Your Mental Health Matters!

It’s time for Mental Health Awareness Week (12-18 May) and with the pressures of work and the world around us becoming increasingly stressful, looking after your mental health is more important than ever. If you want to prioritise your mental health, small daily habits can make a big difference.

Here are some tips on how to keep your mind healthy and balanced:

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Keep Physically Active

Regular exercise releases endorphins, which help boost mood and reduce stress. Take the stairs instead of the lift, or go for a walk at lunchtime.

Maintain Social Connections  

Good relationships are critical for your mental wellbeing. Make time to catch up with friends, family and colleagues. Surround yourself with supportive people. Feelings of isolating can be challenging when working from home so contacting friends, joining a gym or club or arranging an activity with your colleagues are all ways to help you feel more connected.

Give To Others

Acts of kindness create positive feelings and a sense of reward.  It can be as simple as spending time with friends or family who need support, or volunteering in the community. 

Prioritise Self-Care

Being kind to yourself can also make a big difference to your wellbeing. Take time for activities that nourish your mind—whether it's reading, listening to music, or simply resting. It's important to take time to cut off from work-mode and focus on YOU.

Get Enough Sleep

Quality sleep is essential for emotional regulation and cognitive function. Aim for 7-9 hours sleep per night for optimal health and wellbeing.

Practice Mindfulness 

Staying present and engaging in mindfulness techniques can help reduce anxiety and improve focus.

Learn New Skills

A good way to boost self-esteem and confidence, learning new skills can range from trying a new hobby to enrolling on an evening class.

Limit Negative Influences

Being aware of harmful environments and reducing your exposure to them is essential, whether they’re toxic relationships, excessive social media, or negative self-talk.

Seek Professional Help When Needed

If you are worried about your mental health, it's important to seek support rather than bottling up your feelings.

Following these healthy habits should help to maintain good mental health.  It’s also important to be aware of the behaviours that can negatively affect your mental wellbeing.

Social Isolation

Don’t avoid social interactions – this can increase loneliness and heighten feelings of anxiety or depression.  Don’t rely on technology alone to build relationships. It's easy to get into the habit of only ever texting, messaging or emailing people without connecting with them face to face.

Overworking & Neglecting Rest

Constant stress and lack of relaxation can lead to burnout.  Prioritise regular breaks and time away from work.

Excessive Screen Time and Doomscrolling

Negative news can be stressful, and social media can fuel unrealistic comparisons.  Take regular digital detox breaks and engage in offline activities that nourish the mind.

Poor Diet and Lack of Exercise

Unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle can have a negative effect on mood and energy levels.

Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms

Excessive alcohol or substance use may provide temporary relief but harm mental health in the long run.  Choose healthier coping strategies like exercise or mindfulness. 

If you are leaning on unhealthy habits such as turning to alcohol, taking substances or gambling, our sister organisation, Change can offer expert support and advice.

If you run a business or work in HR and you want to support the mental health of your employees, contact CADAS at Work today. We address workplace challenges related to substance use, gambling and compulsive habits so get in touch to find out how this can be applied to your business.