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How do you look after your Mental Health at work?

The 10th of October is World Mental Health Day, with a particular focus on 'work well being'. Working, whether part time during school/uni, or full time work can be very draining.

How do you look after your Mental Health at work?

I started full time work, after finishing uni, in July - I've had to very aware and careful to look after my MH. It's easy to sleep into a pattern of not looking after yourself enough, which impacts on you physically and mentally.

My top 5 tips:

1. Try and be open and make your boss/colleagues know of any Mental Health difficulties.

2. Seek support, either at work or outside of work if you need.

3. Prioritise and look after your basic needs: food, sleep, and hygiene.

4. Try and get a work-life balance with any hobbies or socialising that you want.

5. You can only do what you can do! Don't push yourself to make yourself feel more unwell, take time to look after yourself, it will be much more effective in the long run!

Let me know your tips below!

Note: you can post anonymously in this thread :smile:

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I cry myself to sleep every night if that helps.
Original post by Kevin Hodge
I cry myself to sleep every night if that helps.


Aww :hugs: Is that due to work stress or?
Original post by BurstingBubbles
Aww :hugs: Is that due to work stress or?


I’m at uni so the stress of work as well as just been generally stressed due to my personal life :redface:
Original post by Kevin Hodge
I’m at uni so the stress of work as well as just been generally stressed due to my personal life :redface:


Ah sounds tough, what do you study? Does anything help at all? :smile:
I always make sure I take a full hour's lunch break at work, no matter how much stuff is piling up. Especially since my lunch break is unpaid! :yep:

I also agree with talking to bosses/coworkers about any difficulties if at all possible. It's easier for me than it is for most, as I work for a mental health charity. I consciously decided to try and seek employment in this field, on the basis that employers should (at least theoretically) be more understanding :yes:

One final thing I've started doing is making sure I carry my doodling/mindfulness colouring journal to work with me, in case I'm feeling anxious/stressed/overwhelmed and need to take some time to do something else :redface:
Reply 6
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amourx
12
taking a bath helps lol
Reply 7
Avatar for Juno
Juno
20
Gin.
Original post by BurstingBubbles
Ah sounds tough, what do you study? Does anything help at all? :smile:


Computing. I'm currently on anti-depressants which I guess have helped a bit. I joined the gym too which has helped.
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
I always make sure I take a full hour's lunch break at work, no matter how much stuff is piling up. Especially since my lunch break is unpaid! :yep:

I also agree with talking to bosses/coworkers about any difficulties if at all possible. It's easier for me than it is for most, as I work for a mental health charity. I consciously decided to try and seek employment in this field, on the basis that employers should (at least theoretically) be more understanding :yes:

One final thing I've started doing is making sure I carry my doodling/mindfulness colouring journal to work with me, in case I'm feeling anxious/stressed/overwhelmed and need to take some time to do something else :redface:


Definitely agree about the lunch break! I only get 30 mins so I always take that, and wish I had longer, but that's the NHS for you :tongue: It's so important to give yourself time to rest and detach from any work stresses!

Really glad to hear that you feel that you can talk to your boss/coworkers, that's so important. I feel like I could with mine too! It's important to be honest about it as soon as possible, so they can understand and help :yep:

Ooh, I love those! I have them at home but never thought of taking them to work to doodle, such a good idea! :biggrin:
Original post by amourx
taking a bath helps lol


A bath can be so relaxing, yeah! :bath: Sometimes the smell of a certain bubble bath can help too :love:

Original post by Juno
Gin.


Hopefully after work? :tongue:
Original post by BurstingBubbles
Definitely agree about the lunch break! I only get 30 mins so I always take that, and wish I had longer, but that's the NHS for you :tongue: It's so important to give yourself time to rest and detach from any work stresses!

Really glad to hear that you feel that you can talk to your boss/coworkers, that's so important. I feel like I could with mine too! It's important to be honest about it as soon as possible, so they can understand and help :yep:

Ooh, I love those! I have them at home but never thought of taking them to work to doodle, such a good idea! :biggrin:


Oh no for only half hour lunch break :frown: That makes TLG sad for you :sad: :console: :jumphug:

Yeah my boss and coworkers are amazingly supportive when things aren't going so well. I had to take two weeks off sick recently, and they were so nice about it even though it was a huge inconvenience to them (I'm one of a team of only 2 people, running a big project!) :redface:

I'm a big fan of doodling :biggrin: You should def take something with you to work!

Another thing I need to do is find my tangle and make sure I'm taking that to work too :yep:
Reply 12
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Juno
20
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Oh no for only half hour lunch break :frown: That makes TLG sad for you :sad: :console: :jumphug:

I generally don't get a break at all.

I think I've had 3 this year
Original post by BurstingBubbles

Hopefully after work? :tongue:


7am on a Monday morning is best :smile:
Original post by Juno
I generally don't get a break at all.

I think I've had 3 this year


:sad: :console: :frown:
Original post by Kevin Hodge
Computing. I'm currently on anti-depressants which I guess have helped a bit. I joined the gym too which has helped.


I'm glad they're helping a bit, I'm sure you're aware but there are things like CBT out there too which aim to help in the long run :smile: Ah yes, exercise is a good one! That's my next thing, to sign up to the gym, just feel very lethargic at the moment, need the energy to exercise to get energy :lol:
Sorry to break this MH circle jerk but number 1 could well be extremely career limiting and work social limiting advice. Work is just that; work, the people aren't there to hold your hand past their basic legal obligations.

Sorry, I know that sounded blunt and youll come back saying about how employers should care more about their employees MH but the truth is that they don't particularly, especially not in low skilled/experienced roles which a majority of the people reading this are going to be in.
Original post by Ezisola
Sorry to break this MH circle jerk but number 1 could well be extremely career limiting and work social limiting advice. Work is just that; work, the people aren't there to hold your hand past their basic legal obligations.

Sorry, I know that sounded blunt and youll come back saying about how employers should care more about their employees MH but the truth is that they don't particularly, especially not in low skilled/experienced roles which a majority of the people reading this are going to be in.


Any workplace should be practising to the Equality Act (2010), and those who don't could face serious repercussions.
Original post by BurstingBubbles
Any workplace should be practising to the Equality Act (2010), and those who don't could face serious repercussions.


I did state legal obligations. Also there is a big difference between what a company legally has to do and what you would be able to prove at tribunal that they did not do.
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Oh no for only half hour lunch break :frown: That makes TLG sad for you :sad: :console: :jumphug:

Yeah my boss and coworkers are amazingly supportive when things aren't going so well. I had to take two weeks off sick recently, and they were so nice about it even though it was a huge inconvenience to them (I'm one of a team of only 2 people, running a big project!) :redface:

I'm a big fan of doodling :biggrin: You should def take something with you to work!

Another thing I need to do is find my tangle and make sure I'm taking that to work too :yep:


Yeah... the half an hour tends to be mainly just eating, without time to let food go down or chill :tongue: I think I would like 45 mins, an hour might be too much for me, but if I did have an hour I would take it :tongue:

Aww that's so brilliant of them! :smile:

Ah yes, I have a fidget cube which is really good! :love:
Original post by Ezisola
I did state legal obligations. Also there is a big difference between what a company legally has to do and what you would be able to prove at tribunal that they did not do.


I think there are always going to be idiots who are like that, but just as you shouldn't be scared to be open about sexuality, religion, and just because someone is a different race, you shouldn't hide mental health.

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