How stressful is the workplace? In the UK, around a quarter of employees report being unable to cope with work-related stress. In fact, the situation is getting out of hand as signs of burnout are becoming more and more common in the office, and almost 10% of UK adults need to take time off for mental health reasons, often with absences lasting over a month. While there are many reasons behind the surge of workplace stress, ultimately, there is no denying that work pressure has been going up in the past decades. Deadlines stack up, inboxes are never empty, and the line between work and personal life is blurry. This doesn’t include other issues, such as discrimination and depression.
In other words, mental health in the workplace is no longer an issue that can be ignored. As stress affects productivity, relationships, decision-making, and long-term well-being, it becomes crucial to protect your mental health at work. This requires a structured system, and below are 9 tools and services that can be a game-changer in helping working adults build the balance they need.
Omnia Health Group
Omnia Health Group is dedicated to providing affordable online mental health services and therapy that can fit around workplace schedules. Indeed, clients can access their one-to-one sessions online and benefit from bespoke care plans created by accredited and certified experts. With core values such as compassion, empathy, kindness, and results, Omnia Health Group is committed to helpful working adults find resilience and happiness.
Professional therapy is the perfect structured space that allows professionals to process anxiety, burnout, leadership pressure, and work-life imbalance issues, empowering themselves to break free from work-related stress.
Pros:
- Affordable with sessions starting at £10
- Flexible online scheduling to fit busy working life
- Bespoke programme through multiple therapeutic approaches
Cons:
- Not suited to those who prefer in-person appointments
- You need to commit to see results
Calm
Calm is a well-being app that focuses on meditation and breathing exercises. It includes a variety of activities, ranging from short guided sessions to longer courses and audio support to help reduce stress. In fact, Calm is frequently included in workplace well-being schemes.
The app provides mindfulness habits and practices that can help professionals handle demanding work paces.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Also includes sleep support
- Short & long sessions
Cons:
- Subscription model
- Meditation doesn’t suit everyone
The Gym Group
The Gym Group offers low-cost, no-contract gym memberships across the UK. Many locations provide 24/7 access, making it easier for professionals to exercise before or after work.
Regular physical activity supports mood regulation and helps reduce the physiological effects of chronic workplace stress, and actively bring cortisol levels down.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Flexible opening hours
- Wide UK coverage
Cons:
- Ongoing monthly costs
- Time-demanding
Home Workout – App No Equipment
This free app is designed to provide guided bodyweight routines that are easy to follow at home. Sessions last on average 30 minutes or less and are ideally structured for all fitness levels. No equipment is required.
Quick workouts available at your fingertips may not seem relevant to mental health, but being able to release tensions after a long day can help regulate cortisol levels. For many professionals, high stress leads to unhealthy coping habits, which can further increase stress levels. So, a free fitness routine that tackles stress can be a game-changer.
Pros:
- No gym gear required
- Short routines perfect for busy professionals
- Free
Cons:
- Not designed for effective fitness progression
- No accountability
Gousto
When you work long hours, it’s easy to feel too tired, both physically and mentally, to consider cooking. Unfortunately, going down the takeaway option can keep cortisol levels high. Gousto is a meal kit subscription service that delivers pre-measured ingredients with step-by-step recipes to your door.
It’s healthy, easy, fast, and removes the mental load of meal planning.
Pros:
- Reduces meal stress
- Encourages healthy diet
- Time-saving
Cons:
- More expensive than regular grocery shopping
- Subscription commitment
Oddbox
Fuel your brain and body to reduce stress. The typical workplace diet of coffee and tea with unhealthy snacks and takeaway food lacks fresh ingredients that can support stable energy levels and focus. Ultimately, professionals who rely on quick sugar-packed snacks and hyper-processed food are more exposed to sugar highs (and sugar lows), uneven concentration levels, and cognitive fatigue.
Oddbox delivers fruit and veg produce in weekly boxes at a cost-effective price, so you can easily include healthy and energy-packed ingredients in your meals.
Pros:
- Cost-effective
- Delivered to your door
- Supports balanced eating
Cons:
- It needs cooking
- Box content varies, so you may receive produce you enjoy less
Forest
We live in a world that constantly requires our digital attention, and for professionals, this means dumb scrolling and tackling notifications instead of focusing on what needs to be done. While it’s impossible to work without consulting your screen, you can use Focus to reduce digital distractions.
This protects your mental load and helps stay focused. Additionally, the app works with an encouraging timer system that virtually grows a tree on the screen while you work to combat FOMO.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Affordable
- Motivating
Cons:
- Limited features
Todoist
This task management tool is designed to support daily responsibility organisation. For workers who need to handle multiple tasks every day, Todoist makes it easier to prioritise and set deadlines.
This is a great support for anyone who struggles with mental clutter and unclear to-do lists, as this helps manage competing demands without the pressure.
Pros:
- Simple interface
- Sybcs across platforms
Cons:
- Doesn’t replace project management tools
- Needs regular updating
RescueTime
This tool tracks digital activity to help you understand how you spend your time across websites and applications for a better balance. It is a practical awareness-building tool for greater digital habits and boundaries.
Pros:
- Clear time usage insights
- Identified distraction patterns
Cons:
- Full features only available on paid plans
- Time tracking doesn’t replace productivity strategies
Supporting Your Mental Health at Work
Building a system to help protect your mental health in the workplace can be a game-changer. Naturally, an effective system needs to include a range of tools, from professional therapy to time-management and stress-relief best practices.
It is also crucial for professionals to appreciate that, while mental health tools can provide the resilience they need, they do not negate the effect of a toxic workplace or unhealthy work-life balance.
