Some people hear the term “mental health” and roll their eyes, but mental health is a hot topic for a reason. No matter your age or your gender, it’s imperative to check in on how you’re doing. Your mental health can impact every single aspect of your life, and that includes your business. 

It’s common knowledge that people don’t take mental health as seriously as they do physical health. Mental health is often written off as a “young people thing” or a “new trend.” Many people, especially working professionals, don’t see the point in talking about it, engaging with it, or checking in with themselves. 

You may be thinking, “I don’t need to think about mental health. This isn’t for me.” But no matter if you have a diagnosed mental illness, or are typically happy, checking in on your mental health can change your life and help your business thrive. 

More than a Trendy Phrase: What Mental Health Really Is

Mental health refers to your emotional and behavioral well-being as well as the well-being of your thought processes. For too many decades now, mental health has been pushed to the side in conversations about health and well-being.

Many people think that people who have mental health problems have to have disorders or are just weak. Neither of these things is true. Everyone has some type of mental health struggle at some point in their life. So, how do you know if your mental health is suffering? What does it mean to be mentally healthy? 

Most mentally healthy people have the following: 

• Contentment: They are generally happy, or at least fine, frequently. 
• Enjoyment of Life: They get excited for the days ahead. They like to laugh and have fun. 
• Resilience: They can healthily deal with stress and can bounce back from difficult events and times. 
• Purpose: They have a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives and relationships. 
• Balance: They have a healthy balance of work and play. 
• Confidence: They have healthy self-esteem. 
• Sound sleep: They sleep well and feel energized in the morning. 
• A healthy relationship with substances: They don’t abuse drugs and alcohol. They don’t turn to drinking or drugs to feel happy and fulfilled.

Every single one of us goes through periods where our mental health suffers. You shouldn’t feel any shame in talking to someone about how you’re feeling. If it helps, think of mental health as something that isn’t separate from your physical health. If you have a cough, you take steps to make yourself feel better. If you’re not feeling yourself lately, you should do the same thing! 

Mental Health and Your Business

Mental health is crucial in any business. From employees to business owners, good mental health means better business. The World Health Organization estimates that Depression and Anxiety cost the global economy 1.3 trillion dollars in productivity. You definitely don’t want to be a part of that statistic. 

If you have employees, it’s essential to provide mental health recourses. Even if you’re only able to have conversations that help reduce the stigma, your employees will be grateful. Having employees with good mental health can increase retention and productivity. Try looking into ways you can look after your employees in a way that makes sense for you and your business. 

For business owners, mental health plays a crucial role in your business’s success. Because poor mental health is linked to low productivity and can often manifest in the way you interact with employees and clients, taking care of yourself is imperative. 

In fact, just owning a business can negatively impact your mental health. Owning a business is stressful on almost every level. That stress can make it even more stressful, creating a vicious cycle. 

Mental Health and You: 5 Tips To Improve Your Mental Health

So, you understand why it’s important, but how can you check in with yourself? You may feel you just don’t have the time in the day to take steps to better your well-being. 

Taking care of yourself doesn’t mean you’re going to lose precious time. Because your productivity is better when your mental health is in a good place, this may save you time. Here are some tips to get started! 

1. Start the Day With Gratitude

When you’re going through a rough time, or even a good time, it’s a good idea to take stock of what you’re grateful for. Writing down 1-5 things you are thankful for before you start your workday can improve your mood. 

2. Take Time for Yourself

Find a good work/life balance, take a day for yourself. Find hobbies that you enjoy. Take trips. It’s crucial to remind yourself that your entire life isn’t just about work. You need to find the time to do what you love outside of work.   

3. Surround Yourself With People you Care About

Loneliness can be a huge cause of mental health issues. If you live alone, make sure you’re talking to good people you enjoy being around. Don’t hesitate to speak with your loved ones about any problems you may be facing. Bottling up your problems will hurt you and your relationships.

Many people, often men, have been encouraged not to talk about or think about feelings. But we all have them! When it comes to mental health, men are less likely to ask for help. You are no less of a person for taking care of yourself or your mental health. Talking to people will help better your relationships as well. 

4. Take care of your Physical Well-Being

In the same way, poor mental health can make your physical health suffer, poor physical health can make your mental health suffer. Make sure you’re sleeping well and eating right. Find the time in the day to be mobile and exercise. 

5. Seek Treatment 

If you’ve been struggling recently and can’t seem to help yourself, there’s no shame in seeking therapy. Therapy has been a mocked practice for too long. In reality, every single person alive could probably benefit from a few good sessions. Think of it as going to a doctor, because it is!  

There are so many significant benefits to therapy. It can help you learn to communicate better in your professional and personal relationships. It can improve your physical health and give you better tools to manage stress and take care of yourself. It can reduce feelings of depression and anxiety. 

There’s no harm in merely trying it out! You don’t have to feel horribly depressed or on the verge of crisis to seek therapy either. Simply experiencing frequent stress can be enough to seek help if you’d like. 

When You Do Well, Your Business Does Well

It would be ridiculous to see someone with a broken leg refuse to acknowledge it’s broken. Approach your mental health struggles in the same way. Don’t be afraid to seek help and take care of yourself when you’re hurt. 

Being a small business owner is time-consuming. It’s understandable to be hesitant about taking the time to better your mental health. Many people are taught to put their mental health to the side to achieve their goals. As you can see now, that’s a pretty counterproductive business strategy. 

For more business tips, check out more of our posts or contact Mr. Pipeline today at (561) 899-3043 or Info@MrPipeline.com