Is the Key to Good Mental Health Really this Simple?

In TileLetter this month, Lesley Goddin tackles the subject of mental health and, particularly, addiction.

In it, she interviews two people:

1. Mark Christensen, of Tarkus Tile in Utah, who details some of his dark past fighting addiction
2. Brad Denny, Nichols Tile of Tennessee, who had an employee/family friend with addiction issues

Mark mentions that he used to work too much and needed to set better boundaries and a better work structure for his life.

Is this something that affects you?

Signs that you need better boundaries

• Regularly working weekends
• Working late into the evenings
• Afraid of turning down work
• Feeling that your efforts are underappreciated
• Afraid to raise your prices

The Simple Trick to Improve your Mental Health

According to this article in The Guardian, the key to improving your mental health can be boiled down to being better at these three things:

1. Setting better boundaries
2. Saying “No” more often
3. Being more selfish

Oftentimes, saying no to clients, builders, or your boss will get you accused of being selfish. That if you refuse to work the weekend that you’re not putting “the team” first.

Research tells us that people who proactively state their boundaries, such as leaving or stopping work on time, taking leave or prioritising non-work-related activities, are much better at managing their mental health

Dr Jo Yarker, an occupational psychologist, researcher and senior lecturer at Birkbeck University, London

Additionally, it can feel uncomfortable to disappoint others. We fear what others will say about us or that they may be angry at us.

Just Say No

But, as Christensen mentions above, and what I can attest to in my own life, learning to put yourself first can be the key to positive mental health.

So this month, I challenge you to set boundaries on your work hours, tell people NO, and be more selfish. Warning: you just might change your life.