As the number of vaccinated Americans increases and workplaces start welcoming their employees back into the office, it is crucial that both employees and employers place an emphasis on wellness in the workplace. Recognizing the significance of the employees’ wellbeing is beneficial for many reasons. Firstly, it makes it known that they are truly cared about and that their happiness matters. Additionally, if they are happy and doing well, it will also improve their focus and engagement at work. Keeping everyone happy and healthy is a major key to a company’s overall success and employee satisfaction.
Tips for Employees:
Organize: This may seem obvious, but keep your desk organized! Clutter only creates chaos and more stress. You want to be working in a space that is inviting and organized, rather than messy and overwhelming. Before you sign out of work for the day take 3-5 minutes to reset your space for the next day. This small step will set you up to be ready for your next work day.
Decorate: Personalize your space! Whether you have your own separate office space or a cubicle, it is important to make your space feel like your own. Add touches that will boost your happiness and better your mood, such as:
• Adding a few small plants or succulents to liven up the space
• Adding your favorite pictures to personalize the space
• Adding office decor/supplies that fit your personal aesthetic
Whatever you can do to make your space feel like yours and a place where you are comfortable spending a lot of time is crucial.
Listen to Music: This depends on the specific job you have, but if you are able to listen to some music, do it! Listening to a calming station or instrumental versions of your favorite songs can help you focus and be productive. It can also help reduce your stress and allow you to stay more relaxed while you’re busy working away.
Take Stretch Breaks: Once every hour you should be taking a minute or two to stand up and stretch for a minute. While you’re at it, make sure you are giving your eyes a short screen break for about 20 seconds every 20 minutes to avoid strain.
Go for a Walk: Use your lunch break as an opportunity to move your body. Take a short walk around the block by yourself or make it fun and take a walk with a few of your coworkers. Another opportunity to get some steps in would be to take a walk for shorter meetings, rather than sitting down. If the meeting does not necessarily require you to sit or use technology you may as well use it as an opportunity to get some fresh air and move around.
Connect with Your Coworkers: Try to foster genuine connections with the people you work with. It will make a significant difference in your experience at work. You are likely spending 40 hours a week with these people, so you should try to enjoy your time with them.
Dress to Impress: When you look good, you feel good! Feeling confident in your appearance boosts your mood and your overall attitude. Buy new pieces and build a new work wardrobe that will allow you to feel ready to take on the day.
Tips for Employers:
Check in on your employees: Ask them how they’re doing… and actually listen intentionally. Show them that you care. A simple check in can go a long way.
Create a Designated Quiet Space: Not every employee has the luxury of having their own individual office space. However, some people work much better completing specific tasks in quiet spaces. If you have the available space, create a room designated for just that. This will allow employees to move to a space they know will be quiet and calm if they want/need to.
Create an ergonomic office setup: Having an ergonomically-designed office setup is not only essential for employees’ physical health, but it also increases their alertness and productivity. Think about it, if your desk setup is causing you pain for 8+ hours a day, you’re naturally going to be distracted and less focused throughout the day. Investing in supportive office chairs and the right desk for all of your employees is key to helping them succeed and potentially avoid some physical health issues.
Freshen Up the Office & Make it Lively: Brighten the mood! Make the office space feel lively and positive! The aesthetic of the space can have such an influence on how employees feel while they’re there. Try to allow as much natural light in as possible and place some plants around the office to liven the space up.
Cultivate a Positive Workspace: Lead the way in promoting positivity in the workplace. Encourage a positive attitude from your employees. Make sure your workplace is an uplifting and warm environment. This positive workplace will help your employees have a more enjoyable workday.
Arrange Group Outings/Staff Bonding: Reward your employees for their hard work and true efforts in the success of the company. Plan some team lunches or company outings. Even better, you could organize a day for your whole team to go volunteer somewhere together. This is a great way to not only give back to the local community, but also to encourage team bonding.
Consider Extra Time Off/Flexibility: Implement mental health days, extra days off, team lunches, meditation breaks, walks, etc. Let your employees know that their mental and physical health is genuinely important to you. There are various ways that you can reduce the amount of potential stress or burnout they may feel by being creative with different ideas for breaks/time off.
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