KOCHI: This October 10, the world comes together to celebrate World Mental Health Day for the 25th time. World Federation for Mental Health founded the awareness day in 1992 and since then people all over the world are holding events, making announcements and celebrating #WorldMentalHealthDay.
The family work balance is considered a widely researched topic and this year World Mental Health day theme is mental health in the workplace.
Our experience in the workplace is one of the factors determining our overall wellbeing, which otherwise may lead to physical and mental health problems, harmful use of substances or alcohol, absenteeism and less productivity. When organisations take effective steps to focus on bullying and harassment of work, to regain control over job stress threatening you, there are some simple steps you should take.
Create a balanced schedule. All work and no play is a recipe for burnout. Try to find a balance between work and family life, social activities and solitary pursuits, daily responsibilities and downtime.
Plan regular breaks. Make sure to take short breaks throughout the day to take a walk or chat to a friendly face. Also try to get away from your desk or work station for lunch. It will help you relax and recharge.
Establish healthy boundaries. Many of us feel pressured to be available 24 hours a day or obliged to keep checking our smartphones for work-related messages and updates. But it’s important to maintain periods where you’re not working or thinking about work. Don’t over-commit yourself. Distinguish between the ‘shoulds’ and the ‘musts’. Drop tasks that aren’t truly necessary to the bottom of the list or eliminate them entirely.
Prioritize tasks. Tackle high-priority tasks first. If you have something particularly unpleasant to do, get it over with early. The rest of your day will be more pleasant as a result.
Break projects into small steps. If a large project seems overwhelming, focus on one manageable step at a time, rather than taking on everything at once. Be willing to compromise. As a manager, supervisor, there are things you can do to lower workplace stress. These are to be specially considered when you promote employees with anxiety and depression.The first step is to act as a positive role model. Communicate with your employees one-on-one.
Healthy Workplace pledge
I pledge our support for the mental health of all of our workforce. I will commit our team to doing our best at being proactive in promoting: Appreciation of employees and workers, creation of a supportive environment, identification of early signs of burnout, an organisational culture which reflects value systems and beliefs, stress management, building awareness and reducing stigma and providing support for employees who need it.
(The author is MPhil in Clinical Psychology,Prayatna Centre for Child Development)
The views expressed in the article are those of the author