Beat the blues at work

DON’T be surprised if depression hits you at your workplace. High expectations, peer pressure, unsatisfactory appraisals, skewed work- life balance are some of the many reasons that can cause even the best of us to become a nervous wreck. Strained relationships can also cause a lot of stress at work. There are, however, a few simple steps you can take in your daily work life that can go a long way in not just beating depression but also keeping you happy at work.

Cut yourself some slack Firstly, you need to understand that work, deadlines and stress are transitory in nature. This will reduce anxiety about the future and help you cope better. Take a small breather and, go for a walk, chat with an old friend and then resume your work with a refreshed mind.

Eat light, eat better Many of us feel low after a heavy lunch. Excessive intake of heavy food reduces your ability to concentrate, which later affects your productivity.

One of the steps to staying mentally fit is eating right.

Add fruits and juices to your daily diet and you will see the results instantaneously.

Mind attack A lot of things are merely figments of one’s imagination.

Keep a check on your mind when you feel that it’s too stressed. Remember that stress is not caused by someone, but happens when you cannot handle stress. It’s more internal than external.

A proper control on your mind will help you stay fit and focused.

Stay calm and meditate This is a great technique to enable you to perform to your full potential. Meditation is known to reduce depression even more than anti- depressants.

It also gives you a lot of clarity and peace of mind which is a requisite at work.

Keep yourself hydrated

If you are prone to depression, make sure that you drink more than 12 glasses of water in a day. It cleans out all the toxins and impurities, and helps your organs process all the junk. A part of depression is diet- related, and healthy food habits are a lifesaver.

Help others, help yourself It’s usual for most of us to become highly selfish once we get into the drill of making a career. However, self- centredness can be a cause for depression. It’s good to focus once in a while on other people and helping them out in whichever way you can. This will help you get a better perspective about your own life.

Source |Mid Day | 24 August 2015