How to Look After Your Mental Health in the Workplace

Why not make the most of the hour or even half an hour by taking a walk during lunchbreak? Going outside at lunchtime can help separate yourself and your mind from work. Alternatively, you could also read a good book, listen to some music or watch some videos to make your break feel more relaxing for you.

Start Talking

You spend at least 7 hours a day with your colleagues and it’s clear that social relationships are critical for promoting well-being so why not try to do something different to create that connection?

Put five minutes aside and ask someone how they are. When we say this, we mean how they really are. Take the time to listen and answer accordingly.

Instead of sending an email, go over to their desk and tell them in person.

If you live near one of your colleagues why not share a lift or walk home with them? It’s a great way to spend some time and bond outside of work.

Have a lot of leftovers from dinner the night before? Bring some in for a colleague and bond over some food. After all, food is a universally known language to strengthen bonds.

Be Active

Incorporating movement in your daily routine is a simple way to get more active. Simple changes like standing up when you’re on the phone or walking around checking emails on your phone instead of your computer are great starts!

If you’re able to incorporate some form of exercise into your commute to work then do it! Get off the bus a stop earlier, park further away or walk around the block before coming into work.

If there’s any green areas near your workplace definitely take advantage of it my organising a lunchtime game of rounders or football. Even a group walk would be a great way to not only enjoy the outdoors but get your heart pumping for an afternoon of productivity.

Work-life Balance

Setting clear boundaries with work and home is becoming more and more difficult due to the advances of technology, many of us are able to work from anywhere at any time. While this gives us great flexibility, it also means those boundaries between work and home can become unclear.

If you are working from home using a separate room or area can help, have a set space just for working and stick to it. Turning your work phone off while you’re away on holiday and not looking at work emails late at night can also give you more downtime to relax and unwind.

Create lists of things you need to do and at the end of each day, go over your list and create one for the following day. When you have all your thoughts down on paper, you’ll find it easier to sway your mind away from work related activities.

If you ever feel like your workload is taking its toll and it’s becoming too much, take the opportunity to sit down and talk about it with your supervisor or manager. Unrealistic goals, deadlines and organisation problems can have effects on most workers. If it’s something that can’t be resolved talk to others within your department or other relevant members of staff who can help.

Music

If you’re feeling stressed, listening to something slow and calming has been known to encourage relaxation and reduce anxiety.

If you’re working hard to complete your tasks music can also help eliminating distractions around you. By blocking out the noise of your colleagues, phones and anything else in the environment around you, you can focus easier with the task you’re working on. It might also stop you from doing other unproductive things like browsing the internet or chatting with colleagues.

Music can be inspirational; it can encourage thoughts and motivate you. It can act as a stress reliever and be a ‘fellow sufferer’ in a public space, where it might not be appropriate to act out all your frustrations. It can also provide a sense of company when your working space is too quiet or empty.

Pay attention to the environment around you.

Studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities.

Heightened awareness also enhances your self-understanding and allows you to make positive choices based on your own values and motivations.

Have a ‘clearout’ day and day rid of everything you no longer need in your work drawers. You can also do this with your computer by organising all your files and getting rid of everything you know you will no longer need. A clear working space is definitely a clear working mind!

Visit somewhere new for lunch or buy something different. Take in the surroundings and pay attention to your food.

If you notice one of your colleagues are acting or feeling a little different to usual, talk to them. Pay attention and see how they are. You never know how much a conversation can help someone.

Offices devoid of pictures, souvenirs or any other distractions are "the most toxic space" you can put a human into, say psychologists. Research proves that plants can increase well-being, creativity and productivity in the workplace. If that’s not enough to convince you to get a plant they can also act as a humidifier and an air filter!