Today is World Mental Health day, an annual awareness day observed every 10th October, and this year’s theme is “It is Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace”.
Work can have a huge impact on our mental health. It can give a sense of purpose, boosting our self-worth and providing opportunities to connect with others. But it can also be a source of stress and anxiety.
If you have just gone back to work after having a baby, or are a working parent, it's easy feel overwhelmed. Here are some easy tips for how to achieve balance.
Work after parental leave
You’ve been out the loop for months and things will have changed since you took leave. You may changed also, and your priorities might be totally different. You may not feel ready to leave your baby. You may not be getting much sleep. You worry about dealing with new processes and new colleagues. Returning to work after parental leave can be an anxious time but there are many things you can do to make it easier for yourself.
Seek out support. Many of your colleagues will be working parents and will understand your concerns and struggles. Express your concerns with them and ask for advice.
Even though you’re not a new employee, a phased return with refresher and introductory sessions with new colleagues or on new policies could be beneficial to everyone.
Don’t beat yourself up. It’s easy to feel guilty for working when you have a young child. Don’t get caught up in this cycle. Instead try to remind yourself of the positives of being back at work such as having friends and a social life outside of the home and enjoying a better standard of living and fewer money problems.
Plan, plan, plan
When your juggling being a parent with a work role, it can be easy to feel like you’re not doing either properly. Managing your schedule so you get quality time with your family and at work can seem impossible, but it’s not.
Set realistic goals to help you get your work done on time and keep you productive and motivated in the workplace but don’t try to be a superhero. Accept that some days might not go according to plan and that’s ok.
Plan the night before where possible. The morning can be one of the busiest parts of the day for a working parent. Getting organised the night before can ensure you spend your morning feeling more blessed than stressed. Set out clothing, breakfast dishes and packed lunches the night before a working day. Make sure you and the kids have their bags at the door and ready to go.
Develop time saving schemes. Think about cooking in bulk so all you have to do is pack up some leftovers for work lunches. Think about other ways to develop shortcuts around your home too. Maybe you hire a cleaner fortnight or, having a dedicated day or two of takeout for dinner.
Stick to a schedule. Whereas you could be flexible on leaving times pre parenthood, this might not be possible now you have to factor in childcare for example. Talk to your colleagues so that they are clear that you need to leave on the dot, so they don’t approach you with work 5 mins before your leaving time.
This mental health day, why not check in with colleagues and friends to see how they’re doing. If you or some else is struggling and needs urgent help, click here for some helpful contacts.
