Wellbeing is a broad concept constructed by an individual’s social, emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual situation. Workplace wellness programs are designed to support healthy behavior in the workplace. Some of these critical wellbeing elements include;
Social Elements
When employees engage in activities that interest them, their self-esteem and confidence are boosted. It is essential that they identify toxic relationships in the workplace and find ways to avoid them.
Employees should strive to achieve a balance between their work, academic, and social life, as this can help prevent mental exhaustion and stress. To promote a healthy social wellbeing, employees engaging in wellbeing programs can connect with people who share similar interests.
Workamajic provides 35 team building exercises that can be incorporated into your workplace to improve collaboration skills and communication amongst employees.
Emotional Elements
When burdened with workplace stress, employees must find relieving factors. Spending time with friends and family, discovering hobbies outside work, and reducing caffeine intake are a few recommended stress relievers. Employees typically have to juggle between job, family, personal and social responsibilities. Thus, they need to understand that time management is crucial to avoiding an emotional and/or mental breakdown.
Opening up to trusted friends, family, or colleagues can be an important emotional outlet for those struggling to keep their emotions in check. If an employee doesn’t feel comfortable relating their emotional troubles with these people, they should seek professional help in the form of psychologists, wellbeing programs or Lifeline. Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are frequently offered within the workplace as a way for employees to access counselling and therapy services from a professional psychologist or counsellor.
Spiritual Elements
An individual’s purpose is often strongly linked to what they believe in and hold true – this could be religion or a form of spirituality.
A person without a clear purpose may struggle to find meaning in their work. A sense of purpose allows employees to enjoy more fulfilled and happier lives. People with a sufficient spiritual wellbeing are likelier to have a deeper appreciation for the world. As a result, they tend to build better connections with people and themselves leading to a more efficient workplace.
Uprise offers a Workplace Team Wellbeing Program that supports individuals to identify their values, and practice gratitude, connection and mindfulness with their team.
Physical Elements
Professionals recommend that adults engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of medium intensity exercise every week. Poor physical health can significantly affect an employee’s overall health and productivity. The merits of regular exercise cannot be overemphasized in relation to an individual’s physical health. Some of these benefits include improved physical fitness, increased endurance, a boost in self-esteem, and the prevention of certain chronic illnesses.
A healthy diet is also crucial to maintaining a person’s physical wellbeing. Employees should endeavor to eat healthily and avoid overly processed food. Binge drinking and illicit drugs should be avoided as it can affect an individual’s mental health. Additionally, adults should aim for at least six to eight hours of sleep to rest and recover, improving overall performance.
You can organize a step challenge for your employees with the Wellable template. This will support your team in the physical element by keeping employees fit and healthy with an attainable wellbeing program.
Intellectual Elements
The ability to innovate, retain information, and solve problems is unique to humankind. These abilities are associated with intellectual wellbeing. Employees must seek to develop and learn new skills to stay intellectually sound. Employees should ask colleagues and peers to explain concepts when they are finding it difficult to understand. This improves employee relationships and provides intellectual self-development of employees.
Incorporating relevant learning seminars into the workplace updates employees’ skills by keeping them intellectually stimulated. For example, in a marketing agency they could provide a legal seminar that updates employees on changes to laws revolving marketing. This not only improves their abilities and skills related to their work performance, but also stimulates the individual to be interested with the industry they work in.