Self-care - AKQA

Self-care is a conscious choice to prioritise your mental, physical and emotional health. Psychologist Agnes Wainman explains it as “something that refuels us, rather than takes from us.” Self-care is not selfish. On the contrary: when you take care of your overall health, you put yourself in the best position to take care of others.

Consider ways in which you take care of yourself today. Perhaps it’s a morning walk before work, or a purposeful pause for tea mid-day. It could be blocking out time in your calendar for exercise or catching up with family. Maybe it’s setting some healthy boundaries like no phones at the dinner table or no work email in bed. In whatever ways you choose to take care of yourself, we support you.

Daily routines for many of us have been disrupted during the pandemic. Our healthy habits were often linked to physical spaces. So, what’s missing now that you could bring back or reset? Perhaps it’s time to commit to that online yoga class or meditation group you never missed ‘in real life.’ Maybe you were once diligent at leaving the office at a reasonable time each day, but now have a hard time shutting down at home. In whichever ways you may have shifted out of balance, it’s OK. We’ve all been there. With awareness and dedication, you can take simple steps to get back on track.

It is an ever-evolving, personal process. We’ve compiled the resources below to support and empower you on your self-care path. Please share any thoughts or suggestions with us at selfcare@akqa.com .

Read Mind

A lit white candle sits on top of a magazine next to a closed journal with a pen and a glass of water, creating a calm and cozy atmosphere.

Rebuild your morning routine

The Blissful Mind

How you start your day matters. Here are three simple steps to follow that will help calm the chaos and set your daily intention with the right mindset.

A yellow alarm clock showing 10:09 sits on a white pillow, with blue and yellow lighting creating shadows on the bedding.

Popular myths about sleep

NPR Life Kit

Learn from sleep scientist Rebecca Robbins as she identifies commonly held beliefs about sleep and highlights the misconceptions to help educate others.

Illustration of a person sitting curled up with knees to chest, looking sad, while a large hand reaches out toward them, symbolizing support or help.

The best way to handle stress

The Deep Sphere

When a negative situation occurs, the psyche panics to extinguish the fire. Learn how to strengthen emotional resilience and the healthiest solutions to process stress.

A single tree stands at the center, dividing two landscapes: one side is dry, cracked, and barren with dark clouds, while the other side is lush, green, and vibrant under a bright sky.

Shift your mindset

Ariel Yasmine

Learn about the negativity of having a scarcity mentality. Shift your focus and create an expanded awareness through adapting an abundance mentality for a more positive outlook.

Illustration of a person vacuuming inside a head-shaped outline, symbolizing cleaning or organizing the mind. Shelves with books and decor are visible in the background.

Declutter your mind

The Blissful Mind

Discover how to use the brain dump method, a strategic way to get random ideas, tasks, worries and dreams out of your head and into an organised list.

A cartoon person lies in bed with wide, anxious eyes, sweating and gripping a blue blanket tightly, with yellow stress lines above their head, suggesting they are feeling anxious or scared.

Your body knows you’re burned out

The New York Times

Here’s how to recognise the physical symptoms of work-related stress — and what to do about them.

A young person sits on a windowsill with knees pulled to their chest, resting one hand on their head and looking outside with a thoughtful, pensive expression.

What to do if you’re feeling restless or empty

Jolanta Burke

Languishing can be caused by factors, such as stress or trauma, the good news is it doesn’t last forever, and there are many things you can do to improve your mental state.

A colorful, symmetrical illustration shows a person standing among large, vibrant flowers with blue birds, green leaves, and decorative patterns in the background. The image blends shades of blue, green, pink, and yellow.

The other side of languishing Is flourishing

The New York Times

The pandemic has taken a toll on our well-being and left many of us drained. Here are seven simple steps to get you thriving again.

A blue silhouette of a human head with a brain shape filled with colorful interlocking wooden blocks, resembling a puzzle, on a white background.

The science of a meaningful life

Greater Good Science Center

Learn tips and tools for a happier life and a more compassionate society. Greater Good bridges the gap between scientific journals and people’s daily lives.

A Buddhist monk in maroon and yellow robes sits cross-legged, holding a ritual object in his hands, appearing deep in prayer or meditation. Ceremonial items are placed in front of him on a colorful cloth.

Meditation and compassion

Buddhistdoor

An article offering simple advice from the Dalai Lama - “Taking care of others is actually taking care of yourself.”

A wooden dock extends into a calm lake at sunset, with the sun low over distant hills and its reflection shimmering on the water.

Finding peace

Haaretz

Philosopher and author Alain De Botton writes that to find peace in the time of coronavirus, be very, very pessimistic.

