The well-being of your employees is more important now than ever before. “Workplace well-being relates to all aspects of working life, from the quality and safety of the physical environment, to how workers feel about their work, their working environment, the climate at work and work organization (Cegid).” May is mental health awareness month, but we should be focusing on the mental state of employees all throughout the year. As leaders, you have the chance to positively impact the well-being of employees within your team and organization every single day. By doing so you will start a domino effect of positivity throughout your entire organization.
Besides being a good human, why should you care about improving employee well-being?
The better employees feel while at work, the better their work and productivity will be, ultimately helping the bottom line. According to Mental Health America, disengaged employees cost businesses roughly $500 billion each year. If you don’t currently have wellness programs in place, it’s time to get things moving and put your peoples’ needs first. The impact on the bottom line is huge, but the benefits will also be seen in employee: engagement, communication, value, appreciation, and happiness.
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20 ways to improve your well-being (source: Michelle White)
- Recognize signs of a mental health crisis.
- Know the resources to get yourself or others through a crisis.
- Heal from the trauma of living through a pandemic.
- Take time to fully grieve your losses so you can fully embrace the unknowns of the future.
- Feel the negative.
- Accept your negative emotional experiences, rather than judge them.
- Talk.
- Confide in a loved one, a therapist, or a conversation on social media.
- Begin your day with a mindful morning.
- Take a few minutes to meditate or journal at the start of your day, or practice early morning yoga.
- Work your strengths.
- People grow faster when they work on developing their strengths rather than improving their weaknesses, often feeling happier, more confident, and less stressed.
- Continue progressing toward big goals.
- Find small ways to continue moving toward big-picture ambitions when you don’t have time to put more focus into those goals.
- Get enough sleep.
- Failing to get 7-9 hours of sleep per night will eventually impact your energy, mood, and motivation.
- Consume a healthy diet.
- View the food you eat as fuel for your body, making small changes to choose healthier options.
- Exercise frequently.
- Those who work out on a regular basis tend to have better mental and physical health, with improved cognitive function and quality of sleep.
- Slow down.
- Slowing down occasionally will help you clarify priorities and be more present in each moment, lowering blood pressure and enhancing cognitive functions.
- Set realistic targets.
- Goals should stretch us but should also be achievable, so you don’t end up feeling like you’re failing all the time.
- Take time for things you love.
- You must spend some time doing things that fill your personal bucket so you can show up at work and home as your best self.
- Get outdoors.
- Spending time in nature can relieve stress and improve both mental and physical health. Outdoor activities can decrease fatigue, improve heart health, and improve your mood and focus.
- Take a vacation or staycation.
- Travel will rejuvenate you in many ways, depending on what type of vacation you choose to enjoy.
- Keep a gratitude journal.
- Take a couple minutes each day to write down a few things you’re grateful for, proactively recognizing the positive in your life.
- Do things for others.
- Helping others consistently will help you experience greater calm, fewer pains, better health, and less depression.
- Be creative.
- Creativity reduces anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Laugh!
- Laughing stimulates organs like the hearts, lungs, and muscles, leading to the brain to release more endorphins.
- Try something new.
- Change can be a little scary and overwhelming, but it might be just what you need to bring you an adrenaline rush and little happiness-inducing excitement.
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Reach out today and let’s chat about how we can help you strategically focus on your employees’ well-being with one of our trainings!
