Inspiring Wellbeing At Work
Inspiring Wellbeing and taking care of employee health and wellbeing is more important than ever in today’s fast-paced world. Our health and happiness are dependent on our sense of wellbeing.
Having a robust and well-adapted feeling of wellbeing can assist us in overcoming obstacles and achieving our life goals. Enhanced physical advantages, such as fewer occurrences of cardiovascular disease, stroke and sleeping disorders, have been linked to increased productivity and creativity in both work and personal life, according to research.
According to the study Together Through Tough Times, over a third of adults do not believe they have the support or resources to deal with the everyday pressures of life.
The study’s findings show that communities play an important role in inspiring positive wellbeing, with networks of people and hubs building strong community resilience, which in turn creates the background for both individuals and communities to thrive.
We know that connections between people and places are key when it comes to caring for our wellbeing, whether it’s spending time in parks and green areas, connecting with a neighbourhood support group, or simply checking in on neighbours from time to time.
What is wellbeing?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines wellbeing as ‘the condition of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.’
It’s crucial to remember, though, that wellbeing is a far wider concept than happiness which tends to fluctuate. It is how content individuals are with their overall lives, their feeling of purpose, and their sense of control.
These psychological demands, as well as our ability to feel positive and negative emotions, are a fundamental component of what makes us human and it’s important to think about how frequently and for how long we feel positive emotions, such as pleasure and a sense of purpose, as well as potentially negative emotions like worry and stress.
Why is inspiring good wellbeing at work important?
We frequently underestimate the vital function of inspiration in a world concerned with measuring aptitude and competence.
By helping us to see beyond our everyday experiences and constraints, inspiration allows us to focus on our potential and be open to fresh possibilities and opportunities.
Inspiration is frequently neglected because of its elusiveness and its history of being considered as divine or supernatural. Inspiration can be engaged, caught, and modulated and it can have a significant impact on crucial life outcomes.
What are the benefits of inspiring wellbeing initiatives at work?
Workplace wellbeing efforts have never been more important in today’s professional environment and Generation Z and the Millennials have very different views and expectations.
They aren’t just attracted by lucrative financial packages but want to work for companies that look after their staff, provide flexible working and can provide them with opportunities for advancement.
They want to know that their employers are setting the standard for workplace wellbeing practices.
A positive work environment
We spend a great part of our lives at work so it really helps our wellbeing if we enjoy what we do. The provision of a positive work environment enhances physical health and creates a caring and supportive structure to help people cope with stress and mental health issues.
Increased productivity, efficiency, and motivation
Many companies that have implemented workplace wellbeing strategies have seen significant improvements in their employees’ productivity.
Investing in workplace wellbeing may immediately lead to enhanced efficiency and motivation, with fewer sick days and increased advocacy.
Reduces the risk of burnout in the workplace
Professional burnout is a common occurrence among today’s workforce. Many employees are unable to unwind and destress as modern technology blurs the lines between work and home life.
As this is increasingly recognised, companies are frequently more ready to listen to employee complaints and offer stress-reduction and retention measures.
Five ways to inspire wellbeing at work
Help employees battling perfectionism
Employees may be a perfectionist if they believe there is no room for error in their job, that their thoughts are typically negative or that there are high standards that they and their co-workers could never match.
Extreme perfectionism has the drawback of being unreachable and unrealistic.
The first step to changing that perspective is to recognise when employee perfectionism is interfering with their work-life balance. Something needs to change when employees are working late because they’re setting themselves unreachable targets.
Helping employees set reasonable objectives or standards and being kind to them are the first steps toward a balanced sense of wellbeing.
Webinars like “Kickstart with motivation & realistic goals” can help employees to set realistic and achievable targets.
Webinars like these help to provide employee inspiration and guide them into achieving realistic goals which provide a great sense of satisfaction.
Balance
When we think of the ideal balance we typically think of a fixed point rather than a dynamic system that shifts back and forth as events unfold.
Integrating all elements of our life without losing ourselves in the process would be a more effective approach to think about balance.
A practical method to do this is to help employees set priorities and keep to them. If an employees child is ill, you must put that child first.
If the company has an urgent requirement, that might be the top priority the employee.
Using structures to help employees find balance is another important step to help with inspiring positive wellbeing.
Cues and nudges
Small nudges and cues in the workplace may have a big impact.
Nudges are simple environmental suggestions in the workplace that support wellbeing, such as posters encouraging team members to stretch or providing healthy food options in break out areas.
Company culture is made up of cues and people in a wellbeing-oriented culture are less likely to be expected to come in or respond to work emails on their days off, for example.
Wellbeing is actively promoted alongside productivity and companies follow the annual wellbeing calendar to ensure they are keeping up with events.
Reducing stress levels in the working environment
Clutter or visual noise may make employees feel more stressed and is proven to have a significant impact on our mental health.
Many staff are now in a hybrid working pattern with days in an office and days working from home and it’s important to keep both environments calm.
If employees need to reduce clutter then encourage them to start small by focusing on one area at a time.
encourage them to try clearing out a single drawer at home for instance and remember the goal isn’t to produce a pristine office but, rather, to create a welcoming environment in which their mind is at ease.
Webinars like “Coping with stress” can also help provide valuable methods and tools to help employees cope with and manage their stress levels.
Wellbeing workshops
One way a company can help its employees’ wellbeing is to provide a range of wellbeing programmes.
Everyone should be able to access a range of tools and strategies to provide instant help and support for any mental or physical health issues that could occur at work.
Companies that invest in their employees will retain them for longer and employees with good physical and mental health are more motivated, devoted, productive, adaptive and absenteeism-resistant.
Read more about our educational, engaging, and interactive wellbeing webinars.
It has been truly inspiring to enhance the wellbeing of so many people in a range of organisations, helping to inspire them and to “Live Life Better”.