Sign up for a free workshop to help you build out practical psychological tools for navigating uncertainty, available on Thursday, 12 December at 10:30am and Monday, 16 December at 3pm, with Safe In Our World.
Em Aspinall, Manager of Communication and Events at Safe In Our World explains why you should attend it but also shares some worthwhile tips in this short blog which is well worth a read.
It’s been a challenging (and gloomy) time for many in the games industry, with job insecurity and layoffs affecting many. With things grinding to a halt for the holidays, and pressures to be jolly and festive, thoughts of the future can feel overwhelming.
It can be difficult to reframe how we think about uncertainty. It can leave us feeling vulnerable and anxious, but by focusing on what we can control, we can help ourselves feel less vulnerable. Finding ways to take a healthy amount of control elsewhere can reduce stress.
Tips to help reduce your stress
Making space for activities you know will have a positive impact on your wellbeing, such as getting fresh air, gentle exercise, nourishing foods, plenty of water – all these self-care necessities offer you more control over your own physical and emotional wellbeing.
Making time for reflection is important, but so is making time for switching off. Introspection is a valuable tool, and self improvement is a worthy endeavour, but don’t let that goal consume the time you need to look after your emotional needs. Productivity can be found in rest!
Sometimes one of the kindest things we can do for ourselves during times of uncertainty is to acknowledge our successes. It could be that you’ve navigated a day of difficult meetings, and despite that, you’ve still made time to look after yourself. Perhaps you’ve submitted a bunch of applications; that’s worth recognising as a success. Learn from those successes, and build strategies around balancing your workload with your wellness.
Free workshops to support people in uncertainty
A while ago, Safe In Our World responded to the wave of redundancies in games with a series of free workshops to help people navigate uncertainty. Before we close the chapter on 2024, there’s time for a few more! These free training sessions, hosted by Stuart John Chuan from Safe In Our World’s Clinical Board, are designed to provide practical psychological tools to maintain your wellbeing during periods of change.
So, even if you’re not directly impacted by redundancies, there are still benefits to signing up. You’ll learn to process the emotional impact of change with self-compassion. With the help of an experienced psychologist, you’ll cultivate a resilient mindset to help you manage stress and uncertainty. Guided activities, personal reflections and group discussions will help you nurture your identity and self-worth, and develop an effective problem-solving approach for potential challenges you’ll face in the future. By building acceptance for circumstances beyond your control, you’re allowing yourself to refocus your efforts and energy on what you can control – and prioritise your wellbeing!
There’s zero expectations during the workshop. You don’t need to have your camera on, or participate in discussions more than you’re comfortable with, but if you would like to share with the group, the sessions are not recorded.
If you’d like to sign up to one of the Navigating Uncertainty workshops, you can do so via Eventbrite. You can also find local mental health support in your area by visiting safeinourworld.org/find-help and filtering by location and type of support you’re looking for.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/navigating-uncertainty-tickets-1104704473819?aff=oddtdtcreator