Tools for Managing Health and Well-being in the Creative Industry
13/10/21
By Faron Dawe RGD, Freelance Graphic Designer & Educator
It is no secret that those in the creative field have, at one point or other, felt the strain of work on their mental, physical and emotional well-being. To unleash our creative potential, be productive and meet tight deadlines consistently, it is imperative to prioritize our health and overall wellness. The following list has been curated with the hope to educate and better equip fellow creatives to manage their health to work happier and healthier.
Online Help
A support resource for mental health and substance use created in response to an unprecedented rise in concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Their services range from basic wellness information to one-on-one sessions with a counsellor to participating in a community of support.
A member-based workplace health and performance website, Wellness Works offers education, training, webinars and other resources with a mission to build a healthy, high-performing work culture. Their guides on working from home, managing heavy workloads, quick workouts for busy professionals and the Mental Health First Aid Kit are especially helpful. Note: Access to some resources is limited to members-only.
If you are looking for professional help, Betterhelp is the world's largest online subscription-based therapy platform with a vast network of licensed, accredited and experienced therapists equipped to help with a range of issues. The sessions are facilitated virtually through text, phone or video.
Developed by Sprout a health technology company, this guide makes well-being accessible to a workforce. It is an excellent resource that speaks directly to companies/organizations and human resources leaders on the effects an employee's health has on engagement and how to invest in a culture of well-being in their organizations.
Great Reads
As an extract from his book, Ben Longden offers a short read with some great insight and reminders for creatives as he reflects on his career as a digital design director and educator. The full book is currently being funded at indiegogo and is available here
This book by fellow Canadian Adam J. Kurtz, should be a staple within arm’s reach of any designer. If you believe in healthy habits, then reading a page a day (or a few) from this book should be part of your daily routine, offering wisdom and empathy from one working artist to others.
Listen & Interact
Hosted by Dr. Andrew Huberman, a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine, this podcast discusses neuroscience. Particularly, how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, behaviour and health. Notably, Episode 28: Maximizing productivity, physical & mental health with daily tools offers some amazing and interesting facts about our bodies and provides key takeaways we can all use in our daily lives.
Becoming popular during the pandemic, this social audio app is where people around the world come together to talk, listen and learn from each other in real-time. Much of the content is positive with live audio rooms hosted by people who are highly interested in listening to, helping and supporting others in business, education, health and more. Designers can quickly find relevant groups, topics and like-minded people to learn from.
If you know of any great resources that could be added to this list, feel free to share them with Faron Dawe RGD
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With 20 years of experience as a professional graphic designer, Faron has worked with clients from a variety of sectors, providing solutions in visual identity, print, user interface design for web and more. During his tenure as Lead Instructor of the Graphic Design diploma program at McKenzie College, he strived to pass his experience and expertise onto the next generation of designers, mentoring and directing them in a classroom studio environment.Read: