Stable Mental Health in the Workplace

One meeting after another, more than five things to do at the same time, and deadlines that come closer and closer? According to research by CareerBuilder, nearly 1/3 of employees said work gives them high or extremely high-stress levels, with the most common side effects being fatigue, sleeplessness, aches and pains, anxiety, and weight gain. 

All employees want to feel satisfied, stable, and happy in the workplace but stressful situations, busy schedules and too many responsibilities affect mental health and individual well-being. How to be energized, inspired to do tasks but not overwork and burn out?

Individual mental health

Employee’s mental health doesn’t depend only on stressful situations and issues in the work. Everyone spends time at home, somehow fulfills their free time, and meets other people outside the workplace. It depends on the stage where you are in life, and in the midst of different circumstances. There are a few realities of mental well-being that can help us achieve the desired state we seek. Read more: Effective Treatments for Burnout Syndrome.

Important lessons to practice

•  Strive for feeling right instead of feeling good

People have been taught to seek out happiness and positive energy but it is not possible to feel happy 365 days per year. So it is essential to spread the message that it is right to feel different emotions such as anger, sadness, thoughtfulness, boredom, etc. and not to avoid it. Why? Because people experience, have challenges and problem-solving situations that create a wide range of emotions.

Maya Tamir, psychology professor at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has said that happiness “is about having experiences that are meaningful and valuable, including emotions that you think are the right ones to have. The key to a life of fulfillment and wellness is having the emotions and the emotional experiences that one desires or wants, which can include both positive and negative feelings.”

• Accept the negative instead of avoiding it 

First of all, a person needs to be open to accepting negative emotions because it stabilizes mental health and doesn’t increase stress. It doesn’t mean that you should increase negative emotions and thoughts but admit it for yourself. Secondly, when you understand why you feel that way, you should analyze and make conclusions about the next steps.

When you are trying to escape or avoid problems, negative emotions, those thoughts will come back more frequently and more intensely. It’s especially true for negative thoughts. This is captured in the saying: “The thoughts you resist, persist.”

• Move towards wellness, but don’t get caught in the middle of pleasures

When focusing on well-being and mental health, there are two ways how we derive happiness in life and work: experiences of pleasure and experiences of purpose. Behavioral scientific researches have made it clear that well-being is about deeply satisfying experiences and personal relationships.

Workplace well-being

You can make your work environment more appropriate and comfortable for the working process to feel good and motivated. Read more: Workplace Factors Affecting Employee Health

There are some tips for better workplace well-being:

• Encourage awareness 

Learn more about the team’s empowerment and how to reduce the stress levels at the workplace. You should suggest starting every morning by going through a great day plan and understanding the main points on how to reach it. 

• Encourage breaks

Employees should use short breaks when they feel too stressed or overwhelmed because they will be more productive after breaks. Furthermore, the app Take a Break gives users a quick and uncomplicated break to help relieve stress whenever they need it. It is a useful tool for stress management.

• Encourage connection 

In Podcast 23, Gretchen Rubin talks about using a workplace show that everyone is watching is a good way for people who might not typically participate in a workplace conversation to become a part of the conversation. She cites the fact that people who are happy at work often say they have a lot of really strong relationships with people at work. Having an office show can promote workplace well-being by encouraging widespread connection. 

• Encourage to talk about feelings

Not everyone wants to speak about their mental health or feeling bad but employees can fill up anonymous surveys, where they are asked to rate their mental health as it relates to work. Keep any conversations about an employee’s mental health private and confidential.

• Encourage to keep up on company culture 

Workplace culture plays a huge role in employee burnout, so employees should be aware of any conflicts, workload changes and the manager should inform about the general morale. 

“Foster a culture where employees are able to support one another by shifting responsibilities around,” says business professional and leader in the healthcare industry Marie Buharin (Modernesse). “Delegate appropriately so that the amount of work is balanced.”

Think about your mental health and how you feel now! Is there something that you would like to change? Read through one more time these tips and advice that should help you to start a successful day without huge stress!

Sources:

[1]https://www.forbes.com/sites/rasmushougaard/2020/10/08/three-lessons-of-mental-well-being-that-rarely-get-talked-about/?ss=leadership-strategy#2a1b1c504b5a

[2] https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15848-identify-employee-burnout.html