Help With Managing Your Mental Health In The Workplace

Work is important but managing mental health at the workplace is equally important. A negative working environment or work stress can hugely impact our mental health and overall wellbeing. So, it’s always best that we take small steps to protect and maintain our mental well-being at the workplace. Here are some strategies to effectively manage your work role without affecting mental health.

1. Limit extra working hours

A little extra time on certain occasions and deadlines is fine but don’t make it a habit to work extra hours all the time. Discuss with your manager and raise your concerns to your human resource department to manage working hours effectively.

2. Don’t take work home

Taking work home should never become a part of your life as it disrupts your work-life balance. So, never carry your work home. If it is an emergency, it’s okay to do it, but set a time limit to finish it as fast as you can.

3. Set realistic deadlines

When you are required to complete a task yourself or as a team, make an effective plan with your team and set a realistic deadline to finish it. If your manager sets an unachievable deadline, let them know and ask for help should you need it.

4. Take breaks

Taking regular breaks, both physical and mental, reduces stress and improves your productivity. Take small breaks during work by stretching out or going out during lunch to re-energise yourself.

5. Take holiday leaves

Taking a holiday when at periods throughout the year is really good for your mental health. It can improve work performance and reduce work-related stress and anxiety.

6. Schedule meetings at work hours

Schedule meetings only during work hours so that it does not interfere with your out-of-hours’ time. Taking care to check on these things helps manage a healthy work-life balance and your other commitments.

7. Learn to say NO

Saying no can be difficult, especially when you are a person with a can-do attitude. However, you need to set work limits to maintain your mental health at the workplace, and that starts with a NO.

8. Flexible working arrangements
Flexible working arrangements are highly beneficial for mental wellbeing. It can include changing the location, working hours, patterns, shifts and job sharing.

9. Utilise EAP

If your workplace offers an Employee Assistance Program, utilise the program for discussing work-related stress or personal issues that affect your work performance and mental and physical wellbeing.

10. Prioritise your personal time

With most employees working extra time and working home, checking emails all the time has become a normal thing. Try keeping that less by assigning yourself a particular time to check emails and deliberately deciding when to respond and not.