Here are the best ways to reduce stress and improve mental health at work

Since the global pandemic, uncertainty and disruption have become an integral part of our personal and professional lives. In this context, a series of lockdowns and limitations have increased mental stress and affected professionals working in India, including other countries. To cope with the long series, companies across all industries have evolved a work-from-home strategy. This is where organizations across industries have embraced the best ways to reduce stress and improve mental health by engaging the new-age employee in the modern workplace.

Neha Tripathi, Head of Human Resources, Codestore Technologies, said that everyone who has ever worked has felt the burden of work-related stress. “Even if a professional enjoys his career, sometimes it may not be accessible. On the other hand, work stress can be overwhelming and detrimental to physical and emotional health when it becomes chronic. However, with the new normal, we are no longer in a position to maintain a hostile and stressful environment. Modern workplaces can now incorporate a host of adjustments to their ways of working. As a result, here are some ways a company can try to minimize stress and promote mental health for all employees. As a positive culture is essential for the progressive and vigorous growth of the company”, said Neha Tripathi.

Ways to manage stress and mental health: Neha Tripathi from Codestore Technologies has listed the following ways to manage health:

Improve the environment

Since the environment generates a lot of stress, it is essential to redesign the organizational habitat, whether it offers a flexible or healthy work culture. Instead of struggling to combat stress with junk food, a person needs to make more nutritious choices. Consider each component of the workspace and what can be done to improve team wellness. Simple measures like the quality of coffee, encouraging employees to walk during their lunch hour, subsidizing healthy treats like yoga classes once a month, or the height of cubicle walls can affect employee engagement. Adding more nutty and fiber foods to your diet will keep you active and hydrated, this will keep you energetic all day to perform well at the office instead of being a couch potato. Freshen up the office with a new color scheme, more plants, or new cutlery. Also, consider setting up a ping pong or foosball table to help staff take their mind off the stress for a few minutes. As a result, making adjustments that promote employee happiness will reduce stress.

Read also | Expert Talk: How Has the Hybrid Workplace Model Impacted the HR Needs of Companies?

employee appreciation

Employees like to be praised for a job well done, and recognizing their achievements significantly increases engagement. Every employee has a unique personality, so be careful how and when you recognize them. Some employees appreciate a call in a meeting or a compliment in a company-wide email, while others prefer a personal greeting. On the other hand, employees will enjoy the fact that the company is aware of their achievements and wants to share them with others. This makes people feel happier and more comfortable, which reduces stress.

healthy approach

In today’s digital age, it’s easy to feel pressured to be available 24 hours a day. Setting some work-life boundaries for business requires a healthy approach that may include not checking email from home or not answering the phone during lunch breaks. We need time to recharge and regain our pre-stress level of performance to prevent the detrimental impacts of chronic stress and burnout. This healing process requires disconnecting from work by spending time not engaging in work-related activities or thinking about work. However, everyone has different tastes when it comes to reconciling work and family life. As a result, building some beneficial responses between these areas can reduce the potential for stress in work life.

relax and recharge

Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness techniques can help melt away tension and provide time to unwind from the daily grind. Even a few minutes of personal time during a busy day can help prevent burnout. Listening to an engaging podcast or watching a video between meetings can give employees relaxing breaks in the day. Therefore, taking breaks from thinking about work has become vital, such as avoiding reading work-related emails during the holidays or turning off the phone in the evenings.

long-term vision

To achieve long-term improvements in business, a long-term plan is needed. Interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and site visits can help determine where the company stands on mental health. Leadership visualization activities and goal mapping can help set the vision for where they want to go. Training, seminars and policy changes are some possible measures. As a result, focusing on a long-term approach leaves a lot of room for development. Consider providing mental health benefits to employees, such as wellness programs, counseling, and employee support programs.

“In the modern age, it has become an unavoidable reality today that no organization will function efficiently if the staff is stressed and burnt out. Also, if the company wants employees to function effectively and thrive at work while staying healthy mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is worth taking steps to transform the organization to new heights and perspectives. As a result, taking the best steps to reduce stress and improve health does not have to be massive, modest efforts are just as important to stop creating a positive culture at work”, concluded Neha Tripathi.