We spend up to 1/3 of our lives at work, so it’s little wonder that our work environment will have an impact on our mental health. Over the past few years we are learning that the condition of our mental health is a priority so we have put together a short list of 6 tips to help you improve your mental health at work.
1.Unplug
With a study showing that we check our phones every six and a half minutes/ 150 times a day, and social media being a lead source of stress and anxiety, its no wonder these little gadgets have an effect on our mental health. It’s ok to unplug from time to time and take small steps to unplug and disconnect from social media and the online world. Try turning off your notifications or putting your phone in airplane mode for a few hours a day. All that matters is that you take the time to nourish your mental health (and your eyes) and put down the screen every once in a while.
2.One thing at a time
Share little tasks that might make your workload easier. Share kindness. Sometime returning small acts of kindness can help to boost your own morale.
Try using different organisational techniques, such as writing “To-Do” lists. These can be a brilliant way to organise your thoughts, but make sure not to overwhelm yourselves with daily tasks. Or if you’re not using a calendar, maybe it’s time you start. Calendars are great tools to help to organise your schedule as well as your colleagues.
Remember to celebrate the small victories and the tasks you do complete. This will help to keep you motivated instead of seeing persistent workload.
3.Improve your work environment
When in doubt get a plant and add some greenery! Many studies have shown that when plants are introduced to the workplace there has been a significant reduction in stress, tension, anxiety, depression, fatigue, anger and hostility.
Tidy up any unnecessary mess that may increase stress and anxiety. A tidy desk equals a tidy mind.
If you are stuck in an office with florescent lights, it can be stuffy and make you feel trapped letting in natural light and a breeze through a cracked window can really open the room and make you feel happier. However, if you don’t have access to a window- never fear for a warm light is here! Placing a warm light, such as a lamp on your desk, can create a much more relaxing environment and prevent you from straining your eyes as you work
4.Start a conversation
Email less and talk more.
Socialising in person can really help improve your mental health. Grab a cup of coffee and a 5-minute chat. Get on the phone instead of the emails. Start a non-work-related debate. You can never go wrong with the classic of; Jaffa cakes… cake or biscuit
5.Venture outdoors
It’s time to take a break. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own little indoor bubble and focus on work, but it is important to have regular breaks and head outdoors. More oxygen results in greater brain functioning, improving your concentration skills and providing you with more energy.
Here in Dundee a company called Walk’N’Talk have organised free strolls around the city for you to exercise whilst you build relationships with other local businesses.
6.Accept not everything goes to plan
Everything is not going to go to plan everyday and that’s okay. Sometimes our failures can lead to our biggest success. There’s always a lesson to be learnt from our “failures”. Even if they don’t turn into successes, nine times out of ten, you’ll definitely see it as being a learning curve.
