Mental Health matters, but we don’t talk about it anywhere near as much as we should. Especially in the workplace. But this World Mental Health Day, we here at Synapse 360 are taking the time to break the stigma around mental health discussions at work, whilst also sharing ways in which you can help to support your own mental health throughout the working day.
Talking Matters
Our emotions do not stop once we walk into the office or log onto our work computer. Feelings of depression, anxiety or stress equally do not immediately disappear whilst you are carrying out daily tasks. That is why talking to work colleagues, senior members of staff or even HR about how you are feeling can be beneficial – no matter how small you think the problem/whatever is getting you down might be. Some workplaces often have designated, ‘mental health first-aiders’ too, who have been trained to support team members and assist them with their mental well-being. If you are not sure who they are – ask your HR team!
If you don’t feel comfortable talking about your thoughts and feelings with your work colleagues, try talking to your friends, family or even your GP who will also be able to support you.
Begin Your Day With A Mindful Morning
Whether that’s walking your dog in the morning before you set off for work, or listening to your favourite song on the way to work or even enlisting in a Yoga class – having a mindful morning and taking time for yourself is of the upmost importance and is one way you can set yourself up for the working day!
Take A Break
Burn-out is becoming more and more common and home working is a big contributor to this too, with staff members falling foul to working additional hours to complete project work etc, blurring the lines between home life and work life.
One way to ensure that you take regular breaks is by setting reminders in your outlook diary or on your phone to remind you to get up and take sometime away from your screen, go for a walk on your lunch or to the gym, fix yourself a hot drink or take a minute to chat with friends – why not give it a shot today?
Create Lists
When you are feeling overwhelmed, creating lists can be one way to help ease the burden. By giving yourself a list of things to accomplish throughout the day that you can prioritise not only helps to focus your mind, but also allows you to look back and see what tasks you have managed to accomplish in a day – despite feeling rubbish!
Learn a New Skill
Research shows that learning new skills can also help to improve mental wellbeing, by boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem, as well as helping you to connect with others and build a sense of purpose. Why not look into mentoring opportunities within your working environment and see how you can help to support other members of your team.
Eat Healthy Food
Food and drinks can affect our bodies, brains and mood for good or bad! Sugary drinks and food, caffeine in coffee and tea can also leave you with a temporary high. A balanced diet with fruit and vegetables is essential for good physical and mental health.
Promote Positive Working Environment
One final way in which you can improve your repertoire of strategies to improve your mental health and wellbeing at work is to develop a positive, solution minded outlook. Negativity can breed negativity and can often swarm over an entire office, sometimes leading to a toxic working environment. Here at Synapse 360 we promote a positive working atmosphere – in fact you can read all about who we are and our ethos in our culture book. Whether our team is working in Glasgow, the office in Manchester or in Portsmouth – we are committed to promoting each other and supporting each other no matter what!
Remember – you are in charge of your own mental wellbeing but if you are struggling there always will be someone there to help you. Don’t be afraid to reach out!
