Maintaining Focus On Our Mental Health

BY: R. DREW HOLLIS, PE, JACOBS

This month, I would like to discuss mental health. Mental health should always be a topic that we can openly discuss both at home and in the workplace. During such unprecedented times, mental health awareness has never been more important. We have temporarily lost the usual outlets that we have leaned on to blow off steam and connect with those who are most important to us. Whether you are working from home or reporting to a job site, the changes to our work environment can lead to an imbalance in work-life separation - it is easy to keep checking emails or try to finish one last thing without the worry of getting stuck in traffic during the commute home.

The first step to mental health awareness is recognizing when there might be an issue. Some early warning signs can include changes in eating and sleeping patterns, mood swings and irritability, lack of energy, feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, and increased anxiety. This is just a short list of early warning signs. For a more complete list, and more information regarding mental health, please visit the website for the Dept. of Health and Human Services (I am not a mental health professional. If you believe that you might be suffering from mental health issues, please consult with your doctor). Poor mental health makes our work suffer, and it strains our personal relationships.

Staying active and engaged are two simple ways to stave off mental health issues. While we cannot gather as we used to, that does not mean that we cannot continue to interact with family, friends, and coworkers. I have participated in multiple virtual happy hours, virtual workout sessions, virtual trivia games, and socially distant picnics. The increase in virtual get-togethers has led me to connect more often with friends who live in different parts of the country than I have been able to in the past.

But let us not spend too much time in front of a screen. We are a blessed to live in an area that offers so many things to be enjoyed outdoors. Exercising and engaging in hobbies is another great way to maintain good mental health. Take this time to explore your own neighborhoods and nearby parks. For those who are not able to get outside as easily, reading can provide the mental stimulation that you need. While most libraries are lending books again, reading trade publications also offers the benefit of keeping us up to date on emerging trends and practices in the industry.

The take-away that I hope readers get from this piece is that we still must take time for ourselves. Doing so will help us maintain strong and healthy relationships with those around us and maintain high quality productivity at work.