The start of May marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness month. As a recognition of this month and its continued growing importance, The Performance Group is touching on mental health in the workplace. This topic is being brought to light more and more as mental health becomes a priority of many people’s lives, as it should be. Mental health should be at the forefront of the employer’s mind, but also the employee’s. There are many easy habits that employees can incorporate into their work days that will help to improve their mental health. Keep reading to learn about some of them!

Get Enough Sleep

First thing’s first, get your sleep! A healthy night of sleep for an adult should be around 7-9 hours. Failing to get enough sleep can greatly impact not only performance, but motivation as well. This is the first step to improving mental health in the workplace, as it sets your headspace and physical well being up for success.

Start Your Morning Right

What comes after a good night of sleep? Waking up and conquering the day. The best way to do that is to have a morning routine in place that prepares your mind and body for the day. Whether your routine involves making homemade breakfast, going for a run, or taking a cold shower, it is important to find one that works for you. Experts recommend limited technology usage, eating a well balanced breakfast, and spending some time with loved ones.

Make Genuine Connections

Everyone knows that going to work is much more bearable when you know your favorite coworker will be by your side. Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, making genuine connections at work is a must. It is important that there is someone you can trust at work and talk about work and social lives with. Being surrounded by people we trust inherently makes us feel safer and better about our environment.

Sometimes, there are issues rooted deeper than daily habits. If you feel like you might be needing a change of work environment, read this.

Express Your Mind

Trusting your coworkers and managers is also important in the fact that you should be discussing any questions, concerns, and even praises you have in the workplace. Having open and honest conversations at work will help reveal disparities and create opportunities for improvement. Frustration and tension can be created when no one speaks their mind, which is the last thing anyone wants.

Take Your Breaks

There are many people that overlook short paid breaks offered by companies. Some even think “I don’t need a break. I’ll just work right through!” This is a mindset that will ultimately lead to burnout. Make sure to not only take your breaks, but make the most of them as well. Go outside or read a book. Do something that will give you a mental and physical break in the midst of a long work day.

Utilize Your Time Off Wisely

You have time off for a reason. Don’t forget to use it! It can feel easy to get into a routine of showing up to work day after day and week after week, but scheduled days off and vacation time is sometimes exactly what we need. Whether it’s a staycation or a week off to Mexico, you deserve that vacation time as a reward for your continued hard work.

Take a Mental Health Day

All of this being said, do NOT be afraid to take a day for your mental health. Bosses are becoming more aware of mental and physical burnout at work and are being more flexible as a result. This is not to say that you should be doing this often, but it’ll be obvious when you simply need the day to yourself. Don’t be afraid to be open and honest with your boss about it either. The more they know, the more they can work with you to create a healthy work environment.

Check out our other most recent blog about workplace safety here.

Mental health should be prioritized in every aspect of our lives. How do you address your mental health in your daily life?