By Amy Ouzoonian
Maintaining mental health while holding down a full-time job can be a considerable challenge. Deadlines, meetings, emails, and high expectations can all contribute to stress and anxiety. Plus, employees who work overtime often aren't making time to see their therapist. It's essential to prioritize our mental health to maintain our overall well-being and performance. Here are some key strategies to help you and your team prioritize mental health in these fast paced times.
1. Set Boundaries
The first step towards maintaining mental health is setting clear boundaries between your work and personal life. This might mean turning off email notifications after work hours, or dedicating specific times to focus on personal activities. Clean Email offers a really cool feature that allows you to turn off notifications during specific days and times. A healthy work-life balance helps reduce stress and prevents burnout.
2. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves being present and fully engaged in the current moment. Regular mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep-breathing exercises, like the ones you'll find on HeadSpace, can help reduce anxiety, improve focus, and promote a more balanced emotional state. Start with just a few minutes each day and gradually increase as you get more comfortable with the practice.
3. Stay Physically Active
Regular physical activity is not only good for your body but also your mind. It releases endorphins, often termed as 'feel-good hormones,' which can improve mood and act as natural stress relievers. Try to incorporate simple exercises, like walking, yoga, or dancing, into your routine. MotivateU makes this super easy to do. You just turn the app on, book your instructor and go. Or you can do lots of instant ai guided challenges and workouts. It's a lot of fun to do and doesn't take a lot of time away from your day!
4. Prioritize Sleep
Good quality sleep is a fundamental aspect of maintaining mental health. Lack of sleep can significantly impact your mood, energy levels, and cognitive functions. MoodConnect's favorite soundscape artist Mind Castle Music has an amazing audio that will send you off to a sweet slumber and having the most ethereal dreams. Ensure you have a regular sleep schedule and create a calming pre-sleep routine with soothing music, controlling air temperature, and weighted blankets.
5. Take Regular Breaks
Ensure that you take regular short breaks throughout your workday to rest and recharge. Stepping away from your desk, even for just a few minutes, can help clear your mind, reduce stress, and boost productivity.
6. Foster Healthy Relationships at Work
Having supportive relationships at work can significantly impact your mental health. Cultivate relationships with colleagues who can provide emotional support, share work-related challenges, and encourage a positive work environment. One such company that I'd like to give a shout out to is Stenson and Tamaddon. They deserve an award for truly being the friendliest, most supportive place to work in the United States. They encourage their employees to practice self-care, eat healthy, get rest, take breaks and get exercise. This company specializes in offering expert ERC tax credit consultation, but more than that, they offer a great place to work that wants to enhance your life, not suck you dry.
7. Seek Professional Help
If stress and anxiety become overwhelming, don't hesitate to seek professional help. Now, I know that's easier said than done, but try to consider the reprecussions of not taking care of your mental health before it's too late. Calmerry makes it really easy and affordable for everyone. New MoodConnect users enjoy 30% off the first month and then 15% off the following months. Therapists and counselors can provide valuable tools and techniques to help manage mental health effectively.
8. Use Tech Tools
Several digital tools can support mental health maintenance, including meditation apps, digital therapy platforms, and even health tracking devices. These tools can help manage stress, improve sleep, and encourage mindfulness.
9. Prioritize Nutrition
What you eat can impact your mental health. Try to incorporate a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Staying hydrated is equally important. At MoodConnect we often use NatureBox and other snack providers to make sure that we're getting the proper amount of nutrients that our bodies need to fuel a happy, healthy and successful business.
10. Cultivate a Positive Mindset
Try to maintain a positive attitude towards work and personal life. This doesn't mean ignoring difficulties, but rather, viewing them as opportunities for growth. Practices like gratitude journaling can help foster a positive outlook.
Maintaining mental health while working full-time is a continuous process. It's important to be patient with yourself and remember that it's okay to ask for help when needed. Prioritize your mental health, not just because it's mental health week, but because you deserve to feel healthy, happy, and fulfilled in all aspects of life-- especially while at work.
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