Mentally fit at work - tips for your mental health

The corona pandemic has caused problems for many people in Germany. Mental health in particular suffered from the long time in the home office and without social contacts. What remains even after the pandemic is video conferences, few personal conversations. It is therefore important that you also pay attention to your mental health at work. We have summarized the most important tips for you!

Mental health risks in the workplace

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

• Lack of communication: As everywhere, problems and difficulties have to be discussed in a company. If burdens are kept being postponed and ignored, this inevitably has psychological effects
• High pressure to perform: Inappropriate pressure from superiors is perceived differently by each employee. While some people can just put it away, others find it very stressful and mentally struggling
• "Unhealthy" workplace: If the workplace does not promote physical health, then the psyche inevitably suffers as a result. Concentration and productivity deteriorate when the workplace is uncomfortable and old-fashioned
• Lack of social contacts: Humans are social beings. Due to the pandemic, personal contacts have become fewer and fewer and many conferences were digitized afterwards. When employees always work alone at some point, that also puts a strain on their heads

Both as an employer and as an employee, you have many opportunities to promote mental health. In this article we look at some of the best practices, if you are interested in more topics related to a healthy workplace, feel free to check out the blog on the desqup website !

Tips to improve mental health in the workplace

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

Regular relaxation

According to experts, you should never sit for more than an hour at a time, otherwise it will affect your concentration. It is therefore important to ensure that you relax regularly, especially when it comes to demanding tasks such as programming or video editing. 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 down on a blanket. The clean air and nature sounds will reduce your stress level in just a few minutes and you can get back to work rested
• Mindfulness Meditation: Find a quiet room or go into nature and observe an object closely for 60 seconds. Pay attention to every detail and perceive the object clearly. Your circulation slows down and your concentration improves. After that you can continue
• Rest and relaxation rooms: Your company may have special rest rooms that you can use. Visit it at least once and spend there free from external influences

work-life balance

Many companies today offer flextime or even complete remote work. In the home office, however, many people tend to work longer hours than in the office. On long days one threatens to become "bogged down", the consequence of which is neglect of other areas of life.

Difficulties also arise for some employees in companies that offer flexitime. Many tend to start early and late and also leave the office late in the evening. There is often no time left for hobbies such as sports, going out to eat or going out with friends. In the morning, too, many people don't feel like dragging themselves to the gym.

A good work-life balance is essential when it comes to mental health in the workplace. So plan your days and see when you can find time for hobbies and friends. It is best not to be late for the office tomorrow so that there is still enough time in the afternoon. In addition, we recommend that you make appointments with friends early on, so that you then have to stick to them.

Regular time with your friends and your hobbies will make you more balanced and generally happier. Stress at work and long days at the desk can also be compensated for by exercise. You can read about how you can integrate even more exercise into your everyday work on our homepage under the blog item.

Ergonomic office furniture and movement

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

An important part of the ergonomic workplace is the sitting and standing stool. On a normal office chair, the body is permanently inactive and the circulatory system shuts down completely. In addition, the muscles are not required and the calorie consumption decreases, which increases the risk of diabetes and obesity.

The 3D stool "Wobble" by desqup ensures that the body is kept fit with small micro-movements. This relaxes your back, neck and legs. You never sit completely still, which also improves your concentration through increased blood flow. The permanent movement makes you feel fitter, more efficient and generally less tense and stressed. A sitting and standing stool from desqup is already available for 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 are fit and motivated for longer. You're also more inclined to move since you're already standing. Even during long video conferences, you can stand up like this and stay on task.

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

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