USD/KES :
Buy: 126.50
Sell: 131.50
GBP/KES :
Buy: 163.00
Sell: 170.00
EUR/KES :
Buy: 135.00
Sell: 142.00

How To Manage Mental Health At Work - Family Bank Limited, Kenya

Woman showing mental distress due to work triggers

Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual can realize their abilities, cope with normal life stressors, work productively, and fruitfully contribute to their community. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 12 billion working days are lost annually to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$.1 trillion in lost productivity.

Here are ways in which you, as an employee, can manage your mental health in the workplace.

Establish Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is the ability to manage time effectively and distribute labour wisely while maintaining satisfaction in our personal and professional lives. Poor work-life balance can lead to burnout, which is a risk factor for increased anxiety, depression, mood disorders and high stress levels. It can also lead to low work productivity as you would be too fatigued to properly execute your tasks. Do your best to create time for hobbies, interests and family time outside your work schedule.

Develop Healthy Habits

Healthy habits can help improve your physical and mental health. You can develop habits such as exercise, sleep hygiene, a regular schedule, and a balanced diet. Take regular breaks from work to stretch and internalise things. This can help with stress management and lead to overall improvement in mental health, and higher proceeding productivity at work.

Seek Professional Help

Mental health & wellness professionals can provide the kind of support a friend or family may not be able to provide. They can help you identify stressors and triggers in the workplace environment that have a negative impact on your mental health. They are also equipped to come up with ways that can help improve and manage those stressors and triggers so that their impact on your mental health and overall well-being is reduced or eliminated.

Break Tasks Into Manageable Steps

Breaking large tasks into easily manageable steps helps avoid being overwhelmed. Tasks that are not organized in order of priority, can build up and lead to you doing too much which can cause panic and increase pressure to execute. This can ultimately lead to the development of anxiety and panic disorders. Breaking down tasks makes them less intimidating and brings you a sense of accomplishment after the completion of each step.

Keep At It

Mental health management is a continuous process that must be prioritised. Workplace mental health is critical to overall job performance, job happiness, and productivity. Employers can help by creating an organizational culture that fosters teamwork, empathy, and respect by organizing and supporting team building activities. Simultaneously, as an employee, you should develop ways to cope with work pressure to maintain your mental health and life success. By working together, employers and employees can create a safer and healthier workplace.