Article

Strength and mental resilience during a state of emergency

3/4/2022

The current situation in Ukraine affects the whole world and all of us are looking for every way to help, live in the moment, deal with difficult feelings and situations, and maintain the most meaningful everyday life possible.

There are many different ways to make yourself feel better and help yourself cope:

1) Give space for all kinds of emotions and thoughts

Each of us reacts to exceptional situations in a different way. Thus it is important to give space and understand both your own and others’ feelings and thoughts. There is no one correct way to experience a situation like this. The feelings that arise may be strong and inconsistent, so try to be gentle with yourself in their midst. It is important to give yourself and others permission to process and talk about worrying things, but it is also good to talk about other things. Remember to take some war-free time.

2) Put effort into everyday routines

Maintaining a normal everyday routine creates a sense of security and predictability. Take care of your eating habits, breaks, recovery and sleep as well as exercise and fun activities. Take time to do things that you enjoy and that bring you joy. Also take care of your physical fitness as well as you can. If you work remotely, stay in contact with your workmates.

3) Focus on what you can affect

It is understandable that we feel insecure, worried and even scared of things that are outside of our control. It may be calming to focus your attention on the things that you can control, whether it is helping those who need it, staying in touch with friends or taking care of yourself at home.

4) Take care of your social life

Take care of your social network and try to maintain your relationships as well as you can, do not isolate completely. If you cannot be around other people physically, stay in contact via phone, video, social media and email. 

5) Take also care of your workmates

We are all in this state of emergency together, even if we react to it differently. It is exceptionally important to work together and try to keep the work situation as normal as possible in this new situation. Ask your workmates how they are doing and take breaks together (also over a remote connection).

6) Limit your use of media and pick your sources of information carefully

Perusing media and social media continuously may add to your anxiety, worries and mental burden. Try to limit your media use, and when you do need information, rely on the authorities for information. Especially protect children from the news overflow.

7) Trust human resilience and focus on hope

Latest articles

työkavereita toimistolla Article

Occupational health psychologist's tips for a workplace wellbeing revolution

Fortunately, the stigma associated with mental health challenges is receding. In addition to the fact that employers are now more strongly directed to take care of the psychosocial stress, mental health challenges are dared to be talked about more openly and people know how to seek help for them. This is also clear from Terveystalo's statistics, where visits related to both anxiety disorders and depression have increased throughout the 2020s. Sari Nuikki, Terveystalo's leading occupational health psychologist, explains how mental well-being can be supported in the workplace with small everyday actions.

Terveystalon Digiylilääkäri Tuomo Oikarainen Terveystalon vastaanottohuoneessa Blog

AI is coming - we are ready

I argue that AI will do some of the work of a doctor in the near future. But I don't yet know what those jobs will be exactly.

Terveystalon psykologi juttelee tunteista asiakkaan kanssa verkkotapaamisessa Article

How should you deal with emotions? You don't always have to talk about your feelings, says psychotherapist

Emotions are important clues, but bad advice. During Mental Health Week, we talk to Matti Isosävi, psychologist and psychotherapist at Terveystalo, about feelings - even if you don't always need to talk about them.

Ilari Rikhardt Article

AI in the future of working life

Generative AI, such as Chat GPT, has brought AI into a new light recently. In particular, its impact on working life has been a topic of discussion in Finland and around the world over the past year. Ilari Richardt, Director of Digital Services at Terveystalo, shared his views on the opportunities AI brings at Terveystalo's event "Tulevaisuuden työelämän tekijät".

Maria Ritola Terveystalon Tulevaisuuden työelämän tekijät - tapahtumassa Article

In the future, technology is an enabler and team problem-solving skills a way to success

We live in an era of uncertainty and rapid technological development. Generative AI will be on everyone's radar in 2023, and organisations are wondering how AI will change the way they work and do things. The rapid evolution of technology poses challenges, but at the same time creates opportunities. At Terveystalo's Future Workplace Makers event, Maria Ritola, technology influencer and founder of Iris.ai, shared her insights on how to build a good working life and harness technology to help people do their jobs.

Article

Without systematicity and systemicity, foresight lacks depth

Only by identifying alternative futures and the drivers of change that influence them can we make choices for the future we want. By being an active player, we become the architects of the future, rather than its victims. At Terveystalo's event "Tulevaisuuden Työelämän Tekijät", futurist Minna Koskelo highlighted the drivers of change that all organisations should be aware of.