THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF BAHAMAS FIRST HOLDINGS LIMITED VOL 15 ISSUE 3 OCTOBER 2016
“Leadership is influence.
Nothing more, nothing less.”
- John C. Maxwell
IN THIS ISSUE
♦ Annual Managers’ Retreat
♦ Influence
♦ Entrepreneurship/Reflections
♦ The Princess and the King
♦ Reinsurance Seminar at PartnerRe
♦ Entrepreneurship-Cayman
♦ How Something Could Be?
♦ Entrepreneurship-Bahamas
♦ An Entrepreneurial State of Mind
♦ Keep Your Smart Phone Safe
♦ Charities of the First
♦ Aon Benefield Seminar
♦ Life Long Learning
♦ Chamber of Commerce Seminar
♦ Employee Survey
♦ Staff News
♦ Candid Camera
♦ Hurricane Matthew
♦ Desk of the Data Controller
♦ Managing Stress after a Hurricane
Influence!
Management Retreat Theme: “Entrepreneurial Leadership;
Embracing the Organizational and Mindset Changes”
The 2016 Management Retreat was held on September 15-16, 2016 at the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami. The facilitators were
Habib Lesevic and Benedikt Foit from KNTXT, a London based firm which is focused on developing human potential in individuals
and teams, as well as leveraging innovative practices to help partners transform into truly Entrepreneurial Organizations. Mr. Pat-
rick Ward, Group President/CEO in his opening remarks, reminded us to be open and aware that, “This is a journey, not an event!”
In today's dynamic and constantly chang-
ing environment, the ability to effectively
influence others in pursuit of winning
outcomes represents competitive advan-
tage to individuals and organizations.
Influence is critical to your success. In a
recent article, Jayson DeMers, suggested
the following 7 ways to build Influence:
1. Build Trust With Your Co-
Workers.
2. Cultivate Reliability Through Con-
sistency. 3. Be Assertive, Not Aggressive.
4. Be Flexible.
5. Be Personal.
6. Focus on Actions Rather Than Ar-
gument. 7. Listen to Others.
Earlier this year we met flexible
and adaptable BOB and just last quarter,
we focused on listening skills. Now we
go entrepreneurial!
Management Retreat Seminar
The team from KNTXT, conducted a semi-
nar which was the highlight of the retreat.
The aim was to introduce managerial lead-
ers in the Bahamas First Group, to the con-
cept of the Entrepreneurial Organization
and Entrepreneurial Leadership, while also
providing tools that will allow participants
to begin the journey of developing their
own entrepreneurial Leadership practice.
Throughout the day, participants were in-
vited to connect the insights won from the
impulse presentations to their own experi-
ences by reflecting on their current prac-
tices and context.
The aim was to provide a space in which
authentic and engaged conversations, prac-
tices and learning were enabled. Habib and
Benedikt invited us to co-create the space
with them.
It was a time to learn how to Self Generate,
Self Reflect and Self Correct, like true En-
trepreneurs.
FIRST INSIGHT 2
“What is ENTERPRENEURSHIP?”
How
Something
IS
How
Something
COULD
BE
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Reflections….Michael Byrne, Cayman
My first BFH Management retreat was a blast!
Meeting everyone was a challenge in terms of re-
membering names and allocating faces to them but
I think I did pretty good. I was hoping to keep a
fairly low profile and take it all in but Patrice saw
to it that I had to speak up at least once! The fairly
light-hearted atmosphere created between the BFH
teams and the presenters was very refreshing. The
topic of Entrepreneurial Leadership is very impor-
tant to me personally and so I really found the ses-
sions particularly enlightening and thought pro-
voking – lots of good material to adopt in both a
personal and professional capacity to achieve
more. Already looking forward to the next one!
Where is the
triangle?
Leaders interact to create triangles through
non-verbal communication.
Hi, I’m
Mike?
3FIRST INSIGHT
Managers Retreat in Session!
Habib…..“Let me tell you a story about the
Princess and the King.
The hard working King went out to do battle and left
the Princess in the palace. She was bored so she ran
off with a knight. After a few days of adventure, the
knight left her in the forest and she was robbed by
thieves. Her godfather found her in the forest, but left
her, after he realized that she had run away from the
King. A sorcerer who wanted to get revenge from the
King conjured up a dragon to kill the princess....and
the princess was eaten by the dragon.
