Let’s face it… work can be really stressful at times! Whether it be conflicts with coworkers, long hours, or a long list of projects, sometimes we’ve got a lot on our plate. That is why taking proactive steps to improve our mental well-being is key to succeeding not only at work, but in all aspects of our life.
Positive mental well-being in the workplace helps employees:
- Manage stress
- Boost resilience
- Improve decision-making
- Communicate effectively
- Stay engaged
- Improve productivity and job performance
B.Komplete wants to help you make this a reality for your workforce. Here are 5 actionable tips that can improve mental well-being and help your employees flourish.
Begin Your Day with Mindfulness
How often do you stop to watch the sunrise or really enjoy your morning coffee? We wake up in the morning and go from 0 to 100, ready to tackle the day ahead. However, taking a little bit of time to center ourselves and practice mindfulness before jumping into the day can have huge benefits: improved focus, increased self awareness, better mood, and increased productivity.
Here are some ways you can start practicing mindfulness in the morning:
- Don’t go on social mefore for an hour after waking up.
- Do a quick yoga video – all you need is 10 minutes!
- Practice mindful eating: notice the taste, textures, and smells of your breakfast and morning coffee. Pay attention to how it makes you feel.
- Get outside first thing in the morning to watch the sunrise, listen to nature, and get some fresh air.
- Practice a traditional form of meditation by sitting still and observing your breathe.
Work on Gratitude
Think about the last time someone thanked you for your hard work. It felt pretty good right? When we show appreciation for our coworkers and they show appreciation for us, we build a stronger community and improve collaboration. Not only will showing others appreciation improve the workforce, practicing gratitude in your own life can help reduce stress, increase job satisfaction, and build resilience. It may seem small and a little silly at times, but gratitude will help transform your workforce. Here are some ways you can start practicing gratitude at work:
- Make a list of three things that went right at the end of every day.
- Compliment a coworker on an accomplishment.
- Write a thank you note to someone you care about.
- Start meetings at work by having everyone say one positive thing that happened to them that week.
- Start your day by writing down three things you are grateful for.
Open Communication
Communication is one of the most important tools in any relationship we have whether it be family, friends, or colleagues. Relationships where everyone feels seen, heard, and appreciated is important for good mental health. At work, open communication builds trust among employees, improves teamwork and collaboration, and helps problems get resolved early. Here are ways you can start creating a safe environment for open communication at work:
- Acknowledge that everyone’s thoughts and opinions are important.
- Ask your employees for their input and give them feedback often.
- Practice active listening and speak respectfully to everyone.
- Encourage your employees to speak up when something is bothering them.
- Set an example by practicing good communication skills.
Practice Realistic Goal Setting
How many of us have forgotten our New Year’s Resolutions? We get really excited for January 1st to hit and by the end of the month, we feel discouraged, which is not good for our mental health. That is why setting realistic goals for yourself and your team is so important. Goals that lack clarity and are unreasonable only lead to frustration. Set yourself and your team up for success by setting SMART goals. Here are some things you should be thinking about:
- Specific: Am I being clear on what I want to achieve? Do my employees understand exactly what I am asking them to do?
- Measurable: How will I know when this goal has been achieved? How can I track my progress?
- Attainable: Can this goal actually be achieved? Can this goal be changed to something more attainable?
- Relevant: Do your goals make sense for what the team is trying to accomplish? Do your personal goals align with what you care about?
- Time-bound: When does this goal need to be achieved? Is there a clear deadline to work towards that will keep me and my team on track?
Want to take your SMART goals to a whole new level? Schedule a B.Komplete webinar or seminar where we will walk you through some goal setting strategies!
Stay Active
We all know how great it feels after we finish a workout, but getting started can be challenging. When work is busy and personal commitments just keep adding up, finding the time to workout is hard. However, even a ten minute walk is better than nothing! Exercising not only reduces stress and anxiety, it can also improve your ability to focus, be creative, and stay productive at work. If you are struggling to find ways to fit exercise into your daily routine, we’ve got you covered!
- Get up 30 minutes earlier to do a quick 15-20 minute workout video.
- Get a group of coworkers together to start an intramural sports team.
- Encourage employees to go on walks during their lunch breaks.
- Rather than sitting in a conference room, start having walking meetings.
- Create a pet friendly office- walking your pets is a great way to stay active.
- Schedule a B.Komplete exercise class!
Improving your mental well-being does not happen over night. You have to start building small habits that over time will help you lead a more positive and fulfilling life. Choosing one or two of these things to work on will put you on the right path to improving your mental well-being and creating a more positive environment at work.