Happy Minds: The Secret Sauce of Productivity

Wellness – improved mental health and well-being – is yet another buzzword of the day. And rightly so.?

In recent years, wellness has become an increasingly important barometer of employee engagement. Maybe you already knew this, but what you probably didn’t know is just how startling the numbers?look.?

Here are some more equally startling statistics?about work-life balance and its impact on engagement and stress-levels.

Such statistics have led organizations to prioritize employee mental health. Salesforce offers a wellness program, "Wellness at Salesforce." The program provides mental health resources, counselling services, and encourages self-care. Salesforce has created a supportive environment that promotes employee well-being and reduces the negative impacts of stress and burnout.?

The World Health Organization states that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity.

The numbers just keep adding up:?

• Workplaces with comprehensive wellness programs experienced a 28% reduction3?in sick leave.
• 75% of professionals4?consider workplace well-being programs and policies crucial when deciding on a job offer.

So, why are people more stressed today?

The past few years may well have been the most stressful in human history. The pandemic literally struck terror in the hearts and minds of everyone, everywhere. Beyond that, however, there are certain endemic issues with our lifestyles that lead to unhealthy outcomes.

• FOMO—or the Fear of Missing Out

It is the price people pay for staying connected all the time. At any and every moment, someone somewhere is having a great time. They post photos and videos of things they’re seeing, places they’re going to, people they’re meeting, and things they’re doing. That invariably plants a seed of doubt in the minds of even the most charitable reader: am I missing out, sitting at home, looking out of the window, sipping coffee? Is my life really fulfilling?

• Too many choices

Never before have people had so many things to choose from and yet be so unsatisfied with their options. When I was growing up, there were two channels on TV: the national and the regional one. If you did not like the one, you simply switched to the other or switched off the TV and went out to play. There only were two or three brands of anything: chocolates, beverages, soaps, restaurants, and what have you. Today you spend more time deciding what program to watch on an OTT channel than actually watching the program.?

• Inability to prioritize

Again, people have so many things they can do with their time and resources that it has actually become a problem. They are pulled in multiple directions at once and are unable to decide what’s more important. Career, education, family, health, travel, personal development—without focus, wanting to do everything at once is a recipe for burnout.?

• Lack of stress-release mechanisms

The lack of time makes many people choose quick-fix solutions: alcohol, caffeinated or sugary drinks, unhealthy “comfort foods” and so on. They compensate with a guilt-fuelled burst of health fads. But stress builds up over time, from moment to moment, and so stress release should also be regular, continuous, and ongoing. For instance, it is better to exercise for 10 minutes every day than 1 hour every week.?

• Environmental issues

Ticking time bombs like climate change caused by incessant pollution only adds to a latent build-up of stress. And pollution extends beyond air and water to noise and lighting, affecting the human ability to think clearly.??

Among all the stressors of today, economic uncertainty caused by a lack of skill development is probably the biggest contributor to stress in the workforce today.?

So, what can you do to combat this burgeoning problem before it gets totally out of hand??

The Zuci Way?

For promoting wellness, we have a special program for mental well-being known as Happy Minds.?

We signed up with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider to offer?counselling?services for professional and personal challenges, support services like assessments, mental health resources, and self-care practices. We are clear that well-being is essential, and we all must take care of our emotional and mental health.?

Happy Minds is only the first step in ensuring a more fulfilling and relaxed mental framework for our employees. We also encourage a culture of continuous learning and upskilling that keeps our people at the leading edge of technological developments, not following trends but setting them.?

Organizations across industries have prioritized wellness, which has fostered happier employees and helped them grow.?

At Zuci Systems , we recognize the significance of creating an environment that supports our employees' well-being and professional growth through employee wellness programs and continuous learning opportunities.

References:

1. According to surveys by Gallup and The American Institute of Stress.
2. As per studies by the World Economic Forum and The American Psychological Association.
3. According to a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
4. As per the 2021 Global Talent Trends report by LinkedIn?