Hey everyone! Welcome back to my new blog series that focuses on mental health within the community, or, Building Mental Health as a Community. 

You might have read my blog series that focused on mental health while in higher education, but this is a whole new conversation! My goal with this series is to create an interactive and fun way to talk about mental health in order to help decrease the stigma and encourage others to prioritize their mental health. Whether it’s massages, going for walks, making plans with friends, or going to the dog park, there are a lot of great ways we can take care of ourselves mentally while still balancing our priorities. Keep reading to see what some of our community had to say about the monthly topic.

This month I wanted to focus on how people manage their stress while in the workforce.

So the big question is, what do you do to create a healthy environment both in your professional and personal life? 

Mary, who is a new grad working in business, says she takes a lot of time to spend with others, as it helps her melt the stress of the work day away and keeps her social life healthy.

 “Besides hanging out with friends,” Mary says, “I enjoy outdoor activities such as running and biking to help mitigate the stress of the work week and take out some of the physical energy I have built up.” 

Mixing social activities along with physical ones can create a good balance to keep your mind and body fresh throughout the work week. 
Aaron, who works in sales, acknowledges the inherent stress that comes with frequent travel and constant interaction with clients. To counter this, he makes a conscious effort to "disconnect from everything and mute work notifications once I'm out of the office.” Additionally, he finds solace in spending quality time with his friends, his furry companion, and his partner, all of which contribute to his ability to unwind after a demanding week at work.

He also enjoys playing games, whether these be outside or in the form of video games. He explains that his position in sales is more challenging compared to his previous roles because “it is hard to meet metrics while also finding time for yourself and to disconnect from work.” He strongly encourages those in time-consuming roles to put specific time aside each week to do something they truly enjoy without having to think about work. 

While this is easier said than done, taking care of yourself and being preventative when it comes to your mental health is crucial to seeing success in your personal and professional life. If you do not take the time now to disconnect and engage in non-work-related activities that you enjoy, you have the potential to experience burnout, anxiety, insomnia, and many other complications. 

Stay tuned for my next blog of the series, which will focus on the stigma surrounding mental health and what we can do on an individual level to help combat this stigma. Until next time!