A blindfolded person walks on a tightrope in the sky, surrounded by clouds, balancing with one hand and holding a smiling sun in the other.

The magic of a little danger

The Atlantic

Social scientist Arthur Brooks believes that risk-taking can deliver happiness if you do it right: “You can think of people who take risks for the right reasons as brave.”

A person in a tank top stands by a window, looking upward as sunlight and shadows partially illuminate their face and body. Bare tree branches and houses are visible outside.

Lights out

Quartz

Our sleep is linked to how we process coronavirus dread. Here are some of the strategies that may help you get a better rest.

A person in dark athletic clothing runs through a wet street, their feet splashing water as they move. Their shadow and the glistening wet pavement are visible below them.

Getting ready for the marathon

Psychology Today

Explore how intentional planning goes a long way to staying mentally healthy in a crisis, “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

An illustration of a person standing before a large image of lungs, with a brain-like pattern inside them. The persons shadow is cast onto the lungs, blending human form and brain within the lung shape.

How to be better at stress

The New York Times

Read how approaching stress in the right way, doesn’t have to get you down, it can even be good for you.

A hand holding a compass in the foreground, with a dense forest and tall evergreen trees in the background, and mountains visible in the distance under a bright sky.

Intention setting

Becoming minimalist

Shift the focus away from results to intentional direction setting as a way to focus on daily actions and reach your goals.

A stylized illustration shows a person sitting on grass under a yellow sun, while a large face nearby displays an open mouth and large teardrops, suggesting sadness or distress.

Maintain emotional equilibrium

The New York Times

Learn useful tips on how to remain supportive of your friends during a global crisis without feeling like you’ve fallen into the role of therapist.

Two tall orange cacti with white flowers and long shadows stand beside a smaller green cactus in a pot, also with a flower, on an orange background.

Self improvement trap

Headspace

Understand how to avoid the self improvement trap with complementary mindfulness practices.

Five matches stand upright on a purple background; the middle match is burnt, and the match to its right has a green leaf sprouting from it.

Prevent burnout

Workplace Strategies for Mental Health

Recognise the symptoms of burnout and learn strategies to help identify risks and prevent burnout for yourself.

Listen Mind

We Are Lonely

Myf Warhurst and Dr Frederic Kiernan

A podcast that seeks to demystify loneliness by revealing it in iconic music, film, and art.

One Day At A Time

Scott Flear

Micro wisdom delivered to your ears every morning in voice notes ranging from 3 to 15 minutes long. Wisdom on how to live a healthier and more fulfilling life.

Serotonin

Spotify

A 100% good vibes playlist.

Colorful abstract artwork of a face with blue skin, pink lips, large eyes, and an orange oval on the forehead, set against a vibrant pink background. The artists signature appears at the lower left corner.

GABA

Adam Martin

A next generation meditation that unfolds like a beautiful dream. An immersive spiritual practise mixing storytelling, soundscape design and the natural world.

A yellow square with a smiley face made from black text: THE as the left eye, LAB as the right eye, and HAPPINESS curved as the smiling mouth. The background is light gray.

The Happiness Lab

Pushkin Industries

Listen to some surprising and inspiring insights that will forever alter the way you think about happiness.

11 soothing podcasts to bring calm

The Independent

Take time out to relax and listen to this podcast collection, recharging is more important than ever.

Album cover with a vivid orange sunset over water, palm trees in silhouette, and streaks of light in the sky. The text CHILL HOUSE 8D is prominently displayed in white.

8D Music to help you relax

Chill House 2020

Sit back, relax, and let 8D audio make you feel like you’ve entered another dimension.

Three overlapping circles made of concentric rings in red, orange, and yellow, arranged in a triangular pattern on a white background with rounded corners.

Combat anxiety

Wisconsin Public Radio

Uncover how to use mindfulness to combat anxiety.

Calmer You Podcast

Chloe Brotheridge

Learn how to quiet the inner critic, calm your mind and move forwards with confidence.

A person in traditional red and yellow monastic robes sits cross-legged against a dark background, with hands resting in their lap in a meditative posture.

Inner World

Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama is marking his 85th birthday by releasing his first album: “Music has the potential to transcend our differences.”

Checking In

Susan David

Hear about a variety of strategies of how to cope with our heightened emotions during this global pandemic.

A Holocaust survivor’s blueprint for happiness

Eddie Jaku, The Happiest Man on Earth

Happiness does not fall from the sky; it is in your hands. Happiness comes from inside yourself and from the people you love. And if you are happy and healthy, you are a millionaire.

