The workplace can be stressful. There’s no doubt about that, if you find yourself feeling less than motivated to do your job lately you are not alone. Many people do not enjoy their jobs and cannot feel motivated to do more than is necessary to earn their paycheck.
All of this can have a toll on you emotionally and mentally. Even if you do find your work fulfilling, there are times when you may run the risk of burnout.
Here are some ways in which you can protect your mental health on the job.
Are You In An Unhealthy Workplace?
You may feel that you’re in and unhealthy workplace but there are ways you can prove that you actually are. There are certain things that happen throughout the day that can prove whether or not your workplace is unhealthy.
If you hear people frequently complaining about not feeling respected or appreciated than this is usually a symptom that the workplace is affecting their mental health.
Employees need to feel that they are heard and properly compensated in order for them to feel secure in the environment. You can tell when employees have silently quit even though they are present by the lack of productivity and motivation.
All of these are symptoms that you are in an unhealthy work environment.
Protecting Your Mental Health
Once you establish that you are in an environment that is emotionally overwhelming that often doesn’t mean you can just leave. If you’re like most people you need your job to pay your bills and support your lifestyle.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to just suffer in silence. There are some things you can do to help relieve the stress of an overwhelming environment. Try some of the following.
Pinpoint Stress Triggers
One of the first things you need to do is to recognize what stresses you in the workplace and build defenses against. If you can identify the things that make you anxious and find ways to deal with them, you are on your way to success.
While you may not be able to leave the environment, you can deal with the triggers that happen by journaling and even exercise. When the stress becomes overwhelming consider taking a walk on your lunch break to unwind.
Eat Well
It may seem simple enough but ensuring that you are eating healthy is one of the things that can help to boost your mood while you are at work. Try to avoid lots of sugar as much as possible, as this can make you feel lethargic in the afternoon. Being in a work environment.with a lack of energy is not a good mix.
You should also make sure that you are eating well outside of work. All of this will translate to having a better experience at work.
Take a Break
It’s important to realize that there are times when you need to take a break. Calling in sick is not just about physical illness. There are times when you just need an emotional day off.
You should never feel guilty about having to call in to tell your supervisors that you cannot make it today simply because you want an emotional break. It is important that you take breaks to mentally reset and recuperate or you will constantly be overwhelmed.
Try to Leave On Time
It can be tempting to just sit there and continue working especially when you have deadlines to meet. However, once the work day is finished try to leave on time.
It’s okay to do overtime once in a while but if you find it becomes a habit this is not healthy. You need to compartmentalize your life so that you can have time for everything that is important to you.
Delegate When Possible
If you’re in a position at work where you can delegate some of the tasks you need to do, then go ahead and do so. You don’t have to be Superman or Superwoman all the time. It is good to ask for help when it is necessary.
Otherwise you can severely impact your mental health. Having all that stress and anxiety building up in you because you’re not able to ask for help when you need it can only have negative long-term consequences for you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Create Boundaries
Another thing you need to do is to create boundaries. Due to the fact that everyone has devices available it can be tempting to make yourself available around the clock. This attitude will only lead to burn out in the long run.
It is perfectly reasonable for you not to expect anyone to be calling you once you have left work especially if it pertains to anything on the job. There should be a cut off time in the day where you do not answer any questions about work or accept any calls about it.
Converse With Your Superiors
If you feel comfortable enough you can start having a conversation with your supervisor about how they can help to reduce stress in the workplace.
If you are a supervisor already then you can bring the idea to those above you.
However, if you are not supervising and you feel comfortable enough you can speak to your higher ups about implementing things such as a wellness program for employees to help improve their mental health. They may ask, do employee wellness programs work?
You can do your research and confirm how much it helps employees. Show them via facts and data that say that if employees are not motivated and their mental health is not in a good place it will affect the business.
Also, it costs a lot more to recruit new stuff than to simply take care of the one you currently have.
Take Care of Yourself
Taking care of your health is extremely important. You need to make sure that you’re not only taking care of your physical health but your mental health as well. Doing this will ensure that you will have the capacity to perform at optimal levels on your job.
