- 68% of workers, age 35-44 say they feel stressed or extremely stressed
- 42% of workers have been diagnosed with depression or anxiety
- 89% of workers think their employer should offer mental health benefits
This is how stressed our employees feel according to the Headspace for Work 2020 Mental Health Trends Report.
Just like a sailboat needs its crew to give it their all to make it through a storm, companies can only make it through these challenging times when everyone is performing at their best. With the ongoing uncertainty, the financial pressure, and the fear installed by the media, it’s no wonder that so many employees say they feel stressed. This is hurting your company. Stress has a negative impact on their performance and functioning, resulting in loss of productivity.
Their fear and anxiety about what may happen next are affecting them physically, emotionally, and mentally. They are worried they or someone they love might get sick. Will they be able to pay their bills? Feed their children? Will they be the one fired next? All these concerns make it difficult to concentrate and focus on their job. Others may show up for work, but don’t really want to be there and so don’t care about how they’re doing their job.
What can you do to support your staff and help them perform better, so your company can make it through the storm and come out stronger?
Here are 5 practical ways to reduce fear and anxiety for yourself and your team:
- SMILE
Smile for no reason at all and see the world around you transform. Take on the challenge of smiling for 7 days non-stop. Wake up a with a smile, brush your teeth and see yourself smile in the mirror, smile at your kids, your spouse, your coworker, smile at anyone who crosses your path.
It’s very difficult to be angry or upset with a smile on your face. And even though in the beginning it can feel very natural, keep smiling and before you know, you’ll notice how the magic of your smile not only changes your life but every person you touch.
- Love and Laugh Lots
Did you know that laughter is healing? It strengthens your immune system, reduces feelings of stress, and brightens your mood. Laughter increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, which improves resistance to illness as found in a WebMD study.
After a good laugh, you get a fresh perspective on life. The good news is, it’s fun, easy, and free 😉 Watch a funny movie this weekend, and laugh until your belly hurts. Tell jokes and ask others to tell you their best jokes.
- Reach Out to Others & Share Good News
Relationships are the MOST IMPORTANT thing in life. They define your happiness, health, longevity, and wealth. When we feel anxious and down, the tendency is to withdraw and be consumed with our problems. The best way to shift and instantly feel better is by reaching out to others and share joy and light.
Call your mom, your sister, your friends – find out how they are doing? Send nice messages to your high school friends, FB friends, coworkers. Let them know you’re thinking about them. Send them a smile, a hug, or a word of encouragement. If you’re Christian, reach out to your friends from the church and send them a scripture. The more you shine your light, the happier you’ll be.
- Go on a ‘Bad News Diet’
Most people believe that the media is giving reliable information about what’s happening in the world. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, journalists don’t give an unbiased report of world events. They have their own agenda and are making big money spreading fear, panic, and hype, after all that’s what sells.
Give yourself a break and watch what happens when you go on a ‘bad news diet’ for 7 days. Don’t watch the news, listen to the radio, read the newspaper or pay attention to any YouTube or videos that don’t share good news. If someone starts talking to you about how bad the situation is, kindly tell them you’re on a diet – a bad news diet. And ask them, “please can you tell me something that is good in your life?” Don’t take my word for it, test it for yourself and see if you feel better.
- Go Outdoors!
From a walk to the park or on the beach, hiking in the mountains, or cycling in the forest, spending time outside in nature is a great way to improve your mood and well-being. Especially as we spend so much time behind our screens and on our cell phones, it’s important to go out and enjoy nature.
There are a bunch of studies that show how beneficial it is to spend time outdoors, but really, we don’t researchers to tell us that. You know how good being in nature makes you feel, the beauty of spring leaves changing color, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach, or even looking at a starry sky. It’s just a matter of taking time and making it a priority to get outdoors to recharge and refresh.
Knowing what to do is the first step, then it’s the matter of applying and validating the improvements. The more you validate your improvements, the more successful you’ll be. When you’d love to have “your crew” be at their best, so they are motivated and equipped to carry your company through any storm, let us provide them with the training and tools they need. We love to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation. Email Results@CompassEfficiency.com.
