6 Tips For Your Mental Health When You’re Too Busy At Work

As our society becomes more competitive, so do the expectations placed on us at work. We are told that we need to be working harder and smarter. However, this can lead to burnout.

We all know that we need to take some time for ourselves and relax, but it can be difficult to do so in the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. For example, you may need some time to unwind after a difficult meeting with your boss, or you may just want to feel more calm and relaxed after a stressful day.

It’s easy to get lost in workaholism, but taking a mental health day can be beneficial to your mental well-being. These are six tips for mentally healthy days at the office.

Schedule Time Off Daily

Working long hours everyday can really take a toll on our mental health. The more we push ourselves to work, the more vulnerable we are to depression, stress, and anxiety. It is not easy but it is important to take time off from work for our mental health. It’s not only about taking days of leave (paid or unpaid), it’s also about setting boundaries with employers and learning how to say no.

In order to maintain a healthy mental state, it is important to have down time from work. With work from home being the new normal, let your colleagues or bosses know that you will not be contactable after a certain time period. This downtime gives you the opportunity to refresh and recuperate after working for hours on end.

Create A Wellness Plan

A wellness plan should include relaxation activities that are not related to work. This can be regular activities that will help maintain a healthy lifestyle such as workouts, walks or other physical activities. You can also use this time for mindfulness exercises or meditation sessions which will help to release tension and reduce job-related stress.

Prioritise time for rest and recovery even if it means less work gets done that day or week. A massage at the end of a hard week will help you relax. For many people, there’s something inherently therapeutic about being in a relaxing space, away from all the noise of everyday life.

Get Enough Sleep

It’s a sad fact: Singaporeans are among the third most sleep-deprived people in the world. The sleep-deprivation we suffer from having to be contactable at all hours, especially for those who work with overseas clients, is a major contributor to the increasing amount of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.

Nowadays we live in a society where the need for productivity often takes precedence over rest and recovery. Thus, it is important to get the rest that your mind and body needs each night. A person’s biological clock will tell them when they need to sleep, but it can be helpful to set a bedtime and get into a routine of sleeping at the same time every day.

What if you could make your 6-hour sleep feel like a full 10 hours? That way, you would never have to worry about feeling fatigued in the middle of the day again. We know this may literally sound just like a dream, but Cottoncrumbs say it’s actually a reality most are not aware of. And it all lies in the bedding.

First, look at your thread count. The optimal thread count to go for should range from 200 to 400, where you are presented with exquisitely smooth and silky sheets. Next, the material to go for should definitely be Tencel. It is more breathable than cotton and feels as gentle as silk (not irritating for sensitive skin), which promotes relaxation and overall comfort. (Bonus: Tencel is produced from sustainably sourced wood by environmentally responsible processes!)

Lastly, your bedroom aesthetics matter. Studies have shown that the textures we use, as well as the way we arrange our furniture, are correlated to our emotional states and overall well-being. That means by designing a good-looking bedroom, it can elicit positive feelings and lead to a more relaxed state of mind.

Ask For Help From Your Boss Or Co-Workers

We are all in the same boat, stuck in a rat race with no end in sight. Sometimes, amidst the chaos of life, it becomes difficult to stay happy. The workplace can be especially draining when you are unhappy with your job.

Ask for help from your boss or co-workers for difficult tasks so that the job gets done faster and more efficiently. We need to be more open about the struggles that we face with our work. The more we share, the less afraid of stigma we will be. There are many ways to seek support, but one thing is for sure – you deserve it.

Schedule Distractions

In the world of constant connection, social media, and smartphones, it can be tempting to be constantly responsive to everything going on around you. One way to schedule distractions include turning off all the notifications from your phone. You could also schedule a time where you spend just five minutes scrolling through these platforms or apps that will allow for time to disconnect without feeling overwhelmed.

We all have distractions in our day-to-day lives, but it is important to schedule them so that they are not interrupting your work. It can be easy to find yourself straying from what you should be doing if the task that you need to do is boring or difficult. Having a plan in place will help you stay on track and keep your boredom at bay.

Take Good Care Of Your Overall Health And Happiness

Each and everyone of us is human and we can’t always function 24/7. To help you stay on top of your game everyday, here are five self-care practices you should take to heart for your overall health and happiness:

• Know yourself and your needs
• Give yourself permission to take care of yourself first
• Create boundaries for how much work will go into any given day
• Be mindful of how you spend your time
• Find ways to support and nurture self-compassion

Whatever the reason for your desire for relaxation, there are many different ways to achieve this goal. It may seem like a luxury but taking that step is often necessary to stay healthy and happy in the long-term.