Techniques Mind

A woman with long dark hair stands outdoors with her eyes closed, enjoying the sunlight. Lush green palm trees and foliage surround her in the background.

Sophrology 101

Mind Body Green

Learn how to reduce stress by following the 12 levels to bring you deeper into your body.

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Practical tips for a better life

Conor Barnes

A practical list of one hundred tips for a better life organised into categories, including cooking, success and hazards.

A young woman with light hair tied back looks downward with a neutral expression. She wears a white top and round earrings. The background is plain and muted.

Simple habits for better self-esteem

Nick Wignall

Four ways to start identifying and building consistent habits that will improve your self-esteem.

A bald man wearing a red robe and rudraksha necklaces sits gazing to the right with white markings on his forehead, against a dark brown gradient background.

Unwavering focus

Dandapani

Dandapani is a Hindu priest, entrepreneur and a former monk of ten years. Offering spiritual tools and insights to safeguard mental health and strengthen your mind.

A brightly lit lighthouse shines beams of light into the night sky, with countless stars and the faint band of the Milky Way visible in the background.

Finding calm and compassion

Center for Healthy Minds

Access a variety of tools curated by Dr. Richard Davidson, who is best known for his groundbreaking work studying emotion and the brain.

A person holds a smartphone outdoors displaying a meditation app screen with a pause button and a blue circular progress bar, against a blurred forest background.

Healthy minds

Healthy Minds Innovations

Translating pioneering neuroscience into tools for everyday life, the unique framework guides you through the four pillars of the science of training the mind.

A person with curly blonde hair smiles joyfully, head tilted back, against a clear blue sky, wearing a light blue knitted sweater.

The science of happiness

Dacher Keltner and Emiliana Simon-Thomas

This course explores the roots of a meaningful life through science and practice, using the latest research.

A young woman with curly hair sleeps peacefully on her side, resting her head on an orange and yellow pillow against a white background.

Tips to improve your sleep

Mind

Explains sleep and mental health, gives practical suggestions and information about where to get support.

Four test tubes with different colored liquids (pink, blue, yellow, and red) sit in a wooden holder. Each test tube has a unique drawn face expressing various emotions like surprise, happiness, anger, and annoyance.

How to be happier, according to science

CNET

From engaging in random acts of kindness, to practicing self-compassion, here are five exercises that clinical studies have shown improve your feelings of happiness and well-being.

A pink, smiling, round character with closed eyes relaxes among fluffy blue clouds and bubbles against a bright blue background.

Self-care ideas

Headspace

Exploring ways to practice self-care regularly when life gets in the way. Create a self-care plan that sticks.

Calm, blue ocean water stretches out to the horizon under a clear sky, with faint, distant land visible on the horizon. The scene is tranquil and serene, with gentle ripples on the sea’s surface.

21 Days of Abundance Through Meditation

Deepak Chopra

Deepak Chopra reveals the secrets he believes will help people to harness the powers of attention and intention in order to manifest their dreams.

Two young women smile and laugh together against a bright red background. One has curly dark hair and wears red lipstick; the other has light skin and red hair with freckles. They appear happy and close.

Laughter may be effective medicine

The New York Times

Discover how a good old belly laugh in difficult times can not only help us cope with hardship but can actually reduce our risk of heart attacks and improve short term memory.

A hand holds a cup of coffee next to a book titled The Power of Mindfulness, a plate with two fried eggs, and toast topped with avocado. The scene suggests a calm breakfast setting.

Silent breakfast

The New York Times

Try having breakfast in silence a couple times a week and notice what shifts in both your external and internal environments.

Two young children stand together indoors, one hugging the other from behind. Their reflections appear multiple times in tall, vertical mirrors, creating the illusion of many identical pairs.

Expressing gratitude strengthens relationships

Harvard Business Review

This article sheds light on right ways to show gratitude to others, the differences of other-praising vs. self-benefit, and how both can impact relationships.

Three smooth, rounded stones are stacked on top of each other on a light surface, with a plain brown background and empty space to the left.

Habit stack your way to positive changes

James Clear

Want to learn to build better habits? With the power of synaptic pruning you can use old habits to create new ones.

An illustrated laptop sits on a desk with browser windows open on its screen. A large cursor hand pulls a lit bulb’s cord above the keyboard. Books, a mug, and wires surround the laptop in a colorful, stylized scene.

Daily digital detox for our current world

The New York Times

Explore what screen time may be excessive or harmful, and how to set some healthy boundaries and methods to incorporate daily detox periods.

A man with a short beard and mustache wears a gray beanie and a light gray t-shirt while sitting outdoors on a woven chair, surrounded by green foliage.

