Whether you are a freelancer or a full-time employee, it is crucial that you are mindful of your workplace. It should be a place where you feel positive and productive so that you can work efficiently.
To identify a healthy workplace, we first need to understand what it is.
According to the experts, a healthy workplace is a space that creates positivity at work in order to get the most efficient work out of their employees. There are certain factors that are crucial to address while implementing a mentally healthy workplace.
- It should be a positive workplace culture where everyone feels encouraged and supported, and are excited about coming to work.
- It is a place where people care about each other’s well-being and help out when someone is stressed, overworked, or going through a hard time.
- It is a space that has zero-tolerance towards discrimination and is a diverse workforce ensuring that everyone gets equal opportunity and respect.
Creating a healthy workplace for corporates
Building a workplace culture that values positive thinking is not a difficult thing to implement. It is a simple effort to replace negative stigma with a positive affirmation. There are plenty of simple things that can be done in order for employees to feel more supported.
Here are some ways in which your organisation can create a culture reinforces a positive mindset:
- Listen to your employees and their concerns. Listening builds trust that leads to happier and more engaged employees.
- Providing opportunities for team members to de-stress. Have spaces where employees can relax, meditate or recreate during their work breaks.
- Provide for flexible work that allows employees to work from home or adjust their schedules as needed can reduce stress and promote work-life balance.
- Foster an open and transparent environment. Giving employees insight into company operations will make them feel valued and trusted.
- Provide designated quiet rooms, outdoor spaces, or coffee bars for employees to step away from their desks and find some quiet to gather their focus.
- De-stigmatise the taboo relating to therapy and provide for counselling services where people can go and talk to a therapist at any time. Think about having an in-house therapist.
- Arrange group counselling workshops which will also build a level of trust within the teams. Consider having peer counselling sessions if your team is comfortable with that.
- Ensure that discrimination on the grounds of mental health status is seen to be as unacceptable. Encourage everyone to report any discrimination or harassment they witness around.
- Consider setting up peer support and mentoring programs for staff who experience severe mental health problems.
- Develop a methodology at work that protects and improves mental health for everyone, while supporting those who experience distress.
- Assign authority who is responsible for implementing mental health programs and ensuring that it reaches everyone in need.
- Formally support mental health by covering mental health treatment in benefit plans for the employees.
Maintaining a healthy workspace as a freelancer
If you are a freelancer, ensuring that you have a healthy workplace gets even more difficult. Not having designated office or working hours doesn’t mean that you can ignore the positive workplace requirement.
Here’s how you can have a positive workplace while being a freelancer:
- Do not overwork yourself. Set a certain time frame to your work hours. For example, you can choose to not work after 7 pm or decide to work for 6 hrs each day. Either way, set your threshold.
- Have a designated spot where you can work, even if you are working from home. Do not work from your bed or couch. Try to properly maintain a desk or chair when you can work.
- Be mindful of your workload while taking up projects. Just because you have the freedom to work by your choice, doesn’t mean you have to take up every project that comes your way.
- Take regular breaks. Taking breaks is necessary even when you work in a comfortable informal setting. Take a quick break and refresh yourself after every few hours so that you can keep up with the work efficiency.
- Draw clear boundaries between your work and personal life. Educate every around you that your work time is meant just for work and you can’t be disturbed during that period. Not doing this can really disrupt the work-life balance of a freelancer.
- Have an outdoor hobby that will keep you physically active. Working indoors all the time can have a lot of health consequences. Care for your physical health by making sure that you step outdoors even if it is for a morning jog or an evening walk.
A healthy workplace is ideal when it comes to maintaining a positive outcome in a stressful atmosphere. It is the most important thing that influences your motivation and happiness, and determines your productivity and efficiency.
Good luck in building a healthy workplace!
