The year 2020 has presented a unique set of challenges to how we live our lives, both at work and at home. A pandemic, climate change, civil unrest, a presidential race, and the isolation of social distancing can take their toll. Some of us may feel pushed beyond our limits and could use some mental health coaching and support.
While it’s rarely easy to reach out for help, you don’t have to face the current conditions alone. There are plenty of resources to turn to for help. Take a look at the American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s Center for Workplace Mental Health, and grab some tips from the mental health tool kit to stay healthy during these uncertain times.
Maybe it’s time to revisit your routine. If you are working full time from home, you’re likely following your old 8–5 schedule. However, if your kitchen table is also your desk, it’s very likely that there’s little separation between your home life and your work life, and you’re taking fewer and fewer breaks.
Stepping away from the computer to recharge every hour can make all the difference in your capacity to accomplish the day’s tasks. Taking breaks in your day will undoubtedly improve your ability to problem-solve and improve your mood.
Speaking of mood, if you’re waking up on the wrong side of the bed more often these days, another way to improve your mental health is to make certain that you are getting enough sleep. Many of us are experiencing sleep challenges due to the coronavirus that can wreak havoc in every aspect of our lives.
A lack of sleep can do more than make you drowsy during the day – chronic sleep problems can worsen existing health conditions and make you more susceptible to illness, including COVID-19. Sleepless nights can increase anxiety as well, so make sure to eat well, exercise, and get the proper rest your body needs to be able to meet your challenges.
Staying healthy during the pandemic is not easy. However, by taking just a few precautions, you can maintain your mental health, develop resilience and be around to enjoy the day when we can return to school, work, and community, up close and in person!
If you are a CNM employee and have questions about your benefits that cover mental health, please contact HR at [email protected].
If you are a student looking for counseling resources, please visit https://bit.ly/35EYc7n.
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