There are many ways employers can reduce tension and anxiety while promoting wellness at work. Topping the list are connecting with others, being prepared, getting enough rest, calming the mind, getting the blood moving, giving back, getting outside, relaxing the body, and finding mental focus. LocumBase has put together some quick and tech-friendly ways to go after each.
Keep employees connected
Creating a feature on your internal drive that houses a series that everyone is watching is a good way for people to connect with one another.
Often corporates do not allow for the exchange of recreational video materials as it could promote workplace distraction, but if a curated folder on your internal drive was dedicated for sharing, this would help people understand that they have something in common with the greater workforce around them.
It has been observed that people who are happy at work often say they have a lot of really strong relationships with their colleagues. Having a common interest such as a series everyone is watching can promote workplace wellness by encouraging widespread connection.
Promote preparedness
In his TedTalk, How to stay calm when you know you’ll be stressed, Neuroscientist Daniel Levitin discusses how you’re not at your best when you’re stressed. In fact, your brain has evolved over time to release cortisol in stressful situations, inhibiting rational, logical thinking but potentially helping you survive. Levitin thinks there’s a way to avoid making critical mistakes in stressful situations when your thinking becomes clouded. He says, "The idea is to think ahead to what failures might be.” When we visualize what might happen, we’re better prepared to manage risks.
Encourage employees to rest
When employees stay awake burning the midnight oil working, they can miss out on much-needed sleep. Most of us don’t get the 7–8 hours of sleep we’re supposed to have each night, so if you encourage employees to get rest, such as sufficient breaks between meetings as well as looking at implementing a no meeting Friday or half-day as well as encouraging them to shut down their computers over weekends to relax, you’ll see a boost in energy, productivity, and creativity.
Share ways for employees to relax
Encourage employees to practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or quiet time away from their screens, for example, by downloading a mindfulness and meditation app that helps them quiet their minds and relieve stress. Apps like Calm and Headspace make it easy for people to learn the art of meditation and the benefits of quiet time, you could look at having a buddy system that lets you and a friend encourage each other in their journey.
Incentivise exercise
MakeMe is an app for encouraging group activities. The app allows users to share moments of achievement and encouragement from one another to increase our collective ability to succeed. This is a surefire way to promote wellness at work.
Encourage counselling
Encourage employees to see a counsellor every so often even when they feel like it is not necessary - no one knows what they have to unpack emotionally until they do. Offer to pay for one session if the company can afford it.
Remind them that they are not alone and that there are things they can do to support their mental well-being. Check out our mental health partner, Syked, for affordable counselling sessions.
Boost morale
Remember to set aside time each month to celebrate your company's culture wins. Encourage employees to show pictures of their children or pets during virtual meetings or send pictures through your company’s communication channels such as Slack.
Whether you share tech-friendly resources with your colleagues, or you send regular emails including tips for staying healthy in mind and body, encouraging wellness in the workplace is critical. The payoff? Better company culture and more productive and engaged employees. It’s a win-win for both employees and employers.
LocumBase is a software service platform that connects medical professionals and practices directly with no hidden fees. We have over 6500 medical professionals signed up to our system across industries and over 700 active medical practices.
Feel free to contact us via email at hello@locumbase.com or drop us a WhatsApp at 079 013 3962.
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