Bio-Rad Employees Share Mental Health Tips and Tricks
October 9, 2025
In anticipation of Global Mental Health Day on October 10, we recently asked Bio-Rad employees around the globe to tell us how they take care of their mental health and well-being. Whether it's a go-to routine to help reset after a long day or a simple practice that enables the right balance, taking care of ourselves is crucial to our mental health.
The response from our employees was both overwhelming and inspiring, and we appreciate all of our employees below sharing tricks and tips that have served them well. As we recognize Global Mental Health Day, we encourage you to take a moment to pause and reflect on the importance of caring for ourselves and supporting one another. Which practice below resonates with you?
Vanessa Arizmendi (Mexico City, Mexico)
I care for my mental health by embracing new experiences—learning, trying, and being mindful of first-time moments. Traveling helps me relax by pushing me out of my comfort zone, allowing me to meet new people and gain fresh perspectives, and having my family close is a plus.
Jeffrey Woo (Irvine, California)
I find hobbies that I can be passionate about, even simple hobbies which help me escape the serious issues in life to accomplish some of the more simple tasks. I also find time to spend with my kids, again enjoying some of the simpler aspects of life.
Loreta Vargas (Hercules, California)
I workout for at least 30-45 minutes/day minimum of 5 days/week. Weather permitting, I relax in my pool on off days too.
Sharon Bola (New York)
I care for my mental health by practicing transcendental meditation 2x a day which helps me feel centered and calm. One of my favorite ways to relax is attending sound baths, where the soothing and healing vibrations recharges my spirit.
Sanae Raoui (United Arab Emirates)
I take care of my mental health by setting boundaries with my time and practicing mindfulness when I feel overwhelmed. My favorite ways to relax are reading something inspiring related to life development, going for a walk, or doing some sound healing.
Lina Calmhede (Stockholm, Sweden)
I enjoy a relaxing evening swim while enjoying beautiful scenery of Stockholm city. (Yes, this is downtown Stockholm.)
Xavier Tajonera (Irvine, California)
I alternate between walking and lap swimming during my lunch break. Both activities help me reset for the 2nd half of the day. Golf on the weekends is also a huge mental therapy in preparing me for the coming work week. I have also reduced my food intake by reducing the amount of serving.
Patsy Kennedy (Hercules, California)
I take a 4-mile walk at least 5 days out of the week, with my husband. My daughter will join us sometimes. I also give thanks for a great job, lovely family and a loving marriage each morning. I often times listen to Mel Robbins Podcast as well as randomly selecting a page from "101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think" for my mental health.
Rohit Regmi (Hercules, California)
I take care of my mental health by setting healthy boundaries, practicing mindfulness, and staying connected with supportive people. My favorite ways to relax are listening to calming music and going for quiet walks in nature.
Eric Parent (Montreal, Canada)
Mostly by meditating a little bit every day. This allows me to detach from all the emotions inside of me and take a step back when a negative emotion strikes me. Also, every time I can, I go take a walk in the woods. Nothing beats that for relaxing the body and the mind.
Yadira Sandoval (Mexico City, Mexico)
Swimming is my favorite way to relax. Open water and pool trainings are a good way to be alone with yourself, take care of your own thoughts, and become aware of your strength.
Meryem El Ibrahymy (Marnes-la-Coquette, France)
Engaging in physical activity, including sports and dance!
Sophie Pierre (Marnes-la-Coquette, France)
My favorite way to relax is to play the oboe (I started three years ago) or the English horn, which I have been playing for two days in the conservatory orchestra!
Melvin Thomas (Hercules, California)
I would like to share my poem on self-compassion, self-love and mental health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mF6nDyJZ4p0
I also created this song using the same lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/zc5DQwbQquk
Chiara Fenaroli (Segrate, Italy)
A couple of years ago, I faced one of the worst periods of my life. I separated after almost 18 years, and physical activity was one of the key tools to get through it. I simply started walking every day for an hour or more, simple walks in the fresh air. But above all, I began setting simple but consistent daily goals that helped me rebuild my daily life.
Veronique Delplace (Steenvoorde, France)
Very well: Cooking, spending times with family and friends.
Eng Huat Tan (Singapore)
I will go for full body massage to relax.
Stephanie Henderson (Vacaville, California)
I care for my mental health by taking short breaks away from the screen every hour or two to relax and recharge. Deep, mindful prayer also helps me relax and reflect on my day—what went well, what needs work, and what I appreciated most.
Lindsey Maccoux (Hercules, California)
I keep a deck of self-positivity cards in my bathroom. When I need a pick-me-up, I'll pick a card from the deck and read it aloud to myself while looking in the mirror.
Wennie Tan (Singapore)
I go for a massage, listen to music, and go sing karaoke.
Katherine Ortega (Sydney, Australia)
I enjoy taking long walks with my dog and find completing Diamond Dotz a relaxing and soothing activity. I also often listen to calm, peaceful music—it’s a technique that consistently helps me unwind and reflect on my day.
Pankaj Kuthe (Nagpur, India)
Yoga and talks with friends and collogues.
Mitsuru Shiroma (Japan)
I make a few hours in the weekend for myself only away from work and family.
Priyanka Yadav (Gurgaon, India)
I start the day with meditation and a peaceful walk on green grass.
Deborah Gillett (Melbourne, Australia)
Since relocating to our new office building, we've found meaningful ways to support our mental health as a team during the workday—whether it's stepping out for a refreshing walk at lunchtime or joining the energizing boxing classes offered right here in the building. These small but powerful routines have helped us stay active, clear our minds, and reconnect with colleagues in a more relaxed setting, making a noticeable difference in how we feel and perform throughout the day.
Sky Thew (Singapore)
I strive for work life balance; I do care and always try to do some stretching when I have shoulder pain as a result of too many hours in front of the laptop.
Sankar Narayanan (Hercules, California)
I will take care of my mental health by the following ways.
- Engage in regular physical activity.
- Get enough sleep.
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Spend time in nature.
My favorite ways to relax my mental health are as below.
- Practice meditation or mindfulness.
- Engage in deep breathing exercises.
- Take breaks throughout the day.
Monica Fernandez (Mexico City, Mexico)
If my mental health is healthy, I can manage both my positive and negative emotions, meaning I'll be balanced. My daily habits and actions, including my good or bad diet, contribute to good mental health (some foods stimulate the happiness hormone serotonin). My positive actions will rebuild my strength and foster resilience. This doesn't mean I won't have problems or difficult times, but rather that I will have the ability to cope with them.
• Let's have clear values and purposes to give meaning to our lives.
• Let's congratulate ourselves on our abilities, talents, and gifts that will allow us to project a positive image.
• Our emotional well-being will allow us to have healthy emotional relationships with everyone around us, including friends, family, or others with whom we live daily.
• Resilience is a fundamental pillar for facing adversity and will allow us to recover emotionally in a healthy way. If I take care of myself, I can better take care of others. But above all, we must be confident in asking for help without feeling ashamed of the situation. Accepting that life is NOT perfect is part of our good mental health. We must be prepared for frustration and not let feelings of sadness, anxiety, or stress overcome us, because otherwise, these will serve as an obstacle to enjoying life.
- Culture
- Employee Stories
