Why You Should Prioritize Self-Care in the Workplace

As you may have seen in recent online news articles and across social media, many employees are becoming more transparent about using paid time off and sick days for mental health reasons. Though the younger generation of employees have brought mental health issues more into the limelight, mental health issues have always existed and are big indicators of success or struggle in the workplace.

The term “mental health issues” varies broadly from person to person. No two employees will experience mental health issues the same exact way, even if the situation is similar. Some employees manage stress well, until there is an emotional upset that crashes everything down. So, how do you encourage your employees to have good mental health while also keeping good business practices?

Recognize the Stigma of Mental Health Issues

As a business owner, it is important to check in with your employees as well as to advocate for them to make mental health a priority. Unfortunately, there is a lingering stigma on being perceived as weak or not fit enough for the job if someone struggles “too much.” So, people tend to work themselves very hard to prove their worth.

In a 2018 study from Human Relations journal[1], participants showed that quite a big part of each of their identities comes from their work. Whether it was a dream career position or just bringing in steady income with a job, participants held a lot of pride in their work and work ethic. In the United States, it is necessary to bring in an income to live. It can be very anxiety-inducing to think about losing your job due to side effects of mental health issues, especially if work is part of your identity. Because of this fear, some employees tend to hide any mental health issues they may have and “push through” each day. Pretending the issues are not there will not last long-term as the mind and the body are very much connected. The phrase, “pain demands to be felt” says it best.

Promote Workplace Wellbeing

The easiest way to encourage self-care practice with your employees is to take time to learn about them. What do they enjoy doing in their spare time? What do they care about? What are the communication dynamics between co-workers? Look for opportunities to promote a positive atmosphere for your employees, such as sending an email about local events in town, organizing group activities outside of work, and encouraging office hour visits. A positive workplace environment will lower overall stress levels and improve morale.

Being personable with your employees promotes trust and honesty. An employee who is struggling should feel safe enough to explain the situation without fear. Let your employees know that it is not inherently weak to struggle with mental health. Stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and grief come to us all at various times, and it is necessary to work together to get through it.

Offer Self-Care Initiatives

There are many ways to promote self-care initiatives in the workplace. One example of this is wellness challenges. When employees have the option to join wellness challenges for rewards, it is a win/win for the business. Employees will put more effort into the challenge, whether it is eating healthier, exercising, or doing mental health activities for the reward. Because of this, employees not only receive the reward for their hard work, but their productivity will also increase over time.

Remember how the mind and body are connected? When you feel better in your body, you will feel better in your mind, and vice versa. It is important, however, that self-care initiatives with rewards should never be used against an employee. If employees feel pressured into joining, it really defeats the purpose. Make initiatives fun. As a business owner, you can also join the challenge in solidarity. This all comes back to camaraderie and trust.

Another example of a self-care initiative is to invest in an employee assistance program (EAP). Employee assistance programs offer mental health services to partnering companies’ employees. While these programs are more expensive up front, they also save companies money by helping employees with the pressure of mental health struggles that come up during work hours. This means higher job satisfaction, more productivity, and potentially increase job longevity.

Manage Your Own Mental Health

Balancing a business and keeping employees happy and supported is not always easy. Life happens, and people do not always respond appropriately. There will be bumps in the road, and sometimes you or your employees are going to struggle. Lead by example. When you are struggling, prioritize self-care. The phrase, “You cannot pour from an empty cup” is particularly important to remember. Showing vulnerability to your employees does not mean you have to share everything with them, but it can inspire them to take care of themselves, too.

[1] Elraz, H. (2018). Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness. Human Relations, 71(5), 722-741. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018726717716752