Jacobs' 10 Top Tips: Depression
Increase daily activities. Becoming more active through even small activities which give you a sense of achievement and enjoyment each day can be a good start.
Exercise. Exercise brings out the body’s endorphins, natural painkillers and pleasure-producing substances produced inside every one of us. This can even be a short walk outside in nature.
Eat well. A healthy diet has positive impacts on mental health as well as your body and increases a sense of well-being. This includes reducing alcohol and coffee.
Social support. Being able to call on support is a large factor for coping with anxiety. We do not need to be able to “do it all ourselves”. Even if you can’t solve the problem by talking about it, naming what is bothering you in itself changes brain activity for the better.
Take Notice. Being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being. Take some time to enjoy the moment and the environment around you.
Identify unhelpful thinking habits. We tend to get into unhelpful thinking habits. Once you can notice them, then that can help you to challenge or distance yourself from those thoughts, and see the situation in a different and more helpful way.
Focus on solutions and not problems. Think of times when you have overcome your anxiety in the past. Find out what works and do more of it.
Sleep. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Aim for a healthy sleep schedule.
Find Help. You don’t have to find a path through this by yourself. Everyone gets stuck from time to time and can benefit from assistance to help get back on track.
Keep learning via reading, ebooks, podcasts or online courses. Sometimes taking the mystery out of mental health and understanding how many people get themselves well again is a great start.
At Jacobs, we believe the wellbeing of our people is fundamental to our success. Through our BeyondZero® culture of caring and genuine concern for each other, we work together to create a workplace that values the safety, positive mental health and sense of belonging of all employees. That’s why we’re proud to sponsor One Million Lives – not only for our employees but for our families, friends, clients, stakeholders and the communities we live in.