The working world as we once knew it has completely altered. Pre-pandemic, we were fighting for seats on cramped trains or panic rushing to catch the bus, breakfast crumbs still visible all over work clothes. However, for most, this has become a distant memory of the past. Covid 19 enforced the country into a new way of working, adapting us to work around our families, partners, and pets. For some, the transition was effortless, but for many, it has a vast impact on their mental health. Now as we emerge from fewer to almost non-existent Covid restrictions in working industries, it is important to recognise that mental health is still relevant.
As the month of October celebrates World Mental Health Day, it is even more relevant to highlight the combination of keeping on top of work and looking after one another. To begin with, there are some seemingly obvious tips to ensure we are maintaining our health, and as tedious as they may seem, they are the key to unlocking the foundations of a happy body and mind.
They include:
• 7-8 hours of sleep
• Nutritional Diet
• Work-Life Balance
• Mindfulness
Just keeping on top of these four items could begin to support your working environment and mental well-being.
However, it is also important to note how common mental health can be at work. Research has discovered that one in six workers are experiencing common mental health problems, which include anxiety and depression.
Fortunately, there is so much help out there and lots of tips and tricks to follow to begin your journey to bettering your mental health in the workplace.
1. Utilising your lunch break
One of the most essential tools is utilising your lunch breaks. Ensuring to either get some fresh air, or perhaps going for a walk during your lunch break can help reset the mind, and produce more oxygen back into the brain, so you can be proactive in the afternoons. It will also ensure that the day is broken up, and you are not slumped behind your desk all day long.
2. Listening to Music
Another trick that has been discovered by the mental health charity, Mind, is to listen to music if you are feeling stressed. Listening to a calming song for a few minutes can help you unwind and relax, and further research suggests that slow, quiet music encourages relaxation and reduces anxiety.
3. Managing your overtime
If you are back in the office, it’s often known that you will work overtime to meet deadlines. However, try and make this an exception, not the norm. Working long hours will mean you will work harder, but not necessarily better, and in time it will take a toll on your concentration, health, and productivity.