5 Ways to Prioritise Your Mental Health and Ideal Work-Life Balance

World Mental Health Day is an important reminder to prioritise mental health every day! 

October 10 helps to raise awareness of mental wellbeing on a global scale, encouraging dialogue and reducing stigma around mental health disorders. It highlights the fact that our minds need as much care and attention as the rest of our bodies, and that we all need to take time out for ourselves every now and then. 

Unfortunately, our busy daily lives often leave little room for self-care. Thanks to technology, we are now more connected to our jobs than ever, which has blurred the boundaries between “work time” and “personal time”.  Many of us feel obliged to be ‘always available’, or to work longer hours to meet expectations. Financial pressures might also push us to spend more time working and less time on personal activities and relaxation. 

But neglecting your mental wellbeing can be severely detrimental to your productivity - not to mention your quality of life!

Work-life balance and mental health go hand-in-hand. Here are five tips to help protect and bolster your mental well-being so that you're not just surviving but thriving!

1. Prioritise self-care

Don’t wait until you feel stressed and frazzled before allowing yourself a little self-care. Self-care is used as a preventative. What’s more, it works! 

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on a luxury day spa or a tropical holiday to do it, either. Self-care is about engaging in healthy everyday habits that help keep you in balance.
Some good examples include:

• Going to bed on time
• Eating the right foods
• Exercising regularly
• Mindfulness and meditation: Take 15 minutes to practice a deep breathing exercise or to simply focus on the present moment. Meditation can help reduce anxiety and improve mental clarity.
• Read a book or watch a movie: Yes, entertainment can be good for you! Allow yourself to disengage after a busy day with your favourite Netflix or a good story. 

These simple habits can go a long way in supporting a healthy mental state and preparing your coping skills for whatever lies ahead. 

2. Stay connected
   Whether you’re an extrovert, an introvert, or somewhere in between, you still need people! Social connectedness is vital to mental well-being and resilience. Studies show that people who interact regularly with others and have healthy social relationships are generally happier and may even live longer. Schedule some time each week to catch up with a friend over coffee, hang out with your family, or even just call someone. If you’re new to the neigbourhood or you struggle to make friends, try joining a local club, sports team, or hobby group. However, you interact with others, maintaining those social ties is one of the best ways to support your emotional health. 

3. Set clear boundaries

In this crazy modern world, it’s easy to let work and family commitments consume your whole life. And even though those things are important, it’s just as important to set clear boundaries between the two. 

If you work from home, it can be difficult to keep your office life out of your personal life.

Designate a specific area for work, even if it's just a corner of a room. This physical boundary helps reinforce the division between professional and personal tasks. Be sure to set clear work hours, including a start and end time for your workday. And, when the workday ends, turn off work notifications on your phone or laptop. Many people even have a separate ‘work’ phone. Remember also to take short breaks during your workday to refresh. This helps to keep your mind in a good place and allows you to transition smoothly to personal time later.

4. Prioritise sleep

Getting enough zzz’s each night is as vital to mental health as it is to physical health. Sleep is your body’s time for rest and restoration. Adequate rest is essential for the proper regulation of the neurotransmitters and hormones that affect mood, such as serotonin, dopamine, and cortisol. Some studies have shown that lack of sleep can have profound effects on our ability to cope with stress and other emotional challenges. Getting your nightly quota of 6-8 hours sleep each night helps you feel alert, make decisions, and be creative. 

If you’re struggling to nod off, try magnesium. This essential mineral plays many different roles in the nervous system, from supporting a healthy sleep-wake cycle and the production of an important sleep hormone to supporting normal muscle relaxation. Red Seal High Strength Deep Sleep contains both magnesium and 5-HTP, an amino acid that supports production of serotonin (another mood chemical!). 

5. Support your stress response

Our bodies are genetically programmed to initiate the "fight or flight" response when we’re faced with a stressful situation. When our brain senses this stressor - for example, being chased by a lion- it triggers the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. While these hormones are useful for helping us run away from a lion, they’re not so useful when they’re constantly released. However, many of us are stuck in a chronic fight-or-flight response mode due to persistent stressors. This can take an enormous toll on our mood, sleep, cognitive function, and overall vitality.

If you’ve been feeling the strain more than usual lately, it can be helpful to support your natural stress response with Harker Herbals Stress Relief. This great-tasting daily formula contains herbs Ashwagandha, Licorice, and Skullcap, which help to support a balanced approach to stress. Saffron is another mind-friendly herb that has long been known for supporting healthy mood during times of worry.

Taking good care of your mind today will help strengthen your mental wellbeing for life. You’ll also be setting a great example for those around you who might need it. Schedule in some healthy “me time” right now! And remember - there’s a great range of stress and sleep support products at your local Bargain Chemist for those more challenging times.