Working can be very stressful and become a trigger for many people’s mental health problems no matter what they may be. Making sure to take care and look after yourself even during working hours is important to avoid burnout and prevent further problems for yourself.

What can you do for yourself?

Movement 

• Movement matters and can make a huge difference in your mindset without you realising. The Mental health foundation began their May campaign surrounding the importance of movement and how this can provide you with so many benefits. Studies show that movement and exercise can reduce stress, improve sleep and more so including this in your daily routine is important.

• Movement does not have to include running or going to the gym, it could be a lunchtime stroll, taking the stairs instead of the lift in the office, walking part of your commute or joining the cycle to work scheme if you can. There are little things you could switch up everyday to ensure you get some movement into your routine, especially If you work at a desk normally.

Connections

• Connecting with people through your work day can lead to positive effects and reduce loneliness. This could be difficult if you work from home or struggle to make the social move. Joining a club or group could help you find a way to naturally do this while you learn a new skill or hobby.

• Working from home might reduce your social interactions but if you live in a city you might be able to find co-working spaces where you could have others around.

• In the office you could take your lunch with a colleague, share a lift to work, offer someone a tea or go over and talk to someone new.

Clear spaces Clear mind

• Take care of your work space and treat it well. If you work space makes you more stressed then take a moment to clear things away, reorganise, buy a plant for your desk or add more personal items if you can. If you work from home it can help to have a designated work space that isn’t used after work so you can separate the two clearly and leave work at the ‘office’. The same goes if you have to bring your work home from the office, try to make sure this isn’t done on the sofa or in bed so you can keep your safe spaces that way.

Setting Boundaries 

• • If you are working longer hours than you should often then this could add to your mental fatigue and stress. Many jobs demand higher workloads and time spent on them however working longer hours does not always equal better quality work. If you are stressed, tired and overworked this could lead to poor work and unproductive hours spent. If you took care of your self and began a new day fresh then you could get more done within your allotted hours.

• Setting boundaries is an important step to take and could alleviate your stress significantly.

Learning

• Learning and setting goals can help you feel sense of accomplishment and progression. This could be at work or a hobby you are interested in. Take a class in something new or an area you have always been interested and set yourself time to be able to explore this fully.

• Within work, you could ask your superior for ways your could progress or an area you could learn more about. You can ask your colleagues from a different department about their roles and learn from them.

• Setting yourself goals for the week which you can tick off on Fridays could help you end the week. This could be things like, finish the report, send the email you have been putting off, try a new lunch spot or clearing your desk.

Switch it up

• Keeping your days new and interesting during the week to avoid boredom and making the week feel longer. For some people, when everyday feels this same this can lead to feeling unsatisfied and they can lose motivation. Make an active effort to switch things up. Change your route to and from work, try new recipes for meals, if you work from home maybe try a new location whether that’s a local library or coffee shop. Try these small things to change your week and give yourself a new outlook.

Taking care of your mental health is always important and shouldn’t be ignored, even if you are busy at work. If you are struggling try to reach out to a colleague or manager that could help you at work.

In this exploration, we'll uncover three surprising ways swapping out those midday vending machine snacks for nutrient-packed alternatives can turn the tide in favour of sustained energy, laser-like focus, and an unexpected uptick in efficiency during your bustling day in the legal field.

3 Ways Healthy Eating Habits Boost Productivity and Focus

Embarking on a journey toward healthier eating is a powerhouse move for your brain. Discover three compelling ways that nutritious food can turbocharge your focus and productivity at work.

1. Sustained Energy Levels

If you're constantly fighting off sluggish energy dips, you know all too well how they can hamper your focus during critical case analyses or dull your alertness amid negotiations. A healthy diet can sustain energy levels and prevent or reduce the risk of you getting sick.

Research shows that employees who eat fruits and vegetables daily are 25% more likely to have high job performance ratings. But since eating healthy can be difficult for a lawyer, you may want to subscribe to a meal kit service. Factor 75's delivery of meals in New York and other states in the US makes it much easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle while you’re on the move.

Here's how sustained energy levels directly impact your daily work:

• Consistent Focus: A steady glucose supply to your brain helps avoid energy crashes.
• Endurance: A diet rich in complex carbohydrates and lean proteins supports endurance.
• Strategic Thinking: When energy comes from slow-release whole foods instead of quick-fix sugars, you'll notice a heightened ability for strategic thinking.

By choosing a meal kit service, you delegate one aspect of health management without compromising on quality or nutrition - one less thing on your plate during your work day.

2. Sharpened Mental Clarity

Positive mental health is instrumental in dissecting arguments, crafting persuasive narratives, and staying ahead in negotiations. Studies show that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids, for example, can reduce the risk of developing psychotic disorders. And since great mental health directly translates to improved job performance, proper nutrition is vital to being a great lawyer. 

