Maintaining Mental Wellness in the Workplace: A Guide to a Balanced and Happy Work Life
Dr.P. Madhurima Reddy
MA, M.Sc., MEd, M.Phil., Ph.D., Ph.D. Hon.Doc, Hon. D. Litt
Psychologist, Life, Business & Wealth Coach
Peak Performance International Trainer
NLP Master Practitioner Licensed (UK)
Human Behaviour Sciences Expert
International Best Seller Author
In the fast-paced world of deadlines, meetings, and targets, prioritizing mental health in the workplace is essential for overall well-being and productivity. Join us on a journey to explore practical tips that can help you achieve a harmonious and happy work life while nurturing your mental wellness.
Understanding the Importance of Mental Health at Work
In today's dynamic work environment, acknowledging the impact of mental health on overall performance is a crucial step toward fostering a positive workplace culture. Employees who feel supported in their mental well-being are more likely to thrive both personally and professionally.
Practical Tips for a Balanced Work Life
Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Define specific work hours and try to disconnect from work-related communication outside those hours. This helps create a healthy work-life balance.
Take Regular Breaks: Breaks are not a luxury; they are a necessity. Step away from your desk, stretch, and take short walks. Regular breaks rejuvenate your mind and improve focus when you return to your tasks.
Open Communication: Create an environment where open communication about mental health is encouraged. Supportive workplace cultures foster trust, making it easier for employees to share their struggles and seek assistance when needed.
Nurturing a Positive Workplace Culture
Promote Flexibility: Embrace flexibility in work arrangements, such as remote work or flexible hours. Providing autonomy can empower employees to structure their workdays in a way that suits their individual needs.
Encourage Physical Activity: Physical well-being is closely linked to mental health. Encourage employees to incorporate physical activity into their routine, whether it's through on-site fitness programs or providing gym memberships.
Offer Mental Health Resources: Provide access to mental health resources, such as counselling services or workshops. Demonstrating a commitment to mental wellness reinforces that your organization values the holistic well-being of its employees.
Closing Thoughts
Prioritizing mental health in the workplace is not just a trend; it's a necessity for a thriving and sustainable work environment. By implementing these tips and fostering a culture that values mental wellness, you contribute to a workplace where employees can truly flourish.
Let's redefine mental health in the workplace.
Awareness of the full range of employee mental health experiences is the first step to supporting good mental health in the workplace. All employees benefit when companies support and promote mental health for those who are suffering and those who are just not thriving.
Companies can lead by destigmatizing mental health as a topic and also taking a broader view of the company's role. We can redefine mental health by focusing on solutions that help employees flourish personally and professionally, in addition to providing support and access to clinical care for those most in need.
With understanding, creativity, and support, companies can provide the best mental health programs for their employees.
Ways to Improve Your Mental Health (and Feel Better)
Recognize Signs of a Mental Health Crisis. And just as importantly, know the resources to get yourself or others through a crisis. Sadly, the number of adults experiencing serious thoughts of suicide has increased every year for the last decade. 80% of people who die by suicide are of working age, which means the workplace can be an important source of intervention. Training sessions could give co-workers, HR, and management confidence to hold important conversations. Plus, keep within easy reach lists of resources, including local suicide prevention hotlines, mental health crisis centres, etc.
Heal from the trauma of living through a pandemic. Let's be clear. You experienced loss during the pandemic. Everyone did. People, jobs, health, opportunities… If you haven't yet, take some time to grieve your losses fully. It's the first step to moving on so you can fully embrace the unknowns of the future.
Feel the negative. Accepting negative emotional experiences, rather than judging them, can lead to fewer harmful emotions when confronted with daily stressors.
Talk. One of the best ways to combat depression is to know you aren't alone. The late Maya Angelou once said, "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you." Confide in a loved one, reach out to a therapist, or join in the conversation on social media. Check out what other people are saying here.
Begin your day with a mindful morning. Practicing early morning yoga or taking a few minutes to meditate can help jumpstart your day in a purposeful direction. The app Insight Timer offers 45,000 free meditations and can be a great place to start.
Make daily connections. The sudden transformation to remote workplaces left many workers continuously toggling between personal and professional duties. As a result of this new dynamic, many employees find themselves missing out on the social benefits of going to work each day. With a little extra effort, these relationships don't have to be a thing of the past. Use Zoom meetings, Slack conversations, or other technology to check in on each other and nurture camaraderie among co-workers.
