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 Are You Burning Out? How to Prioritize Mental Health in Today’s Workplace

I believe every work place be it a corporate sector, educational institution, government organization, entertainment industry or any private organization, all workplaces have their own policies and laws in place. 

Work stress, work pressure, deadlines to be met, sleeplessness, improper food habits, no time to sip water or even visit the loo. So much competition, trying to impress the boss, I need a raise, I need to be appreciated, when will my boss notice my work or I put in so much effort but all in vain. Your coworkers, are they competitive, are they encouraging or are they plotting against you? Do you trust them? Very common right? JOB! I googled to find the meaning for the word ‘job’ and this is what it is. “The work that you do regularly to earn money”. Or “a task or a piece of work.”

Sadly, JOB is something that you do regularly. But do you do it willingly? Do you do it happily? This job that you are in, do you fit in it? Are you in the right place? 

It’s rare to find people saying that they are happy doing what they love. Or not often you hear, “I love my Job, I love my work place, it is such a lovely firm. The work culture is awesome. It feels like family. My boss is so encouraging.”

The fact of life is we all need the money and we all need the job. We can be our own bosses or be a boss to others. We may not always find a job that we wished for. Even if we do get one, that ideal situation you fancied since a child you wanted to be and so, you worked towards it, you got your dream job. But things don’t work out well if your boss is egoistic, the one who micromanages, the one who follows divide and rule policy or is unempowering, does not respect employees, or does not listen to them and value employee perspectives. What would you do? Can you work in harmony and live happily?

So how do we balance and prioritize our mental health at our workplace?

10th October 2024 is World Mental Health Day.

It is so important to keep ourselves healthy. We have all heard the phrase, ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’.

Why do we need a healthy mind and body?

To help us, perform better and increase our productivity. To improve our memory, help in reducing stress. Better heart rate, better sleep, better feel-good hormones.

Research shows that a balanced diet and regular exercise can help maintain a healthy mind and body.

This year’s official theme of World Mental Health Day- ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’.

What can I do to prioritize my mental health?

Balance your work life and personal life. 

• Have a good support system.
• Manage your time well.
• Set realistic goals.
• Keep time for relaxation.
• Exercise regularly (any form of exercise- walk /jog/ Zumba/ dance/ yoga…)
• When you realize you are going through stress, try to make a note of how things are going around. Evaluate your thoughts. Talk to someone you trust. Take time out.
• Practice relaxation.
• Breathe- practice breathing exercises.
• Give priority to yourself.
• At work- avoid gossip, stay away from toxic people, maintain your boundaries, respect everyone, be polite and kind. Avoid procrastinating.

• Smile regularly. (Every hour, smile for at least a minute. Just smile).

• Practice gratitude.
• Seek help. Do not hesitate to seek help from a mental health professional. A therapist would help you find ways to deal with the situation.

Show your support on this world mental health day, wear green as it signifies hope, strength, support, and encouragement. Green represents fresh starts, optimism, and energy.

Have super fulfilled years at work.

Kashmira Adil Kakalia is a Special Educator and a Mental Health Professional at ImPerfect, the best place for psychological worries. Kashmira, not only works with students and young adults but also seamlessly handles adults, senior citizens, individuals and family related issues.