World Mental Health Day: Empowering Good Mental Health in the Workplace
Did you know that one third of a person’s life is spent at work? With the average person racking up over 90,000 hours service in their lifetime, it’s critical that we look after our mental health and wellbeing whilst we are in the workplace.
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day (10th October) is ‘Making mental health and wellbeing for all a global priority’, and we can all play a part in ensuring that mental ill health is prevented.
We wanted to share some practices on how each one of us can empower good mental health when in the workplace. Have a read below!
1. Stay Active
Incorporate Exercise into your daily routine
Exercising releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good, and regular exercise can even help improve concentration! Just 30 minutes per day, five days a week can make a huge difference to your mental health.
Begin with small practices like taking the stairs instead of the lift or getting off at an earlier stop. You can then build on this by walking or cycling to work or going for a run at lunchtime then utilising our shower facilities at venYou!
2. Socialise
Social relationships are critical in promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health.
Chat with colleagues
Instead of emailing your colleague, why not go and speak to them, or co-ordinate your break times so you can detach yourself from work for a short period of time.
Maximise networking opportunities
We all love a social gathering and luckily for our clients here at venYou, we have the fabulous outdoor space that is the Terrace, where we can gather at lunchtime or the end of the working day. It’s a great opportunity to destress after a busy day, as well as chat with colleagues or other clients in the building!
3. Be Mindful
Use your time in work wisely
We’re all guilty of it – putting off the most important tasks to last by distracting ourselves with non-work activities like checking our phone or browsing social media! Try making a to-do list or setting realistic goals, and allocating certain time periods to commit fully to the task in hand. Take our word for it, you’ll feel better once you do.
Meditate
Meditation is a great tool for the mind and body – it is proven to reduce stress and frustration, whilst boosting focus, compassion, energy and productivity! All it takes to incorporate a basic meditation practice into your daily routine is three minutes. Alternatively, why not try a walking meditation when you’re out and about exploring the city? Apps including ‘Calm’ and ‘Headspace’ have a wide range of meditations to suit all.
Breathing exercises
Did you know that breathing exercises are a beneficial way to reduce stress? They are a great way to collect your thoughts and release any tension you’re holding in your body, as well as calming down your nervous system. Better still, they can be easily incorporated into your daily working routine and can be done any time and any place.
4. Create clear boundaries
Set firm start and finish times
Whether you are permanently working from home, hybrid working or in the office full time, it’s important to set and stick to firm start and finish times. Try not to let your work spill over into your personal life, and don’t check your emails during non-working hours, if at all possible.
Don’t exceed your working hours
Working longer hours than necessary may affect your performance and productivity and can even increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. Minimise the procrastination as mentioned above, and you’ll find you don’t need to work extended hours.
venYou is committed to ensuring we offer our clients a warm and welcoming working environment so they can nurture employees and in turn, help progress their business. If you would like to find out more about our service, or if you required service office space, visit our website: venyou.co.uk or call +44(0)28 9091 8500.