Did you know that May is mental health awareness month? Because mental health is so important, you need to make it a priority each day.
There are a variety of things you can do to stay mentally healthy throughout the workday. The following are some ideas to get started.
Discover three methods to maintain mental health throughout your workday.
1. Set Your Work Schedule
Maintain the same work hours as much as possible. This is especially important if you work remotely. You need time each day for self-care.
- Maintain structure so you know what to expect each day.
- Consider taking a walk in the morning to mentally shift into work mode.
- Schedule regular breaks to walk away from your desk and disengage.
- Include an hour for lunch and movement.
- Take a walk to clear your head, increase your creativity, and sharpen your focus.
- Make plans to visit friends, participate in a yoga class, or meditate after work so you have something to look forward to.
2. Maintain Boundaries
You have a limited amount of time each week to accomplish tasks. Make sure you are taking on the projects that can benefit your career. Turn down the requests you know you cannot fulfill.
- Maintain a high enough workload so you are engaged and productive while effectively maintaining your time and energy.
- Set a few times throughout the day to respond to email to show you do not reply early in the morning or late at night.
- If your manager asks you to take on a project you may not have time for, ask for help to reprioritize your deliverables.
- If a colleague wants to talk while you are working, let them know you cannot be as present as you would like at the moment but would love to catch up after work.
3. Prioritize Sleep
Getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night is important for your physical and mental health. Experiencing quality sleep helps boost your mood. You are less likely to experience anger, irritability, sadness, and mental fatigue when you feel rested.
- Go to bed and wake up at the same time as much as possible to help regulate your circadian rhythm.
- Stop drinking caffeinated beverages for 4 to 6 hours before going to bed. Consumption of sugar or caffeine can create artificial alertness and interfere with sleep.
- Avoid screens before going to bed. The blue light in mobile devices is disruptive to circadian rhythms and melatonin release.
- Unwind an hour before bed by listening to quiet music, stretching, or reading a book.
- Keep your room dark and at a consistent temperature to help you sleep.
Find a Job with Better Work-Life Balance
If a job with better work-life balance would help support your mental health, include Job Store Staffing® in your search. Here is a link to our job board.