Tag Archive for: COVID-19

World Mental Health Day: 6 Actions to Maintain Balance During Pandemic

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Recently, on Oct. 10, we observed World Mental Health Day. As you know, self-care became top-of-mind for me over the last several months. As the world focused on mental health, I shared six key actions I believe can help bring balance during the ongoing pandemic.

Some thought the pandemic wouldn’t last this long. Others are predicting it will last until 2025. Regardless, we need even more self-care to make it through, to ascend higher, and to help others.

Six Actions to Benefit Mental Health

  1. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
  2. Nourish Your Body
  3. Exercise Regularly
  4. Limit Screen Time
  5. Engage with Others (and the World Around You)
  6. Explore Nature

Getting 7-9 hours of sleep each day, listening to your body on timing to eat nutritious food, and dedicating yourself to regular exercise are the first areas of focus for self-care. These actions, I believe, will bring a noticeable sense of balance and harmony.

The next three action items place the focus squarely on ourselves. Studies show we spend an average of 4.2 hours per day in apps. The screen time works counter to finding personal balance and calmness.

Nearly everyone is suffering from fatigue with endless virtual meetings that fill our days and devices that pull us into our screens for hours on end. It’s important to unplug, minimize screen time, be more mindful of how long we’re on devices, and look up to engage with other people, nature, and things around us.

If a person feels anxiety over device separation, it’s important to talk to someone. Whether it’s a professional therapist or trusted friends, they can help us see a new perspective and rekindle healthy hobbies, such as a walk outdoors.

I learned firsthand growing up in Montana that spending time in nature is therapeutic. It’s obvious we are natural beings and while in such surroundings, we can almost feel ourselves uniting with nature. Look at this step as an escape, even for an hour, to fields and mountains, which can enrich our soul and quickly bring back balance and harmony.

Simple acts like these get us away from the crowds and allow us to spend solitude time to think and take personal inventory. That level of solitude time will likely become your favorite time of the week.

Learn More

Designed to help others find balance, my book, All the Right Reasons, reveals 12 principles for living a life in harmony. All proceeds benefit The USANA Foundation.

World Mental Health Day, first recognized in 1992, is an international day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy against social stigma. It’s led by the World Federation for Mental Health, a global mental health organization with members in more than 150 countries.

I shared these thoughts and more in a news release that went out on Oct. 10, 2021.

6 Practices to Help Workers Ease Back Into an Onsite Work Pattern

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The following is adapted from a news release published on May 18, 2021. 

As nearly 70 percent of Americans feel we’re emerging from the pandemic, more workers will be expected to return to work. And that can cause anxiety.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I shared six practices to help workers ease back into an onsite work pattern.

We are social beings. The year in isolation threw off our flow of sociality. When we embark on a new normal world, many will likely be a bit wobbly as we ease back into the office socially. We need to go easy on ourselves because it will all work out.

1. Slow Down and Breathe

First, slow down and breathe to soak in the moments you’re experiencing now.

2. Practice Self Care

Apply a healthy dose of self-care by wrapping yourself up in nature and connecting with experiences that matter most to you, whether that be with friends, family, or yourself alone.

3. Believe in Yourself

Believe that you are good enough, that you can do it. If you don’t believe in yourself, lean on my grandpa’s teaching: ‘Fake it until you make it.’ That’s a great way to gain confidence and propel forward with any task you face.

4. Live in the Moment

Be Present - Ease Back Into Post-Pandemic WorkEnjoy the time you have now and plan for the future with confidence. From my experience, planning for the future is exceptionally smart, but worrying about the future yields no good thing. I even have a clock in my office to remind me of this.

5. Serve Others

Lift another person up, look outside of yourself and see who can use your help, your smile, and even your simple greeting today. When we lose ourselves in the service of others, we find strength and purpose.

6. Exude Optimism

Convince yourself that everything will work out for you just fine. I’ve quoted a poem in my book called, ‘Things Will Work Out,’ which posits that when we look back at our lives, we will realize everything has indeed worked out. To continue that success, we should focus energy on current situations to ensure positive solutions. It’s a simple and powerful concept.

Applying such practices can help today’s workers ease back into post-pandemic office work and live a life today in harmony with one’s core values.

All proceeds from All the Right Reasons are directed to feed two million meals to hungry children. Available on Amazon, the book provides 40 meals for every single purchase.

Kevin Guest: Seek Mentorship in Pandemic

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Kevin Guest, USANA Chairman and CEO and author of All the Right Reasons, is featured in an article about mentorship on the Home Business magazine website on April 13, 2021.

“One of the undisputed secrets to my success has been following advice from mentors,” Guest says. “For over 20 years, Denis Waitley has been one of my mentors and dearest friends. His philosophy on winning and serving others rang true to me, and I have absorbed everything he has produced, which has taught me a tremendous amount about success.”

