This year’s ‘World Mental Health Day’, on the 10th of October, focuses on workplace wellbeing. While it’s a good reason to reflect on the importance of being happy at work, it’s an ideal time to explore better ways of working together to create a positive environment for everyone.
Whether you’re starting a new job, working remotely from home, or managing a team of staff, understanding the significance of a healthy company, and one that values everyone’s wellbeing, is fundamental. To highlight World Mental Health Day 2024, this article will explore the importance of appreciating each other at work, of being kind, and of recognising ways to create and maintain positive vibes during the working week.
Prioritising happiness
With the average worker in the UK spending about a third of their lives working, and approximately 1,800 hours a year (if you’re full-time), then having a job you enjoy makes sense. Although you might not physically be in an office every day, there’s nothing worse than heading into work or plugging in to a computer, day-in and day-out, when you’re not looking forward to doing your job.
Ensuring that you’re happy in your job is good for your mental health and anyone close to you. Rather than feeling anxious, worrying about work, or letting work negatively affect your wellbeing, there’s workplace support available to help anyone manage, support, and signpost employees to mental health resources.
On a personal level, choosing a job that is right is one of the first steps to being happier. Although it seems obvious, it can be easy, especially if you have external pressures to find work, to take the first offer that comes along. There are several personal strategies that can boost your own happiness and wellbeing at work, such as achieving a healthy work/life balance with regular breaks and switching off outside of office hours.
Sharing personal success stories
Most companies know the value of rewarding employees via team-building activities, meals out together, and social events. Not only can colleagues get together and mingle outside of work, but informal business gatherings are great for welcoming new staff, celebrating achievements, sharing team successes, and communicating future goals.
Any milestones, personal achievements, and entertaining get-togethers can be shared across digital channels to spread positive news, promote a healthy workplace environment, and boost a company’s website rankings. Likewise, organising sporting challenges that promote mental health awareness are invaluable to the organisation as a whole, while celebrating personal success stories is a great way to boost someone’s wellbeing.
Planning fundraisers and voluntary initiatives
Many organisations have also identified the benefit that volunteering opportunities provide for staff, personally, professionally, and to the business as a whole. Volunteer placements, even for a few hours, are rewarding, boost wellbeing, and be a useful way of learning new skills and meeting people.
Likewise, fundraising opportunities are great for people on an individual basis, and as part of a team, to support a charity and raise funds for a cause close to your heart. For a company celebrating a milestone anniversary, a collective initiative is a great way to raise money for and engage all your employees.
One such in-house challenge is a fundraising bikeathon being held on World Mental Health Day itself. Organised by Artemis Marketing, the event celebrates the business’ 20th anniversary and raises important funds for The Woodpecker Project, a charity that advocates mental health awareness via training in gyms.
Appreciating colleagues and celebrating goals
If you enjoy going to work, you can look out for colleagues who might need a little extra support or confidence boost. Look for new ways to improve company culture, lower stress levels, and show you’re there for colleagues. This can significantly boost morale, raise productivity, and reduce sickness.
In today’s fast-paced working world, it’s easy to overlook the impact of simple gestures of appreciation but small acts of kindness will go a long way at work to generate good feelings across the whole business. You might also like to reward a colleague with a trip to a London show, with a weekly ‘Biscuit Day’, and bring a cake in when there’s something or someone to celebrate.
Meanwhile, feeling appreciated for your work is a massive part of someone’s job satisfaction and no one wants to work hard and feel undervalued. Thanking someone at work isn’t just polite, it’s the easiest and simplest way of creating a healthy work culture for you and everyone around you. If you are in HR, have a birthday, or manage a department, arranging regular treats with each other is a great way to appreciate co-workers.
Building positive relationships with colleagues can significantly improve job satisfaction.
With this in mind, whether you’re a newcomer or in charge, take a moment to consider your colleagues and offer kudos for a job well done. Acknowledging an employee’s hard work or celebrating how much they helped you with a particular task, however small or time-consuming, make people feel more engaged and happier.
Welcoming newcomers
For younger or newer employees joining the company, the workplace can be an intimidating environment. By extending a warm welcome and offering support, more experienced staff members can ease this transition. Foster a sense of value and belonging among team members. Mentorship programs, regular check-ins, and inclusive social events can help newcomers feel valued and integrated into the team.
It’s crucial to be mindful of colleagues who might be facing challenges. While it’s not always apparent, some co-workers may be dealing with personal issues, mental health struggles, or work-related stress. Offering a listening ear, providing assistance with their workload when possible, or simply checking in can make a significant difference.
Thinking of workers outside an organisation
Beyond your immediate colleagues, office, or job – even if you work remotely – it’s worth remembering those individuals who are ‘at work’ when you might be out enjoying yourself. Someone else’s working environment might be somewhere you go outside of work, such as a shop, cinema, the gym, and the car park. Whenever you’re in these situations, it’s important to look out for their wellbeing as well as recognise and appreciate them in that environment.
For instance, the bank staff who helps you, the delivery drivers and postpeople who ensure your packages arrive on time, and the cleaning staff at the local sports club. The list is endless but don’t let their valuable contributions go unnoticed. Take time to acknowledge their efforts with a smile, thank-you, or tips if it’s deemed appropriate. By extending kindness and recognition to all those we encounter in our professional lives can create the butterfly or ripple effect of positivity to boost mental health and wellbeing more.
To celebrate World Mental Health Day, a happier, healthier workplace is about everyone pulling together to make work a happy environment. A smile, every thank you, and any act of appreciation contributes to a positive work culture, creating a healthier workplace culture where you can thrive both professionally and personally.
