Mental Health has continued to become a more talked about issue due to the negative impacts it can have on one’s job, family, and society as a whole. Having good mental health practices in a workplace will help positively impact productivity while also creating a safe environment where workers feel comfortable addressing their mental health issues with their employer. Here are 25 mental health tips from professionals in the corporate workforce.
1. Connect With Others
“Mental health matters for professionals in the corporate world. However, it is easy to get caught up in the grind of work and push mental health down the list of priorities. Connecting with others is an easy and great way to boost mental health. Especially with remote work becoming standard in the workplace, personal connection is becoming more important. Connecting with others can boost positive feelings and help ward off negative thoughts even if it is as simple as reaching out to a coworker. Focus on connecting with others in and outside of the workplace to improve mental health.” -Jeffrey Pitrak, Marketing and Account Manager at Transient Specialists
2. Finding your Flow State
“Discovering this zone can directly contribute to the use of your time. It helps you reach an optimal state of consciousness when you feel and perform your best. If you haven’t been able to feel this, then take breaks and take care of your creative health until you are able to perform at your highest. The biggest tip that helps me find this is to structure similar tasks together. Different tasks require a different level of thinking, so when you work on related tasks, you help your brain focus easier as you go throughout the day. It’s really made a difference when making sure our employees have what they need to stay productive and avoid burnout.” -Connor MacDonald, CMO of Ridge
3. Open Communication
“Communicating honestly with your employer is extremely important when it comes to battling mental health issues in the corporate world. Taking time to talk with a manager or HR rep about some of the stressors you are facing, inside or outside of the office, can do nothing but help yourself in the situation. Employers will respect the openness and honesty you are giving them as to why numbers may be lower, or deadlines may not be met. This can allow the two of you to carve out a more manageable day and set realistic expectations of what can be accomplished in that time period. Keeping your employer in the loop is also vital, as it will show them you care to get your work completed as soon as you can, instead of letting things build up without them knowing.” -Megan Jones, Community Outreach Manager at NutraSweet Natural
4. Keep it Simple
“Oftentimes, you can be your biggest enemy when it comes to mental health. Remember to stay out of your own way! People love to over-complicate things, making daily tasks more stressful and harmful to mental health than they need to be. Keep your tasks simple, even if it makes you feel lazy or that the task was too easy. Life comes at you fast, and you will have plenty of difficult and complex tasks thrown your way that would make you yearn for the simpler assignment.” -Kate Lipman, Sales & Marketing Consultant at embrace.
5. Leave Work at Work
“Drawing a line between work and life can be one of the biggest aids to one’s mental health, especially if you’re working from home. You need to set boundaries for yourself, before the line between work and life becomes blurred. If you work from home, make sure you have a dedicated workspace, and don’t come back to this space once work is done. If you’re still working out of the office, leave work at work! The last thing your mental health needs is more work for you to do once you get home. Use a time tracker if you must or set timers for when to stop working. Your brain will thank you later.” -Himanshu Agarwal, SVP of Solutions at WorkBoard.
6. Remember to Stay in the Moment
“The corporate world can be really intense and requires you to keep in mind projects, deadlines and schedules for months ahead. This can become a habit in not only your professional life, but will bleed into your personal life as well, causing you to worry about the future instead of enjoying the moment. Remember your personal life does not need to operate in the ‘always think ahead’ mode and you should make a conscious effort to appreciate every moment, even when you’re in work-mode!” -Alex Schmitt, Digital PR Specialist at Save the Children
7. Practice Mindfulness
“Prioritizing your mental health is so important!! Not only will it allow you to live a fulfilling, enjoyable life, but also will carry over to more success in the workplace. My #1 tip is to set aside some time every day to meditate, do some yoga, or do anything that makes you more mindful. It’s easy to get caught up in our fast-paced world and forget where you are at in the current moment, but mindful activities will help you recenter yourself!” -Brooke Wilson, Community Outreach Manager at Fabric
8. Find Activities for Your Off Time
“It’s easy to forget work is just that, work. A lot of people base their entire well-being on their success in the workplace. You need to remember, this is just a small part of life as there’s so much more to make you happy and feel fulfilled. My tip would be to go out and seek these thrills that make life enjoyable in your off time, instead of just sitting around thinking about work until it’s time to start working again. If you don’t have a hobby, go find one!” -Jonathan Finegold, Sr. eCommerce Manager at MedCline
9. Refresh Your Workspace
“Whether you’re working from home or back in the office, having an office space that feels and looks like yours can boost productivity, energy, and your overall mental state. Consider incorporating calming colors into accessories for your office, like picture frames, and adding more light where you can to increase mood and alertness. I find that having plants in my office and pictures of my family makes me the happiest, especially when I’m not having the best day. What’s important is finding the things that make you feel the most “you” and incorporating them into your workspace.” -Adrian Pereira, Co-founder of Eco Pea Co.
