Prioritizing Mental Health in the Workplace and at Home

May 9

Kathleen Fariss, Boon Coach

May is #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth. Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it's often overlooked because we can't see it. We all have a lot on our plates these days, juggling work, family, and other commitments. It's easy to get caught up in our daily routines that we forget to take care of ourselves. But when we neglect our mental health, it can have serious consequences for our physical health and overall well-being. That's why it's so important to make mental health a priority, both at work and at home.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “Mental health is a state of mind characterized by emotional well-being, good behavioral adjustment, relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive relationships and cope with the ordinary demands and stresses of life.“

Listed below are some tips and strategies for taking care of your mental health in all aspects of your life.

To improve your state of mind, try meditation with apps like Calm or minimize social media usage to reduce negative self-talk. Consider therapies like EMDR or Rapid Transformational Therapy to address PTSD or limiting beliefs. Coaching can help with derailing issues in your daily life, while therapy can address trauma.
To support emotional well-being, set boundaries at work and establish communication rules to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Move your body for 10 minutes a day, take power naps, and get 7-9 hours of sleep.
For healthy behavioral adjustment, start by shifting your language from labeling something “good” or “bad” to naming the feeling associated with what's going on. Build resilience to change with small habits like moving your toothbrush to the opposite side of the sink or driving home differently. It may sound small and silly even, but this helps get us out of a fixed mindset.
To establish constructive relationships, be honest about how you're feeling, be vulnerable, be intentional, ask for what you need, and schedule regular check-ins with loved ones.
To achieve relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, balance work and personal life, schedule time to relax, and take your PTO and schedule mental health days.
Finally, learn to cope with the ordinary demands and stresses of life by asking what you can learn, dive into new types of stress management skills like labeling, practicing deep breathing, and fuel your body with nutritious food.

Remember that prioritizing your mental health is an ongoing process, and it's okay if you stumble along the way. The important thing is to keep taking steps forward, even if they're small. As you begin to prioritize your mental health, you may notice improvements in all areas of your life - work, relationships, and personal fulfillment. So take a deep breath, be kind to yourself, and keep moving forward on your journey towards mental well-being. You got this!