4 Tips for Prioritizing Mental Wellbeing in the Workplace
Here’s the reality: working in a fast-paced, high-stakes industry like PR can get stressful sometimes. Between the demands of client work and deadline-driven needs of journalists, it can be tough to prioritize your own self care.
But it is important for employees to prioritize their mental health in the workplace. That means taking advantage of employer-provided wellness programs and health services. It means taking breaks when you need them. It means checking in on coworkers. Not only does this allow for a more pleasant work environment but can lead to less burnout and increased productivity.
As we celebrate World Mental Health Day, here are four things you can do to make sure you’re caring for yourself.
1. Take advantage of wellness programs
As mental health becomes a more relevant topic in company culture conversations, many organizations are creating an internal wellness program or expanding what is currently in place. N6A, for example, has begun hosting bi-weekly wellness workshops where employees can learn about proper breathing techniques, how to optimize sleep, proper nutrition, and more.
Ask your employer if they currently offer or plan to offer similar programming. Not only does this give you the building blocks to work on improving your wellbeing, it also serves as an opportunity for you to interact with coworkers outside of the typical day-to-day account work.
2. Ask about health services your employer offers
If your employer offers healthcare coverage, usually therapy and psychiatric services are included. Make sure to call your insurance provider to get a list of in-network practitioners in your area.
If you’re not currently taking advantage of your employer-sponsored healthcare coverage, make sure you sign up!
3. Check in on coworkers
While this only takes a quick ping or email, checking in on your coworkers can go a long way. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of staying connected through tough times. Checking in with one another creates an emotionally safe space that ultimately allows for a deeper level of transparency between one another.
4. Take a break!
Especially for those that may work remotely, taking a break can feel challenging when your computer is looming in the corner. But it is extremely important to step away from work when possible, even if just for a quick walk around the block. Find time to take off for lunch or grab a screen break, especially during busier days when time seems to fly.
This list of action items comprehensive. It is just the start of the conversation… a conversation that has a long way to go.
By acting on these steps, we can establish the need for growth in these initiatives to hopefully ripple to all companies and encourage them and their employees to prioritize mental wellbeing.