10. Do Your Best to Disconnect
“In the age of working from home, it is especially important to keep your work and life separate. Turn off your email and messaging notifications after the workday. Try to not feel guilty about logging off and committing weekends to personal time rather than work. By setting these boundaries for yourself, you can also help prevent burnout and start the next workday refreshed and rejuvenated.” -Andrew Grant, Cofounder and Head of Marketing at Dutch
11. Learn When to Say No
“One of the most challenging things for people to do is understand how to balance a healthy mental space within the workforce. Many of us have a mentality of always being in ‘work mode’ and not finding an efficient amount of time to stop working and start relaxing. Let’s face it, many of us have worked during days or hours that are supposed to be personal time. Most importantly, during the pandemic of working from home, we have seen an even bigger challenge with separating life from work. Furthermore, the best thing you can discover is knowing when to say no. Give yourself a set time for work and maybe an extra hour before or after, in case your boss or coworker asks a clarifying question. However, once that time frame is up, turn the computer off, turn off the work phone, and disassociate yourself from the office space. Saying no doesn’t mean you will never be able to do it but saying no means you cannot do it right now. Any other tasks you can accomplish during your next block of working hours. The best thing you can do is let your employees, co-workers, or boss know the hours you set aside for work so they recognize when to ask you questions. Once you learn how to say no and refine these block hours, you will have more time to spend with those around you.” -Aaron McWilliams, Director of Marketing at 1Dental
12. Keep Social Media Usage To A Minimum
“While it can be very entertaining, social media tends to outline more negative aspects in the world than positive ones. Being able to ignore all the annoying things going on in the world and instead focusing on your business will do your mental health a great service. If you can, hire a social media manager who can operate those platforms so you do not have to.” -Rich Rudzinski, Founder and Technical Strategist for Oversight.co and Tragic Media
13. Be Open but Honest
“Every once in a while, we’ll all feel helpless and all of our worries, problems, and struggles in our professional and personal lives will make it seem like a thousand ton weight on your shoulders and mindset. At any point you’re feeling off, upset, sad, depressed, or lost, you MUST communicate it. It doesn’t matter if it’s your co-worker, boss, friend, relative, significant other, or even your pet! Talk to anyone or even any object you find helpful! Talking about all of your issues and struggles to somebody will always help you put some, if not all, of that burden off of your shoulders, and could even help find a way to make yourself start to feel better.” -Alex Bell, Outreach Specialist at 1-800-Pack-Rat
14. It’s Not Always About the Title
“While it would be nice to get to that C-suite level, they are no different when it comes to anxiety and stress. Whether it be an entry level position or the CEO of the company, everybody can get stressed at their job. One has to recognize that a job title means nothing if your mental health is terrible, so taking the steps to improve one’s mental health will ultimately make them much happier at their position in their company.” -Chris Hunter, Director of Customer Relations for ServiceTitan
15. Reward Yourself
“Never shy away from giving yourself a pat on the back. Everyone deserves the feeling of getting a reward, and there is nothing wrong with giving yourself a treat. The reward could be anything, from a fancy coffee to start off your day, a weekend shopping-spree, or a fancy out-of-office lunch with some coworkers. The important thing is to always stay rewarding yourself. You deserve as many personal rewards as you give yourself, and these rewards can often spark the pick-me-up that you were looking for to get yourself over the mental hump and kick your productivity into gear.” -Brandon Hulme, Product Management Lead at Deputy
16. It’s Ok to Take A Day Off
“When it comes to prioritizing mental health, it is perfectly fine to take a day (or more) off and just focus on yourself. If you are working and are just not mentally there, work will seem to drag on forever. Taking some time to yourself will allow you to mentally reset and prepare yourself for future work days. After taking a mental health day you will find yourself much more productive and probably even happier at work. Knowing when you need to take a day off is important and a person has to be very in tune with themselves to know when their body and mind need rest.” -Gregg Dean, Co-founder and CEO of Layla Sleep
17. Get To Know Your Coworkers
“Supporting your coworkers is a great way to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable communicating with one another. It’s easy to overlook the importance of having a work environment you enjoy being a part of, and you may feel like it’s something you have no control over, but in many ways you do. Try starting small and creating relationships with people who sit near you, or people on your team, and go from there. It’s a great way to help create a positive work environment in the corporate world.” -Sanem Ahearn, Head of Marketing at Colorescience
