There is one important message we should all remember: we work to live, rather than live to work. In the hustle and bustle of contemporary living, it can be easy to forget this and let your job consume your personal life. This can lead to a number of mental health concerns, such as anxiety and depression.
It doesn’t matter which sector you work in, a tough day can get the better of you. Male workers in the construction industry are three times more likely to commit suicide than other men. There are many factors that can lead to this, an improper work-life balance being only one. However, if your mental health is declining, this is a good place to start.
Here, we will explore some of the ways you can relax and unwind after work. Whether you’re a construction site manager or an apprentice, this is important in a few ways, including maintaining your mental health and well-being.
Remember to switch off the screen
After a long day of working on a construction site, you may be tempted to turn on your phone and browse social media. In the technological age, spending excessive amounts of time in front of the screen isn’t out of the ordinary. However, this can be extremely harmful to your mental health, leading to psychological problems and low emotional stability.
To make sure you don’t fall into a social media trap, remember to switch off your digital devices before you go to sleep. Instead, you can choose to read a book or an industry magazine. If reading isn’t your thing, there are lots of enthralling radio shows, podcasts, and audiobooks waiting to be listened to.
Work smart and prioritise your tasks
If you’re searching for ways to achieve a work-life balance, you might not be efficiently utilising your working hours. This doesn’t mean you haven’t been working hard. On the contrary, you can work long hours and make a huge amount of effort while still working inefficiently.
To combat this, you can consider ways to work smartly and use all of the resources around you. One of the best ways to prioritise your tasks. Rather than attempting to finish all of your work in one sitting, you can focus on the most important jobs and meet deadlines.
In addition to this, if you’ve got a lot on your plate and you’re struggling to cram everything into the day, getting help with mundane tasks can be a great help. Rubbish removal services can make sure that you’re able to prioritise more effectively.
Take care of your mental health and wellbeing
The pandemic has been challenging for everyone, including construction workers. In fact, one-third of these workers struggled with their mental health during this time. As the world slowly returns to a semblance of normality, your workers may still be struggling. Therefore, it is important that managers and workers prioritise their well-being.
According to the NHS, a healthy lifestyle is one of the main ways to improve your mental health. Therefore, to kickstart your healthcare journey, ensure you are leading a healthy lifestyle. This can be anything from increasing the amount of physical activity you embark on to changing the foods you eat.
This doesn’t mean you have to go cold turkey and cut out all your guilty pleasures. Instead, focus on bringing healthy packed lunches and snacks into work, such as a chargrilled salad. Then, you can relax and unwind on your break, and leave feeling refreshed and energised for the rest of the working day. Which is pretty important on a busy construction site, don’t you think?
In addition to this, you can take the time to exercise. This can be something as simple as walking, cycling, or running from work. Not only will this save you money on public transport or petrol costs, but running can also help to improve your sleep. Research from University College London (UCL) has found that running 75 minutes a week is enough to improve sleep and reduce health issues.
These are three ways you can improve your work-life balance. In summary, to ensure you are able to unwind, you can regularly exercise. Whether you prefer running or walking, this is a much better way to spend your evening. With a healthy diet and a list of priorities, you can begin to relax after work. Which step will you implement first?