Questions:
Who is most responsible for the death of the Princess?
Who is least responsible for the death of the Princess?
2016 Partner Re Reinsurance Course- Zurich, Switzerland
After 11 hours of airtime via three connecting flights, I thought my anticipation would never end. My first time in Europe, yet alone
Zurich, can only be described with one word—EPIC. In the Reinsurance World, I gained a deeper understanding of the Value of Rein-
surance and Pricing a Reinsurance Program, and the tools and models associated with constructing a sound Reinsurance Program.
Our friends at Partner Re embraced me as if I were one of their own. It was a very intense week of instruction and exercises, but with
25 candidates engaged in the course we found time to play. Our course instructors are “Industry Masters” with vast knowledge and
experience. Italy, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Norway, Ukraine, Russia, and Finland
are just some of the countries represented at the course— the Bahamas being the
only country with Caribbean representation. This can only be attributed to our
company’s reputation in the international arena and true partnership with its rein-
surers- Kudos to Bahamas First!
The most memorable aspect of the course was the team exercise where candi-
dates were asked to price a program for a broker. We were placed in “the real
world” of reinsurance at this point. My team placed second overall grabbing a
30% share of the entire program. My experience was priceless.
I express my sincere gratitude to the company, especially my managers for al-
lowing me to partake in this course. Reinsurance is a fascinating niche market
and a journey I intend to pursue vigorously.
by: Valya Gray
FIRST INSIGHT 4
Habib & Benedikt go to Cayman for Sessions
How Something Could Be?
The entrepreneurial culture training session was an amazing and inspiring experience! Not only was the
content very beneficial and interesting, but it was delivered amazingly by Habib and Benedikt of KNTXT. They
connected with staff collectively and personally whilst clearly defining the terms, complementing them with appro-
priate examples for a better understanding and actively engaged staff throughout the session with icebreakers and
games.
My favorite was the velocity test! In summary, the main take home points in order to move toward an en-
trepreneurial culture/organization were: to allow employee engagement over empowerment; shift from the mindset
of “how something is” to “how something could be”; become more value orientated; cultivate adapt creation logic
versus prediction logic; and allow employees to practice and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. Most impor-
tantly, they emphasized that it all begins with ourselves as individuals to make these changes by envisioning a new
way of being, thinking of what is valuable, learning and progressing through each step, being aware of what con-
text to apply these and how to communicate these. Overall, the staff was very appreciative of the session and gave
such positive feedback. Thank you KNTXT!
by: Richelle Ebanks
Employees of Cayman First listened to the presenters as they described the Entrepreneurial Organization.
And Jonathan Webster expressed his appreciation to Mr. Ward: “Thank you for giving the general staff the
opportunity to hear the Organizational Entrepreneur presentation. I found it enlightening and entertaining.
Employees at Cayman First paused for a photo with Habib & Benedikt after their session.
FIRST INSIGHT 5
.
Building an Entrepreneurial Culture - Bahamas Employees in Session
Employees of the Bahamas First Group, actively involved in production teams to build MAGIC PENS! This session on the
Entrepreneurial Organization was an extension of what the leaders did in their session on Entrepreneurial Leadership.
An Entrepreneurial State of Mind by: Marcia D. Johnson
In order for there to be change, it must first begin with you. Like most people when I heard the term
"entrepreneur" the first and only thought that came to mind was someone that owned their business, a risk taker or in
other words “a boss”. When the topic of our session was discussed I couldn't connect the dots as to how this related
to us as employees of a Company.
As we embarked on our journey and I listened to the presenters, my perception began to change. The mes-
sage that conclusively brought it all together was that it all begins with you the employees - you add value to the
Company, you engage and take ownership of your position, you have the power to take something from where it is
now and turn it into something better; at the end of the day the person that can make a difference is YOU! During
the session, it became evidently clear that we as employees contribute to our Company becoming an Entrepreneurial
Organization and we indeed determine whether or not the Company will continue to succeed or begin to fail. Ulti-
mately the mindset that we approach our daily tasks will shift the culture, create value and push us towards our goal
of always remaining number one. “First in Insurance. Today. Tomorrow.”
FIRST INSIGHT 6
Protect sensitive data
While PIN entry and password locks were usually all you’d need to protect mobile phones a few years ago, these days
you’re effectively carrying around a miniature computer with its own – often easily removable – storage. Simply pre-
venting someone from being able to turn a phone on isn’t sufficient anymore, as it’s far too easy to retrieve data by simply
plugging it into a computer or removing a microSD card.
