Lifting Your Mood at Work

9 tips to stay mentally healthy at work

Most people see that going to work is good for their mental health... but what about when it isn't? What then?

For Mental Health Day IPRS Health's Psychological team have put together some tips that can help lift your mood in work.

Tip 1: Find your baseline - knowing your habits when you are well will help you notice when they are not so well - early warning signs!

Tip 2: Be selfish - make sure you take time each day to relax and do whatever you enjoy, even if it's listening to your favourite music.

Tip 3: Screen free time - make sure you take your screen breaks at work and try to reduce the time you spend on your phone during your leisure and lunchtime!

Tip 4: Write - use to do lists if you have a lot to do instead of it all circling around your mind. Write an annoying thought on a piece of paper then screw it up and bin it, or shred it! Just writing things down that stress you out can be cathartic.

Tip 5: Exercise - exercise releases those happy chemicals! The mind and body are connected so a healthy body can give you a healthy mind, so take regular exercise or a brisk walk at lunch or bike to work!

Tip 6: Cut down on alcohol - we all like that glass of wine (or gin) after a stressful day. Remember alcohol is a depressant and will increase your emotional response. Try to have those 2-4 alcohol free days a week!

Tip 7: Talk and Listen - it's good to talk! One of the worst things you can do is to bottle everything up, when that bottle shakes it explodes. Find someone who can be your 'buddy' or a friend at work and share stresses with each other. Support each other. Sometimes vocalising the way we feel halves the stress that the problem causes.

Tip 8: You are what you eat - what we eat can affect the chemicals in our body and mind. For example: a banana has tryptophan in it - this is a natural anti-depressant. Turn that banana upside down and what do you have? 

Tip 9: Mindfulness 3 Step Breathing Space - a great 3 minute meditation practice to help you step back and refocus (even at your desk or on the loo!) - https://www.bangor.ac.uk/mindfulness/audio/index.php.en

Wishing you well with your mental health. 

From the Psychological Therapy Service Team

Could our psychological services benefit your business? Read more about the support we offer here.