As we move through the difficulty and stress of a socially isolating pandemic, Balanced You is launching the Hope and Joy Campaign. Throughout the winter, we will find ways to connect with one another through moments of hope and joy.
The Hope and Joy Campaign does not exist to quiet other emotions you may be experiencing during this time, but rather balance them with joyful emotions and connection with each other so we can build our strength to weather these challenges.
Please join Balanced You in making hope and joy contagious this winter. We can’t do this without you!
Photos and Videos
Share what brings joy to your lives: whether it’s a purring cat, a family trip, a tender moment with a teenage child, a silly dog, or a beautiful hike. We want to amplify these experiences, so we are creating a platform to share your joy with employees.
Send us your photos, videos, and audio from throughout the winter and we will share them back with your colleagues through the Balanced You blog and Employee News! For an example, please check out Brooke Bascom’s three videos of things that bring her joy: the stunning natural beauty of the Methow Valley, the unfettered joy of her lab Ozzie chasing a stick into the lake, and a dance break during the day to shake off stress!
To upload your audio or videos, click here and follow the instructions. If you’d prefer to send pictures for us to share, simply email the photos to balancedyou@kingcounty.gov
Coffee Connections
Balanced You is hosting a series of informal, virtual zoom sessions, “Coffee Connections”, to provide spaces for employees to connect over fun topics and events, including holiday recipe sharing, pet meet-and-greets, and singalongs.
| Title | Description | Date/Time | Meeting Link and Passcode |
| Pet Meet-and-Greet | Introduce your pets! | December 10, from 10-10:30am | Pet Meet and Greet PASSCODE: 205737 |
| Quarantine Holiday Celebrations | Share your unique ideas on how to get together and still social distance. | December 16, from 10-10:30am | Quarantine Holiday Celebrations PASSCODE: 524145 |
| New Year’s Resolutions | How do you want to bring in the New Year? We want to hear it! | January 6, from 10-10:30am | New Year’s Resolutions PASSCODE: 618235 |
| Social Distancing Ideas for Kids | Share your ideas on caring for children while social distancing. | January 20, 10-10:30am | Social distancing ideas for kids PASSCODE: 133933 |
| Pet Meet-and-Greet | Introduce your pets! | February 3, from 10-10:30am | Pet Meet-and-Greet PASSCODE: 881465 |
| Arts and Crafts Hobbies / Share your fun masks | Share the cool new hobbies you have picked up during quarantine and show-off your favorite masks in the process. | February 17, from 10-10:30am | Arts and Crafts and Hobbies/Share your fun masks PASSCODE: 086180 |
| Favorite Quarantine Recipes | Show off your favorite dish and learn other employees’ favorite recipes, as well. | March 3, from 10-10:30am | Favorite Quarantine Recipes PASSCODE: 814182 |
| Favorite Movies / TV Shows | Share your favorite shows and movies to watch while in Quarantine and get tips from employees on what to add to your list. | March 17, from 10-10:30am | Favorite Movies/TV Shows PASSCODE: 065087 |
| Make Your Own Keepsake Box | Learn how to make a keepsake box. Bring your mementos to show to others and start to create your own. | March 31, from 10-10:30am | Make Your Own Keepsake Box PASSCODE: 367231 |
Hope and Joy-building Tips and Resources for Teams
Balanced You is developing resources to help teams build hope and joy this winter, as well. Activities such as dance breaks, virtual team-wide family or pet introductions, meme or gif sharing, or hope and joy walls can go a long way toward helping each other through these tough times.
We will distribute tips and resources to managers and supervisors through Upfront, and post them on our blog and in Employee News, as well.
For a list of mental health resources, please check out this King County Mental Health Resource Guide. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact balancedyou@kingcounty.gov.