Achieving Wellness in the Workplace

Achieving Wellness In the Workplace

Do you ever wake up feeling that you dread going to work? Do believe that another day at the office is just grinding you down? Do wonder how many more work days you can take? That your health and mental wellness are suffering because of what might be considered an “unhealthy” workplace is a common condition in the modern world. For some, they simply hate what they do, and wish they could do something else. However, for many others the workplace environment is not conducive to feeling good about work or the work environment.  Let’s consider what an unhealthy workplace looks like, and then let’s look at what YOU can do to make it a bit more bearable, not just for your own benefit but also for your work colleagues.

Remember – for those of us who work in an office environment, we tend to spend a big chunk of our waking hours there, often much longer than the required minimum, so it is important that the environment is appropriate!

What makes an “unhealthy” work environment?

Here are some things that you might consider in assessing the “health” of your workplace:

• The attitude of your colleagues when you arrive at work, is it warm and welcoming or just a grim greeting to another day in the ‘dark satanic mill!’
• Are your colleagues happy, or unhappy? Are they willing or respectful to you and others?
• Is the office environment clean and tidy and has a ‘nice’ feeling?
• Do you have ergonomically designed office furniture to maximize comfort and posture, or do you feel uncomfortable and physically stressed for having spent long hours in a physically uncomfortable position?
• Do you have healthy meals and snacks provided, or is only ‘junk’ food provided?
• What are office politics like, is it disruptive or cliques apparent with those who are in or out of the clique?
• Is there adequate fresh air and light?

Just like a healthy lifestyle, workplace wellness is all about balance.

How can you achieve a balance between the demands of your job, your personal health, and the quality of your inter-personal relationships?

• It may be really hard but, bring a smile with you to work. Greet your colleagues with cordiality and respect. Just try it for a week. Notice what changes if any results from your positive attitude. Do your colleagues respond in kind? How does this make you feel?
• Take a minute or two every hour to stretch, breathe, and re-position your body. Get up and walk around during this time. This will help your mind to relax and rest which will help you be more efficient for the next hour’s work.
• Try to get fresh air in the building and if there is none, try to get outside and breathe the fresh air during your lunch break.
• Check in with your colleagues. Communicate. See how they are doing. Compare notes. Discuss possibilities for collaboration or support whenever possible. What would that look like?
• Know that your inbox will never be empty! Just take each task one at a time, focus on the moment, and try to let go of the whole picture. This way you can avoid being overwhelmed.
• Practice “inclusiveness” at work. Be inclusive with your co-workers whenever possible or appropriate, and make sure you do not engage in any “cliquey” or “exclusive” behavior yourself.
• Positive interpersonal relationships are essential for a productive and happy work place, if any bad feelings or tensions start to arise then try to resolve asap.

These are just a sample of small, actionable steps YOU can take to improve the quality of your work life at the office and a positive experience in the workplace.  Work collaboratively to build and improve the environment for everyone, form a team of action group to focus on continuous improvement of conditions in the workplace.

Everyone benefits in a healthy workplace, you, your co-workers and your organisation.