Mental wellness at work
Stress Awareness Day is coming up on November 2nd. It’s an important day for all leaders, and one that I’ll be commemorating with an in-depth conversation with my good friend Arianna Huffington . We will discuss the mental health crisis and some proactive steps we can take to improve our mental wellness. I hope you’ll join the conversation; you can sign up here.
Mental wellness was on a global decline even before the pandemic. Studies show that in the decade leading up to the pandemic, instances of anxiety and depression increased by as much as 20% percent. The pandemic made a bad situation even worse and triggered a 25% increase in rates of anxiety and depression worldwide. These figures represent a large-scale human tragedy which many now refer to as the “second pandemic.”
There are economic consequences to these trends. The World Economic Forum projected a $16.3 trillion loss in economic output between 2011 and 2030 due to mental disorders—and that was before the pandemic.
None of this is especially surprising to those of us who have paid attention to the news: from a decrease in productivity to an increase in burnout, the stresses of modern life are clearly impacting the bottom line.
As leaders we have a responsibility to our employees and shareholders to address mental wellness at work. I’ve written before about the importance of encouraging a sense of belonging and purpose at work, and offering benefits designed to encourage employees to take short “microbreaks” throughout the day, perhaps with a poem or a short story.
These recommendations come with solid science behind them. Most people know that reading improves your vocabulary, comprehension, intelligence, and even empathy, but fewer are aware of the incredible mental health benefits of reading. Reading also:
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All of these benefits can be realized by reading for just 15 minutes a day.
These statistics influenced my decision to start Fable , a reading platform designed with mental wellness in mind. And, of course, Arianna Huffington’s company, Thrive Global , is dedicated to improving mental wellness benefits and reducing burnout at companies across the world. I’m really looking forward to discussing these important issues in more detail next week, and I hope you’ll join us.
I think addressing employee mental wellness is the number one leadership mandate right now.
How much time do you spend reading each day?
Building Human-Centered Workplaces 🌿 Managing Director @ Engage for Good | Leadership Development | Culture | Wellbeing | Speaker | Thought Leader | Adventurer ✈️
2yI typically read for 15-30 minutes a day :) I like business and work-related books, but before bed, I put those away, and I pick up something for fun. Currently, I'm reading a fantasy novel. Other ways I cope with stress include meditating, journaling, exercising, walking outside during the workday, taking breaks from work and calling an end to the workday, laughing with friends, and working with a coach.
Advocate,Solicitor,Broker,Networking entrepreneur, over 28000+ Linkedin connections... Unity is strength...
2ySreerupa Chowdhury
Advocate,Solicitor,Broker,Networking entrepreneur, over 28000+ Linkedin connections... Unity is strength...
2yDebolina Ghosh
7+ years of helping visionary companies build standout AI Products | Founder and AI Product Manager | AI Product Leadership, Data Architecture, Data Products, IoT Products | Ex- Apple, Accenture, Cognizant, AT&T, Verizon
2yThank you for bringing attention to the issue of Mental Health at work and using your platform / executive / influential voice to highlight and promote discussion of this issue. As you said, purpose and belonging at work is important and it behooves that Employers to empathize, understand their employees state of being better and provide support and encouragement towards Positive Productivity and all round well being. In a recent workshop. I did a presentation on understanding individual chronotypes and how that insight could be used to improve team work dynamics and productivity. Half the problems would go away if people at different levels in an organization just get to know one another.
Empathic Leader & Coach in Mobile (5G, IoT, Cloud, Analytics, B2B Apps, Consumer VAS) | Cybersecurity (CISM) | Drones (UAS) | Global Experience | Mentoring | Customer Success | #prosperitythroughlearning
2yReading has become a part of my early morning routine. I read in bed before I get ready for 10-20 minutes before I get up and to a quick 4-5 minutes yoga stretch. I've found that these early morning activities get my mind and body firing on all cylinders without consuming any stimulants. Even though I live in Seattle I may only have 1-2 cups of coffee or tea a week. On top of stress relief I've found that reading in the morning is like stretching before working out. My brain is more alert and ready to go. I've used that analogy to my teenage children to help motivate them to read more, too.