03/23/2023
Poor mental health and stress can negatively affect an employee's:
-Job performance and productivity
-Engagement with work
-Communication with coworkers
-Physical capability and daily functioning
Here are 10 simple adjustments you can make in your workday to help support your mental health:
Mindfulness First
Begin your day with movement, meditation, or a personal development book or podcast rather than immediately reaching for your phone.
Learn a New Skill
When things get monotonous, we get bored, and it can lead to depression or anxiety. Signing up for a certification or trying a fun DIY project will help boost your confidence and give you more sense of purpose.
Get Outside
We don’t have to tell you how bad it is to stare at a screen all day, but did you know being in nature improves attention, memory and cognitive flexibility? Vitamin D from sunlight is a fantastic mood booster too!
Find Support
Look at social media communities or reach out to a friend, religious leader or therapist. Chances are, you’re not alone in your struggles.
Acts of Service
Volunteering to help a new hire or take on a special project will alleviate stress for others and in turn, improve your mood and self-esteem.
Stop the Comparison Game
Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to those around you. Focus on your own strengths and measure yourself against your own personal goals.
Sleep!
Average adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Failing to achieve this on a regular basis can impact energy, mood and motivation.
Find Gratitude
Take a few minutes to write down 3-5 good things that happen each day. Encourage others by sending thank you notes to those you appreciate or start team meetings by taking turns saying one thing each person is grateful for.
Accept Your Feelings
Don’t judge yourself for feeling anger, sadness or shame. Accepting negative emotional experiences, rather than judging them, can lead to fewer harmful emotions when confronted with daily stressors.
Clean Eating
When we view the food we eat as fuel for our body, it becomes a little easier to make healthy choices. Substances from processed food can be harmful to the brain. Multiple studies have found a link between a diet high in refined sugar and mood disorders, such as depression.