Wellness tips for employees as we wrap up 2024
Practising wellness takes conscious effort and is something that should be done consistently.
As we approach the end of another year, many of us cannot wait to kick off our boots and lay our feet up.
Some might feel the stress of ending another year without reaching their goals and fulfilling their resolutions, but that's okay. Finding time to breathe and take care of your well-being takes priority.
Life happens sometimes, and we are unable to reach the deadlines that we set for ourselves, but it's not the end of the world. It just means we have to reflect, realign, and reassess how we are going to achieve our goals.
We have some wellness tips that you can apply to your daily life while at work. They will help you find a state of peace.
1. Practice daily gratitude
You might not think it but those who are winning at life have a healthy morning ritual that they attest to. Starting off the day with a gratitude list helps set the tone for the rest of your day.
It doesn't have to be a list that you write down, you could take a few minutes every morning before leaving bed to think about all the things you are grateful for.
If you are more ambitious and enjoy journaling, you could get a gratitude journal and practice gratitude daily. Consistency is the key here. When you focus on what you have in life, you naturally begin to feel fulfilled.
2. Clean up your workstation
Just like how you would clean your home or room, cleaning your workstation at your office is just as important. A clean space motivates a healthy mindset and a positive output. Make sure to start your work day off by sanitising your work area and tidying up.
3. Take your full breaks
We have become a nation so focused on numbers that sometimes we are consumed with work, work, work. We cannot deny that Rihanna said it best, but focusing on work only without taking breaks can lead to the opposite of productivity.
It can slow you down and stunt your creativity. So, it's best to take your full breaks (including active breaks into your workday) as allocated and take time to eat something nutritious, hydrate, take a walk, and spend some time outdoors if possible.
Active breaks can help you focus better, take a walk away from your desk, refill your water bottle, or do a stretching exercise in an open space (preapprove this with your colleagues beforehand).
4. Establish a wellness committee
This is an excellent way of holding colleagues accountable for caring for their wellness. Grouping like-minded individuals who can bring wellness resources to the workplace is a helpful way to practice wellness.
"This group can help design and implement initiatives promoting mental health." (Mental Health First Aid)
5. Review your mental health resources/bring in experts
Some companies have unique mental health resources available to colleagues who feel overwhelmed. Look into what these are and communicate them to your colleagues; making this information available publicly may remove the stigma around taking care of your well-being.
Bringing in experts to give talks can be a helpful way of changing the way employees and employers view workplace wellness.
Tune in to the 'Workzone with Elana Afrika-Bredenkamp', weekdays from 09:00 - 12:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.
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