I recently received an email from someone who had a read a few of my blogs.

They liked the content and asked me I would write a blog for inclusion on their website.

The ideas they had were for “nutrition “ and “mental health in the workplace “.

I decided to write about mental health in the workplace.

Soon afterwards the excitement of writing this blog wore off.

I’d never written a blog for anyone else.

Never been given a title to write about.

What do I know about having a “normal “ job.

Will I just write a load of buzz words and cliches?

So I spent some time thinking about it and came up with the following:

Break The Cycle

I’m just going to give some tips on how you can take care of your mental health in the workplace.

Nutrition

A lot of people skip breakfast.

Its the most important meal of the day.

It provides the body and brain with an injection of energy which can help increase productivity.

I would recommend porridge as it contains slow release carbs which should get you through to your mid morning snack.

The majority of cereals are very high in sugar and nothing else.

The smell of an Orange relieves stress.  Smelling an Orange or eating one can reduce stress by over 70%.

I generally start each morning with two glasses of water.

It’s very important to get your daily requirement of water.  Generally, 8 glasses – this can be increased depending on your activity.

If you are not drinking enough water you may suffer from headaches and fatigue which will lead to reduced levels of productivity.

Try to get a water filter.  Kangen water filters are very good.

Try to swap a cup of tea or coffee for two glasses of water.

As far as food goes you should try for 80% health 20% rubbish.

Food prep is a great idea as people use lack of time as an excuse to eat rubbish.

Try and prepare soup or salad to bring to work.  You will end up saving time and money.

As a lot of people are spending 8 or more hours a day sitting in front of a computer there are many benefits to having the right intake of water.   As you will have to pass water you will be up from your desk at various points throughout the day.

A lot of offices are using stand up work stations.  These are a lot better for your posture and should reduce neck, shoulder and back pain.

I knew a lady a couple of years ago who had problems with her lower back. She swapped her office chair for a gym ball.

Believe it or not sending less e-mails at work can help to get you up on your feet more.

Instead of e mailing your colleague, who is in the next office or on the next floor, asking them if they are finished with the report you

emailed them, walk to their office and ask them in person.

Comfortable clothing and footwear can also make your working day an awful lot easier.

Carpooling

A lot of people these days have a long commute to work.  Are you one of them?

America is famous for car pooling due to the fact that the have the infrastructure for it.

Ireland and England are starting to follow suit in the last number of years.

If you live in the same area as a number of colleagues it makes sense for you to car pool. If there is 3 or 4 of you then you would only have to drive 2 or 3 times over a two week period.

Reducing the risk of fatigue will lead to better productivity during the day,  reduce the risk of car accident and can lead to more time spent with family and friends.

Working Remotely

A new trend is that people are starting to work remotely.

There are various reasons behind this.

The increase in rental prices for offices,  houses and apartments has been a contributing factor for this.

If you are in a position to work remotely I would advise you to seriously consider it.

Hopefully towns and villages around Ireland can start to benefit from this.

You would end up completely getting rid of your work commute,   reduce the amount you spend on rent and possibly get on the property ladder.

I read an article about a man working in London.  He moved to Barcelona and rented an amazing townhouse for the same amount he was paying in London.  He only needed to be in the London office everyone couple of weeks.  He ended up with better work life balance and lived in a better climate.  Obviously this is a rare enough case but its worth thinking about.

Hobbies

The amount of people aged 18-25 that don’t have any real hobbies is amazing.

Looking after your physical health is just as important as looking after your mental health.

Try to find something you enjoy.  If you don’t enjoy going to the gym well there is no point in paying €500 or more per year just to have a fob on your keyring.

Parkrun is a great opportunity for runners of  all levels and its free.

Cycling to work is another great way to beat the commute.  Cycle to work scheme should cover 50% of the cost of a new bike.

Do not use your children as an excuse for not being active.

Travel

Traveling is one of the best ways to learn.

I would recommend visiting somewhere new every year.

Make the most of the time outside of the office.

Go on mini adventures

Mindfulness

I would highly recommend yoga as a way to relax.  Its also great for flexibility and posture.

Stop judging or criticising people.  There is no benefit to it.

Reduce the amount of time you spend on social media.

Sharing any amount of nonsense on social media is not going to solve anything.

Talking about your mental health takes strength.

If you are injured get your injuries treated by a professional.  A good health insurance plan should cover this.

Sleep

Get the right amount of sleep.

This is where the brain gets to recharge.

The body starts to repair and grow and all sorts of other functions take place.

Cut down on phones and computers.

Read a good book.