HR Can Help You Navigate the Holidays
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 11, 2020) — We are often told this time of year is supposed to be full of joy, celebration and connections with the ones we love.
But, even in the best of times, the holidays can bring feelings of stress, overwhelm and even isolation.
According to a past survey by the American Psychological Association, up to 69% of people are stressed by the feeling of having a “lack of time,” and 69% are stressed by perceiving a “lack of money” during the holidays. For some, the stress can even come from the pressure to feel happy. This year’s stress is compounded by COVID-19 and not being able to gather with family for treasured traditions.
If the pressures from this unusual year are preventing you from enjoying the season, you’re not alone.
University of Kentucky Health and Wellness and Work-Life have gathered some timely resources to support you this season and beyond. This collection of quick tips and exercises, articles and videos will help you identify and address your feelings.
If you feel:
- stressed or overwhelmed;
- burned out;
- depressed or anxious;
- lonely or disconnected; or
- not even sure where to begin
you are invited to explore HR's helpful tools and suggestions. While there is no magic solution to make everything joyful this holiday season, these resources offer a place to begin.
“I have really just wanted to validate for people that everyone is struggling right now,” says Cindy Bowling, a mental health therapist with HR Work+Life Connections Counseling, in the most recent episode of the “Becoming Wildly Resilient” podcast. “We are living through a collective trauma, and if you are not OK, nobody is OK. And it’s OK to say that. If you’re exhausted, if you’re anxious, if you’re worn out, you are not alone. And there’s no shame, because we’re all in this together.”
If you would like additional support, Work+Life Connections employee counseling offers confidential services including short-term counseling, mental health screening and assessment, and referrals.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.