5 Golden Tips To Maintain Good Mental Health Amid Hectic Work Schedules
It seems that the majority of the world is going through turmoil for almost two years now. It’s not that the human race didn’t face any challenges before, but the global pandemic of Covid-19 has deviated normal life off the track of millions of people across the globe.
How much time will it take for those impacted by the severity of the situation remains to be seen? Millions of lives lost, lockdown, business shutdowns, loss of jobs, economic recession; can things get worse than they are now?
If you are lucky to still have a job after all this, you must have realized by now that it’s not easy to focus on the job at hand amid the gloomy, grim situation we find ourselves in. We have to move out of our homes to work and risk getting infected by the novel coronavirus. We are worried about catching the virus as we work with people in the workplace. We worry about the dependents in the family in case the Covid-19 threatens to consume us.
A survey by a mental health provider, Ginger, revealed that nearly 7 in 10 employees believe that the Covid-19 pandemic is the most anxiety-ridden phase of their entire professional career, which has also led to a sharp increase in new prescriptions of antidepressants, antianxiety, and anti-insomnia medications. Sally Welborn, former vice president of global benefit for Walmart Stores, says, “Whether they are working on the front lines or working at home, employees are in dire need of easily available, equitable mental health benefits than ever before.”
It’s not the best situation to work in, and one can hardly argue this fact. As if the Covid-19 factor was not enough, the ever-present pressure to meet deadlines and achieve set goals can take its toll on even the toughest employees' mental health.
When your mental health deteriorates, your body could not be far behind from suffering.
How do you find out if your mental health is taking a hit as you struggle to cope up with hectic work schedules?
Let’s take a look at some clear symptoms that indicate poor mental health.
Physical Symptoms Of Poor Mental Health That You Should Watch Out For
- Feeling sad or down
- Struggle to focus on the task at hand
- Worrying excessively or feeling guilty without any reason
- Low productivity
- Irritability, inconsistent behavior
- Resorting to alcohol or drug use to deal with stress
- Displaying excessive anger, hostile or violent behavior
- Feeling exhausted
- Detachment from family, friends, society
- Dramatic sleep and appetite changes
You might likely be experiencing any of these warning signs of deteriorating mental health. However, you should not panic even when you feel that your mind (and body) is quite there.
There’s always a solution to any problem. You can always tackle this difficult situation by following some simple yet effective tips that will help you maintain sound mental health, which is critical to ensuring your positive overall well-being.
What does it take for stressed employees to get back on their feet (mentally) again? Read on to know more about it.
1. Spend Cheerful “In-Person” Time With Family And Friends ✔️
Yeah, it’s true that your friends and other social connections are just a call or text away, but can telephonic conversations or chat messages replace face-to-face conversations with people you love to spend time with? Not quite.
No other conversation mode can replace the “magical” stress-busting, mood-lifting power of spending quality face-to-face time with other people. Human beings crave companionship, and we all need someone who can sit with us, have a good conversation, and listen to us without judging us.
So, no matter how busy you are, always prioritize spending quality in-person time with others. Sharing your thoughts will make you feel lighter and help in reducing your stress.
2. Talk To Your Manager/Boss If You Think Enough Is Enough ✔️
It could be that you are overwhelmed and overburdened with tasks and projects that are beyond your capabilities. You might be an excellent performer at work who is more productive than others.
This can make your seniors assign you more work than you can handle. You have your limits, and you are not supposed to work like robots just because you are expected to deliver high output.
If you feel that you are being assigned more work than you can handle, it’s time to let your manager/boss know about it. Nothing is more important than your well-being. Tell your seniors about your limits rather than staying quiet and suffering from excessive workload.
3. Exercise/Indulge In Physical Activities ✔️
It’s a no-brainer that mind and body are intrinsically linked. Spend some time exercising or indulging in any other physical activity (cycling, running, jogging, playing sport) and let your mind and body reap the benefits. Physical activities release endorphins that are potent chemicals responsible for lifting your mood and provide added energy.
No, you don't have to subscribe to an annual gym membership to improve your physical fitness. You can go out for a walk in the evening, throw a Frisbee with a dog, cycle to the local market, play badminton, etc. The key is to make your body work out rather than living a sedentary lifestyle.
4. Eat a brain-healthy diet ✔️
It’s strange how so many people desperately try to cope with stress and potential burnout without realizing the positive effect of healthy food intake on their mental health. An unhealthy diet can adversely affect your mood, disrupt your sleep, drain your energy, and weaken your immune system.
On the other hand, choosing a wholesome diet low in sugar and rich in healthy fats can boost the immune system and energy, which can help you improve your productivity and behavior, besides making you feel and look your best.
Let’s look at some popular, healthy, and stress-buster foods that are rich in nutrients.
Complex and simple carbs
- Oranges
- Spinach
- Fatty fish
- Black tea
- Avocados
- Almonds, cashews, peanuts, walnuts
- Herbal supplements
5. Use Technology To Your Advantage At Work ✔️
Do you know that using advanced technology to perform most (or all) of your tasks and projects can relieve much of your workload, which will further reduce your work-related stress?
If you’re a project manager managing multiple projects at once, then you can greatly benefit from using powerful project management and team collaboration software as it automates tedious manual tasks and helps you and your team get more done in less time.
Be it assigning tasks, creating reports, tracking time, or tracking the project progress, a good PM tool might be what the doctor ordered for you. Are you using the right technology? Analyze your tools, and you will know whether you’re benefiting from using them or not.
Final Words
Nothing is more important than your well-being. It does not matter whether you run a million-dollar business or work for one. You cannot afford to neglect your mental health. If your mind is not in the best shape, then sooner or later, it will show in the form of poor health, poor productivity, and poor behavior.
Why let things get out of control when you can act in time to prevent your mental health from being consumed due to excessive stress and anxiety?