Protecting sensitive data that may be saved to internal storage is therefore a must, and thankfully there are a number of solu-
tions available. Most smartphone platforms offer software that can encrypt files or folders on a device with industry-
standard protection, which means a code must be entered before a file can be viewed or copied. This also goes for infor-
mation such as passwords, login details, account numbers and other information that may be saved for access to online
banks or merchants.
Much of this software is free to download and use and can work effectively with your phone to provide automated and
seamless protection, so there’s very little hassle involved once it’s up and running. In addition to this sort of software, some
security vendors are recommending that sensitive data be stored remotely on secure online servers, rather than on the
phone itself. This means that not only is there no physical data on a phone that could be accessed, but in the event of a
handheld being lost or stolen it’s easy to change the login details for the server or remove the data altogether.
Watch your wireless
Most smartphones now have the option of connecting to wireless networks – be this a router in the office or home, or a wire-
less hotspot on the move. Opting for wireless is often beneficial for increased speeds or to save on data usage costs, so it’s
easy to see why many prefer it when available. Any device that’s enabled to send data across the airwaves is a potential
security concern, but thankfully modern phones are well prepared to help you mitigate this risk.
The first thing to remember is to always switch off a wireless connection when it’s not in use. Apart from helping you save
on battery power, it ensures that malicious parties can’t connect to a device without your knowledge. It’s also worth taking a
browse through a phone’s network security settings as it might be configured to automatically connect to a network when
in range.
Wireless hotspots and unknown networks are by far the biggest risk when it comes to utilizing this connectivity. A
(relatively) common threat that pervades unknown wireless networks and hotspots is called the “evil twin” attack. Here a
malicious party might be offering access to a wireless connection that looks very much like a legitimate hotspot from a
large company. Finally, those who use phones to communicate in a corporate environment should consider the use of a
VPN (Virtual Private Network) to set up a secured private network. This allows users to access specific sites and company
resources on the move and significantly reduces the risk of potentially sensitive data being intercepted by malicious parties.
Bluetooth
Unlike wireless networking, Bluetooth isn’t seen as a potentially risky venture for most mobile users, and the relatively short
-range (around 10m) at which it is accessible does mean that it’s inherently safer. Attacks do still happen however, and it’s
important to be aware of the pitfalls of leaving this technology switched on when not in use. Hackers have found ways to
remotely access a phone (provided they are within range) and use it to make calls, access data, listen in on conversations
and browse the internet. To prevent this from happening it’s a good idea to set default Bluetooth configuration to “non-
discoverable” mode by default.
Back up your data
Discovering that a phone has been lost or stolen is bad enough, but even when discounting the potential damage that could be
done by sensitive data getting into the wrong hands, important documents, contacts, messages, appointments and other
information could take a long time to replace. Ensuring that regular backups are made is therefore essential, and there
are a number of ways to go about it. Most modern phones now allow users to “synchronise” information with a computer or
website for productivity or backup purposes. This can include e-mails and contacts with Microsoft Outlook, photos uploaded
to online storage or proprietary software supplied by the phone manufacturer to simply backup key data in the event of loss.
Some modern security suites designed for use on mobile devices also offer an automatic backup facility to take the has-
sle out of doing this manually. There are also a range of services that allow you to automatically backup specific data to an
online resource, taking the hassle out of having to connect a phone to a computer. Provided you have a sufficiently healthy
data plan, or are connected to a wireless network, this is an excellent way to safeguard against loss.
Submitted by: Illiyia Bain
Keeep Your Smart Phone Safe
FIRST INSIGHT 7
“Charities of the First” (Cayman)
Cayman First Staff (L-R) Back row and middle- Roderick
Parchment, Richard Uriasz, Richelle Ebanks (also a member
of Rotaract), Gordon Philip, Sasha Barnes and Kalama Ben-
nett present two members of team Rotaract with a sponsor-
ship check which goes toward the St. Baldricks Foundation-
Hannah’s Hero’s organization to fund childhood cancer re-
search. Three members of team Rotaract shaved their heads
for the cause.
Cayman First staff wearing Purple for a Cause to support
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Awareness month.