Fear-setting exercises

Tim Ferriss

Why you should define your fears instead of your goals. This TED talk and text gives an overview, step-by-step instructions, and real-world examples of fear-setting.

A person stands in a green field at sunset, looking at the colorful sky with pink clouds. Trees line the horizon in the distance.

Scheduling worry time to help with anxiety

WorryTree

Learn the worry time technique to help reduce anxiety by scheduling a time for worrying to take place. This blog includes tips for using this technique in the most effective way.

Mindfulness practices

Waking Up

Listen to content showcasing world leaders in the mindfulness space, covering both philosophy, theory and meditation practice.

Body

The Living Room Cup

Nike

Join the training challenge thrown down by an athlete, from their living room to yours, all via Instagram. Access it via the Nike Training Club App.

Six fit adults, three men and three women, stand in athletic gear smiling at the camera against a white background. Their tops display the words “GRND HOUSE.” They look confident, energetic, and ready to work out.

Boutique fitness in your pocket

GRNDHOUSE

Designed to build endurance, stability, power and confidence, each class has a specific goal-based focus to help you progress and enhance both your physical and mental health.

A man in sportswear exercises in his living room in front of a camera, punching the air with both fists. Shelves with photos and decorations, a green guitar, and a world map are visible in the background.

PE with Joe Wicks

The Body Coach

Exercise is an amazing tool to help us feel happier, more energised, and more optimistic. These workouts are fun and suitable for all ages.

A woman wearing glasses sits at a desk, smiling and using a desktop computer in a bright room with large windows in the background.

Improve your posture

Posture Ellie

Follow these simple videos for expert advice from Postural Alignment Therapist Posture Ellie.

A group of six people sit around a table sharing a meal, dishes including salads, vegetables, and drinks. The scene is viewed from above, with a red table runner and a friendly, communal atmosphere.

Don’t skip lunch

The Guardian

In one of the first studies to explore how hunger affects emotions, psychologists found that the more hungry people felt, the more angry, or hangry, they became.

A person wearing a gray and blue sneaker steps onto a bright yellow textured surface, with green pavement visible in the background.

Book a walk and talk meeting

Harvard Business Review

Read the latest research on reaping benefits from extra movement, fresh air and a break from your screen.

A young girl happily feeds a smiling man, likely her father, a slice of tomato while they prepare fresh vegetables together in a bright kitchen. Various colorful vegetables and a pot are on the counter.

Improve your mood and lower stress

Harvard Medical School

Learn how to mindfully make good food choices.

A basket filled with assorted citrus fruits including lemons, limes, grapefruits, and kumquats, sits on a white wooden table. More citrus fruits and green leaves are scattered around the basket.

Nutrition and the immune system

Future Learn

Lead educator and course mentor Melissa Adamski talks about the role of nutrition in a healthy functioning immune system.

Various foods including bread, pasta, fish, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and oil are arranged inside an outline of a human head drawn on a gray surface, symbolizing the importance of nutrition for brain health.

Dramatic role of nutrition in mental health

TEDx Talks

Follow Julia Rucklidge as she compels us to accept the undeniable relationship between dietary patterns and mental health to reinforce just how much nutrition matters.

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Reduce your stress in two minutes

Harvard Business Review

Read how businessperson Bill Rielly, discovered five simple tools that changed his life for the sustained long term. The key to incorporating these tools into your life, is to start very small.

Illustration of three people climbing a mountain, connected by a red rope. One person reaches up for help, another is holding their hand, and the third is supporting from behind. The sun and clouds are in the background.

Steps to better health

The Clinova Wellness Guide

Discover the wellness guide covering sleep, diet, exercise, work and hygiene to help improve your wellbeing, written by pharmacists, doctors, nutritionists and athletes.

A variety of healthy foods on a gray surface, including salmon fillets, avocado, berries, grapefruit, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, grains, spices, and vegetables arranged in a colorful display.

Foods to help you sleep

Prescribe Nutrition

Trouble sleeping is on the rise due to pandemic-related anxieties. Try these seven foods and drinks, proven to aid relaxation and help you catch those zzz’s.

Illustration of a woman sitting at a desk working on a computer, doing push-ups on the floor, and standing upright, all wearing an orange top and black pants. A clock is displayed above the desk.

Really, really short workouts

The New York Times

Scientifically proven to be effective and also easy on your clock, this guide breaks down a variety of short H.I.I.T (high intensity interval training) workouts you can do from home.

Journal

A vibrant sky filled with soft clouds in shades of pink, orange, and purple, illuminated by the warm light of sunrise or sunset.

