Monthly wrap: Looking after your mental health in 2020 and beyond

The coronavirus outbreak, lockdown and financial uncertainty has put an added strain on our mental wellbeing this year.

More than ever it’s important to remain informed on how to look after our, and others’ mental health at a time when physical health is widely talked about.

The Mental Health Foundation continues to help people with tips on getting through this tough time.

So, to raise awareness for World Mental Health Day on 10^th October we’ve outlined the tips and ways to cope at this time and in future.
 

Focus on the present and take one step at a time

The great American clinician Abraham Maslow once said: “The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.”

But as we face the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, it’s too easy to fall out of the present moment and dwell on the past or future, making us feel powerless.

The Mental Health Foundation recommends that we focus on the present during times of uncertainty. Why? Because we can control our present moment to a much larger extent.

So, if you reduce your timescale down to what can be achieved in a day – or even right now – you’ll soon find that a sense of control returns.
 

Small steps soon add up

A great way to build a sense of control again is with small cumulative efforts, making what you control now add up over time.

Consequently, you’ll find yourself becoming more productive as the number of tasks you commit to grow and reinforce themselves in the future.

Moreover, you can commit to forming positive habits, which feedback and improve your levels of self-control, allowing you to regain a sense of control over life one step at a time.

Importantly, each opportunity you can grasp leads to another.
 

Cure anxiety by building up a tolerance

Anxiety continues to be a big issue during the coronavirus outbreak and could be the most common emotional response we experience at the moment.

It’s been just as difficult dealing with isolation during lockdown to restrictions easing now and facing the outside world again.

If you do find yourself feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, the first thing you should do is gently build up tolerance.
This means you should do something that challenges you every day, or within a set time frame.   

Lockdowns and working from home can soon become a form of deliberate isolation, so it’s important to begin to step outside of your comfort zone and celebrate small wins.

You should also keep a note of your achievements so you can easily monitor your progress. But remember, it’s always important to take things at your own pace.
 
Talk to friends and your workmates

If you’re cooped up in your own home, it’s important to keep in touch with others to gain an outside perspective.

It’s important to find your own tribe, who will listen to you and give you fresh ideas. Not only will it make you feel less lonely, but it will also add to an increased sense of control. After all, it’s always reassuring when you meet others that think like you.

Also, it’s important not to dismiss or judge yourself too harshly. Friends, family, and work colleagues can help you put your life and mind into a new and clearer perspective.

You’ll also find many workplaces are becoming more flexible should you want to continue to work from home or even return.

However, if you are finding it difficult, it’s important you speak to your manager or a colleague you trust.

Companies will listen to concerns over mental health and you may be entitled to receive some reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act.

Employers have a responsibility to ensure their staff have access to the support they need to keep themselves mentally healthy, especially during particularly challenging periods.

Leeann Nash, our Head of Corporate Sales and the company’s Mental Health First Aider, states: ‘Now more than ever, with remote working and the isolation that engenders, the onus is on companies to check in with their staff regularly and be cognisant of the strain it can have on an employee’s mental wellbeing. Just because people look ok on a WebEx or sound ok on the phone doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling. Employees finding it difficult to cope is a perfectly normal response to a very unusual environment. We're in this together and it’s fine to not be fine, just please keep talking!’
 
Mental health can affect us all and in times like this so it’s important to look out for one another. If you know someone who is suffering from anxiety or grief, it’s worth reaching out as it can make all the difference.
However, there are also many excellent ways to get help, with the Samaritans, the Shout Crisis Text Line (text Shout to 85258), as well as Rethink Mental Illness and Mind.