The Devil's Workshop

The Devil's Workshop
Photo by Annette Batista Day / Unsplash

You must have heard the phrase- ‘An empty mind is the devil’s workshop’. While I was growing up, my mother used this phrase a lot. She didn’t like the fact that I had little interest in academics and would try to keep me busy with activities. Over time, I became fairly adept at getting out of said planned projects, and would spend my time reading/watching TV.

By the time I got my first job, my mental health issues had finally caught up with me. Till that point I had been able to float, but now I had started to sink. I had little to no awareness regarding treatment and was hesitant to pursue it. I decided to drown myself in work rather than be overwhelmed by my issues. It worked really well for a while. I was motivated to get away from my problems and hence put all my time and energy into work. My bosses were happy with my performance and I started feeling better about myself. But this focus came at a very heavy cost. I started becoming dependent on substances, and when I tried to get away from everything, I wasn’t able to concentrate on work.

My plan had backfired. My problems had found a way to catch up with me, even when I was trying to keep myself as busy as possible. I had entered a self-destructive zone and decided to just run away from everything.

This idea of mine had the worst impact though. Now that I didn’t have work to distract myself, the devil’s workshop was in full force. Till this point, work had acted as an impetus to stay afloat. But now, I was drowning. No matter how I looked at it, there was a bleak future ahead of me. I had no hope and no idea as to how to get out of the hole I had dug myself into.

Luckily for me though, help came in from unexpected quarters. I was able to address my issues and get on with life. There’s no magic solution though, so I ended up in a long struggle with my problems. I try to keep myself reasonably busy now, I can’t afford to have an empty mind.

Manah Wellness is an employee engagement and wellbeing brand that provides innovative tools and professional support to businesses of all sizes. Founded by wellbeing experts and seasoned entrepreneurs, the company has an experienced team of psychologists and professionals who support individuals and teams with preventive, proactive, and personalized solutions for emotional and mental health, wellness, and professional growth. Manah empowers employees to track, assess, and understand their wellbeing, and how it changes over time. It also enables leaders to make more informed decisions with aggregated and anonymous data.

Manah has supported employees at more than 50 organizations with high levels of employee engagement, and positive feedback from employees on their improved wellbeing. Whether your goal is to lend wellness support to specific team members or to build a company culture that promotes emotional well-being, Manah Wellness has the virtual tools and expertise to support your journey. Get in touch with our team of qualified mental health professionals to discuss your organizational goals, and be part of a growing workplace wellbeing community with Manah."

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