9 ways to Mental Health success in your workplace

 

Job success may be judged in a number of ways. A business is performing well when it meets development goals, makes financial gains, and completes tasks on time. You are critical to these performance criteria as an employee, and the value of your mental health cannot be overstated. Employee emotional well-being enables a business and its employees to fulfil their full potential in all parts of their lives.

We all have difficult periods in our lives, which might be connected to work, such as deadlines or even travelling. It isn’t always our health, our relationships, or our circumstances. People who work and have – or have previously had – mental health challenges contribute £225 billion to the economy each year, accounting for 12.1% of total GDP in the UK.

To retain that value, we must address mental health concerns at work for those who are already experiencing them, those who are at risk, and the whole workforce. A hostile work environment may be harmful to one’s mental health, and there is solid evidence that individuals with higher levels of mental wellness are overall more productive.

Sherifeh Jackson (HR/IAG Expert) addresses the significance of looking after your mental health at work, as well as 9 techniques to promote your mental wellbeing in a hectic work environment, in this special guest article.
Why is it important to put your mental health first?

Employee psychological and physical well-being is critical to a company’s performance. An organisation may support its employees’ general well-being by treating mental health and its psychological component in the same way that it treats the physical environment.

Mental diseases not only have a significant impact on people, but they may also have an influence on company revenues. To adopt mental health best practises into your organisation, all levels of authority must be included, including the Board of Directors, executive, administration, and human resource management departments. Involving your health and safety committee as well as your staff might also be advantageous.

 

9 techniques to maintain excellent mental health in a stressful work environment

 

We can all try to improve our mental health, resilience and ability to deal with stress. Self-care is a skill that must be developed; it is not simple, especially if you are overburdened, have variable emotional states or have poor self-esteem. Practicing self-care may help alleviate stress, and whatever time you can devote to this will make a difference in the long term.

Examine the 9 evidence-based strategies listed below to improve your mental health.

1. Surround yourself with positive people.
People who have strong familial or social relationships are frequently healthier than those who have not. Make arrangements with family and friends, seek for activities that will allow you to socialise, such as a simple get-together or even plan activities that will enhance your mental or physical well-being.

2. Describe your emotions
Communicating your feelings can help you enhance your mental health and manage stressful situations. Speaking about your feelings isn’t a sign of insecurity; it’s part of taking charge of your health and doing everything you can to be well.
It may be challenging to express one’s feelings at work. However, it may be useful to develop genuine relationships with co-workers with whom you can later converse or with a manager with whom you can discuss concerns at work.
Engage with someone you are comfortable with and who will be supportive when you are struggling. Consider what you want to share, who you want to reveal it to and when and where the appropriate time and place is.
If you are open about your feelings at work others may follow suit, however if you don’t feel comfortable revealing your feelings at work, make sure you have someone you can talk to about workplace stress – companions, friends, and family.

3. Stay active and appreciate exercise.
Regular exercise can improve your mental health as well as your capacity to focus and rest. Exercising is more than just playing a sport or going for a stroll. According to studies, most people should exercise for 30 minutes or more five days a week.

4. Reduce stress by dealing with it
Stress is an inherent part of life, whether you like it or not. Trying one-minute stress methods, yoga, exercise, going on a hiking trip, playing with your dog, or writing in a notebook as a stress reliever. Find things that make you happy and laugh. Laughter has been shown in studies to boost your immune system, ease pain, relax your muscles, and reduce stress.

5. Define your goals
Determine what you want to achieve professionally, technically, and emotionally, and then outline the steps you’ll need to take to get there. Allow yourself to strive high while being realistic and without overworking yourself. As you strive toward your objective, you will have a tremendous sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

6. Maintain a careful and healthful diet.
What we eat may have an immediate and long-term influence on how we feel, which can be good to our mental health.

Maintaining a healthy eating regimen at work might be difficult. Regular meals and plenty of water are suggested, so attempt to prepare for mealtimes at work by bringing lunch from home or picking healthy options while purchasing lunch.

When it comes to dining, attempt to rotate your eating location on a regular basis. Consider having a cafeteria at work where you may meet with other colleagues to exchange meals or try something new. Reducing or eliminating coffee and refined sugar is an excellent method to ensure a healthy diet.

7. Give yourself worth.
By treating oneself with respect and self-care, you may avoid self-criticism. Make time for your interests and broaden your horizons. Do a new task every day, pick up a new hobby, learn a new sport, or develop healthier habits.

8. Seek assistance
Nobody among us is a superhuman. We all become stressed out because of how we think and deal with things, or when things don’t go as planned.
Your employer may have an employee assistance programme. These are private and discreet services that may be utilised without worry of penalties at work. Your line manager or an HR agency may also be able to help you with occupational health.

9. Accept yourself as you are.
Each of us is unique. It’s far better to value your uniqueness than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling better about yourself gives you the confidence to learn new skills, see new places, and meet new people. When life takes an unexpected turn, having strong self-esteem may help you cope better.

Take pride in your identity. Recognize and accept your flaws, but also focus on your strengths. Are your goals realistic if you want to change anything about yourself? If they are, feel free to make little tweaks to get the desired result.