Everyone knows taking care of their health is essential but, not everyone does it. It’s easy to get caught up in the rhythm of life and constantly press on. It's no secret that working in an office or cubicle can be a stressful environment. It’s hard to prioritize mental health when you don’t know how or are stuck with ongoing work.
It’s not just about the physical health of employees anymore. Mental health is as important as physical health. Still, many people in the workplace are reluctant to speak up about mental health issues for fear of being judged or discriminated against.
There is still a stigma around mental illness in the workplace, and many people don’t know how to handle the situation. But by working together with understanding and compassion, you can make your office a mentally healthy environment for all.
Here are seven different methods for prioritizing mental health in the workplace. If you are struggling with mental health, use these practical and meaningful ways to cope.
Identify The Risks To Mental Health At Your Workplace
The first step in overcoming your mental stress is by identifying what causes it in the first place. There can be many risk factors in a workplace that do not support your mental health. For instance, lack of resources to complete a specific task or unsupportive managerial practices in your workplace can risk your mental health.
Other risks could be lack of health and safety practices at your workplace, poor communication, inadequate support for employees, unclear tasks, or a high and unrelenting workload.
Identifying these risks is a problem half solved. You can then take measures with the help of your managers or superiors to support the mental health of all employees.
Build A Circle Of Trust
In this time of rapid change and uncertainty, it’s vital to have a strong support network at work. The best way to recharge is with people who care about you and want you to succeed. So you need a strong support network of friends, family, and coworkers.
It’s essential to communicate your feelings in times of stress and anxiety to help you work through your problems. Therefore, have a close group of co-workers whom you can trust and turn to with your deepest thoughts. Also, be open-minded and let them know you have their back. Build an honest and trustworthy friendship where you feel safe.
Break The Monotonous Routines
Although monotonous routines help you be more productive and get things done in an orderly manner, it is easier to feel stuck in a regular boring work lifestyle. Especially when your day is hugely monotonous, you may get used to the irrational or negative thinking or environment that triggers your mental stress. So, it is always important to break your monotonous routine once in a while.
You can simply get out of your chair and move around, perhaps catch up with a colleague from another department across the hallway or cafeteria. Try rearranging your work desk or organizing the file drawer. These will help you to refresh and boost your energy.
Practice Positive Self-Talk
Talking to yourself in a positive way will help your sense of well-being. It is easier to find yourself drowning in negative and irrational thoughts. In such a case, an inner voice to motivate and get you back on track is all you need.
Practicing positive self-talk and being that person who would support you like a friend in a similar situation is an excellent way of being your own best friend. Send compassion to the hurting part and respond in a wise, rational voice.
Don’t sugarcoat the truth and ignore the reality or be negligent towards what’s causing your stress. Be kind and honest with yourself. Realize your capacity, capabilities and appreciate yourself for who you are.
Set Clear Boundaries
A healthy work-life balance starts with setting clear boundaries in your personal and professional aspects of life. Setting clear boundaries will give you control over things and help you sail through the day smoothly. It will help you avoid distractions and help you stay on top of your tasks. Having control over things you do at work will help you feel more at ease and support your mental health.
A healthy work-life balance limits personal communications during work and work-related communications outside work. You can avoid feeling overstressed at work when you set clear boundaries. However, make sure you don’t come off as rude or say things in a hurtful way. Setting boundaries doesn’t mean being negligent in helping your colleagues when they need your help.
Say No When You Have To
Saying no is where most of us struggle, and as a result, we end up overworking or multi-tasking the most. Multi-tasking can be effective when you know that doing multiple things together will yield more benefits than doing it separately. If this is not the case, you are stressing yourself in the name of multi-tasking. Besides being a distraction, multi-tasking will also cause anxiety and depression.
Most of us struggle to say no when we have to because we want to be agreeable or want to please others. Saying no will help you choose your priorities and focus your energy on what you want to achieve. So it is good to practice resisting the urge to take someone else’s responsibility unless you adore coordinating and it makes you feel good.
Ditch Your Guilt And Take Your Breaks Seriously
Understandably, it seems wrong to take some break time when busy, but this affects our mental health. It is okay not to feel guilty about taking breaks during a busy workday; you have earned it after all. Practicing digital detox during your break by staying away from devices and taking time to deal with real feelings will support your mental health.
Make use of your break time and try to build a new hobby- reading books, a quick yoga session, or playing indoor games with your co-workers.
To Wrap Things Up
People with good mental health can enjoy the present moment. They are optimistic about their future, while those struggling with mental health experience anxiety, depression, and other symptoms that can significantly impact their work and ability to function normally.
As a manager, freelancer or employee, it's easy to let your mental health slip. We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of work. To prioritize mental health at work is easier said than done. But prioritizing mental health is the only way to maintain a high level of productivity and happiness. At Iconic Workspaces, we keep a friendly workspace environment to make our members feel comfortable and motivated.
