness on its value and impact on the mental health of the family, which can hopefully build meaningful partnerships and cultivate a culture of family wellbeing promotion.

To kick-off the conference, a panel discussion on the challenges and strengths of the Filipino family during the pandemic will take place on February 12 at 9 AM.

The second session will take place on February 13 at 9 AM and will tackle how to provide a more active role in addressing family wellbeing through a panel discussion as well as activity-based target group sessions.

Lastly, the third session will happen on February 13 at 4 PM featuring a discussion of different types of Filipino families and their stories from young couples and single parents to OFWs to conclude the conference.

The Filipino Family WellBeing Conference is completely free and open to all from medical and health professionals and development workers to educators, parents, and the youth. 

To join the event, you can register at bit.ly/FFWC2021RegForm and watch the livestream at the Bayanihan for WellBeing Facebook page at facebook.com/BayanihanForWellBeing.

You can also support the event by donating a Bayanihan for WellBeing Resiliency Play Bag, which is composed of: (1) Toys like sipa and kickball, which are intended to help children release tension; (2) Cape and mask which they could design, allowing them to identify their strengths and make them feel like Superheroes; and (3) Writing and coloring sheets to encourage their creativity and help them express their emotions.

For as little as Php250 / $5.00, you can help raise a resilient child by providing them with materials to help them express themselves and develop coping strategies. Donations can be done via bank deposit with the details below:

Unilab Foundation, Inc. – BPI Mandaluyong – Account number 0181-0489-72 (Swift code: BOPIPHM). Please send a photo of your deposit slip to: headsup@unilabfoundation.org.

You may also donate via PayPal at healthierPH@unilabfoundation.org and send a screenshot of your transaction to headsup@unilabfoundation.org.

For suggestions and inquiries on the event including partnership and sponsorship opportunities, you may visit the Bayanihan for WellBeing Facebook page for more details. You may also contact Camille Mendoza at 0917-867-4169 or Jefferson Hilario at 0917-326-2092.

Together, let’s build a mentally healthy Philippines, one family at a time.