4 Mental Well-being Tips for Researchers
Mental health is something that is ignored by almost all of us. No matter how educated, learned or wise we are or claim to be, ignoring mental health issues is like a habit to us. Researchers at some point in their lives face things like harassment, burnout, unfulfilled expectations, discrimination, bullying and so on which with the unimaginable work-pressure leads to mental health issues. It should be kept in mind that ignoring these issues might cause bigger problems. Only proper self-care can save people from this and self-care does not only mean eating healthy or sleeping timely, it means a healthy life-style as a whole which can be achieved with doing the following things:
- Break the Stigma Around Mental Health: The first thing that researchers must do is to break the stigma that is related to mental health issues. Even at this day and age this issue is something frowned upon. No one can talk freely about their problems if this hush-hush around mental health issues does not We often tend to forget that the body and the mind together is one unified whole. Deterioration of one will definitely affect the other. Therefore just like people visit the doctor when they have an upset stomach, they should visit a professional if they have an upset mind.
- Maintaining a Healthy Work-life Balance: Not having a proper work-life balance does not just create a huge pile of undone work, it also causes unproductivity, unprofessionalism, burnouts and anxiety issues which inevitably do not let you finish your research and publish your thesis in time. To prevent this from happening, always schedule your work. Try to sleep in the morning if you prefer working at night and never forget to keep some ‘me time’.
- Take Breaks : Monotony can be a huge reason behind depression, anxiety and stress. Even if you like your work, having a monotonous schedule can drain all the passion you have for your research. That is why breaks are essential. To make your life a tad bit interesting, take short trips, go out with friends once in a while. Take breaks on a daily basis too. For example, if you are working for hours, get up and listen to a song, cook something for yourself. Do not consider it a waste of time. Taking care of yourself can never be a waste of time.
- Stand Against Harassment, Discrimination and Bullying: This is something almost all researchers have faced in their career. To stop this from happening it is important to address these issues. Raise your voice if you are harassed, or if you feel that you are being targeted in certain situations. Do not let people bully you even as a ‘joke’. At the same time be sensitive towards others’ problems, speak carefully, make sure you do not hurt others with your words or actions. It is always a two-way game.
In today’s world almost everyone is suffering from this and we can not make it easier for ourselves alone. It is important to stand with each other, be compassionate towards each other. If you feel like you are breaking down, talk to friends or daily; if it feels awkward to talk to close people, get professional help. It is important to reach out to people. We can not fight this alone; we need to remember “when the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives.”
