Workplace Wellness: Fostering a Healthy and Productive Work Environment

Workplace Wellness: Fostering a Healthy and Productive Work Environment

If there were one small change which you could incorporate to make yourself and your workforce more efficient, you’d do it, right? This is one of the many reasons workplace wellness has been on the rise for many employers today looking for ways to improve productivity, boost mental wellbeing and alleviate some workplace stress of employees- and for good reasons.

Creating a healthy and productive work environment is essential for employers and employees. It increases productivity and engagement and improves mental and physical health. According to a survey conducted by the World Health Organisation, unhealthy working conditions can lead to stress, burnout, and poor mental health. It is vital to prioritise employee wellness and create a healthy work environment.

Different ways can help create a healthy work environment that fosters a culture of wellness and promotes employee health.

Prioritise Physical Activity

Modern technology has blessed us with plenty of benefits and conveniences but with one significant drawback: our propensity for prolonged sitting. Most of us spend seven days a week sitting longer than ten hours daily. A sedentary lifestyle is a substantial risk factor for several conditions, including cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, obesity, and diseases of the mind, according to recent studies. Heart disease risk can rise by 18%, back issues by 15%, poor eyesight by 14%, and general weakness by 12% as a result. Employers have a choice: they might be scared away by this knowledge, or they can make little adjustments and discover methods to integrate health and fitness into regular work practices.

Exercise in our everyday routines has become more critical than ever because of our sedentary lifestyles. There are a few ideas you can begin with to improve your well-being, such as taking a phone call while standing or walking, skipping the elevator and taking the stairs instead, or strengthening and relaxing your arms next to the coffee maker.

Encourage meditation

Research has established that practising meditation regularly can train your brain to process emotion better and help you focus on the present moment, which is why more and more companies are increasingly offering employee meditation programmes.

Meditation is an ancient mind-body practice that promotes calmness and enhances physiological balance and overall health. Too often, employees fumble through the days at the mercy of demands- their managers, clients, schedules, or chaotic, thought-filled minds. Work-related stress has become a significant cause of distress in modern life. The pressure to be the early bird catches the worm makes employees amass more responsibilities than they can handle, leading to emotional and physical exhaustion.

Promote Mental Health Support

Recently, and rightfully so, mental health has drawn a lot of attention. Both physical and mental wellness are crucial. Employers can encourage the use of mental health resources by providing employee assistance programmes, mental health days, and counselling services. The availability of tools and resources for stress reduction and mindfulness can also enhance overall well-being.

Fostering a positive work environment requires prioritising mental health support in the workplace. In the same way that physical health and well-being are stigma-free, mental health must be. Along with educating people about mental health and normalising the conversation around mental health, we also need to provide a welcoming, understanding, and judgement-free workplace. This will help ensure everyone has access to the care they need and is treated with respect and understanding.

It's also important to offer access to mental health resources, such as counselling services or employee assistance programs (EAPs). Promoting an open environment where employees feel comfortable seeking help can go a long way in enabling workplace wellness.

Encourage Communication and Collaboration

Collaboration and open communication are encouraged in a positive work environment. Employers may promote collaboration and create opportunities for employees to interact and engage with one another. Employee morale and productivity may be raised by planning team-building exercises or encouraging cross-functional cooperation. A positive work atmosphere depends on effective communication. It is important to encourage team members to express their ideas and concerns by fostering honest and open communication channels, giving frequent feedback, and encouraging them to voice their opinions and concerns.

Relax and breathe easy

Today, work-induced anxiety, as well as depression and health problems caused by higher levels of job stress, have increased rates of long-term illness and absence from work. The biggest health problems encountered by working professionals due to the unavailability of ventilation in their offices and poor air circulation have resulted in, among other things, mental health disorders, respiratory system infections, sinusitis, and common cold. You may not realise it, but you’re probably breathing wrong all these years. If you’re super frazzled or anxious, you're definitely breathing wrong. That can make you feel short of breath and drain your energy. Those are signs your body is trying to yearn for more oxygen. You can practise certain breathing exercises to help you take full breaths that foster full oxygen exchange for outgoing carbon dioxide and stabilise the heartbeat and blood pressure.

Creating a healthy work environment requires dedication, commitment, and a holistic approach. However, the rewards are substantial, including increased employee well-being, enhanced job satisfaction, and improved organisational performance.