5 Tips For Protecting Your Mental Health Whilst Working From Home

It’s been a challenging year for everyone, and whether you are dealing with stress and the juggling act of working from home, or are starting to feel anxiety about going back to the office, it is imperative we take some time to pause and reflect.

Taking initiative to support mental health while protecting your and your family’s physical health whilst we continue under restrictions is important.At AHO we want everyone to feel safe and supported no matter where they are working from.

Check out our resident Mental Health First Aider, Michael’s top 5 tips for improving your mental health.

Michael is passionate about mental health and along with his expert knowledge in Occupational Health and Safety believes early identification and intervention are the most powerful tools we can use.

1. Drink water & get some sun.
   You’re basically a houseplant with more complicated emotions.
   Spending 15 - 20 mins in the sun will ward off the ‘black dog’ by boosting your serotonin and vitamin D levels. Your self-esteem will also improve as you begin to regain your pre-pandemic tan.

2. Spend time with family and friends, with yourself
   The truth is that without self-care, you’re not giving yourself a fighting chance to give your best to each aspect of your life. If you don’t take care of your own needs first, you’ll find yourself burnt out and struggling in everyday life before you know it

3. Get off social media. Share your thoughts and feelings with a real person that you trust. When you are feeling very intense feelings — especially fear, aggression or anxiety — your amygdala is running the show. This is the part of the brain that, among other things, handles your fight or flight response. When you get stressed or overwhelmed, this part of your brain can take control and even override more logical thought processes. Give your amygdala a break by 'un-friending' addictive and potentially harmful social media platforms,

4. Invest in ergonomic furntiure. You wouldn’t think twice about investing in a new mattress that you sleep on for 8 hours a night. Investing in a chair or workspace you spend up to 10 hours a day should defiantly be on your list of things to do. When you physically feel better your mind follows. Your headache may not necessarily be caused by stress, but instead your workstation set up.

5. Turn off email notifications. Set boundries between your work and personal life. The constant connection to work has continued to creep into our personal lives and figuring out how to balance work and life has become increasingly difficult whilst working from home. If you use communication tools like Slack or have any other kind of group chats for work, turn the notifications for these off when you finish for the day or the week. You may even find that turning these off when you take a lunch break is a good way to give your brain a short break to ensure you are refreshed and ready to get back into the day after you’ve had your lunch.

Need Help Now?

If your life is in danger CALL 000.

Need Support Now?

If you or someone you care for is in need of immediate support you can contact the below National Crisis Counselling Services.

• Lifeline 13 11 14 - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Lifeline Text 0477 13 11 14 – 6pm to midnight (AEDT), 7 nights a week

• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 - www.beyondblue.org.au (link is external)

• Butterfly Foundation National Helpline 1800 334 673

• Carer Support 1800 242 636 or 1300 554 660

• SANE Australia Helpline 1800 187 263

• Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au(link is external)

• MensLine Australia 1300 789 978

• QLife 1800 184 527

• Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling 1800 011 046

Need More Information:

• Head to Health www.headtohealth.gov.au (link is external)

• Black Dog www.blackdoginstitute.org.au (link is external)

• Headspace www.eheadspace.org.au (link is external)

• R U OK? www.ruok.org.au (link is external)

• ReachOut www.au.reachout.com (link is external)

• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health www.embracementalhealth.org.au