Rediscovering gratitude

The New York Times

Learn how to effectively journal, one of the more effective acts of self-care is also, happily, one of the cheapest.

A child runs through a grassy field at sunset, holding a string and flying a yellow and red kite against a dramatic, cloudy sky.

Learn gratitude

Happify Daily

Try writing a few points down each day about the good things and people in your life. It can help you feel much better.

A person writes in a notebook at a table with a book, a muffin on a plate, a cup, and a globe in the background. A vase of flowers is also visible on the left.

Dear Diary…

Intermountain

What are some of the short and long-term health benefits of putting pen to paper?

An open journal shows handwritten entries, decorative stickers, pressed leaves, and a pen resting on the pages. The date reads August 10, 2018, with creative notes and collaged paper elements filling the spread.

Journaling strategies

Very Well Mind

Journaling is a highly effective tool for stress relief and can take several forms, discover an option that can work for you.

A person wearing a yellow long-sleeve top writes in a spiral notebook with a pencil on a wooden table. The focus is on their hand and the notebook, with the background blurred.

Three Good Things

Asher Dale

Write down positive moments in the ‘Happiness Journal’ app at the end of each day, a beginning base to journaling.

A person in a peach plaid shirt sits on a couch, holding a red notebook and writing with a pen. The focus is on their hands and the notebook, and their face is not visible.

Benefits of journaling

Positive Psychology

Explore the numerous benefits of journaling and techniques to express how you feel and think.

Family

Nat Geo Kids

National Geographic

Videos, games, experiments, trivia and more. Find amazing facts about animals, science, history and geography.

Daily Lessons are here

BBC Bitesize

A free online study resource to help with learning, revision and homework, for learners aged 5 to 16+ across a wide range of school subjects.

A handmade sign on red paper reads SKATE BOARDS TO keep me occupied with a drawing of a skateboard. Colorful papers and a persons knee are visible nearby.

Students discover the power of gratitude

Participant

Teacher Whitney Cole knows how powerful gratitude can be, so she has her sixth grade students keep a gratitude journal that is impacting them beyond the classroom.

Colorful abstract illustration of scientific elements including a DNA helix, test tubes, microscope, leaf, molecular structures, a pie chart, and a chromosome, symbolizing science and research.

Home science experiments

Elemental Science

Elemental Science offers over 80 free at-home science experiments that will keep children busy and learning for hours.

Illustrated cover of a childrens book titled Coronavirus: A book for children, showing a doctor, two children washing their hands at a sink, and a nurse or surgeon in scrubs.

Explaining coronavirus to children

Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and Nia Roberts

A digital book for primary school age children, free to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it.

Three colorful children’s books on a white shelf: “How to Code a Sandcastle,” “Around the World Mazes,” and “Miss Nelson Has a Field Day.” Each cover features playful, vibrant illustrations.

A flexible book club for kids

The Gift of Story

This subscription service sends curated age-appropriate books to your family per month, plus a few fun surprises. Themes range from history, art and science to dreams, animals and wisdom.

Personalised stories

Wonderbly

Personalise a book with your child’s name, each name creates a unique adventure.

A group of boys wearing 3D glasses read Three Dimension Comics while sitting and standing against a brick wall outdoors.

Travel the world

Conde Nast

A wonderful list of 25 books to teach your kids about the World, including Ludwig Bemelmans’s ‘Madeline’, Jeff Brown’s ‘Flat Stanley’ and Brian Selznic’s ‘The Invention of Hugo Cabret.’

A smartphone displays the cover of a childrens book titled Stuck in the Mud from The Adventures of Frank and Mustard, featuring cartoon dog characters in a forest with one dog pulling another from mud.

Story time drama

Novel Effect

This free app allows caregivers to read from their children’s favourite book while the app follows along with music and character voices.

A young girl with long curly hair, wearing a red and white striped top, smiles while reading a yellow book. She is sitting on a bed with a white patterned quilt in the background.

Six smart strategies

Scholastic

An article providing top tips to boost reading fluency and nine creative ways to read as a family.

A black-and-white photo of a smiling woman and child touching foreheads, surrounded by colored tape, arrows, dots, and other collage elements on a textured paper background.

What’s Your Family’s Mission Statement?

Harvard Business Review

Explore your family’s mission statement to help every member achieve their own goals, encouraging everyone to share the dreams they want to accomplish.

A woman smiles while talking on the phone and working on a laptop at a table, next to a young child using a tablet. The room is bright, filled with houseplants and decorated for the holidays.

Working parent strategies

The Muse

The Muse offers seven tips for parents to make the 9-5 a little easier on everyone at home.

