While all businesses have procedures and policies in place to protect their employees’ physical wellbeing, too often is the mental aspect of our health neglected simply because it’s a lot more difficult to spot both the symptoms and causes of mental strife. It’s no less important, so to help you make a better work environment for your employees, let’s consider how to improve mental health at work.
Communication is Key
When dealing with any kind of mental troubles, it’s very easy to struggle with feelings of isolation, which in turn become a self-fulfilling prophecy as the sufferer becomes more reclusive. To combat this, you offer avenues of communication that allow employees to come forth and express their troubles if they feel it’s necessary. While this won’t be for everyone, just knowing they have the ability to reach out when they really need a hand is an immense comfort.
Encourage Activity
Physical activity is a great way to improve mental health at work in addition to physical health. Even if it’s just a short walk, give your employees time and opportunity to get up from their desks and fit some movement into their workday. The sedentary work environment of offices can take a toll on one’s mood as they find themselves more sluggish and unmotivated.
Promote Nutrition
The way we fuel our bodies affects both our mood and physical wellbeing. By eating better, employees will feel more energetic and motivated than if they were to eat solely food made for convenience, as so many turn to for a quick bite in between their workdays. To do this, offer snacks of healthier foods within the office and make sure water coolers are readily available so that your employees stay hydrated. The better they feel physically, the better they’ll feel emotionally and mentally as well.
Sanitize the Workplace
Our environment has a big influence on how we feel. A filthy workspace is uncomfortable and distracting, making it difficult for your employees to focus and be productive. Especially now with COVID-19, you should make use of professional cleaning services to not only give your workplace a clean appearance but to also thoroughly disinfect the space of bacteria and germs that could infect your employees.