Mental well-being at work: how to prioritise self-care

Mental well-being at work: how to prioritise self-care

Habits for maintaining mental well-being
Identifying when the cost to mental health is too high
Beating feelings of inadequacy
Coping with the guilt associated with self-care
Coping with failure and setbacks

Are you equipped to protect your mental well-being at work? At a time when work-life balance is harder to achieve and the pressure to succeed can feel heavier than ever, it’s never been more vital to prioritise self-care.

Robert Half recently hosted an enlightening discussion on protecting your well-being at work. Although discussed through a women's well-being lens, the practical tips and coping techniques that were shared can be used by professionals of all genders and all career levels.

Following on from this conversation, Beth Turner, Director of Learning and Development at Robert Half, shares her thoughts with added insights about managing anxiety at work, feelings of pressure or insecurity, and how to tell when your life and values are misaligned.

We all go through periods of heightened stress or overwhelm. In situations like these, it’s a good idea to return to the five foundations of good health and mental health: sleep, nutrition, movement, daylight, and connection.

A great way to keep track of them is to keep a list somewhere you’ll see them every day, so you’re able to check in with yourself regularly. With everything that life can unexpectedly throw your way, keeping these foundations solid will make sure you’re stronger when something happens.

Have you ever heard the phrase 'Anything that costs you your peace is too expensive'? Health and mental health are two of the most important things we have — if you're giving them up, the cost must be well worth it. Simply checking in on the different areas of your life and rating them to determine which are most important to you can make all the difference.

If something is important to you, but it has recently taken a backseat, this can be an indication that you need to reevaluate your priorities and realign your daily life with what matters most.

Feeling inadequate or 'not good enough' can plague professionals at all career levels. Ambition can cause us to chase higher goals and look ahead, rather than stopping to appreciate how far we've come.

“Constantly trying to figure out what’s next can take it’s toll on your mental health” Beth Turner reflects “but it’s possible for you to reflect and adjust your mindset. You can still have goals and be determined, but try to have more balance, and to value what you have achieved so far – make an effort to be happy with what you have”.

Taking time off or time out from a hectic life is essential for maintaining good mental well-being, but some professionals—especially women—find it hard to cope with the guilt associated with taking time for themselves.

Guilt can sometimes be a useful tool, listening to it can help you realise that your values are not aligned. If a parent was to go out every night and not see their children, they may feel guilty as that is not the way they want to parent, and that is guilt worth listening to if it doesn’t mirror their principles.

“The way we feel can be a byproduct of past experiences, so it can really help us to understand what we have to do and why” says Beth.

Changing your relationship with failure can transform your well-being at work for the better, especially if you attach failure to your sense of self-worth. The fear of failure can deter you from taking risks or moving forward, which can prevent you from reaching your true potential or achieving the things you want.

It can help to change your mindset when it comes to failure, try to remember that though you may not be able to stop it from happening, what you can do is make a promise to yourself that you’ll support yourself no matter what.

Shifting to this thought process can make all the difference and can prevent the fear of failure that can often hold people back from achieving their goals.

Visit the Robert Half insights page for more advice on professional growth and achieving a healthy work-life balance.

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