A smiling family of four walks hand in hand on a pavement. The parents are in the center, holding hands with their young son and daughter as they move forward playfully together.

Young parent and carer self care tips

Anna Freud

Tips to help young parents and carers feel happy and positive by finding time to look after themselves.

Work

Person sitting on an orange blanket with a laptop on their lap, looking at an open notebook. A coffee cup, glasses, and another notebook are on the floor beside them. The scene suggests remote work or study at home.

Working at home productivity

Forbes

Here are some tips to facilitate adjusting to your new situation during the coronavirus outbreak. Everybody is different.

A woman with dark braided hair sits outside on a wooden chair, looking at a laptop screen showing a video call. A white computer mouse rests on the chair next to the laptop. Grass and garden are visible in the background.

The reason video calls drain your energy

BBC

An article exploring why you may find video calls exhausting, and why, exactly, is it tiring us out?

Modern open-plan office with large windows, white desks, black chairs, computer monitors, a central plant, and circular black carpet patterns on the floor. The office is bright with city views outside.

Future office space

Fast Company

It’s hard to imagine now—as most of us are reading this in quarantine, but what might the workspace of a post Covid world look like.

Illustration of a laptop displaying a video call with nine diverse people in separate boxes. The scene includes a plant, a cup of coffee, a pencil, an eraser, and paper on the desk.

Effective online meetings

Pointers to help make sure your online meetings are as effective as possible.

A person in a suit holds an alarm clock in front of a chalkboard drawing that features buildings, clouds, and the sun, symbolizing time management in a city or work environment.

How to gain control of your free time

Laura Vanderkam

Watch time management expert Laura Vanderkam as she offers a few practical strategies to help us find more time for what matters to us.

Stay happy working from home

We Work Remotely

Tips to keep your mental health in check while working from home, with a reminder on how to spot the early signs that you need to focus on you.

A sketch of a person sitting at a table, leaning their head on one hand while holding a pencil. Colorful scribbles emerge from their head, suggesting imagination or creative thinking.

Change habits with WOOP goal setting

WOOP

WOOP (which stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan) is a science-based mental strategy that can help you find and fulfil your wishes, set preferences, and change your habits.

Illustration of a woman with purple hair holding a phone and a cup, with icons of a scale, bar chart, and notification bell in the background, suggesting balance between work and relaxation.

Introduction to digital wellbeing

Google

In this module, you’ll discover why a healthy relationship with technology is so important and how to become aware of your online usuage through Google’s one hour online course.

Two wooden tables pushed together with several wooden chairs around them in an empty room. Each table has small stacks of napkins placed on top. The setting appears quiet and unoccupied.

Courage over comfort

Brené Brown

Rumbling with shame, accountability, and failure at work. Failure can become our most powerful path to learning if we’re willing to choose courage over comfort.

Illustration of red womens shoes and black mens shoes on a white floor with the word TANGO, showing dance step positions for partners.

Learning something new builds resilience

Harvard Business Review

To incorporate learning more at work, try practicing re-framing stressful work challenges in your mind and consider learning activities as a new form of work break.

A vintage yellow alarm clock with two bells sits on a dark wooden bedside table, with a blurry pillow and bed in the background.

The Pomodoro technique

Life Hacker

In this new era of remote work, using methods such as Pomodoro can enhance our focus, mitigate distraction and help give structure to our work day.

Pink flowers and scattered petals are arranged in a neat pattern on a light blue background, creating a visually pleasing and colorful flat lay composition.

A new approach to self care

Harvard Business Review

Information on managing stress and conflict, framing adversity as a collective and implementing relational pauses to talk through difficult emotions related to work.

A woman meditates atop an hourglass, surrounded by splashes of color, flowers, clocks, and people working or stressed, symbolizing balance and chaos in daily life.

How to take better breaks at work

Harvard Business Review

A systematic review of more than 80 studies on break-taking outlines some best practices for making the most of time away from our tasks, including where, when, and how.

Arts and culture

From our house to yours

Sydney Opera House

Experience the Sydney Opera House from your house, with a new digital program of weekly live recordings, never-before-seen footage, as well as podcasts, articles, videos and more.

Wide view of the British Museum’s Great Court, featuring a white circular reading room surrounded by a glass roof and sweeping staircases, with visitors walking around the spacious, airy interior.

Tour galleries and museums

You Visit

Explore galleries and museums from home. From wandering the halls of the British Museum to exploring the Louvre.

A herd of elephants, including adults and calves, walk together along a dirt path beside a body of water. Green shrubs and distant mountains are visible in the background under a clear sky.

