Mental health forms an integral part of our complete well-being. Very often, it becomes a casualty of work life. In this post, guest writer Buick Hamblin gives practical advice to people whose jobs are negatively affecting their mental and health.
Understanding the Job Mental Health Connection:
The connection between employment and mental health is a deep-rooted one. An unfavorable working environment, failure to meet deadlines in time, and heavy workloads can lead to anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. It’s of great importance that a person learns early warning signs of struggling to take proactive measures to ensure that the years do not consume them.
Job insecurity, bad working conditions, and heavy workload can be powerful factors in mental situation decline. Chronic stress also impacts your body, including headaches, gastrointestinal problems, and weakening of the immune system.
Signals of Distress at Work:
It is very difficult to know how work is getting inside your head. Identify some common signs and symptoms:
Fatigue: You feel drained even after a full night’s sleep.
Inability to Concentrate: Failure to maintain concentration on what you are doing or make decisions.
Irritability: Exhibition of mood swings or high emotional levels.
Physical Symptoms: Headaches or stomach problems due to stress.
Feeling Overwhelmed: Difficulty in performing your daily tasks or responsibilities.
Recognition of your signs and asking colleagues and others close to you can help you take the right measures to handle the problem.
Instant Work-Related Stress Relieving Measures:
When work gets too much, here are a few practical measures you take:
Take a mental brief on health Day: The stress of daily life can take a toll. Taking a day off to rejuvenate can make all the difference in your productivity and attitude. Try de-stressing activities for you, such as spending time with nature or practicing mindfulness.
Talk to a Trusted Colleague: Talking through the problems you have with someone you trust not only gives emotional support but also new perspectives that one could never think about in his life.
Professional Help: Consult a health professional, who can provide you with tailored strategies and support. They could offer a mechanism which helps people work out their stress at work effectively.
Acting can prevent a mental health breakdown and give you back the power of the situation.
Talking to Your Employer:
You might be fearful of disclosing your mental health to your employer, but it is important. Here’s how you might approach this conversation with your employer:
Create Your Message: Be open about what’s challenging you and how this affects your work. Keep track of specific examples that can help outline your predicament.
Schedule the meeting at a time when your manager is not busy, or distracted, and will have time to discuss matters seriously.
Focus on Solutions: Propose what you require or need now, such as flexible working hours or reduced workload, to improve your productivity and satisfaction of job performance.
Under the Equality Act 2010, employers are under a duty to care for people with mental health conditions, which may require the making of reasonable adjustments.
Long-term Strategies Towards Better Mental Health:
To encourage sustainable improvement in your mental wellbeing in the workplace, consider the following strategies:
Boundaries: Identify what to say “no” to; set boundaries so that you do not end up running down. Define your working hours and have breaks as scheduled.
Work-Life Balance: Engage in activities that please you outside work. Unplug from work communications when engaging in your time.
Seek Continuous Support: Regular visits to a mental health professional can keep stress under control in the long term. In addition, support groups can be very encouraging.
Creating an encouraging working environment will help tremendously to boost overall wellbeing and thus employers need to be motivated to provide training concerning mental health issues.
Use of Available Resources and Systems of Support:
There are many resources available that may be useful in supporting mental situation at work:
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Many organizations offer confidential counselling and advisory services.
Mental Health Charities: There are organizations including Mind and Mental Health Foundation that offer resources, information materials, and hotlines.
Online forums: Online forums including but not limited to the platform Reddit, and dedicated mental health forums give access to sharing experiences and advice.
Creating a Personal Mental Health Plan:
Having a personal mental health plan can help you prevent problems with your wellbeing in advance:
Identify Triggers: Determine which situations at work are causing stress and work at strategies to control them.
Set Goals: Propose achievable goals for your mental health, such as how you would like to incorporate mindfulness into your daily habits.
Monitor Progress: Keep track of your mental health progress and modify your plan if needed.
Return to Work from a Mental Health Break:
Here are key takeaways
Communicate with your employer: let them know you’re returning, and what changes you may need, such as working part-time
Take it slow: increase your workload gradually to get back into a routine
Manage expectations: be realistic about what you can achieve on the first day back and plan on needing time to reintegrate and recapture the rhythm
Strive for that great work-life balance with boundaries placed, asking for support when needed, and engaging in an open discussion about health. Remember, the truth is that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
If you find these resources helpful in navigating your mental health, be sure to check out some of the amazing work of the people who shared them and visit their blog, Calmer. Share this article on your social media channels to help spread awareness and support someone who may need it.
