We’ve come a long way to change the conversation about mental health, especially in the last year.
As a family business with people at the forefront of what we do, we wanted to help increase awareness and share tips for good mental health for Mental Health Awareness Week:
-
Ways to cope with mental health
Accept it
We are all unique in our ways and being diagnosed with a mental illness can be scary, upsetting and lonely. Accepting your diagnosis is going to be the hardest part but equally the most important, as this will allow you to be open with coping and treating it.
Be realistic
You don’t need to wear your superman / superwoman cape all day every day, accept some days are going to be better than others and don’t be so hard on yourself.
Connect with loved ones and friends
Having a good support network of colleagues, friends and family is important. Connecting with your loved ones and friends can ease your troubles, help you relax and see things differently and is an excellent stress reliever.
Think positive
If stressful situations arise, then try to take it as a learning curve to improve and focus on the positive. Practice overcoming negative self-talk and try to keep a note of inspiring quotes and comments to read whenever you need help to stay focused on your goals.
-
How to improve your mental health
Avoid unhealthy habits
Try to avoid bad habits such as excessive alcohol intake, caffeine, smoking, that can interrupt your life, prevent you from accomplishing your goals and that affect your health both mentally and physically.
Good sleeping pattern
Sleep is SO important to maintaining a healthy relationship with your mental wellbeing. Being tired can make you more irritable, frustrated, and angry.
Be active
Exercise won’t make your mental health disappear, however it can help reduce some of the emotional intensity that you are feeling and a good way to clear your thoughts.
Talk about it
A problem shared is a problem halved. This may not appeal to many people, with the thought of “burdening” others with their problems, however this is far from the truth. Whether it be a friend or family, your HR department or your GP, talking is fantastic therapy and can help you see more clearly.
Relaxation
It’s very important to take time out to look after yourself. Try to do something that relaxes you and eases your mind, like reading, walking, exercise, or simply watching a good TV series.
-
Healthy routine post pandemic tips
Understand it is ok to not be ok
More people than you realise have struggled with some sort of mental health during this pandemic.
Be kind
Kindness has a snowball effect and is just as infectious as COVID itself! Not only will it make someone else feel good, but you will feel better in yourself.
Keep up the walking!
Keep going for regular walks. During the long months of the pandemic, we weren’t able to do much. So many of us relied on nature and going for walks to help distract us from what was going on around us.
Don’t feel pressured to say yes to every invite or event
With the pandemic easing and places reopening, no doubt there are going to be lots of plans being made.
-
Tips for good mental health working from home
Reach out to your manager or HR department
Working from home can have a real strain on your mental health as it can be lonely, frustrating and challenging to stay motivated, which is why it’s essential to reach out if you’re struggling.
Health working environment
Dedicate a space in which allows you to separate yourself from business life to your personal life. This space needs to have everything you need in order to be productive and work as if you were in an office environment. We recommend a location that is well lit, not cluttered and quiet enough for meetings and calls.
Take regular breaks
Working from home can be difficult, which is why separating your personal life from work is very important. The best ways to do this is to follow a time schedule, so it encourages you to break up your day (tea and lunch breaks) and have a healthy work balance. With the summer approaching and nicer weather on the horizon, utilise your lunch break by sitting outside and soak up some sun, or why not go for a walk? This will clear your mind and give you the distance you need from your laptop!
-
How we (Protect Line) help our employees
Employee Assistant Programme (EAP)
The EAP benefit is intended to help our employees, their partners, or children living with them to deal with personal problems – including mental health, finances and legal issues that might adversely impact work performance, life, health and well-being. The EAP service offers online help, as well as a telephone service where you can speak to a trained counsellor on most occasions the same day you ring.
Life events
Life events are paid days off for big life events including birth of a child, buying a house but also there to support during the hard times -to attend a funeral or if you get divorced.
Life moments
Life moments are paid time off for when life happens so if the boiler breaks down or you have an emergency medical appointment etc. Having this additional paid time off means you don’t need to stress about having to take it unpaid and lose out on money.
Wireless headsets
The Wireless headset allows our employees to have flexibility to do their job whilst not being sat at your desk, allowing them to walk around during the working day and not fixed at their chair.
