May is Mental Health Awareness month. Of course, your mental health matters every day. An entire month is devoted to the issue because it is such a vital part of your overall health.
Your mental health impacts your work performance. If you regularly feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, you are less likely to engage in your work. This can increase your absence from work and lower your productivity.
This is why you need to monitor your mental health throughout each workday. Paying attention to how you feel impacts how you react to circumstances as they occur.
Discover some methods you can use to prioritize your mental health while working at your Minnesota job.
Create a Plan to Cope with Stress
When you become overwhelmed at work, you need to accept the situation and address it. This can be easier when you have a plan to proceed.
Part of your plan should be to manage your time effectively. Be sure you schedule all the tasks you need to get done each day. This increases the odds of finishing everything you intend to accomplish.
Make sure you cross off each task when it is completed. This lets you see your progress throughout the day. It also helps reduce stress.
Maintain Work-Life Balance
Limit the time dedicated to your professional responsibilities and personal interests. Meeting your professional and personal needs increases your overall life satisfaction.
For instance, avoid working outside of office hours as much as possible. This time should be dedicated to your personal activities. Also, turn down requests you cannot fulfill and social invitations that do not interest you. Your time needs to be focused on your current priorities and needs.
Engage daily in exercise, meditation, and other activities that help you stay healthy. Include daily activities that make you happy, such as reading. Additionally, pay attention to your stress level. If left unchecked, it can lead to anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
Talk with Your Manager
If your job continues to increase your stress level, take time to think about the sources of your stress. Be honest about what is and is not working for you. Then, come up with ways to improve your circumstances.
When you have concrete ideas, set a time to meet with your manager to discuss your solutions. You may need to request accommodations to more effectively manage your time. This might involve having a flexible schedule or working remotely at least one day per week.
Remain open to what your manager has to say. Remember to advocate for your mental health. You need to be happy at work to stay engaged and productive.
Consider Changing Jobs
You deserve to work for an employer who prioritizes employee mental health. If you need to change companies, partner with The Right Staff to find the Minnesota job that is right for you. Learn more today.