We talk about mental health and wellbeing as a key priority and area of focus in the post-pandemic world. However, it can often be challenging to navigate the significant amount of information available especially when it comes to self-care or, as we like to call it at The Burnt Chef Project, ‘mental hygiene’.

“What on earth is that?” we hear you ask. Consider the daily act of brushing your teeth. We know that we must do this twice a day to maintain a high level of dental hygiene and to reduce the risk of gum disease or tooth decay – this we’ve known since we were young children because we were taught by our parents or preschool teachers. The principle of mental hygiene is the same. Small, practical daily steps that allow us to remain at our optimum level of mental health and reduce the risk of illness or injury.

Each of us has the capacity to find the behaviours that sustain our wellbeing and to build these into our routine. To give you a helping hand here are just a few examples of mental hygiene practices:

Satisfaction of basic needs

Life is about balance. The yin to the yang. With that in mind, we should be mindful that nutrition, exercise, and relaxation are key to satisfying our primal needs. Think about the last time you took a rest or ate a well balanced meal - did you know that over 70 per cent of our happy hormone, serotonin, is produced by our gut?

Setting personal goals

Life is frantic and in hospitality it can be hard to differentiate between work and personal time. It’s vital to recognise that we work to live and not live to work. This does not mean that we shouldn’t have pride in our work but we also need to understand that our personal development is equally as important.

Finding it’s been a while since you picked up that guitar you purchased? Always wanted to learn a different language? Well, now is the time!

Connection is key

It is easy to slip into a daily routine of eat, work, sleep, repeat. Humans are social creatures. This means we need to feel like we belong and have a sense of connection. It’s important that as part of your mental hygiene routine, you allocate time to visit or speak with your friends and family. The benefits to your mental health should not be underestimated. You’ve not spoken to close a friend in a while? It’s time for that call!

If we can all prioritise our own mental hygiene, the industry we love can ultimately become a happier, healthier and safer place to be.

Why not download our free selfcare poster for your workplace?