Read the full article on Home Business magazine’s website.

4 Steps to Finding an Influential Mentor

  1. Identify qualities you want in a mentor — and find someone who has “walked the walk,” so to speak
  2. Seek out a mentor and approach them. The worst thing that can happen is they decline.
  3. Be candid with your mentor on your goals and dreams. Help them understand and make the most of their investment.
  4. Follow the advice of your mentor. Make the most out of your investment.

Earlier this year, Guest wrote about mentorship on his blog. In 2018, Guest wrote All the Right Reasons, a book that includes 12 principles to living a life in harmony. Proceeds from the book benefit the USANA Foundation and its mission to feed hungry children. Each book purchase helps to provide 40 meals. Help us as we strive toward our goal of 2 million meals.

Applying New 3Rs Gets Workers through Pandemic

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Applying New 3Rs Gets Workers through Pandemic, Global Author/CEO Says. The following is adapted from a news release published on March 17, 2021. 

Applying the new 3Rs — resilience, recalibration, and relationships — will help today’s workers get through challenges brought by the pandemic, according to a global author and CEO.

Resilience

Kevin Guest Holding the Hope Diamond 3Rs“The first thing to acknowledge is that every person who has made it this far through the pandemic is resilient, and that is a key strength that is going to carry us through to even greater heights,” said Kevin Guest, author, musician, and CEO of USANA Health Sciences. “Years ago, I met the most famous diamond in the world: the Hope Diamond. As I held this forty-five-and-a-half carat, deep blue diamond in my hands, it made me think of how resilient this rock is to have withstood the highly pressured environment in the earth.

“From about 90 miles deep in the earth, this rock was spewed out in a volcanic eruption, discovered, cleaned, polished, and prepared into a beautiful diamond. In a metaphorical sense, each one of us is a diamond, and through all of the pressures of the pandemic, we have strengthened our character and determination to make us unstoppable.”

Recalibration

The second “R” to recalibrate your life to align with your core values is a repeated theme in Guest’s book, All the Right Reasons: 12 Timeless Principles for Living a Life in Harmony.

“We have never been closer to the end of the pandemic than we are now,” Guest said. “Living in isolation is the perfect time to reconnect with your core values to determine who you really are, what life means to you, and what values will serve as your foundation going forward.

“In reality, most of us have never been given the gift of extended time to assess like we have now. Using this to determine what matters most to you is a huge life bonus. Recalibrating habits, thoughts, and daily duties to define who you are will benefit you and those around you for the rest of your life.”

Relationships

Drawn from a lifetime of networking and leading a global company, Guest cites the third “R” as valuing relationships.

“Nothing is more important than relationships,” said Guest, chairman and CEO of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA), a billion-dollar company operating in 24 markets worldwide. “Today I have friends and colleagues in countries and cultures around the world, and each is important to me. I learned long ago that treating others with the utmost respect and kindness is a key to success and makes life more harmonious for everyone.

“The pandemic has reminded us of things that matter most, and relationships with others is at the top of the list as we connect with God, family, friends, coworkers, and so forth. Over the last year, we have felt a loss of connection with others, and because humans are naturally social beings, relationship-building is one of the key factors that will help us emerge stronger from the pandemic.”

The 3Rs

All the Right Reasons Book CoverGuest believes those simple patterns, the 3Rs, of behavior can help us power through the pandemic and lift each other to higher levels of harmony in life in a post-pandemic world.

“I’ve never seen Kevin make a selfish decision,” said country music star Collin Raye, who wrote the forward in All the Right Reasons and frequently invites Guest to play with his band on tour, including multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry. “He thinks of his family, his friends, and his associates at USANA and always tries to put others first.”

All the Right Reasons: 12 Timeless Principles for Living a Life in Harmony is available on Amazon. All proceeds benefit The USANA Foundation and its mission to feed hungry children. Each book purchase provides 40 meals.

Kevin Guest on How Self-Care is Needed During the Pandemic

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Below are some thoughts on the importance of self-care during the pandemic. A version of this article originally appeared as part of an article I wrote for On Point Global News.

Kevin Guest, author, CEO, and musician, performs on stage pre-pandemic. He believes strongly in the importance of self-care, especially during the pandemic.

Kevin Guest, author, CEO, and musician, performs on stage pre-pandemic. He believes strongly in the importance of self-care, especially during the pandemic.

I’m a big believer in learning from past experiences. As I reflect on 2020, I came to the realization that prior to the pandemic I didn’t take care of myself nearly as much as I should have.

Self-care is critical to living a balanced life. But I didn’t do it.

After years spent taking care of others, 2020 became the year that I finally slowed down. I took time to focus on myself. I thought about things that caused me stress and I learned how to manage them more effectively.

Even more, I really dove into my own mental health, which is such a vital part to truly be healthy.