The 51st Annual Aon Benfield Global Clients Reinsurance
Seminar in London from June 20-30th, 2016 was an intensive
study program that primarily focused on the principles and
practices of arranging reinsurance on a global scale. I thank
both Bahamas First and Aon for this opportunity which al-
lowed me to discuss highly relevant issues within the industry
and gain knowledge about the reinsurance market globally.
My peers were from countries such as South Korea, China,
Nigeria, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Australia, India and
Italy just to name a few. We were provided with a platform to
share best practices, challenges within the industry and also
develop our networking opportunities. It was quite an experi-
ence to have in-depth discussions on different reinsurance
strategies and how reinsurers are developing creative leads.
Many times these discussions will end with a unique perspec-
tive on BREXIT. Yes many of my peers were certain that
Britain would vote YES to remain within the EU. It was awe-
some to experience such a historical moment in British Politics
first hand. This seminar was a “melting pot” of culture that has
enlightened my business perspective and I have left London
with new friendships and business allies. by: Denise Vaval
Aon Benfield Global Clients Reinsurance Seminar in London
Anon Benfield Seminar
Group Photo at a Dinner Cruise
8
FIRST INSIGHT
Life Long Learning: “Enhancing Your Value”
ENHANCING YOUR VALUE - Perception; Attitude; Behavior was the theme for the 3L’s workshop held on 18th August
2016. Mrs. Richenda King, Facilitator, pointed out that Perception Is Everything!
PERCEPTION determines Attitude; and, ATTITUDE influences BEHAVIOR.
We talked at length about how we can enhance our value through Service, by creating a memorable experience for our customers!
The quality of the product or service is only as important as how special you make your customer feel! So at your next opportu-
nity, give your customer an unforgettable moment as….
you renew a policy;
take a claim report;
accept the money that he saved over the last year to pay his insurance premium; or
answer the telephone.
Customers care about how you make them feel!
Many times however we forget our internal customers, that is, one another. Have you ever thought about the challenges your col-
league may be experiencing at home or even on the job? When was the last time you seriously gave a compliment or an encour-
agement to your co-worker or Manager? Do you make the people on your team feel important and appreciated?
Remember WOW is not big, it is personal!
We also discussed Engagement as an Employee and a Cus-
tomer. As an Employee, how do you know that you are en-
gaged? Here are a few tips:
1. You consistently exceed performance requirement.
2. You assist others for the enhancement of the Com-
pany.
3. You make recommendations for improvement of
the Organization.
4. You take pride in your work.
If you are meeting the above, then you are considered an
Engaged Employee.
An Engaged Customer:
1. Loves our Company because we deliver what we
promise.
2. Feels that the Company is the perfect one for them.
3. Provide feedback of how we can reach more cus-
tomers.
4. Feels proud to be a customer and lets others know
too.
As employees of Bahamas First Group, let’s engage our Customers by giving them A+ service! This can only be achieved when
we work as a TEAM. When we work together as a unit we can accomplish more than an individual can do alone. Our Custom-
ers’ PERCEPTION of our service quality will determine their ATTITUDE and ultimately result in their BEHAVIOR of con-
tinuing to do business at BFG or elsewhere. Remember, PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING!!!
by: Bebie Farrington
SEMINAR AT HE THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Cedric Smith, Travis Donald and Alpin Taylor attend a
Conflict Resolution Workshop on September 2016.
Results of BFG’s Employee Satisfaction & Engagement Survey-2016
Employee Engagement level was at a 4 using a 5 point scale and was higher than
US Companies in general as well as US Companies in the Insurance Industry.
90% of
Employees
are Satisfied.
