Mentally fit at work - tips for your mental health

The coronavirus pandemic has caused many people in Germany a lot of trouble. Mental health, in particular, suffered from the long period of working from home and a lack of social contact. What remains even after the pandemic are video conferences and fewer personal conversations. That's why it's important to pay attention to your mental health at work, and we've put together the most important tips for you!

Psychological risks in the workplace

Depending on the type of workplace, there are various risks to mental health. The most common causes of psychological problems include:

• Lack of communication: As everywhere, problems and difficulties must be discussed in a company. If burdens are constantly postponed and ignored, this inevitably has psychological effects.
• High performance pressure: Unreasonable pressure from superiors is received differently by each employee. While some can simply shrug it off, it puts a great strain on others and can be mentally challenging.
• "Unhealthy" workplace: If the workplace does not promote physical health, then the psyche inevitably suffers. Concentration and performance become worse if the workplace is uncomfortable and old-fashioned.
• Lack of social contacts: People are social beings. Due to the pandemic, personal contacts have become fewer and fewer, and afterwards many conferences were digitized. If employees eventually always work alone, this also puts a strain on the mind.

As both an employer and an employee, you have many opportunities to promote mental health. In this article, we'll look at some of the best methods. If you are interested in other topics related to a healthy workplace, feel free to visit the Deskspace website under the Blog section!

Tips for improving mental health at work

There are many simple ways to promote mental health in the workplace. Below, we present some of the possibilities that are easy to implement.

Regular relaxation

According to experts, you should never sit for more than an hour at a time, as this will impair your concentration. Especially with demanding tasks such as programming or video editing, it is therefore important to ensure regular relaxation. When it comes to relaxation, there are countless ways to do this. It doesn't always have to be a 45-minute massage; even simple things can help. Here are some examples:

• Rest in nature: Find a quiet spot and sit still for ten minutes or lie on a blanket. The clean air and natural sounds reduce your stress level in just a few minutes, and you can go back to work refreshed.
• Mindfulness meditation: Find a quiet room or go into nature and observe an object very closely for 60 seconds. Pay attention to every detail and perceive the object precisely. Your circulation slows down and your concentration improves. Then you can continue.
• Rest rooms and relaxation rooms: Your company may offer special rest rooms that you can use. Visit it at least once and spend time there free from external influences.

Work-life balance

Many companies today offer flextime or even complete remote work. However, in the home office, many people tend to work longer than they did in the office. On long days, there is a risk of getting "bogged down," which results in the neglect of other areas of life.

Even in companies that offer flextime, some employees experience difficulties. Many tend to start late and leave the office late in the evening. There is often no time left for hobbies such as sports, eating out, or going out with friends. Many are also less inclined to drag themselves to the gym in the morning.

A good work-life balance is essential when it comes to mental health in the workplace. Therefore, plan your days and see when you can find time for hobbies and friends. It's best not to come to the office too late in the morning, so that you have enough time left in the afternoon. In addition, we recommend that you make appointments with friends early so that you have to stick to them.

Through regular time with your friends and hobbies, you are more balanced and generally happier. Stress at work and long days at your desk can also be compensated for by exercise. You can read more about how to integrate more exercise into your workday on our homepage under the blog section.

Ergonomic office furniture and exercise

Sitting is a great enemy not only for joints and muscles. Mental health also suffers from prolonged inactivity. Poorer concentration, lower frustration tolerance, and a bad mood are common consequences of sitting for too long. Ergonomic office furniture from Deskspace can help keep body & mind fit during a long office day.

An important part of an ergonomic workstation is the sit-stand stool. On a normal office chair, the body is permanently inactive and the circulation slows down completely. In addition, the muscles are not challenged and calorie consumption decreases, which increases the risk of diabetes and obesity.

The 3D sit-stand stool "Wobble" from Deskspace ensures that the body is kept fit with small micro-movements all the time. This relaxes the back, neck, and also the legs. You never sit completely still, which also improves your concentration through increased blood circulation. Through constant movement, you feel fitter, more efficient, and are generally less tense and stressed. A sit-stand stool from Deskspace is available for as little as 149.00 Euros.

In many companies, height-adjustable desks are now standard. In addition to physical benefits and improving the company's image, mental health is also improved. When standing, the body is better supplied with blood and you stay fit and motivated longer. In addition, you are more inclined to move because you are already standing anyway. You can also stand up during long video conferences and stay focused.

Studies have shown that employees who work at standing desks are more inclined to handle things in person rather than pick up the phone. This is mainly due to the fact that these employees are already standing anyway and the hurdle is no longer so great. This promotes important social contacts and improves the working atmosphere. In addition, through more frequent interaction, you learn to address your problems directly.

At Deskspace, we have made it our mission to promote the physical and mental health of our customers at work. You can get a height-adjustable desk with all important functions from us for as little as 449.00 Euros. Feel free to visit our online shop or click through numerous interesting blogs!