Balanced entrepreneurship

February 6th 2024

Mental health: it used to be a private matter, but we see more and more that having good coping mechanisms for stress at work is unmissable. Now mental health is an important HR subject in most companies. But how do you make sure that the mental health of your colleagues, personnel and yourself is a structural point on the calendar. We’ll help you!

Stress is one of the most common culprits in the workplace. Now stress is not necessarily a negative thing. It also ensures that you are sharp and perform at your best. But, performing at your best also includes relaxation. We often know very well that relaxing is good for reducing stress, but how exactly do you do that? And how can you facilitate this for your colleagues or staff?

What is relaxing?

You can’t just ignore your to-do list and your deadline simply has to be met. So how do you really relax? Let’s start with the two types of relaxation: active and passive relaxation. For example, the first means that you go for a walk or paint. Passive relaxation is more about, for example, taking a nap or meditating. What doesn’t belong here? Watching a series or movie. We often see this as relaxation, while we are actually constantly fed by new stimuli. The point is that you are free of stimuli for a while and give your brain the opportunity to recover.

Relaxing during work: a must!

Yep, we know: once you get into your work flow, it’s way too hard to stop. It often doesn’t feel good to take a moment to relax outside of our regular breaks. While it really improves your productivity. For example, try walking for 10 minutes after an hour of work. Or find a quiet space and do some breathing exercises or a meditation exercise. Nothing to feel guilty about, you’re just not made to concentrate for so long at a time.

Even if you have a managerial role, it is important to invest in this. Things often go ‘wrong’ because employees feel they are not allowed to relax. So ensure that you keep people working in a sustainable way. Make relaxation a daily topic and ensure that everyone feels comfortable enough to get the rest they need. Ultimately, this leads to more job satisfaction, less illness and effective cooperation.

Be a good example yourself

Make sure you set a good example by relaxing during work hours. Introduce a lunch walk, or retreat for a moment for a breathing exercise. In any case, make sure that no one has lunch behind their laptop, as that will make you much less efficient. Also make a point of celebrating wins and take time to do so. Often, after a victory or milestone, we are immediately ‘on’ for the next topic. It is essential to reflect on the good work you do together. So pop that champagne: because we don’t like to miss an opportunity to celebrate something at PLNT!

So stress is basically not a bad thing, but even functional. You become sharper, faster and gain focus. But relaxing ensures rest and recovery, so that you can then fully focus on achieving your goals. So remember that stress is part of it, but so is relaxation. This way you stay creative, positive and mentally healthy. Good for your company, staff and your own mental health!

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