FIRST INSIGHT
S T A F F N E W S
9
Bahamas Criselle King-06-July
Kiesha Davis-Curry-07-July
Vontianise Hanna-08-July Annette McSweeney-15-July
Jennymae Gaitor-15-July
Terell Shearer-18-July Valya Gray-20-July
Glen Ritchie-21-July
Daniel Green-24-July Devon Bethel-26-July
Rozalia Bowe-30-July
Shannon Darville-31-July Vernado Deal-01-Aug
Caron Moss-04-Aug
Frances Mckenzie-Oliver-06-Aug Marika Williams-Thompson-06-Aug
Stanford Charlton-06-Aug
Valarie Clarke-07-Aug Kevin Hudson-08-Aug
Shantia Brooks-10-Aug
Richard Darville-14-Aug Foster Dorsett-18-Aug
Gabrielle McKenzie-18-Aug
Stevanna Sands-18-Aug Abagale Brown-22-Aug
Tracy Bonczek-24-Aug
Chaunte Toote-02-Sept Nicola Major-02-Sept
Kentington Sands-05-Sept
Irvin Weech-06-Sept Patrice Moxey-07-Sept
Sylvia Rolle-09-Sept
Andre Taylor-10-Sept Dennis Lockhart-13-Sept
Gina Sands-13-Sept
Alexis Moss-14-Sept Laurraine Dawkins-14-Sept
Sanchez Brooks-14-Sept Sabrina Sweeting-16-Sept
Valarie Wilson-23-Sept
Warren Rolle-24-Sept Deborah McKinney-29-Sept
Bebie Farrington-30-Sept
Cayman Alexis Carias 03-July
Xiomara Parchment-17-July Rochiene Sonlin-18-July
Kalama Bennett-21-July
Drew Osborne-05-Aug
Dayana Ebanks-06-Aug
Cindy Webster-07-Sept
Michael Byrne-07-Sept Vanessa Conolly-13-Sept
CONGRATULATIONS to KAREN CURTIS, Producer of
the 3rd Quarter 2016!
Karen Curtis Harbour Bay $22,146.03
Wanda Smith Harbour Bay $13,671.67
Tanya Miller Harbour Bay $ 5,412.69
BIRTHDAYS
Bahamas Raymond Imhoff-04-July-5yrs Shakkia Cash-06-July-1yr
Shantia Brooks-06-July-1yr
Charles Sands-07-July-2yrs Stevanna Sands-07-July-2yrs
Criselle King-07-July-8yrs
Deborah McKinney-11-July-21yrs Patrice Clarke-14-July-8yrs
Terrell Shearer-16-July-4yrs
Tanya Mortimer-16-July-4yrs Caron Moss-16-July-4yrs
Gina Sands-17-July-10yrs
Nicola Major-30-July-9yrs
Arlieth Rolle-18-Aug-2yrs
Rion Bain-25-Aug-2yrs
Rossccini Forbes-25-Aug-2yrs Ida Stuart-01-Aug-4ys
Jennymae Gaitor-01-Aug-4yrs
Theresa Culmer-01-Aug-4yrs Jamaal J. Davis-13-Aug-9yrs
Lyndell S. Hanna-21-Aug-10yrs
Harvey Braithwaite-01-Aug-17ys Gordon C. Major-01-Aug-18yrs
Marvin Bain-01-Aug-18yrs
Cedric A.B Smith-01-Sept-2yrs Andre Taylor-14-Sept-1yr
Lakeisha P. Dorsett-02-Sept-3yrs
Lashan T. Rahming-02-Sept-3yrs Marika R. Williams-Thompson-02-Sept-3yrs
Nicolas Darville -02-Sept-3yrs
Rashad A. Storr-03-Sept-9yrs Kentington Sands-08-Sept-8yrs
Shannon Darville-18-Sept-10yrs
Area J. Wilson-Pratt-20-Sept-6yrs Margarita J. Newbold-20-Sept-6yrs
Shekera J. Sears-20-Sept-6yrs
Nakia Williams-26-Sept-11yrs
Cayman Richard Uriasz- 01-July-33yrs Drew Osbourne-08-July-3yrs
Vanessa Conolly-24-July-12yrs
Suedeane Vernon-24-Aug Rochiene Sonlin-06-Aug-4yrs
Treasha Bodden-06-Aug-4yrs
Sarah Bushea-09-Aug-12yrs David Hawkins-13-Aug-15yrs
Sherie Jackson-01-Sept-2yrs
Suedeane Vernon-01-Sept-2yrs Cassandra Ebanks-23-Sept-3yrs
Kahlill Strachan-03-Sept-4yrs
Caroline Lewis-05-Sept-11yrs Seeta Paltoo-01-Sept-16yrs
Tania Ramsaran-18-Sept-27yrs
Judy Campbell-17-Sept-32yrs
ANNIVERSARIES
Submit articles to:
Richenda King - Editor/Producer
Marvin Bain - Co-Producer
Contributors: Nicole Leary
Elisa Brown
Annette McSweeney
Thank You to Our Team!
Thanks to our team members who
have worked so hard before, dur-
ing and after hurricane Matthew!
