.png)
Our Wellbeing and D&I Officer, Eloise Knight, discusses her own interpretation of mental health for #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, with top tips.
This week, from 13 – 19 May, is Mental Health Awareness Week. Whilst mental health and wellbeing have been a ‘hot topic’ for a little while now, the conversations around it are not going away any time soon (and rightly so). You are probably all too aware of what you should be doing to keep yourself mentally well, but try to take some time this week to check-in with yourself – how are you really doing?
Movement
The theme of this years Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘movement’. Whether you’re into cliff jumping or gardening, competing in triathlons or going for a walk around the block (or anything in between), it all counts. Physical activity can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue, improve mood, energy levels, sleep, and concentration, and help to calm the mind.
The legal sector is known for long days, tight deadlines, and demanding workloads. Lawyers are expected to commit a significant amount of time and attention to their role, often forcing their personal life to take the back seat. It can be difficult to fit in exercise (particularly if you have other commitments and responsibilities outside of work), but there are some small changes you can make to your daily routine to add in some much-needed movement. Here are some easy to implement ideas from LawCare:
Take the stairs when you can, or simply try to stand up more during the day. Could you take your next phone call standing up, or even whilst taking a short walk?
2. Place items you need during your workday (like water, snacks or even the printer) slightly out of reach, so that you have to get up and move more frequently.
3. Take short active breaks every hour to stretch or walk around. Some fitness trackers and apps let you set a reminder to move regularly.
4. Put some music on that makes you move. Have a 3-minute bop next time you’re making a hot drink.
5. Take your lunch break and use part of it to move about. This could be a 15-minute brisk walk or even a short exercise session. There are some online workout classes and videos aimed at people wanting a short burst of movement during their lunch breach. Make sure you leave time to eat too.
6. If you commute, can you include physical activity as part of this? Could you walk or go by bike? Alternatively, park further away or get off public transport a few stops early to incorporate walking into your commute.
7. Schedule exercise: Once you’ve decided what you are going to do and when you are going to do it, put it in your calendar and stick to it. It’s so easy to cancel and feel the time would be better spent catching up on emails or getting ahead after hours while the phone isn’t ringing. The thing is, there is always more work to do. You’re generally more productive and less likely to make a mistake if you allow yourself time to switch off.
8. Do you work (or live) with other people who would also like to move more? You could start or join a group workout with colleagues or sign up for a fitness challenge. They may be able to motivate you even when you find it hard to motivate yourself.
9. Try to leave the building and go into the great outdoors. See if you can find somewhere where there is a bit of greenery. If you live and work in a built-up area, see if you can find a park or garden nearby where you can move around and take time away from your desk. If you aren’t needed on a call, try to switch your phone off.
10. If you work from home, it can be harder to get motivated and get moving. However, you can more easily make changes to your work environment, and you may feel less self-conscious about doing a few stretches/shoulder rolls or moving about when you are on a call.
How do I recognise a mental health problem?
Mental health problems can have varying symptoms and signs. At work, you might find yourself more tired than usual, making uncharacteristic mistakes, finding it hard to motivate yourself or you may be short tempered. You might want to isolate yourself, avoid colleagues and procrastinate more. Alternatively, you might speed up, intrude into others’ conversations and work, and take on more work than you can manage.
It can be difficult to see the early warning signs in ourselves, so it’s helpful to have close friends and colleagues who can help you connect this to your mental health.
If you’re concerned about how you’re feeling, your first port of call should be your GP. You may also want to explore your employer’s Employee Assistance Programme (if they have one), private counselling, and reaching out to friends, family and colleagues for support.
Looking to the future
Whilst remuneration is of course important, more and more lawyers, particularly on the junior end of the scale, are prioritising their work/life balance and, in turn, their wellbeing. Research shows that there is generational change taking place, with younger lawyers more driven to improve wellbeing in the workplace.
Things you can do to support good wellbeing of your colleagues and peers, and continue pushing the importance of wellbeing in the workplace:
· Look after your own mental health – lead by example!
· Check-in with your colleagues regularly
· Active listening – ensure you are present and engaged in conversations
· Arrange non-work-related activities with colleagues, even just a walk in the park on a lunch break
· Help to promote a culture that values authenticity and openness
· Challenge and report bad behaviour – whether that’s bullying, harassment, discrimination, or something else
· Get involved in Diversity, Equality and Inclusion initiatives (whether within your own firm or industry wide)
Your brain is your greatest asset –
make sure you look after it!
コメント