26 Nov 2020

Three ways to boost employees’ mental wellbeing during the darker and colder winter months

As the nights draw in and the seasons change, mental health can become an increasing challenge for some. Although the season provides a lot of things to get excited about, the long-term effects of a global pandemic have put extra pressure on both our minds and our bodies.

Here are some of the factors that can contribute to poor mental health during the winter:

Increased screen time: people are generally watching more and doing less during the winter months. As well as affecting our eyesight and sleep patterns with blue light, endless scrolling on social media can lead to a decreased sense of self-worth.
Disrupted sleep: a good night’s sleep is integral to maintaining mental health. Studies have found, in winter, that the limited light brought about by changing seasons can affect circadian rhythms, meaning people might need more sleep in order to feel rested.
A sense of loss: with extensive measures in place to combat the spread of coronavirus, we might not be able to do the things we want to, like see friends and family. Also, having cancelled plans and activities across the year that can leave some feeling low.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): SAD can be caused by a lack of serotonin that you would usually get from sunlight, as well as increased melatonin production. This may lead to increased feelings of tiredness, increased appetite and feeling like you’re under your own black cloud.

Now more than ever, people are looking to their employers for support in navigating tough times. Here are three ways to boost your employees’ mental wellbeing during the colder months.

1. Encourage employees to make the most of daylight with exercise

With daylight hours waning and the temperature dropping, the prospect of taking a walk or doing any sort of exercise in the dark, post-work hours might be less than appealing. This, paired with increased presenteeism and longer working hours in home-bound employees, can put a strain on mental wellbeing.

Throughout the day, encourage your employees to take a break and go for a walk while it’s light for some much-needed vitamin D. YuLife chief wellbeing officer, Dr Rangan Chatterjee, recommends spending twenty minutes outside every morning in order to expose ourselves to nature and induce better sleep. Studies have found that exercise can have an incredible effect on our mental health; The Mental Health Foundation shared that the mood-boosting effects of exercise are greatest when we’re initially feeling low.

In a joint survey with YouGov, we found that 65% of employees would do more physical activity if rewarded by their employer.

2. Foster a sense of community within your team

The office environment was great at bringing people together from across the business; meetings, socials and water-cooler conversation all contributed to lively workplace culture. Working from home and lockdown measures have meant that social interactions, both in our working lives and personal lives, have been severely limited.

Psychology Today found that strong social connections lower our rates of depression and anxiety – this isn’t dependent on the number of connections that an individual has, but the innate feeling that is derived from connections. While face-to-face contact is still off the cards, virtual socials and team Zoom calls outside of work-related topics can increase your employees’ sense of belonging and help to continue to build a great company culture.

Having an open diary can also be beneficial to the wellbeing of your employees – allow for honest and open communication so employees feel able to reach out if they are struggling. This can reduce the rate of burnout experienced by staff and help to keep stress-related absences low within the company.

3. Make your team aware of the support they can get through your wellbeing programme

Sometimes, further support is needed beyond what can be provided by colleagues or managers. A study by the University of Sheffield has found that depression and anxiety tripled during the height of lockdown, with lasting effects likely to stretch into the near future.

Does your wellbeing strategy extend to mental health support? Do you have an employee assistance programme in place? Make your whole team aware of what is available to them and how they can access these resources if they need it – employees might not want to reach out individually, so clear signposting means they’re able to confidentially get the help they need.

Making employees feel supported, protected and inspired to live their healthiest lives is a sure-fire way to boost their mental wellbeing, through the winter months and beyond.

This article is provided by Yulife.