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.”

— Audre Lorde, writer and activist

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.

Mind

Read

Ikigai
Tesa Aragones

Finding your ikigai for a purposeful life

President, North America AKQA Tesa Aragones speaks to Adweek about the Japanese concept, ikigai, sharing four aspects for finding purpose and being motivated.

Rebuild your morning routine
The Blissful Mind

Rebuild your morning routine

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.

Popular myths about sleep, debunked
NPR Life Kit

Popular myths about sleep

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

The best way to handle stress
The Deep Sphere

The best way to handle stress

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.

Shift your mindset
Ariel Yasmine

Shift your mindset

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.

Declutter Your Mind
The Blissful Mind

Declutter your 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.

00well-body-burnout-superJumbo copy
The New York Times

Your body knows you’re burned out

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

The Conversation
Jolanta Burke

What to do if you’re feeling restless or empty

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.

Flourishing
The New York Times

The other side of languishing Is flourishing

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.

Greater good science
Greater Good Science Center

The science of a meaningful life

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.

Meditation and compassion
Buddhistdoor

Meditation and compassion

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

Finding peace
Haaretz

Finding peace

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

the magic of a little danger
The Atlantic

The magic of a little danger

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.”

Lights out
Quartz

Lights out

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

Getting ready for the marathon
Psychology Today

Getting ready for the marathon

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

how to be better at stress
The New York Times

How to be better at stress

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

intention setting
Becoming minimalist

Intention setting

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

maintain emotional equilibrium
The New York Times

Maintain emotional equilibrium

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.

Self Improvement trap
Headspace

Self improvement trap

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

Burnout response for leaders 230x230
Workplace Strategies for Mental Health

Prevent burnout

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

Mind

Listen

We are lonely Podcast
Myf Warhurst and Dr Frederic Kiernan

We Are Lonely

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

One Day at a Time
Scott Flear

One Day At A Time

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 Playlist
Spotify

Serotonin

A 100% good vibes playlist.

GABA Podcast
Adam Martin

GABA

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

happiness lab
Pushkin Industries

The Happiness Lab

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

desert island
The Independent

11 soothing podcasts to bring calm

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

Screenshot 2020-10-14 at 17.13.52
Chill House 2020

8D Music to help you relax

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

wpr
Wisconsin Public Radio

Combat anxiety

Uncover how to use mindfulness to combat anxiety.

the calm you
Chloe Brotheridge

Calmer You Podcast

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

dalai lama
Dalai Lama

Inner World

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

Checking In

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

TEDx Sydney Podcast Cover
Eddie Jaku, The Happiest Man on Earth

A Holocaust survivor’s blueprint for happiness

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.

Mind

Techniques

Self Care 2
Mind Body Green

Sophrology 101

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

100 Tips Self-care-02
Conor Barnes

Practical tips for a better life

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

Better Self-Esteem
Nick Wignall

Simple habits for better self-esteem

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

Unwavering focus
Dandapani

Unwavering focus

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.

Find calm and compassion
Center for Healthy Minds

Finding calm and compassion

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

Healthy minds
Healthy Minds Innovations

Healthy minds

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

The Science of Happiness
Dacher Keltner and Emiliana Simon-Thomas

The science of happiness

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

Tips to improve your sleep
Mind

Tips to improve your sleep

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

How to Be Happier According to Science
CNET

How to be happier, according to science

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.

Self care ideas
Headspace

Self-care ideas

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

21 days
Deepak Chopra

21 Days of Abundance Through Meditation

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

well-laughter-super
The New York Times

Laughter may be effective medicine

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.

silent breakfast
The New York Times

Silent breakfast

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

gratitude
Harvard Business Review

Expressing gratitude strengthens relationships

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.

habit stacking
James Clear

Habit stack your way to positive changes

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

digital detox
The New York Times

Daily digital detox for our current world

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

Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss

Fear-setting exercises

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.

Schedule Worry Time image
WorryTree

Scheduling worry time to help with anxiety

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.

Waking up
Waking Up

Mindfulness practices

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

Body

LivingRoomCup
Nike

The Living Room Cup

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.

GRNDHOUSE.001
GRNDHOUSE

Boutique fitness in your pocket

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.

PE with Joe Wicks
The Body Coach

PE with Joe Wicks

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

Improve your posture
Posture Ellie

Improve your posture

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

Don’t skip lunch
The Guardian

Don’t skip lunch

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.

Walk and talk meeting
Harvard Business Review

Book a walk and talk meeting

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

Improve your mood and lower stress
Harvard Medical School

Improve your mood and lower stress

Learn how to mindfully make good food choices.

