Maintaining your mental health while working in Japan.

Living in and exploring Japan can be exciting and invigorating. Yet, working overseas can take its toll on your mental health.? October 10th is World Mental Health Day.? Here are a few tips to help you take care of your mental health while living and working in Japan.??

?1 - Be an active member of your community.? Try to find and join a community.? Many cities have international centers that offer free or low-cost Japanese lessons. These can be a good place to begin your search.? Seek out a group of people who share a common interest.? Connecting with other foreigners in your area can clue you into local hangouts or groups. Look into volunteer opportunities.? If you are religious or spiritual, seek out a local faith community.? Keep an eye open for events like farmers' markets, live music events, and festivals. With the ongoing pandemic, many events are being moved to online platforms.? Check out regional SNS groups for leads or online events.? ? Many events are being held with countermeasures to prevent the spread of COVID as well.? For LGBTQ+ folks Stonewall Japan has a very active online community.? You can find more information here: https://stonewalljapan.org/

?2 - Focus on work-life balance.? It’s important to set boundaries and make sure you allow yourself time away from work tasks.? Find an activity that gives you an escape even for a short time.? It might help to take a break from technology.? Joining a gym or doing yoga.? Pro-tip: Some towns and cities have municipal gyms for residents.? These gyms are usually very inexpensive or free.? Explore your local area on foot or bike.? Keep a small garden on your balcony.? Set time aside to snuggle up with a good read.? These are a few small ways to treat yourself. ? In short, find time to do something that makes you feel good and leaves you refreshed and recharged.?

?3 - Stay connected.? With the Pandemic the whole world has taken a crash course in the use of online communication.? This is a great way to stay connected to friends and family back home.? Setting up a scheduled check-in can be a helpful coping tool.? It's a great way to reflect on and digest what you're experiencing and how you are feeling.? It also helps to recalibrate your perspective.? Talking with family and friends can help remind you what led you on this adventure in the first place.???????

?4 - Take time to learn about and gather resources before you need them.? Get to know what mental health services might be available to you before you need them.? Technology has made accessing mental health support easier than ever.? There are services that allow you to connect with English-speaking counselors online.? There may also be in-person services in your local area worth exploring.? A great place to start your search is TELL (Tokyo English Life Line).? TELL offers services to the English-speaking community across Japan.? This includes phone and online chat consulting services. ? You can find more information on TELL here: https://telljp.com/

?5 - Don’t be afraid to seek help or advice when needed.? Even superheroes need to take off the cape and mask every now and then.? There is no shame in finding yourself overwhelmed or struggling.? Under the best circumstances, life has ups and downs. Peaks and valleys can be even more pronounced when living and working in another country.? Adapting to a new culture, language, and lifestyle can be tough even when you've been here for a while.? Be kind to yourself, make an effort to acknowledge and celebrate your successes.? It could be discovering a new cafe in the next town over. Having a breakthrough with a student. Or being able to find that elusive foreign food you've been craving.? When you are struggling, remember you aren’t alone.? There is a community of people experiencing many of the same things you are.? It can help to reach out, share stories, vent, and of course seek help when needed.