Over the last few months, how has your routine changed? I mean, think about your eating, sleeping,
exercise and social outlets.
I know, for me, it can be so easy to feel like the days are rolling into one. I have, for sure, made a record
number of visits to the refrigerator. This is great for getting my steps in, but not so great for my waistline.
New research suggests that individuals who had great self-control pre-pandemic had the recipe for success during stressful times. Often, these individuals maintained a consistent routine while being flexible, even during COVID (Travers, 2020).
What’s your routine like today? How has it changed? Do you know how you can introduce new additions to your routine to benefit your overall mental health? Some options for employers to consider when promoting healthy routines for their teams include having flexible scheduling, telecommuting, subsidy for exercise or health-related classes and giving mini-breaks throughout the day.
New research suggests that individuals who had great self-control pre-pandemic had the recipe for success during stressful times. Often, these individuals maintained a consistent routine while being flexible, even during COVID (Travers, 2020).
What’s your routine like today? How has it changed? Do you know how you can introduce new additions to your routine to benefit your overall mental health? Some options for employers to consider when promoting healthy routines for their teams include having flexible scheduling, telecommuting, subsidy for exercise or health-related classes and giving mini-breaks throughout the day.
1. Keep your rhythm
Over the last few months, how has your routine changed? I mean, think about your eating, sleeping,
exercise and social outlets.
I know, for me, it can be so easy to feel like the days are rolling into one. I have, for sure, made a record number of visits to the refrigerator. This is great for getting my steps in, but not so great for my waistline.
New research suggests that individuals who had great self-control pre-pandemic had the recipe for success during stressful times. Often, these individuals maintained a consistent routine while being flexible, even during COVID (Travers, 2020).
What’s your routine like today? How has it changed? Do you know how you can introduce new additions to your routine to benefit your overall mental health?
Some options for employers to consider when promoting healthy routines for their teams include having flexible scheduling, telecommuting, subsidy for exercise or health-related classes and giving mini-breaks throughout the day.
I know, for me, it can be so easy to feel like the days are rolling into one. I have, for sure, made a record number of visits to the refrigerator. This is great for getting my steps in, but not so great for my waistline.
New research suggests that individuals who had great self-control pre-pandemic had the recipe for success during stressful times. Often, these individuals maintained a consistent routine while being flexible, even during COVID (Travers, 2020).
What’s your routine like today? How has it changed? Do you know how you can introduce new additions to your routine to benefit your overall mental health?
Some options for employers to consider when promoting healthy routines for their teams include having flexible scheduling, telecommuting, subsidy for exercise or health-related classes and giving mini-breaks throughout the day.
2. Adopt a positive mindset
2019 was a year I never saw coming. Many clients lost income, private space and had constant fears
around the ever-changing public health guidelines.
During those challenging months, employees’ anxieties skyrocketed to an all-time high. Some examples of their worries were losing their home, catching the virus, the loss of loved ones and work-related stress.
Supporting clients through shifting their mindset around seeking support made all the difference. Clients who admitted that they needed help and applied that advice were the most successful.
According to psychologists Hannes Zacher and Cort Rudolph (2021), the best way to be able to deflect stress and adopt a positive mindset is to have the resources to succeed, adopt a mindset where choices and behaviours do make a difference, and to rely on others in times of stress.
Clients who adopted this mindset were able to be more resilient, build stronger supports and remain productive at work.
During those challenging months, employees’ anxieties skyrocketed to an all-time high. Some examples of their worries were losing their home, catching the virus, the loss of loved ones and work-related stress.
Supporting clients through shifting their mindset around seeking support made all the difference. Clients who admitted that they needed help and applied that advice were the most successful.
According to psychologists Hannes Zacher and Cort Rudolph (2021), the best way to be able to deflect stress and adopt a positive mindset is to have the resources to succeed, adopt a mindset where choices and behaviours do make a difference, and to rely on others in times of stress.
Clients who adopted this mindset were able to be more resilient, build stronger supports and remain productive at work.
3. Rest, relax and have fun
It can be so easy to get hooked on watching the news, thinking about work, or waiting to hear the latest
update on COVID-19. I know, you’re being informed, being prepared and engaged for actions.
Within this virtual world of work, it’s important to be mindful of what takes up our thoughts and worries. According to research psychologists Sonnentag, et al. (2014), getting rest, relaxation and having some fun can increase well-being and increase productivity, while lingering thoughts around work can use up our energy and make us lose control of our thoughts, this can lead to tiredness and, over time, burnout.
Take the time to monitor and limit what you watch, especially if you often feel anxious.
Remember that focusing on time away from work and engaging in fun activities can help increase productivity, energy levels and attention when you return from the weekend.
Within this virtual world of work, it’s important to be mindful of what takes up our thoughts and worries. According to research psychologists Sonnentag, et al. (2014), getting rest, relaxation and having some fun can increase well-being and increase productivity, while lingering thoughts around work can use up our energy and make us lose control of our thoughts, this can lead to tiredness and, over time, burnout.
Take the time to monitor and limit what you watch, especially if you often feel anxious.
Remember that focusing on time away from work and engaging in fun activities can help increase productivity, energy levels and attention when you return from the weekend.
How Can STRiVE Mental Health, Wellness & Empowerment Help?
The well-being of your employees is paramount to us.
STRiVE helps organizations develop strategies by providing tools to help employees recover from burnout and boost productivity. The goal is to provide top-quality evidence-based program development and workshops, both in person and virtually, while building long-term resilient employees.
We want to help your organization. Contact us at at info@strivementalhealth.ca to learn more.
STRiVE helps organizations develop strategies by providing tools to help employees recover from burnout and boost productivity. The goal is to provide top-quality evidence-based program development and workshops, both in person and virtually, while building long-term resilient employees.
We want to help your organization. Contact us at at info@strivementalhealth.ca to learn more.
Works cited
Fu, S., Greco, L. M., Lennard, A.C. & Dimotak, N., 2021. Anxiety responses to the unfolding COVID-19
crisis: Patterns of change in the experience of prolonged exposure to stressors. Journal of Applied
Psychology, 106(1), pp. 48-61.
Kim, J. & Kim, Y., 2020. Does Negative Feedback Benefit (or Harm) Recipient Creativity? The Role of
the Direction of Feedback Flow. Academy of Management Journal, 63(2), pp. 584-612.
Seppälä, E., 2016. 3 Highly Effective Ways to Give Critical Feedback: How to Give Candid Feedback for the Best Results in any Relationship. [Online] [Accessed 26 June 2021].
Sonnentag, S., Arbeus, H., Mahn, C. & Fritz, C., 2014. Exhaustion and Lack of Psychological
Detachment From Work During Off-Job Time: Moderator Effects of Time Pressure and Leisure
Experiences. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 19(2), pp. 206-216.
Zacher, H. & Rudolph, C.W., 2021. Individual Differences and Changes in Subjective Wellbeing During
the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Psychologist, 76(1), pp. 50-62.
