Today, more than ever, companies are increasingly looking to ensure wellbeing at work. Given the current pandemic context, the challenges are greater and greater, but they certainly haven’t eliminated the opportunities to provide an answer.
- Have you ever noticed a colleague struggling but didn’t know how to handle it in order to help them? After all, you are likely to meet a colleague who has gone through a period of increased pressure, discomfort, or demotivation that has jeopardized their wellbeing. But we don’t always have the tools, the means, and the context to do it right.
Do you want to learn how to invest in improvements to promote wellbeing at work?
Keep reading this article to learn some important signs to look out for, tips for practicing wellbeing, and, ultimately, recognizing its importance in the workplace.
The benefits of wellbeing at work
There are many factors that can affect well-being in the workplace. Yes, the salary matters, the growth opportunities are motivating, the benefits are exciting but… what good is all this if we don’t work in a supportive, empathetic, honest, relaxing work environment?
Companies that already apply and focus on optimizing the quality of life of their employees have increased productivity, improved employee retention, and individual and overall results boast significant improvements.
So let’s get to it. Because we spend so much of our day working, we can’t let that sacrifice our physical and mental well-being.
So take a break, grab a fresh drink, and navigate through some of the best resources and suggestions for a more fulfilling life, properly booked and loaded with nothing but positive energy.
Spot the signs
And speaking about positive energy, ironically we need to mention the elephant in the room: the signs that we or someone may be going through a phase of poor wellbeing.
And when this happens we can risk negatively impacting performance and efficiency as well, which in return will lead to more stress, pressure, anxiety, and sometimes depression.
But, first of all, keep in mind that everyone is different and we all react in different ways to some triggers, so don’t immediately assume something without first taking the time to get to know your colleague well, and spot changes in their behavior that should be valued.
Here are some signs you should be aware of, some more obvious than others:
- Poor concentration
- Being easily distracted
- Weeping
- Talking less and avoiding social activities
- Talking more or talking too fast, jumping between topics and ideas
- Finding it difficult to control emotions
- Drinking more
- Long-lasting sadness or irritability and short temper
- Aggression
- Worrying more
- Finding it hard to make decisions
- Feeling less interested in the day to day activities
- Low mood
- Feeling overwhelmed by things
- Tiredness and lack of energy
- Sleeping more or less
When you notice some of these signs in a colleague, it is very important that you get a good reading of their behaviors and know how to start a conversation with them. Questions like “How are you?”, “What’s been happening for you lately?”, “How is your family?”, can help start a conversation and attempt to help understand what that person is facing. And you could follow up with something like this: “Is there anything more or different that I can do to support?”
And, if by chance, you don’t have that much trust and a solid relationship with that person, start precisely by addressing that point honestly, acknowledge it, and explain that despite that, you’d like to know how he/she is doing.
Best tips to practice wellbeing
It is no wonder that the fastest-growing companies are those that care about their employees. As you will see, it is extremely important to consider well-being at work very important, for you, your colleagues and the company’s results.
As a company:
- Create a culture of mutual respect
- Promote improvements in the workspace
- Promote collaborative activities
- Encourage physical activity
- Encourage openness
- Provide moments of rest and relaxation
- Change some habits to help improve the mental state
- Discourage people from working long hours
As an individual:
- Take time out for things you enjoy
- Be active and eat well
- Nurture relationships and connect with others.
- Get involved and join in
- Be as much social as you can
- Build your confidence
- Practice new hobbies
- Set realistic goals and deal with tasks one at a time
- Reach out for help when you need it
- Get enough sleep and rest
Everyone wins when the environment is collaborative, comfortable, and most of all, genuine.
But keep in mind that it is ok not to have all the answers and not know how to proceed in every situation. As long as you can carefully listen to someone, or acknowledge your struggles and know how-to guide in the right direction, you’ll be well on your way to contributing to a workplace where everyone’s wellbeing is prioritized.
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