World Mental Health Day: How to Maintain Mental Health in a Competitive Workplace |

Competition and the will to win are inherent in most people from the start. From competing for resources in the womb to struggling in school, college, and finally the workplace, we have it as an unconscious part of our daily lives. Of course, once we enter the working phase of our lives, this competitive spirit becomes more complex. The next big holiday, the next big promotion, the flashy car, the kid's acceptance into the best school in town – all of it comes at a price – the price of getting better at work. And so, in this article, Arushi Sethi Shah, CEO and co-founder of Trijog – Know Your Mind, explores how you can take better care of your health mental health in a competitive workplace.
Is it just an illusion?
When you work for an organization, you often find yourself climbing the proverbial treadmill without taking a break. What we often tell ourselves and others is that this is a treadmill that you can't get off. But is that really true? Are we constantly in a race with others or are we struggling to become better to overcome our past inefficiencies and gain ground on those around us?
While important days at work feel stressful—when deadlines need to be met, reports need to be submitted, performance reviews need to be held, or processes need to be refined—we tend to extend the intensity of these important days to all days of our week. Is that necessary? Can't we deliver quality AND quantity of work without the pressure of an angry boss at the end of the spectrum? Insignia of the Spirit.
When we start doing our best without wasting time, wasting resources, or without the negativity of workplace politics that has become so part of company culture, we can achieve miracles. Believe it or not, this will inevitably mean that even the crucial days will be better than we expected.
We have to stay competitive, right?
The competition is stimulating.
Competition brings out the best in us.
Competition is the basis of our existence. Survival of the fittest, right?

Absolutely correct. All of it. This is what we were told as children and as adults, and we continue to tell our children. But the competition also has a downside. Many people take it well and it has a noticeable effect on how well they are doing in life. However, the fact is that there are many more who fall behind in the process of living up to the expectations of others. This leads to feelings of inferiority and lower self-esteem and leads to the emergence of complexes that often lead to depression and psychological problems, leading to poor behavior at home and, in some extreme cases, self-harm.
How can organizations help?
In organizations, the focus is generally on creating “healthy competition” to motivate everyone to perform better. However, this competition is not as “healthy” as organizations and our bosses would like to believe. Instead of constantly focusing on what others have achieved or not, wouldn't it be better to focus on the individual and their performance and encourage them to improve their performance? It is better for each of us when we are self-focused and compete to become better together using our strengths and weaknesses. Organizations can build more specific evaluation systems that focus on reviewing the individual's performance compared to their previous performance, rather than the performance of others.
Another way organizations can help is by talking about it. The more we talk about it, the more we normalize mental health and encourage people to talk about it without shame or fear of backlash against their growth in the organization. Organizing mental health discussions, requiring counseling for all employees and monitoring employees' mental health – these are some things that are already being done by several multinational companies and need to be put into practice in companies of all sizes.
Attitude of gratitude
What do you do in competitive organizations where the environment is full of adrenaline and everyone is really competing with each other? Stay calm and adopt an attitude of gratitude. Stop, think, and enjoy each victory before blindly moving on to the next. Counting your blessings is just as important as the victories for which they are counted.
Be empathetic
What can you do as an individual? Look around you – are there people in your peer group and below or above you who you feel are burdened by their performance at work? Don't assume that someone will explain it to others. People who suffer from mental health problems often do not speak up and, in many cases, smile to hurt themselves. Talk to those who may need a friend, have a listening ear—and don't expect them to spill the beans as soon as you do. Be patient, be a friend first, and be someone you can trust to share your inner feelings with. Maybe you'll just help someone who needs it.
Ask for help
While helping others is important and must be done, self-help is key in today's trying times. Look within and think about your mental health. How do you feel when you come to work, perform poorly, or are demoted by a manager? People are often afraid to ask for help because it signals a sign of weakness. But that's no longer true. Most modern organizations are extremely open and supportive of mental health issues, offering resources and professionals to help you sort through your emotions and become stronger and better equipped to handle the ups and downs of corporate life.
Contact us and ask – it's the least you can do for yourself.