This article written by EM Training Solutions features different ways to ensure your mental health and wellbeing are made a priority in the workplace.

There’s no doubt about it that work can have a huge impact on our mental health and wellbeing, and equally mental health issues can certainly impact our work. After all, we tend to spend the majority of our lives at work; it’s where we make most of our friends and where we get our income.

A huge 89% of workers with mental health problems reported an impact on their working life, and nearly half of the people surveyed, stated that they had considered resigning from a job role because it negatively impacted their mental health. These statistics clearly indicate the importance of maintaining positive mental health at work; here are some simple yet effective steps you can take to ensure you remain in control of your wellbeing both in and outside of work.

Practise Self Care

Often mentioned yet arguably underrated; self care is one of the smallest yet most significant steps you can take towards a more positive you. Simply taking time out of your day to put yourself first and do things that make you feel happy really adds up and can help prevent you from feeling burned out or having a breakdown.

There are many times in life where we can feel our anxiety and stress building up, maybe as a result of taking on too much work and responsibilities, or trying too hard to please others. Recognising when things are becoming difficult for you, and working around this is incredibly important. Whether it’s taking your full lunch break and leaving work on time without feeling guilty, treating yourself to your favourite coffee or opting for a relaxing night in alone over a night out drinking; all of these are acts of self care whether you realise it or not, and over time they will help.

Be Realistic

Constant deadlines, demands and pressures in work can leave us feeling stressed and overwhelmed. Try your best to be realistic in terms of expectations and don’t take on more than you can handle. If your boss is giving you too much work to do and little support, try and speak up or admit when you’re close to your limit.

Although you may find it hard to say no, being realistic about what you can handle will only benefit you in the long run. You should also be respected for your honesty and will be able to put more effort, time and attention into your tasks rather than rushing to try and make sure all of your work is completed.

Stay Organised

Keeping your diary and day to day life as organised as possible is one of the main things that can help prevent stress. Instead of burying your head in the sand when it comes to commitments or any other issues, try and keep tabs on any upcoming events, as well as your finances and time keeping. All of these aspects of life are important and help you manage your working day smoothly.

Deal with Stress Positively

The first thing to remember when you’re stressed is to recognise how you’re feeling and address the issue instead of ignoring it. If it is work-related, then speak to a manager or someone from the HR department to express how you’re feeling, also don’t feel like you can’t take a day off sick for mental health issues, they are just as important as physical illness.

Try and write down the main things that are causing you to feel anxious or upset and then write down a potential solution to the problem so that you have somewhere to start. Simply speaking about your feelings or writing them down is a great way of dealing with stress as you are getting it out of your system. Instead of turning to negative habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol, think of something that makes you feel better such as exercising or going for a long walk to clear your head.

Author bio: EM Training Solutions provide health and safety and compliance courses in London, catering to a range of different job roles and industries. They boast over 10 years of experience and are a fully authorised and Pearson Vue approved training provider with impressively high pass rates.