If any of you follow me on my personal social media accounts, you may have noticed that I post fairly regularly about mental health. I love many people that battle anxiety and depression. And while this is a business blog, it’s important to constantly keep in mind that a business is a group of people; each with his or her own challenges and strengths. As a business owner, I try to foster a healthy environment for my team that encourages them to be their best self- personally and professionally. Although this is obvious – working with mentally healthy people is both beneficial to my own mental health, and a more enjoyable way to spend a majority of my waking hours.
I found this self care check several months ago and shared it with my team. I can’t for the life of me remember where I found it or I’d give the originator the credit for it – if you know – please fill me in and I’ll update it. But I thought it was a great start for employees in the workplace to stay positive and wanted to share with you.
- What was my proudest moment last month?
- Who or what brought me the most peace last month?
- Did I show myself any self-compassion? If so, how?
- What do I need more of to help fill me up?
- What do I need to let go of that’s weighing me down?
- How am I honoring my boundaries?
- What am I most grateful for during this phase in life?
- What’s one thing I love most about myself?
- How will I make time for myself this month?
- How do I see myself in this current moment?
If you find these questions as valuable as I do, please take a moment to jot down your own answers and share these questions with those around you.
We take enormous endeavors in the workplace to increase productivity and excellence, and it seems like one of the most overlooked, effective strategies is to help employees care for their mental well-being. I challenge each of you: what are YOU doing to promote well being in your workplace? Are you an encourager? A non-judgemental listener? Something else? Find your thing and do it.
Just as the best way to make your skin look healthier is to be healthier (exercise, drink water, eat veggies, etc), I propose that the best way to have the healthiest team is to strengthen it from the inside – starting with each individual. And, by all means, if you or someone you know is struggling, encourage them to get the help they need from a healthcare professional. (Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert and the views expressed here are only my opinions.)