4 Practices for Better Self-Care

In a recent article for On Point Global News, I identified four self-care practices that I believe will greatly boost balance and energy.

1. Step Into Nature

I learned as a kid that spending time in nature rejuvenates a person. We are natural beings, and when we’re surrounded by nature, we feel ourselves uniting with nature. Time spent there will enrich our souls and help bring back balance and harmony.

2. Breathe and Notice

Close your eyes and name out loud the things you hear, whether it’s near or in the distance. As you continue for one minute, breathe in deeply, slowly and naturally. Realize how this simple practice brings you into the current moment. Breathing clears your mind of concerns in the past or future.

3. Slow the Roll

One benefit of adjusting to the pandemic is slowing down our schedules. Slowing down might even allow us to sleep a little longer. Make time for this important self-care practice and allow yourself to sleep fully each night. Set up a regular schedule for sleeping and stick to it.

4. Value Relationships

I say it often (because I believe it’s true!): Nothing is more important than relationships. I challenge you to reach out to others just to see how they’re doing. Listen to them. Ask questions. Show genuine interest in them. I learned that this value not only sets your day in order, but it also attracts team members who are ready to do the same.

When it comes to self-care, working from a place of harmony allows us to benefit all around us.

All the Right Reasons: 12 Timeless Principles for Living a Life in Harmony is available on Amazon. All proceeds feed hungry children, with each book purchase providing 40 meals. A version of this article originally appeared on the On Point Global News website.

Kevin Guest Shares Tips to Increase Value in Post-Pandemic Job Market

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Below are some thoughts on what bosses and employees can do now to increase their value in a post-pandemic job market. A version of this article originally appeared as part of a news release.

“I learned long ago that treating others with the utmost respect and kindness is a key to success and makes life more harmonious for everyone.”

— Kevin Guest

All the Right Reasons Book CoverWith coronavirus vaccinations imminent, many U.S. workers suffering from pandemic anxiety want to better secure their employment when the pandemic ends. However, studies show job security and financial concerns are the significant predictors associated with anxiety and depression.

To confront anxiety, answers lie in what bosses and employees can do now.

Bosses have a profound effect on the morale and calm environment for employees. Recent studies show a boss’ servant leadership style makes it easier for employees to deal with anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology concluded employees work better if bosses acknowledge employees’ emotional suffering, work to empower employees, and emphasize serving in the community.

3 Tips Post-Pandemic

Here are three things I believe workers — and bosses — can do now for a better post-pandemic future:

  1. Build on the power of relationships
  2. Prepare now to improve valuable skills
  3. Never give up in striving to achieve your goal

No. 1: Build on Relationships

Wherever I speak, people have said the Dorothy Principle I cite in my book, All the Right Reasons, has made an instant impact on their lives because it illustrates that knowing others’ names, such as a cleaning lady named Dorothy, can lift self-esteem. I learned long ago that treating others with the utmost respect and kindness is a key to success and makes life more harmonious for everyone.

No. 2: Improve Valuable Skills

Improving work skills is perhaps never more important than now. Many years ago, Styx’s Tommy Shaw inspired me, who sang and played guitar anywhere he could — even in bowling alleys and nightclubs.

When Tommy Shaw was playing in an Alabama bowling alley bar, the band Styx was frantically searching for a lead vocalist. Someone influential with Styx had heard Tommy sing in Chicago and thought he might be a good fit. They listened to his demo tape and were impressed with his vocal range. They changed Tommy’s life forever when they invited him to join Styx, a global powerhouse in the music world.

What if Tommy hadn’t been ready when Styx called? That level of preparation is what we all must do now to make ourselves more valuable to our employers and future employers.

No. 3: Never Give Up

A 22-year-old Rwandan woman hunted by killers illustrates my third recommendation.

After Rwanda’s genocide in 1994, Hutu fighters hunted Immaculee Ilibagiza, who fled for protection. However, even with killers outside her window calling her name, she stayed positive. Ultimately, she was rescued, traveled to Rwanda’s capital, and applied for a United Nations job for weeks with no luck.

Convincing herself she could master English, which would increase employment opportunities, Immaculee hand-drew a computer keyboard on cardboard and spent hours learning how to type. With determination to learn English, countless attempts to get the U.N. job, and positive self-talk, she was eventually hired.

It’s that level of persistence and positive self-talk that can carry us to higher ground. These traits can help us plow through any obstacle — even this pandemic. Not once did Immaculee tell herself she couldn’t do it, even though everything she learned was new and difficult.

These patterns of behavior can make us all better prepared to endure to the end of the current pandemic. They can also prepare ourselves for a solid future post-pandemic with higher levels of harmony.

All the Right Reasons: 12 Timeless Principles for Living a Life in Harmony is available on Amazon. All proceeds feed hungry children, with each book purchase providing 40 meals. A version of this article originally appeared as part of a news release.