Introduction to workplace wellbeing
Introduction to workplace well-being is a set of 5 evidence-based actions we can take to prevent mental health relapse and stay happier.
I would like to start by saying that you don’t need poor mental health to add wellbeing to your life. The 5 ways to wellbeing tools have been scientifically proven to make us happier and prevent mental health relapse, and let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be happy?
Read more about the evidence here
So what are the five ways to workplace well-being?
Take Notice
Get active
Keep learning
Give
Connect
This is your mental health five a day, and given some thought and planning, you can simply add these five daily actions to your weekly plan.
It doesn’t need to be time-consuming or complicated, and it could be something you already do with a twist!
My work can’t be at its optimum when I am not fully feeling my best. Even though part of me doesn’t want to add more to my schedule, I know it’s going to be a long-term gain and not only can it prevent burnout, but it also makes my daily routine much richer.
How you stay motivated really comes down to what you value and if you do value your health, wouldn’t it be great to stay aligned with that value?
This means checking in with yourself on a daily and weekly basis.
It helps if you can plan your week and set your intentions, which you can keep refining daily, but once you start, it becomes second nature, so it doesn’t need much thought.
How to implement the five ways to well-being at work into your work and daily life?
1. Taking Notice
How can you take notice and keep active? How about a mindful walk if you are too busy to take a recreational walk in a park or in nature, take a walk to work mindfully.
You might be thinking, “what is a mindful walk anyway?” the best way to find out is to go on a mindful walk yourself and experience it by engaging your sensory experience in the present moment without judging it.
Or if you don’t walk to work, do a task mindfully.
An example of how to do this is just to notice what you can see, smell, taste, touch and hear.
2. Give.
It doesn’t need to be grandiose, and you don’t have to be rich! You can give yourself the space you need; you can give yourself something you need.
I can write this blog and give back to society.
Perhaps you could sign up for a charity run, a charity run would tick two boxes of giving and getting active, or you can try a new sport, so you are learning something new!
3. Get Active
This can be anything from walking around the office to training for a marathon it is up to you.
But getting active regulates our system, activates endorphins and gives the whole hormonal system a daily wake-up, especially if you are female and mid-40s or 50s. Then getting active is said to help balance your hormonal health.
Something like skipping gets blood into the hips and gets your system awake.
4. Connect
You can join a group that does everything I have mentioned in this blog, for instance, a group challenge for charity training in something new, perhaps?
I’m freelance, sometimes go to a co-working space to meet this need, or you can call a friend (rather than see them on Instagram).
I had an instance where I saw an old friend on Facebook, so I felt like we were in touch. When I finally had a break from Facebook, I stopped and thought, I wonder how Sharon is? so I called her! We actually hadn’t seen or spoken for seven years, and we had commented on each other’s posts, but I hadn’t connected properly with her.
5. Keep Learning
Why not learn a new sport this can tick a few boxes so you are connecting in a group, learning and getting active.
I have a list of things I’d like to learn to learn, and there’s a heap of stuff I want to learn for my business and in my life.
Again I think it’s best to plan this in advance. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, and keep it simple.
So to conclude this is an evidence based set of actions you can take to stay mentally healthy and prevent burnout.
If you invite your team to do these actions at work then your one step closer to a healthier and happier team.
Or you could simple book our “Introduction to workplace wellbeing” workshop, where we action a plan together and learn about the five ways to workplace wellbeing together.