18. Invest In Your Health
“It’s important to find time throughout your day to pause and take a break. Your mental and physical health is critical. Furthermore, by investing in ergonomic furniture such as standing desks, converters, and more, you are allowing your body more opportunity to move and stay active. In addition, ergonomic furniture helps promote great posture, higher productivity, and a healthier workspace. In fact, people tend to work more efficiently when they have the opportunity to take a break and move around. Even spending five minutes meditating gives you the chance to pause, destress, and relax. Another great option can be taking a walk around your neighborhood. Your mental and physical health is important and finding ways to increase movement throughout your workday will lead to greater contentment and gratification.” -Judy O’Loughlin, Outreach Specialist at Vari
19. Set Boundaries
“Creating a workplace that is conducive to your success and balance is crucial for your mental health. It is important to structure your day in a way that you will be most productive, while also listening to yourself. Remember that it is okay to take breaks, and breaks can even rejuvenate you to come back to work energized with a new perspective. Ultimately, the most important mental health tip I have for professionals in the corporate world, is to set boundaries. It is okay to say no, to ask for help and to prioritize what works for you.” -Jason Brandt, Customer Service Director at Podopolo
20. Words of Affirmation
“Positive affirmations (or mantras) are statements that you can use to give yourself motivation and encouragement. These are proven to help with anxiety, relieve stress, and boost your mood. These can be anything from “I am happy”, “I am good at my job”, or “I’m going to do great at work today”. It’s recommended to repeat these to oneself before work, during meditation, or during the day. Just like you would take a deep breath when stressed.” -Brandon Brown, CEO of GRIN
21. Know When It Is Time to Recharge
“To be the best version of yourself, you must check in with yourself throughout the day. Making notes of what needs to be done, when you can position yourself to take a walk and a mental break in order to come back rejuvenated, setting reminders in your phone to take a breath of fresh air, and even staying hydrated and motivated are all concrete ways to keep yourself in balance during the workweek. Know when it is time to recharge mentally, and that it is okay to sit back, re-evaluate what is most important and re-charge.” -Jacob Dayan, CEO and Co-founder of Community Tax
22. Stick to a Routine
“No matter how streamlined your day can feel, things come up and can throw off the plan for your day. Routine is the enemy of chaos. When chaotic situations arise, routine keeps you grounded in some familiarity. As mental health days fluctuate, reminding yourself of the simple things that keep you on track like taking a walk before work, or drinking lemon water before coffee are a good mental reminder.” -Tom Mumford, Co-founder of Undergrads LLC
23. Journaling
“Starting a journal is a simple way to bring more brain-care into your life. There are many ways of journaling from bullet journals, diary journals, food journals, etc. Starting is easy, you just need to find a way you find more accessible to journal in every day and the rest is about consistency. The contents should be easy, you can journal about your day-to-day activities, things you’re grateful for, etc. Expressing yourself through a journal can help you with your emotional well-being, improve your self esteem, boost your memory, improve your sleep and even reduce stress.” -Daniel Ward, Editor at Invoice2go
24. Create SMART Goals
“Setting smart goals can help us to organize our time and organize our life. It makes us act in accordance with our intentions and at the same time, it helps us to stay away from the distractions that undermine our efforts. This is because our goals need to be clear, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. If we are able to create smart goals, we will be able to maintain self-discipline, self-control and self-motivation.” -Chris Panteli, Founder of LifeUpswing
25. Normalize Mental Health in the Workplace
“Mental health is a serious & important topic that the workplace can have an effect on, especially during tough periods of the year that your company might experience. It is critical that your company provides mental health care information in order to open up & make it clear that it is an acceptable part of the work culture. Having that dialogue with your co-workers can ease stress & combat the prejudice that mental health has on our society.” -Sacha Ferrandi, Founder of Source Capital
Maintaining a healthy workplace relationship for oneself starts with taking care of yourself, both mentally and physically. By reducing the stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace and creating safe environments where employees are able to voice their struggles and get the mental health help they need, productivity will continue to increase and employees will feel less absent or aloof during the day. Companies should continue to encourage employees to practice mental health tips and create environments where they are free to do so.
