Trying to balance the demands of work and life can sometimes feel like a real juggling act, can’t it? In the past decade, we've navigated the ups and downs of an economic recession, a global pandemic that transformed how people work and where they work, and a rollercoaster ride of mass layoffs. It's no surprise if you've felt a bit overwhelmed, stressed and burned out.
But don’t give up just yet. Despite these work and life stressors, there are ways to prioritize yourself and find balance. It's all about learning proactive coping mechanisms and strategies to thrive. As a career coach who helps professionals understand how workplace stress affects their career aspirations and satisfaction, here are my tips on 5 ways to promote well-being in the workplace so you can be sure you’re on the path to a healthier, happier you.
1. Build and Seek Micro-Moments of Connection With Colleagues
While you may not be excited about return-to-office mandates, they can be a good opportunity to get to know your coworkers better through micro-connections. One way to institute micro-connections is by devoting 10 minutes each morning to checking in with one to two colleagues, asking about their well-being, and expressing gratitude and appreciation for their contributions.
You might also want to consider holding occasional walking meetings, which can be beneficial as it allows you to connect 1:1 with another coworker while exercising and getting a break from the office environment. Lastly, consider devoting the first five minutes of a meeting to an icebreaker that provides an opportunity for people to get to know each other or splitting people into pairs and having them answer a non-work question to foster more connection.
2. Join an Employee Affinity or Meetup Group
Fostering authentic connections in the workplace or discussing sensitive issues and events can be challenging. Luckily, affinity groups can help. These are groups within an organization that cater to employees with shared identities or experiences. Affinity groups may meet in person or online, providing a safe space for employees to connect, build trust and seek respite. They also allow employees to discuss how internal and external events impact their well-being and receive mentorship and advice on navigating difficult work and life challenges.
Some organizations may have affinity groups based on identity, hobbies or interest areas. Check with your human resources department to find out which groups your company offers. If your organization doesn’t have a specific affinity group you’re interested in, consider looking into community groups, professional associations or even starting one of your own.
3. Celebrate Personal and Professional Achievements
In a high-stress world, it can be easy to accomplish something and move right along to the next project. However, pausing and celebrating personal and professional achievements boosts morale, workplace culture and motivation, and increases employee empathy and overall wellness.
As an employee, you can plan special celebrations for your coworkers and advocate for employee recognition days and awards. Personal milestones to celebrate in the workplace include birthdays, baby announcements, weddings and finishing a degree or credential. Similarly, professional milestones may include promotions, meeting or exceeding targets or sales, and work anniversaries. You should also keep track of your achievements to acknowledge in annual performance reviews.
4. Set Goals Around Learning and Growth
Continuous learning sharpens the mind, boosts self-confidence and can foster a more optimistic view of your career trajectory. Instead of focusing on overwhelming news cycles or events, try learning a skill, reading or gaining a credential to help mitigate stress, reduce distractions and enhance resilience.
As you think about your career path, consider any learning gaps you can fill. Talk to your supervisor for advice on what skills or credentials you can learn or earn to boost your marketability or readiness for future opportunities. Once you identify a skill or credential you want to gain, it’s important to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Time-Bound) goals and have a supervisor or coworker check in with you monthly or quarterly on your progress.
5. Reimagine Internal and External Threats as Opportunities
With so much uncertainty in the current environment, it may create feelings of mental paralysis where we struggle to make choices or act. What if, instead of viewing these challenges as obstacles, you see them as opportunities?
Reframing challenges as opportunities in the workplace unleashes creativity to solve problems, fosters resilience and builds grit. To see threats as opportunities, you need to first think objectively about real consequences, not exaggerated or imaginary ones. Our brains often assume the worst-case scenario, but with some consideration, you can see that the situation isn’t as damaging as you thought.
Next, you need to train your brain not to focus on how you will react to a situation but on potential improvements and opportunities. For example, if a coworker gets sick a couple of days before a big presentation, instead of catastrophizing about what could go wrong, say, “Even though my coworker is out, I know the topic well, and this allows me to demonstrate my competency in front of my supervisor.
This strategy isn’t always easy, and it’ll take some work and time to reframe your thinking. But with practice, you’ll become skilled at handling problems and better at managing (even avoiding!) the stress that comes with everyday challenges.
Life and work often throw us curveballs, and mastering stress management takes time and commitment. But with a bit of persistence, these five ways for enhancing your well-being at work can strengthen your resilience and keep you moving forward.