May 5, 2023
As we all know, past years were very difficult for the World, Covid, conflicts etc. A lot of people were forced to stay home, miss family events, stop going to work, meet friends, and sometimes cancel weddings and vacations. It had a huge impact on us, people.
In this new situation, we all needed to find ourselves. It was hard to maintain relationships, a clear mind, a free spirit and energy. Since we didn’t know how long it was going to take and how it will impact our lives.
Working from home, and being closed in 4 walls, didn’t help mental health. We all know, to have a better quality of life, we need to have clear minds. Stress, depression, anxiety and disorders showed up in many people's lives, and had an impact on their work, friends, family etc. It is hard to keep good energy when you know you can’t do what you used to do.
When you work with clients, it is hard to maintain the relationship, as good as before. Travel restrictions kept a lot of partners at a distance, not only life partners but also the ones working together. In this new reality, we need to find a way of working and also keep good mental health.
We all know that when it comes to mental health, it’s very easy to miss the symptoms of any issue. We may think that it’s only low energy levels, tiredness, and lack of sleep, but in fact, it can be something more serious. Being alone doesn't help when you are lonely.
Depression can take over our life - it starts with no energy, staying in bed, and not wanting to socialize. When you have no energy, you don’t want to work. You become irritated, angry, nervous or anxious. None of it is helping you to do your work. Working with clients, or even with co-workers, becomes difficult, and you want to quit. And when you know you can’t deal with it on your own, it’s important to ask for help - friends, family or specialists.
You can also work on your mental health on your own. Here are a few tips on how to do so:
Phone calls and social networks have their place, but you need to make sure you focus on mood-boosting videos/articles, not the ones bringing you down. Also a lot of quality face-to-face time with other people, especially those you love and people who energize you.
Staying active is as good for the brain as it is for the body. Regular exercise or activity can have a major impact on your mental health, relieve stress and help you sleep better.
We can all be guilty of being "too busy" to take some downtime, but leisure time is a necessity for emotional and mental health. Take some time to relax, contemplate, and pay attention to the positive things as you go about your day — even the small things. You can write down your little successes, and on a worse day, you can read them to boost your mood.
Foods that can support your mood include fatty fish rich in omega-3s, nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews and peanuts), avocados, beans, leafy greens (spinach, kale and Brussels sprouts), and fresh fruit such as berries (rich in antioxidants).
It matters more than you think. Sleep is our body and mind's best way to recharge. One way to get better sleep is to take a break from the stimulation of screens — TV, phones, tablets or computers. Before bedtime, consider reading or listening to relaxing music instead.
This is different for everyone but finding purpose in your day is a big factor to good mental health. You might try one of the following:
Remember that if you can’t help yourself, it’s not a shame to ask for help. We need to think about our well-being to keep a good quality of life and our relationships on a good level.
There are several pages where you can find help, such as:
Remember, that the fastest you reach out for help, the easier it will be to resolve the problem.
Anna Kołaczyńska
How your mental health can impact relationships in the workplace and how to work on it?
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