What contributes to the mental health of Le Monastère’s employees?
We asked the employees of Le Monastère des Augustines to share with you what contributes positively to their mental health, in order to help you discover some practical tools. Many answered the call! Here are some tips that contribute to the mental health of Le Monastère’s employees. Let yourself be inspired!
Élizabeth, Communications Advisor
“Over time, I’ve developed the habit of turning to various wellness tools when I need to alleviate stress or navigate challenging periods. Here are the top 3 that I use the most:
The RespiRelax+ app
I first experienced cardiac coherence at Le Monastère des Augustines when I went on a Signature retreat there in 2024. This practice had a profound effect on me, so much so that since then I’ve never hesitated to use this application to reduce my internal tension during difficult periods. I’ve managed to associate a key moment in my daily life with this application, namely in the car, after the hurried mornings of family life. I’m very proud to have persevered with this practice, even if I could integrate breathing into my everyday life even more. Taking the time to breathe is one of the great pillars of wellbeing, and we often forget that we can do it anywhere and at any time!
The Petit BamBou application
This application offers numerous audio meditation programs on various themes. There is a free version and a paid version. The function I use the most in this application is the ‘3 minute meditation’. If I need to take a micro-pause during a demanding day at work, for example, I listen to this 3-minute audio and it helps me enormously to refocus. Thanks to this application, I’ve managed to integrate more meditation into my life.
Nicole Bordeleau’s podcast episodes
The wisdom of this great woman will always inspire me! As soon as a new episode comes out, I make an appointment with my inner self. The humanity behind the subjects she tackles, the wisdom of her approach, the gentleness of her voice and Hélène Dalair’s music soothe me deeply. With over a hundred episodes since the podcast was launched in 2020, we have access to a wide range of themes to explore with Nicole, as well as a variety of meditations. A musthave for me!”
Sophie, Director- Public Programs and Conservation
“To feel good, I look for balance in my life and that means:
- A job that I love, but with which I’m able to disconnect when I’m on holidays;
- Regular practice of a sport: zumba, skiing or hiking;
- Lots of cultural activities, with museums and concerts at the top of the list;
- Listening to ‘bedtime stories’ on the Calm app.”
Pier-Olivier, Special Project Manager
“I use two tools to maintain my mental health balance. The first is a daily one-hour walk. This walk is my me time. I put my mobile phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode and it allows me to decant certain situations in my life while getting some fresh air. I see a real difference in my day-to-day life. The second tool is mainly used when there’s too much in my brain and I need to sort things out and distance myself from a situation. This tool consists of writing intuitively in an unfiltered diary. It helps me a lot, because it allows me to put my inner state into words, to see my fears and to focus on the essential elements in order to be kind to myself.”
Anonymous
“I use Headspace, a mobile app that offers meditations, breathing exercises, stress relief exercises, sleep tapes, learning videos and much more. I use it about once a day, from 1 to 20 minutes depending on how much time I have. I get a lot of benefits from it in terms of reducing stress and improving sleep and concentration. I recommend this application because it’s user-friendly, simple and complete!”
Francine, Events Coordinator
“Every time I see the 20th century poster with the hospital’s treatment schedule on the 2nd floor of Le Monastère, I find that the word “hygiene” takes on its full meaning. The timetable indicates that Thursdays at 2: 30 p.m. are reserved for ‘mental hygiene’.
Speaker David Bernard once said: ‘The greatest gift you can give someone is to work on yourself.’ I couldn’t agree more. If everyone gave the gift of the best version of themselves, the world would be a better place. I try to apply that as much as possible, and not just on Thursdays!”
Laure-Anne, Communications Coordinator, Yoga and Meditation Teacher
“For me, mental health, stress management and dealing with emotions are closely linked. I regularly use a variety of tools to get back into my body and put my mind on pause for a while:
- Yoga: Every morning I practice yoga for about 15 minutes to connect with my body and start the day with intention;
- Meditation: Every day, depending on the time of day, I make space for about 15 minutes of mindfulness meditation to observe my thoughts passing by or practice a body scan. This brings me greater clarity and dissipates stress and anxiety;
- Nature walks: Every day, I spend at least 20 minutes walking in nature to get in touch with the natural world around me. It instantly calms me and my emotions;
- Giving free rein to my creativity: About once a week, I put on some music I like and dance freely to release the emotions stagnating in my body. I can also choose mandala painting or watercolour painting to focus my attention on a creative activity.”
What about you? What kind of tools or habits are you putting in place to make a positive contribution to your mental health? Don’t hesitate to come to Le Monastère des Augustines to take care of yourself in a peaceful and inspiring setting. Find out about our activities and upcoming retreats at the heart of Le Monastère des Augustines.
For more information about these tools: