Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellness to Overcome Workplace Stress

No matter what, you come first. This is something not many people realize when they enter the working world. A lot of fresh employees have the common misconception that living their lives outside of work is only meant for the weekends. This does not need to be true. There is no doubt that employees want to be the best of the best and nothing less than that.

However, everyone needs a break from work. Taking a break isn’t a crime. It’s a necessity. It’s a form of taking care of you and your mental health. When graduates enter the working world for the first time, they feel the need to overachieve. They feel the need to get validation from their managers about how they’re doing at work. We all get so caught up with all kinds of workplace scenarios that we forget to understand it’s okay to step back and take time for ourselves.

According to the World Health Organization, “work-related stress is the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope”. The sad truth is that whenever employees experience work-related stress, it is rare that their managers come forward and offer their support. Here are some tips and tricks to take a breather for yourself.

Rediscover Yourself

Taking time for yourself gives you an opportunity to reflect and rediscover yourself. The first step is to get rid of the guilty feeling inside of you saying “it’s wrong to take time for yourself”. Taking the time to reflect and rediscover increases productivity and motivation. It refreshes the brain to start on a clean slate. According to the Muse, “feeling connected is an essential component of human happiness”, even if it means connecting with yourself. The best way to do this is to focus on your breath. You can do this anywhere and anytime you want. Follow your breath by being aware of it and repeat this process as much as you deem necessary.

Box Breathing

Box breathing is a technique used to calm yourself down. Picture a box with four equal sides. Box breathing is a simple 4-second rotation that goes like this: breathe through the nose, hold your breath, breathe out through your mouth, and hold your breath. According to Forbes, “The calming and focusing effects of this technique are noticeable within just a few minutes of practice.” You can repeat this as many times as you want until your mind and body feel calm again. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Nowadays, work from home burnout is absolutely real. A bad headspace affects your whole day, especially when you’re at work. This is when box breathing comes in handy. Just taking 5 minutes to breathe turns everything around in the best way possible.

Talk to a Teammate

Teammates are a wonderful distraction and support system. At work, your teammates see your good, bad, and ugly times. Most importantly, they have your back. They support you when you need it the most. We all have bad days at work. Solutions? Talk to a friend. Go get coffee. Take a breather in the break room. Interacting with teammates allows you to vent out your frustrations. It allows you to take in the necessary advice you need when you’re facing tough situations. Teammates are your network to reach out to for just about anything.

Gauging Employee Mental Health with PxidaEX

Your mental health is your first priority next to your physical health. We all have overwhelming days at work. It’s up to us to change that. Lucky for you, PxidaEX is the perfect tool for you to check in with your employees and what they may need on an organizational level to maintain their mental health. Find out what gaps can be filled, and see your workplace retention and productivity soar.