6 Simple Strategies for Workplace Well-being

24 May 2021

6 Simple Strategies for Workplace Well-being

According to the American Institute of Stress, 75-90% of all doctor visits are for stress-related issues, most of which are caused in the workplace. Most employees will agree that their job creates some form of stress in their lives, but employers can help. Better organization, social connections, breaks, and these other strategies can help promote general well-being.

1 Encourage Organization

When you’re stressed you aren’t at your best, and stress can quickly inhibit the rational, logical thinking necessary for us to survive inside and outside of the workplace. Good management isn’t just about setting goals and deadlines, it’s about helping your people to succeed. This is something we’ve addressed in our article: Improving Management Skills. Are they doing the right things, in the right way, at the right time? Don’t micro-manage but encourage feedback and demonstrate support. Helping them to be better organized is just the first step towards workplace well-being. If your people have upcoming deadlines, watch out for signs that they aren’t coping or the pressure is getting to them. What can you do to help? Can you offer extra resources or help them to re-prioritize or separate their project into smaller tasks? Can you adjust the deadline, even slightly? Be understanding if the deadline is too narrow and it’s going to be missed by a few days.

2 Encourage Social Connections

Relationships are crucial to happiness, and quality connections can provide support and build self-esteem in your employees. The Harvard Study of Adult Development that tracked 724 men for 79 years concluded that the secret of happiness and a good life is based around the number of exceptional friendships you create. Social connections increase loyalty and engagement while decreasing stress. To start encouraging those connections, implement these strategies:

• Express gratitude, public praise is a great start but try adding something tangible, even if it’s something as simple as sending flowers after a completed project.
• Give your team members a purpose or a sense of belonging.
• Start conducting regular face-to-face meetings to build trust between co-workers.
• Establish team-building opportunities through open communication.
• Address conflict by being a mediator in an uncomfortable situation.
• Encourage an environment where ideas can be shared openly.

People who are happy at work often say they have strong relationships with people at work.

3 Encourage Breaks and Rest

Sometimes an employee has to stay up to burn the midnight oil, but penalizing them for falling asleep the next day isn’t going to improve overall happiness or morale. If your workers are dedicated to their work and continuously help you reach deadlines, create a nap room specifically for rest or encourage them to take more breaks. Promoting wellness in the workplace does sometimes mean encouraging napping and frequent breaks.

4 Encourage Recognition

All of your employees want to receive recognition from their peers, but they value praise from their employers as a measure of their success. 37% of employees surveyed by the company O.C. Tanner stated that recognition from their employer caused them to produce great work. To create a meaningful recognition program, employers must give specific praise to their employees in public that’s timely, different depending on the individual, and supportive.

5 Encourage Exercise and Movement

It’s well documented that exercise can elevate our mood. Numerous studies conclude that regular movement can cure moderate depression, improve sleep, and reduce stress. Providing recreation space of signing your teams up for a gym membership are great ways to keep your team fit. But if you really want to encourage exercise in the workplace, try some of these options at your next meeting:

1. Create a Wellness Challenge: Gamify fitness by asking your team members to reach a goal, like walking the distance of LA to San Francisco in a week.
2. Take Meetings for a Walk: Instead of staying cooped up in the office, ask your team to take a walk around the building, park, or city. Maybe you can stop at a coffee shop.
3. Use an Active Desk: Standing desks are perfect for workers that aren’t able to move throughout the day, as they strengthen your stomach muscles and stabilize your legs.

6 Encourage Mindfulness

Mindfulness can be useful for reducing stress in the workplace, as it puts your employees in a present mindset. Ask your employees to use apps like Headspace to get a brief understanding of how to meditate, plus it offers a buddy system that encourages meditation. Employers could ask their employees to bring a yoga mat into work, so they can quiet their minds and recollect their thoughts throughout the day instead of waiting until they arrive home to de-stress. 

Building well-being through better teams

If you want to capitalise on the benefits of team membership at work, look at our teams  resources. Here you’ll find more information and a wealth of practical resources, in our colossal Team Building Bundle.

Containing 240 pages and 50 tools, these are the 8 key guides we recommend to help you do more than define teamwork, build it!

Why is Teamwork Important
Build a Better Team
The Problems with Teams
Team Health Check
Team Building Exercises
Leading with Style and Focus
What’s the Problem?
Making Better Decisions