Working professionals can experience large amounts of stress and fatigue due to their work schedules and duties. Occupational wellness refers to the practice of improving productivity both at work and in your personal life through good health and well-being. The concept has become increasingly important for businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Health professionals recommend mindfulness practices such as yoga or meditation as ways to improve workplace productivity. Keep reading to find out how occupational wellness can affect your health!
What is Occupational Wellness?
People often associate wellness with healthy eating and working out, but it is so much more than that. Occupational wellness balances work life and personal life in a way that encourages multi-faceted growth. This means that workers are empowered to grow both professionally and personally. The purpose of occupational wellness is to manage stress and find a sense of work satisfaction. Occupational health and employee health are related.
Occupational Wellness and Health
Chronic stress, fatigue, and anxiety can take a toll on one’s physical and mental health. Stress can contribute to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Chronic stress and anxiety can also contribute to short-term symptoms such as headaches, heartburn, and rapid breathing. Occupational wellness mitigates the effects of stress on the body through a variety of means, including but not limited to yoga, healthy eating, conflict resolution, and ergonomics. The human mind and body are deeply connected, so often ailments or stressors to the mind harm the body. Occupational wellness seeks to improve both physical and mental health.
How to Improve Occupational Wellness
From ergonomics to creating meaningful connections with coworkers, there are so many great ways to improve occupational wellness in your office. Here are some tips for improving wellness no matter where you work!
When Working in the Office
Offices can have harsh lighting, uncomfortable furniture, and uninspiring decor. A great way to improve occupational wellness in the workplace is the allow employees to add personal touches to their workspace. Research shows that having indoor plants in the office may reduce employees’ psychological and physiological stress. Additionally, replacing uncomfortable office furniture with ergonomic chairs and desks will make employees more comfortable and productive, and reduce their risk for repetitive strain injuries.
Make and stick to personal and professional goals. This can be reading more, completing a project, or earning a promotion. Finding ways to stay engaged and excited about work is essential to occupational wellness.
Establishing healthy boundaries in the office is important as well. Know your limits and avoid taking on too much additional work. Create clear lines of communication with your coworkers and managers so that they can best support you and you can best support them. This allows you to maintain a strong work-life balance without sacrificing the quality of your work output.
When Working from Home
Working from home seems to be a new norm for many companies. While it may seem easy to find occupational wellness when working from home, it can be more difficult than when working in an office setting. When working from home, it can be difficult to set work and personal boundaries with your time and space. Working from home can make the line between home and work fuzzy. Try setting aside a designated space or room in your home that is just for work. This means that you only use that space during your working hours. This can help establish a sense of work-life balance. Where ever you set up your workspace, be sure to follow CDC guidelines for an ergonomically correct home office.
Overworking is very easy to do when you work from home. This can lead to burnout and resentment toward a job you once loved. Be sure to schedule downtime for yourself and stick to it. Even with the flexibility of working from home, create and stick to a schedule that works for you and your job. It is essential to set aside time to spend with your family and yourself to maintain occupational wellness.
A great way to improve occupational wellness in your company is by instituting a wellness program. Wellness programs seek to prevent injuries and educate employees on health, wellness, and self-care strategies. Contact Work Health Solutions today to learn more about how to create a wellness program for your workplace!
How Can We Help?
Work Health Solutions offers comprehensive healthcare solutions for your medical needs. Our qualified team treats patients and employers alike and always provides top-quality service. Our quality service is backed by years of experience working with academic and research institutions, corporate healthcare, Fortune 25 companies, small governments, and local businesses. Reach out today with any questions about how we can assist you!
