Four Ways To Prioritize Your Mental Health During the work week

Mental health is a topic that constantly needs to be brought to the forefront, especially in the Black community. In recent years, there has been a push for better mental health practices and a prioritization of self-care practices. With everything going on in the world, people have been advocating for and highlighting the importance of positive mental health practices.

While the journey to better mental health has been underway for a while, there is still a long way to go. The pandemic might have presented some with the opportunity to start prioritizing themselves more, but there are many who are still struggling. 

One of the many negative effects of the pandemic is unhealthy mental health practices in relation to working. Due to the switch to remote work, many people are rolling out of bed and going straight to their computer. It is critical to maintain a healthy work and life balance, which is not often easy in this virtual setting. Here are four ways to prioritize your mental health during the work week. 

Set Strict Work Hours

With remote working, it may seem like the day is endless. In a normal workplace setting, there are set times when an employee has to travel to work, clock in, clock out and take a lunch break and travel home. Without the confines of the office, it is easy for individuals to wake up and work all the way until it is time to go to sleep again. Setting strict starting times, ending times and meal breaks will help to solve that problem.

Take a Break

Sitting at a computer all day can be challenging and it could tire anyone out. During the work day, it can be beneficial to take miniature breaks throughout the day. Whether it be to stretch, use the bathroom, call a friend or get a glass of water, these small moments of relaxation could go a long way in avoiding serious mental burnouts.

Eat Breakfast 

Instead of rushing to a laptop or checking an email, remote workers should start the day with a good breakfast. Whether that is toast and coffee or pancakes, eggs and bacon, workers should allow themselves the opportunity to fully wake up. While having breakfast in the morning will provide the opportunity to mentally prepare for the workday, it also will provide an energy boost until lunch.

Get a Full Eight Hours of Sleep
The best thing that any individual can do to prepare for another day is get a good night’s rest. In a remote setting, it is easy to get caught up binge-watching Netflix’s Tiger King or scrolling through TikTok. Getting a full night’s rest will help relax the body and mind, while also preparing remote workers for the next full work day ahead of them.