Prioritizing mental health and building resilience are essential during uncertain times, especially in the workplace where individuals spend a significant portion of their day. Effective coping strategies and organizational support can empower individuals to manage stress and maintain wellbeing.
“The only constant in life is change”, according to the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus.
Although we may be familiar with the concept, it doesn’t necessarily make the adjustment to change any easier to accept. It’s important to focus on positive strategies to support our mental health during a difficult and uncertain time. Empowering employees’ mental health at work is imperative to foster overall wellbeing, and support thriving employees in the workplace.
I’m Lindsey, and I’ve been a workplace health coach in the financial industry for 10+ years. Facing my fair share of personal uncertainties while supporting others, I’ve witnessed the powerful effect of prioritizing mental health and wellbeing. Relocation, new jobs, illness, family responsibilities, or even having a difficult conversation at work can cause stress and unwanted strain on our mental health.
We may not be able to control every aspect of stress and uncertainty we encounter; but the good news is no matter what is going on in the world today or in your life, you have the power to control how you respond.
Understanding mental health challenges
Consider this analogy, “what is in your cup?” Not how full or empty the cup, but what is it you are carrying around. When a cup of coffee is bumped, coffee spills from the cup. If the cup is full of water, water spills from the cup. Your cup spills what it’s made of.
Now, think of your own mental health – the thoughts, emotions, and feelings you carry around. In the face of uncertainty, when your cup is “bumped” what would spill out? Is it positive such as patience, compassion, and kindness. Or perhaps negative like resentment, bitterness, and anger.
The cup represents our thoughts, emotions, and feelings, also known as cognitive/mental health. The bump represents life’s uncertainties, challenges, and stressors. The liquid that spills from the cup represents our response. You have the power to choose how to respond in the face of uncertainty.
Common mental health challenges individuals face during uncertain times are:
- Heightened anxiety or persistent worry
- Periods of low mood or depression
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Sleep disturbances or insomnia
- Increased feelings of isolation or loneliness
- Emotional exhaustion or burnout
- Loss of motivation or sense of purpose
Strategies for supporting mental health and wellbeing
In coaching sessions, when an employee requests how to support their own mental health, we encourage the employee to:
- Practice gratitude daily: Write down three things you are grateful for each day and why. Try to include variety and write different things each day; something as simple as a morning cup of coffee or an easy commute to work. Cultivating daily gratitude can reduce stress, create positive outlooks, and lead to better overall wellbeing.
- Plan daily breaks: Schedule lunch breaks each day so it takes priority over workload and gives your mind a chance to refresh. Stepping away for lunch has many benefits, including better focus and maintaining steady energy levels to support your workplace performance.
- Take a physiological sigh: Taking two short inhales followed by a long exhale activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This sigh induces a feeling of calm and is a great tool to use in the moment.
- Maintain positive connections: Humans are social creatures that crave connection. Positive social interactions boost mental wellbeing, enhance self- confidence, reduce loneliness, and build resilience.
- Get moving: Regular daily movement releases endorphins, which have mood-boosting effects, promote better sleep, and enhance cognitive function. Fit movement into your day through small walks, dance breaks, stretches, and walking outside in nature.
- Build resilience: Keep things in perspective. How you think significantly affects how you feel, which can influence how you act. Recognize negative thought patterns such as catastrophizing. Remember, what happens to you is not an indication of how your entire life will be.
Mental health support at work
During the average working life span (ages 25-65) adults spend 25-30% of their waking hours at work. A large percentage of waking hours is spent at work, so employee wellbeing programs are essential to supporting mental health in the workplace.
Partnerships with leaders and key organization stakeholders will promote mental health awareness that will create opportunities for support in the workplace.
Strategic mental health initiatives in the workplace can look like:
- Group mental health coaching sessions focused on stress management and resilience. The opportunity for employees to share and connect with others can foster a supportive environment and build connections.
- 10-minute Mindfulness Meditation Sessions led via zoom twice a week enable employees to schedule a break and truly be present with their thoughts.
- Facilitating Mental Health First Aid classes to teach employees how to support others and look for signs of mental health issues and crises. Mental Health First Aid is an invaluable resource for all employees to learn to identify, understand, and respond to mental health challenges in personal and professional situations.
- Workshops and webinars about resilience and stress management highlight the importance of prioritizing mental health for better work performance and overall wellbeing. Provide opportunities for employees to practice and learn mental health strategies.
- Coaching and mental health guidance come as a built-in package in the Personify Health platform. Our platform sits quietly on every member’s phone, signposting them to the right care at the right time. Personify Health supports employee mental health at every stage.
Remember, change is constant, and life will continue to be bumpy from time to time.
Resilience isn’t the absence of adversity, uncertainty, or challenges. It’s about how we adapt and respond during these times. The best news about building resilience is that it develops over time.
Each challenge allows us the opportunity to practice and learn how to best support our mental health in uncertain times.
The next time life shakes you, what do you want spilling from your cup?
Meet the author
Lindsey Peddicord is a Certified Wellcoach® and Nationally Board-Certified Wellness Coach with over 10 years of corporate wellness experience. She currently works as a workplace health coach in Dallas with Personify Health.
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