Occupational mental health is a state of well-being that allows employees to be aware of their abilities and, in this way, manage the normal stress generated by each job and maintain productivity, without neglecting their personal development and other areas of their lives.

It is very important to maintain a balance between all these areas (family, friends, work, personal space, professional development...) and to be aware of when it is necessary to give a little more in each one, without losing stability.

Poor mental health now tends to be a limiting factor in the workplace and, at the same time, being out of work will affect mental health.

Fortunately, nowadays more and more companies are concerned about the mental health of their employees, and they can easily find health benefits, leisure activities, rest plans and guides for each employee to achieve their balance.

How to take care of your mental health at work?

Self-knowledge: This is the key for everyone. Knowing yourself, knowing what your limits are and why the emotions you feel are derived. For example, something that happens frequently is that many people are in a bad mood, but it is due to bad eating. Knowing why you are angry makes it possible to deal with the emotion correctly and not create more complex conflicts.
Talking: Human beings have approximately 20,000 active and 40,000 passive words per day. Expressing what you think or feel in words, through the appropriate means, improves mental health at work. Many people complain about various situations, but even we psychologists are not able to read those thoughts, let alone companies. The crystal ball only works in the movies! So, express yourself!
Balance: You work to live, not live to work. Work is a source of income and a form of professional self-realization, but life is much more: it is family, friends, travel, sports. Balance all areas of your life. Divide your week into segments where you can cover all areas, and be flexible, as sometimes some areas will require more time.

If you find it difficult, there are always health professionals who can guide you and help you to achieve the balance and integral health, both physical and mental, that you need to have a balanced lifestyle.

This topic was written by our psychologist Rosa Fonseca. If you are interested in going deeper in occupational mental health, we invite you to read the Part 1where we discuss more strategies and tips for maintaining a healthy balance between work and your personal life.

Rosa Fonseca
~ PSYCHOLOGIST - MBA Organizational Development