How to Support Your Mental Health at Work.
Find out in this blog How to Support Your Mental Health at Work.
For most people, work makes up at least ⅓ of their lives. Being such a substantial part of our life, the work environment affects the formation of our identity and self-image, and how we see and experience other people and the world around us.
The work environment begins with our physical space, but it also involves people, atmosphere, behavior, communication, fulfilment and satisfaction, and the whole context of the individual at work. How you feel at work can be of crucial importance. Jobs provide us with our livelihood, but also that’s where we invest our work, emotions, creativity, aspirations, and goals.
When you take all of this into account, it matters quite a lot what the atmosphere is like in the environment in which you work, what the interpersonal relationships are like, how you react to them, and how they affect your mental health
The definition of ‘Mental Health at work ‘
Mental Well-being and the Workplace.
According to the definition by the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is a state of well-being in which each of us can realize our potential, cope with the daily stress of life, work productively, and contribute to our community. Almost every 5th adult experiences mental health issues in the workplace, and only one out of three manages to get the help they need.
The bottom line is when a person is suffering from mental health problems, it affects their work. They get less done or simply don’t come to work. This results to anxiety and depression and costs the economy a fortune, therefore Companies need should consider creating opportunities and resources for their employee’s health and wellbeing in order to create opportunities for improved health and productivity.
Focusing on mental health at the workplace has immense benefits for both the employee and the employer. That’s why we’d like to share several tips with you on how to support your mental health at work.
Personalized Workspace
Research has shown that flexibility over personalizing one’s workspace can result in higher levels of happiness and productivity among the employees. The ability to personalize their space gives people a feeling of ownership and identity when they come to work.
If you’re in the position of the employer and so far, your policy on employees’ personalizing the workspace has been strict, consider loosening it up for the sake of your employees’ job satisfaction, happiness, identification with their company and colleagues, and overall productivity.
If you’re an employee, we strongly encourage you to create an atmosphere of gratitude and power and add personal items that bring you joy to your workstation. A photo that makes you smile, your favorite mug, journal, inspiring poster, candle, fresh cut flowers, decorations–whatever makes you feel like you.
Also, healthy workspaces that are full of greenery, natural light, soft yellow bulbs, and ergonomic furniture tend to nurture much healthier and more satisfied employees.
Raising Awareness About Mental Health.
Whether you’re an employee or an employer, if you are interested in improving your colleagues’ mental well-being at work, you can suggest activities for raising awareness of the importance of mental health and sharing powerful and useful tips for coping with stress. Whether it’s lectures, workshops, discussions, or publications with all the relevant information–that’s your decision.
By speaking candidly about mental health, you help fight the stigma and the taboo around mental illness.
Creating Connections
If your work requires going to the office, make sure to enjoy the benefits of being surrounded by people and nurture relationships with your colleagues (if you feel like there is an opportunity to strengthen your bond). They can be your support group and lend a helping hand when you truly need it, and vice versa.
For remote workers this could be slightly more difficult, as connecting with their colleagues often means talking through different means of online communication. Anyway, consider talking to them more often over video chat and meet in person from time to time to bring this special face-to-face energy to your relationship.
Don’t forget that your out-of-work friends and family can also be amazing supporters of your general mental health and work-related stress. Talk through you’re your negative emotions.
Goals and Intentions
To preserve healthy motivation at work, it’s important that we have purpose and clear achievable goals. Whether your goal is to land a promotion within two years or to learn a new skill related to your role, it’s important that you know why you are working and where you want to end up within a certain period.
Of course, even if we have a clear vision, goals, and strategy to achieve them, challenges, roadblocks, and unplanned events can get us off track, and then it becomes difficult to become motivated again. That is why besides goals, you need to have an even broader idea of who you want to be, what you want to achieve, and how. That’s what we call intentions. Working on goals and intentions requires time and patience, so make sure to free up some time in your schedule to seriously think them through
Focus On Your Strengths.
Do you believe that we live in an ever-changing world, in which all our skills, competence, and knowledge can be questioned, upgraded, and improved, or do you feel like things are always the same and there is hardly an opportunity for growth?
If you’ve answered the former, we’re glad to hear that you possess a growth mindset. This is an excellent source of mental well-being, particularly at work. Being okay with constant change, taking the path less travelled, and finding different ways to expand your knowledge and experience is crucial for remaining resilient and emotionally stable. People with a growth mindset view failures, obstacles, and challenges as opportunities to unleash their full potential.
Both growth and a fixed mindset work like self-fulfilling prophecies. What you believe in is what you get, as your cognition is what gears your behavior and choices. Those with a growth mindset tend to focus on their strengths more and they are more confident and satisfied in life. Those with a fixed mindset often make excuses and sabotage their happiness and stop themselves from making progress (or trying something new), as they simply don’t believe they’re capable of doing this.
Your ability to maintain mental well-being at the workplace largely depends on the decision-makers and those who manage the business. And while they are the main carriers of the overall atmosphere at the workplace, there is still a lot you can do to take care of yourself, improve your well-being, and boost happiness.
A balanced lifestyle is the primary pillar of not only physical but mental health, too. From that point on, the possibilities are endless–all you need is to prioritize your wellbeing and make time to take care of yourself.
