September: Self-Care Awareness Month
August 30, 2021 by Keely Knopp
From the September Mercy Occupational Medicine eNewsletter
As we roll into September, join us in celebrating national Self-Care Awareness Month, and set aside some time to reflect on your needs, listen to your body and take care of yourself, both at home and at work. We all often tend to put the needs of others before our own, but that can have a detrimental effect on our own well-being. Promoting self-care to your employees not only fosters a sense of well-being that leads to a happier, healthier workforce, but it can also affect bottom line performance in your business. Below, we’ve shared some tips for encouraging self-care and building an atmosphere of general well-being in your workforce.
Most of us deal with stress on a daily basis. From regular stress at work to family, school, and the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, wellness can often seem elusive — but, as each additional stressor piles on, practicing self-care is more important than ever. So what can you do, as an employer, to foster a sense of well-being at work? Consider these tips:
- Remind your staff about employee assistance programs, and ensure they have access to resources, referrals, and counseling, if offered.
- Hold exercise challenges (e.g., steps challenges, exercise minute challenges) to help get employees moving throughout the day.
- Find and share stress management and mental health resources on a regular basis.
- Build in physical activity breaks during the workday.
- Consider holding company-wide health fairs and screenings for things like blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.
- Recognize staff achievements and contributions to the company, and celebrate milestones with workers.
Employers who support their employees with a robust wellness program often see significant benefits, with improvements in productivity, quality of service to customers, workplace morale, and recruiting and retention.
If you are interested in starting an employee wellness program for your company, Mercy Occupational Medicine can help by providing information on wellness initiatives and conducting onsite wellness and health fair programs. To learn more about these services, visit mercyurgentcare.org/for-employers/wellness-program-request-form/ or contact Jeff Howell at jhowell@mercyurgentcare.org.
Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
