Photo by Victor iAm on Unsplash
Sometimes it all gets too much. Stress and fatigue are relatively normal when you work, but you shouldn’t feel them 24/7. You also shouldn’t be filled with a sense of dread whenever you think about going to work. These are all signs that a mental health break will do you a world of good – and you listened to your body and took some time off.
You intend to return to work at some point, but what should you do before reaching that stage? Some people just need some time off to rest and recharge, while others have deeper mental health problems to work through. In any situation, here are some things to do before jumping into a return:
Make Sure You’re Actually Ready
Don’t rush back to work following a mental health break. You took it for a reason, so consider if things are different now. Do you feel like you’re in a better mental state than when you decided to take a break? If you do, then you should be in a good enough position to return. If not, then why go back? There’s no point rushing into work if you’re still in the same place as before; it’ll only result in the same thing happening again.
Take time to look inwards and feel as though you are ready to return to work. The next two tips can also help you make this decision by setting things up to prevent further mental health issues from arising at work.
Speak With An Occupational Therapist
Look, it’s really beneficial to go to occupational therapy if you’ve taken a mental health break. It’s a form of therapy that focuses on your daily routine and work. You’ll get help managing your mental health and will learn how to deal with it while working. You can do this privately, but if your workplace has an occupational health department, then that’s even better.
It’s also worth consulting with your workplace and asking them about occupational therapy if they don’t have it already. Many workplaces will be happy to speak to a therapist and learn what they can do to make your life better at work. It’s a really crucial step in helping you manage your situation and make changes to avoid triggers while you work.
Identify Your Best Coping Mechanisms
During your time off you need to find ways to cope with your mental health concerns. Find things you can do or call upon to ease the burden and keep you in a positive place. Having healthy coping mechanisms is positive because you can bring them into your work life. For example, you found that listening to a certain genre of music while you work helps you avoid stress – now you can add this to your work routine!
Or, you identified that taking walks helps with your mental health, so every lunch time you pop out for a stroll. Find what works for you, and then utilise these coping mechanisms when returning to work.
A mental health break will only be positive when you find ways to avoid another one after returning to work. Don’t rush; take time to work through your problems, identify healthy coping mechanisms, and work with occupational therapists to manage better than before.