Work your strengths. Because most of us view our weaknesses as changeable, we tend to focus on improving these traits and skills. However, numerous studies show that people grow faster when they work on developing their strengths rather than improving their weaknesses. In addition, they're often happier, more confident, and less stressed when they use their strengths.
Continue progressing toward big goals. It's often necessary to revisit priorities and alter objectives as needed, especially during a nationwide crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Although this is helpful and often necessary, try not to allow short-term solutions to replace long-term goals completely. Even when time doesn't allow you to work toward them as much as you'd like, find small ways to continue moving toward big-picture ambitions.
Get enough sleep. Typical adults need 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night. Failing to achieve this on a regular basis can impact energy, mood, and motivation. Studies suggest a strong correlation between insomnia and clinical depression. Ensuring the body receives enough time to rest and reboot through the night is crucial for mental health.
Consume a healthy diet. When we view the food we eat as fuel for our body, it becomes a little easier to make healthy choices. Substances from processed food can be harmful to the brain. Multiple studies have found a link between a diet high in refined sugar and mood disorders, such as depression.
Exercise frequently. Individuals who work out on a regular basis tend to enjoy better health, both physically and mentally. Exercise improves cognitive function and quality of sleep and helps people maintain a healthy weight. These things, along with the brain's release of mood-enhancing endorphins, all contribute to higher self-esteem and overall better mental health. If COVID has impacted your ability to get to the gym, YouTube is full of simple workouts you can complete right in your living room.
Slow down. One of the most sure-fire ways to increase stress is to rush from place to place and task to task. Taking opportunities to slow down occasionally helps us clarify priorities and be more present in each moment. It can also lower our blood pressure while enhancing cognitive functions and restoring emotional equilibrium.
Set realistic targets. Goals do more than define our success and failure. They give us a reason to celebrate our wins. But inevitably, we aren't going to hit every target we aim for. And that's OK. Goals should stretch us but should also be achievable. Be realistic in your situation so you (and those working alongside you) don't feel like you're failing all the time. Then, find moments to celebrate – especially when times are tough.
Take time for things you love. This will look a little different for everybody. Whether it's hiking a mountain, golfing a round with friends, or curling up with a good book, we all have activities that fill our buckets. Take time on a regular basis to do something you enjoy.
Work in healthy lighting. The amount and types of light we expose ourselves to throughout the day affect not only our circadian system but also our emotional well-being.
Keep a gratitude journal. One way to combat all the negative input we receive is to recognize the positive in our lives proactively. Taking a few moments each day to write down a few things you're grateful for triggers the brain to release dopamine and serotonin, two neurotransmitters that improve our mood.
Do things for others. People who consistently help other people experience greater calm, fewer pains, better health, and less depression.
Be creative. Expressing creativity can benefit the mind in more ways than one. There are many ways one can create something new. Some of these include arts and crafts, cooking, web design, building, and working on home projects.
Laugh. Though it can be hard to lighten up during difficult circumstances, the benefits are no joke. The Mayo Clinic reveals data that suggests laughing stimulates organs like the heart, lungs, and muscles while it leads the brain to release more endorphins. Laughing and positive thoughts can also improve the body's immune system over time and help control pain by causing the body to release its natural painkillers. If your funny bone needs a little encouragement, streaming services like Hulu and Netflix have added some excellent comedy movies and TV shows along with stand-up comedian specials.
Try something new. Many of us like to stick with what we know, especially in times of turmoil. However, venturing into an unknown realm may be just the thing to brings about an adrenaline rush and a little happiness-inducing excitement. Undergoing new experiences allows individuals to tap into their potential and discover things they may not have otherwise known about themselves. You might try something like painting, cooking new foods, playing an instrument, picking up a sport, or learning a language. Ask your close friends about some of their favourite hobbies, then try to learn more about one you've never tried before.
Ready to Foster Mental Wellness in Your Workplace?
Take the first step toward creating a balanced and happy work life for yourself and your team. Explore more insights and resources on our blog to support mental health in the workplace.
Explore More Insights and embark on a journey to a healthier work life.
Please reach us for appointments @ La Winspire & Continental Hospitals:
+91 910073131594, 9703632860, 7337592999
CONNECT WITH US
Website | |
Youtube | |
Facebook Page | |
Facebook Page | |
Facebook Group | |
Comments
Post a Comment