As summer ends, stress often increases with back-to-school routines, client travel and end-of-year planning. MCI USA prioritizes preventing burnout and offers practical tips to help you manage stress effectively, recognizing that everyone handles it differently.

Tips to Boost Emotional Balance

Engage in a meditation or yoga practice.

Meditation and yoga have been shown to offer a range of benefits, including reduced stress, improved sleep and enhanced focus. Just 10 minutes a day is shown to produce positive effects. If you’re new to meditation, trying hypnosis meditation is a good way to start; plus, you can do it lying down!

Create a daily gratitude or journaling practice.

Here are some easy and actionable prompts to get you started: What made you smile today? What are you looking forward to? What small act of kindness did you experience or witness? What do you appreciate about your home? What is a favorite food? What makes you laugh?

Engage in meaningful volunteering opportunities.

Volunteering for a cause you care about builds a sense of community and boosts self-worth. As a reminder, MCI provides an extra eight hours of PTO specifically for volunteering, so be sure to use those up.

MCI Tools for Stress Management

Did you know that MCI provides extensive tools to help you to reach your best potential? Here are a few that come free of charge for all MCI employees.

  • Mindtools for burnout: Mindtools has a lot of infographics, videos and articles for how to recognize, treat and avoid burnout at the workplace.
  • Emotional freedom technique: A guide to a technique that is proven to calm your nervous system and boost self-esteem. It’s quick, easy and calming.
  • Celebrate your furry friends with pet benefits: Our furry friends help in alleviating stress daily. Check out the benefits MCI provides for your pets.

Helpful Resources

Documentaries:

  • “Stutz” (Netflix) – Jonah Hill’s documentary with his therapist discussing self-driven tools for stress management.
  • “One Nation Under Stress” (HBO) – Examines the neuroscience of stress and its impact on the individual and communities.

Books:

  • “Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle” by Amelia Nagoski – A look at stress in the workplace and how women are more susceptible to burnout.
  • “The Art of Letting Go: Stop Overthinking, Stop Negative Spirals, and Find Emotional Freedom” by Nick Trenton – A practical guide to reducing stress and enhancing positivity.

Podcasts:

  • 10 Percent Happier – Interview style podcast with helpful tools on managing mental health
  • Your Anxiety Toolkit – Focuses on practical skills for managing anxiety, panic and depression

Other Important Observances in September

  • Hispanic Heritage Month
  • National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
  • World Gratitude Day (Sept. 21)

Let’s make September a month of calm and community.

Become a Champion

If you’re interested in joining the MCI USA Sustainability Champions, reach out at ussustainabilitychamps@wearemci.com or directly to Megan Weygandt at megan.weygandt@wearemci.com.