Are you finding yourself less productive at work or struggling to concentrate? Perhaps you notice you’re not sleeping well, withdrawing from others, and struggling to focus on day-to-day tasks at work and home. If this sounds familiar, you may be struggling with your mental health.
Everyone experiences work stress, but if unmanaged, this stress can adversely impact your overall well-being. To better manage the day-to-day stress of work, you must learn to care for your mental health throughout the workday.
Continue reading to learn how you can start doing so today.
Mental Health in the Workplace
Until recently, mental health was not discussed in the workplace. And in some workplaces, it still might be a taboo topic.
But today we know how crucial it is for people to prioritize their mental health in both their personal and professional lives.
Mental health issues or stress in the workplace can lead to adverse outcomes, such as:
- Decreased productivity
- Reduced communication and collaboration with co-workers
- An overall lack of engagement with work
Though there are solutions, such as improved communication or social support networks, learning to manage mental health during the workday is vital.
Mental Health and Job Stress
Everyone experiences job-related stress, especially if you have a high-stress career. While some people manage this stress healthily, others have yet to develop healthy coping methods.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) defines job stress as:
“the harmful physical and emotional responses that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker.”
In other words, when a worker is asked to do more than they can, they might experience a negative physical or emotional response known as job stress.
This job stress can affect performance, co-worker engagement, and the ability to function in a role. In turn, these additional work challenges can aggravate job stress, creating a negative feedback loop.
Unmanaged stress at work can also start impacting overall well-being. So, individuals must be able to manage it. But doing so doesn’t always seem possible while trying to meet the high demands of a job.
So how can employees start managing their mental health while at work?
10 Tips and Tricks to Manage Mental Health at Work
Healing from a mental health condition requires treatment and professional resources. But in addition to such measures, these tips and tricks can help you care for your mental health during the workday.
1. Practice Gratitude
Start by focusing on the good. What are you grateful for? This can be little things, like an easy commute or a fresh cup of coffee, or big things, like a supportive boss or a flexible work schedule. Expressing gratitude for the good things in your life can motivate you to continue your day, even with its challenges.
2. Utilize Resources
Thankfully, more companies today prioritize their employees’ mental health by implementing Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and offering wellness initiatives and mental health days.
Make use of whatever company resources are available to you.
3. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation
Mindfulness-based coping techniques like meditation help individuals with mental health conditions manage their symptoms. Multiple apps and websites offer free guided meditations if you’re new to it. Even just a minute or two of quiet meditation can help you relax at work.
4. Do Breathing Exercises
Like meditation, breathing techniques can help individuals manage their stress. Deep breaths tell the brain and body to calm down, reducing overall stress levels when overwhelmed at work.
5. Get Outside
Spending time outside has many benefits. When you’re feeling overwhelmed at work, consider going for a walk on your 15-minute break. A few minutes outside doesn’t seem like much, but it can clear your head and rejuvenate you enough to finish the workday.
6. Create Healthy Boundaries
The best way to prevent further problems with your mental health at work is to create healthy boundaries. Doing so is easier said than done, but therapy can help you determine your limits and where to draw the line between work and mental health when necessary.
7. Talk Things Out
Another excellent way to manage workday stress and mental health is by talking to a friend, family member, or another trusted confidant. Keeping negative emotions bottled up isn’t healthy. Getting them off your chest is an excellent way to prevent negativity from manifesting throughout your workday or impairing your performance.
8. Take Care of Your Body
You can’t take care of your mind if you don’t care for your body. To manage your mental health, try to:
- Get enough sleep
- Eat nutritious foods
- Move your body throughout the day
9. Help Others
Believe it or not, people generally feel better about themselves when they successfully help others. Going the extra mile to help a co-worker can boost your confidence and well-being.
10. Learn to Communicate Mental Health Needs in the Workplace
Learning to communicate your mental health needs at work is crucial. By being proactive and vocalizing these needs, you can reduce the chances of experiencing burnout and enhance your functionality exponentially.
Shared Values and Mental Health
At Insight Global, we adhere to these five fundamental values so that our employees can reach their fullest potential:
- Everyone matters
- We take care of each other
- Leadership is here to serve
- High character and hard work, above all else
- Always know where you stand
We focus on developing our people personally, professionally, and financially, helping them become their best. That includes prioritizing their mental health. If you’re interested in joining Insight Global, we’re actively looking for new recruiters to join our team. Learn more about this job opportunity today!