Nutrition and the immune system
Future Learn

Nutrition and the immune system

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

Dramatic role of nutrition in mental health
TEDx Talks

Dramatic role of nutrition in mental health

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.

reduce stress
Harvard Business Review

Reduce your stress in two minutes

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.

wellness
The Clinova Wellness Guide

Steps to better health

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

foods to help you sleep
Prescribe Nutrition

Foods to help you sleep

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.

short workouts-1 (dragged)
The New York Times

Really, really short workouts

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

rediscovering gratitude
The New York Times

Rediscovering gratitude

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

learning gratitude
Happify Daily

Learn gratitude

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

Dear diary...
Intermountain

Dear Diary…

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

Journaling strategies
Very Well Mind

Journaling strategies

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

Three good things
Asher Dale

Three Good Things

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

journaling-tips
Positive Psychology

Benefits of journaling

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

Family

nat geo kids
National Geographic

Nat Geo Kids

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

daily lessons are here
BBC Bitesize

Daily Lessons are here

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.

students-grattitude
Participant

Students discover the power of gratitude

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.

At home science experiments
Elemental Science

Home science experiments

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

explaining corona to children
Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and Nia Roberts

Explaining coronavirus to children

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.

flexible childrens book club
The Gift of Story

A flexible book club for kids

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.

Personalized storybooks
Wonderbly

Personalised stories

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

Travel the world
Conde Nast

Travel the world

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.’

story time drama
Novel Effect

Story time drama

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

6 smart strategies
Scholastic

Six smart strategies

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

family mission statement
Harvard Business Review

What’s Your Family’s Mission Statement?

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

working parents strategies
The Muse

Working parent strategies

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

Young parents/carers self care
Anna Freud

Young parent and carer self care tips

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

Work

Working at home productivity
Forbes

Working at home productivity

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

the reason video calls are tiring
BBC

The reason video calls drain your energy

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

future office space
Fast Company

Future office space

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.

effective online meetings
LinkedIn

Effective online meetings

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

how to gain control of your free time
Laura Vanderkam

How to gain control of your free time

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

Stay happy working from home

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.

Woop my life
WOOP

Change habits with WOOP goal setting

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.

intro to digital wellbeing
Google

Introduction to digital wellbeing

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.

kyle-nieber-8z805WwAZyA-unsplash-social-1024x576
Brené Brown

Courage over comfort

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.

cope with stress
Harvard Business Review

Learning something new builds resilience

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.

pomodoro technique
Life Hacker

The Pomodoro technique

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.

Stop framing wellness programs around self care
Harvard Business Review

A new approach to self care

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

How to take better breaks at work
Harvard Business Review

How to take better breaks at work

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

From our house to yours

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.

Tour international galleries and museums
You Visit

Tour galleries and museums

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

explore sideways
Explore sideways

Virtual travel escape

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

Make your own flipbook with pixar
Pixar

Make your own flipbook

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.

Enjoy the royal academy of arts
Google Arts & Culture

Enjoy the Royal Academy of Arts

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

10 best quarantine concerts online
The New York Times

The ten best quarantine concerts online

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

write your first song
Future Learn

Write your first song

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

learn calligraphy
Paint Pots and Quills

Learn calligraphy

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

nostalgia
The New York Times

Nostalgic movies are good for mental health

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

in the studio
The New Yorker

David Hockney’s art continues on in lockdown

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.

google arts and culture
Google Arts and Culture

Brush up on art history through games

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

Louie Schwartzberg
Louie Schwartzberg

Nature. Beauty. Gratitude.

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.

A dose of nature
University of Washington

A dose of nature

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

stargazing
Future Learn

Stargazing

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

The sound of nature
Johnnie Lawson

The sound of nature

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.

Gardening
Very Well Mind

Get gardening

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

Exploring Nature
Scientific American

Explore

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

Earth Speakr-ES Planet KV
Olafur Eliasson

Earth Speakr

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.

Take an awe walk
The New York Times

Take an awe walk

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

Best Road Trips
Rough Guides

The best road trips in the world

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

Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review

Thinking of Skipping Vacation? Don’t!

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

cameo
Cameo

Celebrity requests

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

Tribute
Tribute

Montage making

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.

Teleparty
Teleparty

Watch TV in sync with friends

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

Group Greeting
Group Greeting

Virtual greeting cards

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

3 lessons from Covid
The Hygge Mama

Lessons from Covid–19

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.

virtual book clubs
Hello Sunshine

Virtual book clubs

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.