Boost Your Mental Health at the Office

7 Tips for Boosting Your Mental Health at Work

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and we’re sharing a few tips that could help boost your mental health while at the office.

Maintaining a healthy state of mind is key to success in the workplace. Your mental health affects everything from your relationships with coworkers to your productivity and creative thinking skills. Below are just a few things that could help boost your mental health and get you performing your best.

1. Start Your Day Relaxed

Hitting snooze on your alarm is very tempting, but it often leads to a rushed morning. Try getting up 30 minutes earlier and spend some relaxing time mentally preparing for the day. Listen to music. Read an article. Enjoy a cup of coffee on the porch.

2. Feng Shui Your Work Area

Love plants? Bring in one for your desk. Have a favorite artist? Hang a framed print. Surround yourself with things that bring you pleasure. These soothing items will help boost your happiness while you’re in the office.

3. Take Care of Your Body

Physical health has been shown to greatly affect your mental health. Taking care of yourself physically is a great foundation for prolonging a healthy mental state throughout your work day. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, drinking plenty of water, and exercise are all shown to decrease depression and anxiety and improve moods.

4. Set Achievable Goals

We all know that accomplishing a goal is an instant mood booster. But, even small accomplishments can help you feel less stressed and motivate you to be more productive. Make a list of few items you’d like to get done today. Feel the swell of accomplishment when you cross them off. But remember, don’t beat yourself up if you don’t cross them all off in one day — things happen.

5. Take Small Breaks

Working longer does not equal working better. Long stretches of time at your desk can negatively affect your reasoning ability, motivation, and creativity. Recharge your mental health with short periodic breaks. Simply stand and stretch or walk around the office. You may even find new inspiration when you come back to your project after giving your mind a short break.

6. Go Outside

Mother Nature is an excellent mood booster. If the weather’s nice, take a short walk. It’ll get the blood flowing and the fresh air will help clear the mind. Or simply take a few moments to sit outside and breathe in the fresh air. Take a breath and soak up the sights and sounds around you. Let Mother Nature recharge your battery!

7. Give Back

Happiness is contagious! That surge you feel when helping others is a natural way to boost your mood and elevate your mental health. Get involved. Help a co-worker with a task they are struggling with. Volunteer locally. Improve someone else’s happiness and share in those brain boosting benefits!

Hopefully these tips will help you on your journey to a healthy state of mind in the office! If you are unable to accomplish these at your job do a little research and find what will work for you because maintaining a good mental wellbeing will not only help you cope better with stress, it will also make you more productive and accomplished at work.

Here’s to peace of mind at work!