Employee's Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Here’s what you can do to ensure Employee’s Mental Wellness in the Workplace

“Productivity” is the buzzword on the lips of business owners and managers all over the world. However, all too often, this leads to employees being pushed to demonstrate productivity at the expense of their job satisfaction and, in some cases, their general mental health.

The Link between Work and Mental Health

Work can play a huge role in your overall health and welfare. In addition to the financial benefits, your job can add meaning, structure, and purpose to your life. It can also provide you with a sense of identity, bolster your self-esteem, and offer an important social outlet.

However, working in a negative environment can have the opposite effect and take a heavy toll on your emotional health. Long hours, understaffing, a lack of support, and harassment in the workplace can ramp up your stress levels and contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. It can also lead to employee burnout, reducing their ability to work effectively.

The world is moving at a rapid pace and people are increasingly opting for various ways to stay healthy and in shape. Staying mentally strong can have a significant impact on the emotional, social, and psychological well-being of an individual. At the workplace, too, many organizations now trying to create a conducive environment that fosters good mental health.

Organizations can empower their employees by discussing various mental health issues and taking various initiatives to address them.

Here’s a hint: it’s not just about working hard, but also about meditating! As the year comes to a close, it’s always nice to take some time for yourself. 

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A Guided Meditation Session for the Laudco Media

This Mental health awareness month, Laudco wanted to do something special for our employees. So, this week, Laudco Media held a meditation session for our employees to stay healthy, fit, and stress-free. We place a high value on our employees’ health and well-being. We meditated for an hour with our team members to promote mindfulness and moments of self-care.

We’re committed to creating a workplace where people feel inspired, energized, and fulfilled. With initiatives like these being a part of the culture, it’s no wonder our employees were happy and productive! We encouraged employees to use this month to connect more with one another, be more aware of one another’s well-being, and show interest.

It was amazing to see how everyone was able to relax, stay focused, and enjoy themselves. Laudco Media employees practiced yoga and meditation at work as these are two great ways to relax, reduce stress, and improve your overall health.

Ways to Support Employee Mental Wellness in the Workplace

Employers who are encouraging and supportive are essential for a truly productive team, but any mutually beneficial relationship requires both give and take.

With that in mind, here are a few simple and effective productivity tips to help you achieve workplace wellness and strike a balance between mental well-being and professional performance.

Awareness and education on mental health

The stigma and taboo around mental illness in the workplace can be vanquished only with continued awareness and education. Having focused group discussions with employees can help companies understand what they value most about mental health and what resonates best for them.

An employee’s mental health needs to be treated as importantly as their physical health. Sometimes just silent listening can be the best support and provide significant relief for individuals. Another way to do this is to have senior leaders talk about their mental health challenges in large forums and share their experiences. It will comfort others that they are not alone in this and would perhaps muster more confidence to open up about their mental health at work.

Take a breather

Several studies have even emphasized the importance of taking regular breaks to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and depression. Long periods of sitting at your desk can have a negative impact on your reasoning ability, motivation, and creativity.

You can go for a short walk to get some fresh air, read a book in the break room, or simply indulge in some “waking rest.” The key is to recognize that working longer does not always imply working better, and that taking a short break every hour or so to recharge your mental batteries will do you a world of good.

Timely clock in and out

It is equally important to take regular breaks as it is to take your start and finish times seriously. Overworked employees are notoriously unproductive and suffer from physical and mental exhaustion.

Drawing clear lines between your personal and professional lives, on the other hand, is an essential foundation for effective work-life balance. You can reap the benefits both inside and outside of the workplace by adhering to these important boundaries.

Take care of yourself

Last but not least, regardless of your line of work, everyone deserves the gratification that comes with the occasional reward, and it sometimes pays to be your own benefactor. Treats come in all shapes and sizes — some tangible, some abstract — but the important thing to remember is that everyone is different, and it’s all about figuring out what gives you the emotional lift you need to get the job done.

Don’t stop treating yourself, whether it’s with a luxurious out-of-office lunch, an after-work shopping spree, or stocking up on gourmet coffee products to get you through the day. A personal reward for doing your best work is the least you deserve, and these little pick-me-ups could be the key to experiencing the productivity boost you seek.

Communicate openly

When it comes to protecting your mental health at work, open and honest communication is essential. Naturally, this works both ways, as employers who are upfront and understanding reduce the stress of office conversations. However, you can choose to be the catalyst for direct communication and stick to this approach when it matters the most.

When faced with mountainous workloads, unrealistic deadlines, or other genuine grievances about your role, the best thing you can do is find a respectful and sincere way to express your concerns and carve a path toward a more manageable and productive working day.

Creating an appropriate policy framework to ensure improved mental and physical wellness among employees will be a continuous process for businesses. Small steps, such as cultivating a positive team-building exercise, celebrating professional and personal accomplishments, leisure activities with teams, in-house counselling sessions, and timely employee feedback, can, however, have a significant impact on the organization’s growth.

It’s never too late to embark on a fitness regime or start practising mindfulness. Any activity that fosters mental well-being will eventually contribute to a productive and fulfilling life.