Let’s consider how a clear mind impacts your productivity:

• Improved Memory: Recalling details during a deposition can make or break your case.
• Faster Processing Speed: Quicker cognitive processing helps you work efficiently.
• Enhanced Focus: Fewer distractions translate to delivering higher quality work.

Diets consisting of foods like avocados, nuts, and fish loaded with beneficial fats contribute substantially to cognitive function. And when it comes to deciphering dense legal texts or maintaining attentiveness during lengthy trials, every bit of enhanced brain efficiency counts.

3. Improved Mood and Well-being

The link between what you eat and how you feel is unmistakable. A nutritious diet can be a game-changer for your mental health, with studies indicating that individuals who stay away from the “Western” diet are up to 35% less likely to develop depression. The positive ripple effects of improved mood and well-being on your productivity are too significant to ignore.

The positive effects include:

• Greater Resilience: Good nutrition equips you with emotional resilience.
• Sharper Engagement: You naturally engage more proactively with clients.
• Higher Motivation: Feeling good boosts motivation levels and lowers procrastination.

Harnessing this sense of well-being ensures that you're not just getting through your workload but thriving amidst it. Your mental state is just as vital as your physical health in career success.

Productivity Comes From a Healthy Lifestyle

As you've seen, making mindful choices about your diet can significantly elevate your performance in the legal arena. Remember, by fueling your body with the right foods, you're not only enhancing your health but also investing in a sharper mind and more resilient spirit.

A surprising amount of history is packed beneath the roof of the inn itself. Said to be named for both a champion Victorian-era racehorse and the girl who helped its mother to foal, the Alice Hawthorn has stood at the heart of the Nun Monkton community since its establishment as a simple village pub more than 220 years ago. During our stay we found that residents often gathered there of an evening, contributing to a warm atmosphere that never became overbearing.

The village itself is a treat to explore. Open green spaces and a peaceful atmosphere were the order of the day during our visit, and the Alice Hawthorn proved to be an excellent base for our various country excursions, which of course all included a stop by the maypole on the village green (the tallest in the country). The inn provides its own ‘Little Book of Walks’ for visitors looking to dive into the outdoors, and I can wholeheartedly recommend a post-dinner stroll around the River Nidd – or just the duck pond, if the meal has left you too satisfied to roam further.

On that, it would be remiss to talk about the Alice Hawthorn without dwelling on the quality of the kitchen and cellar. In spite of what outside appearances might suggest, the dining experience offered at the inn is no simple pub fare. The first dish of cod kiev, smashed chilli peas and beef fat crispy potatoes (no simple fish and chips!) let us know that we were in for a fantastic culinary treat.

The menu – and the unmissable daily specials – are distinctly Yorkshire-influenced and prepared with a skill that took us utterly by surprise. The inn’s chefs are capable of turning something as unassuming as a steak and mushroom pie into a mouth-watering meal that won't let you look at the dish the same way again. Special mention has to go to the Granny Smith apple and ginger ‘wake-up shots’ that became an unexpected highlight of our mornings.

It isn’t an exaggeration to say that the quality matches that of any upscale restaurant. Every time we returned for dinner or breakfast, we left the table feeling thoroughly spoiled. If you plan to go with company, make sure they are obliging enough to let you steal a few tasters.

Beyond the fine dining, the Alice Hawthorn is replete with contemporary comforts belied by its gorgeously rustic exterior. The four rooms above the pub are appointed with plush beds, eminently comfortable armchairs and expansive en-suite bathrooms with a full complement of luxury Noble Isle products. Beamed ceilings meet roll-top baths and further modern conveniences, including a miniature fridge and an uncommonly strong Wi-Fi connection for those who intend to work while they are away.

This is to speak only of the Grade II listed pub itself. The Alice Hawthorn has recently completed a renovation, adding eight new bedrooms detached from the main building in timber frame buildings modeled in the vein of agricultural stables and barns. Alongside them, several further rooms are laid out for private group dining and events. It hardly needs to be said that each is as lavishly furnished as the pub rooms. I can only imagine how pleasant it would be to hold a function in one of the Scandinavian-inspired external dining rooms.

It bears emphasising that the cosy isolation of the inn is far from mandatory. Both Harrogate and York are only a brief trip away for anyone looking to venture further afield. The cities’ proximity is completely unfelt in the village itself; Nun Monkton sits at the end of a long country lane and is flawlessly quiet save for the occasional bleating of sheep – and even that can’t be heard from the comfort of the Alice Hawthorn’s rooms.

This inn was not lauded by The Sunday Times as “the best hotel in the North” for nothing. A thoroughly rejuvenating experience in a gorgeous location, complete with wonderfully friendly staff, it is difficult to imagine a more idyllic place for a weekend or an overnight stay. Whether you are in Yorkshire for pleasure or for business, I would recommend The Alice Hawthorn to anyone.