Virtual travel escape

Explore sideways

A list of virtual travel escapes. From the famous Livraria Lello bookstore in Porto to the aurora borealis northern lights.

A hand holds a drawing showing a surprised boy recoiling from a large bare foot, while two other kids in the background react with shock and point at the foot.

Make your own flipbook

Pixar

Chief creative officer of Pixar Pete Docter, directs the contemporary classics Monsters, Inc., Inside Out, and Up. Docter explains how to make your own flipbook animation.

A brightly lit art gallery with pink walls displays various colorful paintings and artworks. The ornate ceiling has gold detailing, and a central arched doorway leads to another room.

Enjoy the Royal Academy of Arts

Google Arts & Culture

Go behind the scenes and explore the range of activities that go on at this innovative and extraordinary institution.

A modern, empty theater auditorium with multiple tiers of red seats, warm wooden walls, and an elaborate ceiling featuring dozens of hanging lights.

The ten best quarantine concerts online

The New York Times

Listen and watch, ten of the best virtual concerts that have stayed available online.

A close-up of a vinyl record partially in view, with its blank label visible, set against a background of vertically stacked vinyl record sleeves showing various colorful spines.

Write your first song

Future Learn

Get a practical introduction to the mechanics of songwriting and meet established songwriters with this free online course.

A person practices calligraphy on white paper using a dip pen. Various calligraphy tools, a turquoise mug, and blue paper are on the table nearby.

Learn calligraphy

Paint Pots and Quills

Learn the therapeutic benefits of calligraphy and watercolour, stay home and create.

People sit on lawn chairs and blankets in a grassy area at night, watching a movie on a large outdoor screen. Trees in the background are lit with red and yellow lights, and string lights add a festive atmosphere.

Nostalgic movies are good for mental health

The New York Times

Psychologists say how revisiting nostalgic music and films are a source of comfort and reduce anxiety.

A colorful illustration of an artist’s studio with wooden floors, a large canvas with green paint, art supplies on tables, scattered chairs, bookshelves, and open doors revealing greenery outside.

David Hockney’s art continues on in lockdown

The New Yorker

Finding inspiration in the art and nature near him at his pandemic hideaway in Normandy, France, David continues his artistic experimentation across a variety of mediums.

Colorful mosaic façade and whimsical, curved roof of Casa Batlló in Barcelona, featuring a cross-topped turret and ornate balconies, framed by leafy tree branches under a clear blue sky.

Brush up on art history through games

Google Arts and Culture

A range of five fun, interactive online activities – from Puzzle Party, to Cultural Crosswords, designed to stimulate your mind and love of the arts while increasing your art history knowledge.

Nature

A green hummingbird hovers next to a vibrant yellow and orange flower, feeding on its nectar. The background is blurred with shades of green, highlighting the bird and flower.

Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.

Louie Schwartzberg

Through photographer Louie Schwartzberg’s images of nature, this talk explains how they can lead to feelings of gratitude with a story about life from a child and elderly man’s perspective.

Two women stand on separate apartment balconies, clapping. One is dressed in dark clothing, the other in a blue coat surrounded by potted plants. The buildings have pink and beige walls and white-framed windows.

A dose of nature

University of Washington

Studies show there is much to be gained from nature close to home, whether on neighborhood walks or even indoors.

Two people stand beneath a star-filled night sky; one points upward at the stars while the other looks through binoculars, both silhouetted against the glowing Milky Way.

Stargazing

Future Learn

Explore the stars with this course on Orion. On a clear night you can get a view of the universe.

A woman wearing sunglasses and a long-sleeve shirt stands outdoors under sunlit tree branches, smiling with her arms raised, as sunlight filters through the leaves above her.

The sound of nature

Johnnie Lawson

If walking in the woods isn’t possible, there are still ways to enjoy nature at home. Looking at greenery out a window, or listening to sounds from nature, can boost our well-being.

A smiling man stands outdoors holding a garden rake over his shoulder, with green trees and plants in the background on a sunny day.

Get gardening

Very Well Mind

Gardening can ward off anxiety and boost our mood, so why not plant some veggies or bright flowers?

Two people in hooded jackets stand on a forest path beside a calm lake, surrounded by tall trees and misty, overcast weather. The ground is covered in grass and fallen branches.

Explore

Scientific American

Exploring the natural world can be restorative to mental health. During times of acute stress, a walk outdoors feels more important than ever.

A split image: the left half shows a smiling young person with curly hair and crossed eyes, while the right half shows the Earth with a cartoon face, also crossing its eyes.

Earth Speakr

Olafur Eliasson

Head out into nature and let your kids share how they feel about the world. Created by Olafur Eliasson and AKQA, Earth Speakr uses AR technology to animate the environment.

