Promoting good mental health at work can significantly impact a company. Businesses have the chance to positively influence and show support as anxiety, depression, and other issues related to mental health become more prevalent. Employers must think critically about mental health in the workplace. Untreated mental health issues can have a negative impact on an employee’s quality of life and productivity at work, but studies have shown that having access to support services and treatment options can make a big difference.
Mental health awareness in the workplace is nothing new. According to data from the Workplace Health Report: 2022, 67% of employees are experiencing moderate to high levels of stress, 58% of employees are experiencing symptoms of depression, and 52% of employees are experiencing symptoms of anxiety. Therefore, it has never been more crucial to give our workforce’s mental health top priority. In light of this, here are some suggestions for enhancing mental health at work.
Look after yourself
We must take care of ourselves first if we are to take the best possible care of our teams. Take an example the analogy of the oxygen mask to make this point. On an airplane, the flight attendants will instruct you to put your own oxygen mask on before helping anyone else. Now, this could come across selfish, but it’s actually selfless because if you didn’t put your oxygen mask on first, you’d quickly run out of air and be unable to assist anyone else.
Mental health is no different. If constantly putting others’ needs ahead of your own mental and physical health, you run the risk of becoming worn out, frustrated, and burned out. Therefore, put on your own oxygen mask by allocating at least 20 minutes per day to self-care activities. You could do whatever you want, such as read, work out, call a friend, or take a bath. Even sitting around doing absolutely nothing is an option.
Connect
Social connections are essential to our well-being. When we feel valued (appreciated and thanked, for example), add value (whether that is through leading a project, providing our own insight, or simply bringing a talent to the team), and make positive contributions, we feel better. One of the fundamental needs of people is connection. Stopping yourself from sending pointless emails in favor of talking to your coworker is a great way to build connections. Even a fleeting face-to-face encounter gives us the opportunity to read body language and hear voice tones, which helps us comprehend a situation better.
A great strategy for fostering this connection is to turn off your email or only check it occasionally throughout the day. We can go a long way toward feeling more connected to those around us by becoming a little less connected. Consider striking up a conversation with someone in the kitchen the next time you take a coffee break. As you genuinely listen, ask them about their weekend. You could improve your mental state at work by taking these few simple steps.
The right workplace
Another big impact on your mental health is the work environment in which you work on. You can try and work on different areas and you can see for yourself how each of them is different from the other. Therefore it is crucial for you to try finding the right office spaces in Manhattan, NY since it can be a solution for what you’re looking for.
Learn something new
We frequently experience anxiety or depression when we are not challenged. Because of this, developing new skills can enhance your mental well-being at work. You can increase your sense of purpose, self-worth, and confidence by learning something new. You could try taking a course, earning a new skill’s certification, or working as a senior staff member.
Slow down
In general, slowing down will improve your decision-making and interpersonal relationships. Make time to reflect on yourself. Journaling, meditation, and simply taking breaks are a few helpful strategies. Remember that even though you may move more slowly, you will move farther.
The significant societal changes of recent years have left many of us feeling vulnerable and under stress. Adopting these techniques will show others that it’s possible to improve mental health at work while also improving your own.
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