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FIRST INSIGHT 10
Caught on Camera….
Good food, good folks, good fun….and great conversation!
Let’s figure this one out!
This is fun!
FIRST INSIGHT 11
Hurricane Matthew!
Homes were totally destroyed leaving families with nothing!
Hurricane Matthew hit the chain of islands in The Bahamas October 5-7, 2016 as a Category 3 Hurricane. Damage to the islands was
intense with Freeport, Andros and Nassau receiving most of the damages. Damage is estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Boat in flooded road with down powerlines in Freeport
Broken Utility Pole at Arawak Cay Houses and cars flooded Impassible Streets in Nassau—Hot wires!
Staff hard at work in the Hurricane Relief Center
FIRST INSIGHT 12
Bahamas First Holdings Data Protection Policy Definitions
Data means information in a form in which it can be
processed.
Data Controller means a person who either alone, or
with others, determines the purpose for which and
the manner in which any Personal Data are, or are to
be processed.
Data Protection It is the safeguarding of the privacy
rights of individuals in relation to the processing of
Personal Data.
Data Protection (Privacy of Personal Data) Act,
2003 (DPA) is an act to protect the privacy of indi-
viduals in relation to Personal Data and to regulate
the collection, processing, keeping, use and disclo-
sure of certain information relating to individuals
and to provide for matters incidental thereto or con-
nected therewith.
Data Subject means an individual who is the subject of
Personal Data.
Personal Data means data relating to a living individ-
ual who can be identified either from the data or
from data in conjunction with other available infor-
mation held by the Data Controller.
Sensitive Personal Data means Personal Data relating
to -
. Racial origin
. Political opinions or religious or other beliefs
. Physical or mental health (other than any such
data reasonably kept by them in relation to the
physical or mental health of their employees in
the ordinary course of personnel administra
tion and not used or disclosed for any other
purpose);
. Trade union involvement or activities;
. Sexual life; or
. Criminal convictions, the commission or
alleged commission of any offences or nay
proceedings for any offence committed the
disposal of such proceedings or the sentence
of any court in such proceedings.
(For additional definitions, refer to the DPA.)
Taken from the
Bahamas First Holdings Data Protection Policy
From the desk of the Data Controller…
FIRST INSIGHT
Bahamas First Holdings Ltd.
Bahamas First Centre; 32 Collins Avenue; P. O. Box SS-6238; Nassau, Bahamas
by: Deborah McKinney
Managing Stress after a Hurricane
It is common for people to experience very strong emotional reac-
tions with the arrival of a hurricane and its accompanying damage to
homes and community infrastructures.
There are a number of steps you can take to help restore emotional
well-being and a sense of control in the wake of the hurricane or
other traumatic experience, including the following:
Recognize that this is a challenging time but one that you
can work to manage. You've tackled hardships at other times
in your life. Tap into the skills you used to get through past
challenges.
Allow yourself to mourn the losses you have experienced.
Recognize that you may experience a variety of emotions and
their intensity will likely less over time.
Take a news break. Watching replays of footage from the hur-
ricane can make your stress even greater. Often, the media tries
to interest viewers by presenting worst case scenarios. These
may not be representative of your home or community.
Ask for support from people who care about you and who will
listen and empathize with your situation. But keep in mind that
your typical support system may be weakened if those who are
close to you also have experienced or witnessed the hurricane.
Find ways to express yourself when ready. Communicating
your experience through talking with family or close friends,
keeping a diary, or other forms of self-expression may be a
source of comfort. Find out about local support groups led by
appropriately trained and experienced professionals. Support
groups are often available in communities following large-scale
disasters. People can experience relief and comfort connecting
with other hurricane survivors who have had similar reactions
and emotions. These can be especially helpful for people with
limited personal support systems.
Engage in healthy behaviors to enhance your ability to cope
with excessive stress. Eat well-balanced meals and get plenty
of rest. If you experience difficulties sleeping, you may be able
to find some relief through relaxation techniques. Avoid alcohol
and drugs since these can increase a sense of depression and/or
impede you from doing what is necessary to be resilient and
cope with events.
Establish or reestablish routines such as eating meals at regu-
lar times and following an exercise program. Take some time
off from the demands of daily life by pursuing hobbies or other
enjoyable activities.
Avoid major life decisions as such decisions also tend to be
very stressful.
(American Psychological Association)