An older adult wearing a black coat walks alone down a tree-lined path in a park on a sunny autumn day, surrounded by golden and orange fallen leaves.

Take an awe walk

The New York Times

Read how an awe walk might do wonders for you. Objects and vistas to help feel more upbeat and hopeful.

A scenic coastal road curves along the ocean, bordered by rocky shores and lush green hills, with cars driving and mountains rising in the background under a clear blue sky.

The best road trips in the world

Rough Guides

Find the best road trip for your staycation. From majestic day trips to week-long epics.

A person lies inside a tent set up in a living room, reading a book. The space is decorated with green potted plants and cozy furniture, blending indoor comfort with an outdoor camping vibe.

Thinking of Skipping Vacation? Don’t!

Harvard Business Review

Several studies indicate that performance declines when we work for extended periods without a break. The benefits of taking a vacation include improved productivity and lower stress.

Connect and celebrate

A man with long braided hair wears black sunglasses, a black and yellow t-shirt, and large gold chains with pendants. He is smiling and standing against a plain light-colored background.

Celebrity requests

Cameo

Cameo allows you to enlist celebrities, athletes, comedians, musicians and reality TV stars to deliver personalised messages.

A hand holds a smartphone displaying film editing tools, including film reels, a movie camera, a directors chair, scissors, and a clapperboard, against a pink background.

Montage making

Tribute

Invite a group of people to upload their videos directly to Tribute, which then compiles them into one montage of clips for you, with added effects.

Watch TV in sync with friends

Teleparty

While you may previously have reserved Netflix for watching alone or with your friends on an uneventful Sunday afternoon, Teleparty has come along.

Three colorful greeting cards: one with party hat-wearing dogs and a Happy Birthday message, one with a rocket ship in space and Goodbye & Good Luck, and one with a smiling cactus and Thank You.

Virtual greeting cards

Group Greeting

Group Greeting allows a group of people to virtually sign a greeting card, perfect for sending birthday wishes and carrying on office traditions.

A red house icon with a white heart shape in the center, symbolizing love and warmth at home, on a plain white background.

Lessons from Covid–19

The Hygge Mama

A focus on celebrating everyday life at home. Love really does begin at home. The heart we pour into our home that makes all the difference.

A smiling woman sits on a porch, holding and reading the book Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. She wears a black top and has blonde hair pulled back. A red wall and green foliage are in the background.

Virtual book clubs

Hello Sunshine

Avid readers all over the world are creating virtual book clubs during this time to share ideas and motivate one another to make the time to read.

Self-care is essential. Today, more than ever.

“I have come to believe that caring for myself is not self-indulgent. Caring for myself is an act of survival.”

Read Mind

Rebuild your morning routine

Popular myths about sleep

The best way to handle stress

Shift your mindset

Declutter your mind

Your body knows you’re burned out

What to do if you’re feeling restless or empty

The other side of languishing Is flourishing

The science of a meaningful life

Meditation and compassion

Finding peace

The magic of a little danger

Lights out

Getting ready for the marathon

How to be better at stress

Intention setting

Maintain emotional equilibrium

Self improvement trap

Prevent burnout

Listen Mind

We Are Lonely

One Day At A Time

Serotonin

GABA

The Happiness Lab

11 soothing podcasts to bring calm

8D Music to help you relax

Combat anxiety

Calmer You Podcast

Inner World

Checking In

A Holocaust survivor’s blueprint for happiness

Techniques Mind

Sophrology 101

Practical tips for a better life

Simple habits for better self-esteem

Unwavering focus

Finding calm and compassion

Healthy minds

The science of happiness

Tips to improve your sleep

How to be happier, according to science

Self-care ideas

21 Days of Abundance Through Meditation

Laughter may be effective medicine

Silent breakfast

Expressing gratitude strengthens relationships

Habit stack your way to positive changes

Daily digital detox for our current world

Fear-setting exercises

Scheduling worry time to help with anxiety

Mindfulness practices

Body

The Living Room Cup

Boutique fitness in your pocket

PE with Joe Wicks

Improve your posture

Don’t skip lunch

Book a walk and talk meeting

Improve your mood and lower stress

Nutrition and the immune system

Dramatic role of nutrition in mental health

Reduce your stress in two minutes

Steps to better health

Foods to help you sleep

Really, really short workouts

Journal

Rediscovering gratitude

Learn gratitude

Dear Diary…

Journaling strategies

Three Good Things

Benefits of journaling

Family

Nat Geo Kids

Daily Lessons are here

Students discover the power of gratitude