5 Pillars of Workplace Wellness
By: JASON KNIOLA, LMHC, LCAC
Wellness in the workplace includes a balance of many factors. It can be said, like our organization’s namesake, that each of these factors is a “pillar” that helps support overall wellness. At any given time, some pillars may be stronger, others weaker. As long as there is relative balance moderate wellness can be maintained. However, this requires ongoing maintenance. The demands of life often tip the scales away from wellness. The first step of maintaining balance is awareness. We cannot know what to fix if we don’t know it’s broken! Once we do know what needs attention, we can begin to take steps toward re-alignment. Below are some of the vital pillars of workplace wellness.
The Pillar of Physical Wellness
Physical wellness in the workplace refers to maintaining a healthy body through regular exercise, proper nutrition, rest and sleep. Good physical health supports motivation, productivity, creativity, and quality of work. Poor health, on the other hand, can lead to illness, lack of motivation, low productivity, and poor work quality.
To maintain physical wellness, one needs to be informed as to what exercise is right, how to build and maintain a healthy diet, and habits that support good sleep hygiene. Information is the first step. Goal setting and maintenance of habit is the next.
The Pillar of Mental/Emotional Wellness
Emotional and mental wellness in the workplace encompasses maintaining a positive and balanced state of mind and managing stress effectively. This pillar is crucial to one’s ability to resiliently cope with the challenges of work and life, as well as to perform at one’s best.
To maintain emotional and mental wellness in the workplace it is helpful to practice self-care activities such as mindfulness, deep breathing exercises, journaling to organize thoughts and goals, and engaging in hobbies or activities that bring joy and relaxation. It is important to set boundaries, prioritize tasks, and manage time effectively to reduce stress and overwhelm.
The Pillar of Social Wellness
Social wellness in the workplace refers to fostering positive relationships, communication, collaboration, and a sense of community among employees. It involves creating a supportive and inclusive work environment where individuals feel connected, valued, and respected.
To create and maintain this pillar, skills of self-expression, listening, boundary setting, collaborative goal setting and tracking, and team building are needed. Each of us have our own unique ways of interacting with others – some are effective, others less so. We can all learn to be more effective at working with others. When the social wellness pillar is strong, we feel more connected and supported, as well as more productive in our roles.
The Pillar of Work-life Balance
This pillar entails finding a healthy equilibrium between one’s professional responsibilities and personal life. It involves setting boundaries, managing time effectively, and prioritizing self-care to prevent burnout and maintain overall well-being.
To maintain work-life balance one needs to establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. This may involve setting specific work hours, learning skills to work efficiently during work hours, taking breaks throughout the day, and unplugging from work-related activities outside of designated work hours. Prioritizing tasks, delegating when necessary, and learning to say no to additional responsibilities can also help manage workload and prevent overwhelm.
To bolster this pillar well one needs to also practice the self-care activities discussed above in the mental/emotional wellness pillar. Effective self-care helps one re-charge the battery in off hours to be more creative and productive during work hours.
The Pillar of Professional Adaptation and Development
This pillar addresses one’s ability to adapt to workplace changes as they arise. Some changes come from external sources, such as company re-organization, role changes, or global economic shifts. Some changes come from internal sources such as career goals, continuing education, and sought-after promotions. Whatever the source of these changes, the result is the same – a need for adaptation and professional development.
Change does not come easily or automatically. To grow one must leave the “comfort zone” and enter the “growth zone”. This journey has some predictable pitfalls. Learning about this terrain can help one equip themselves to meet challenges along the way.
Maintenance of the Pillars of Workplace Wellness
The pillars of workplace wellness offer a foundation for stability and harmony in our professional lives. The presence or absence of workplace wellness significantly impacts our productivity and fulfillment during the countless hours devoted to our careers. Imbalance and discord can undermine mental and emotional well-being, physical health, relationships, and sense of purpose – influencing every facet of our existence.
*Pillars of Wellness, Workplace Wellness Program provides individual workplace wellness coaching sessions, group workshop wellness workshops, individual leadership assessment and training sessions, and group leadership assessment and training workshops. Contact Jason Kniola, LMHC, LCAC, NCC for more information at jkniolapillars@gmail.com or at 219-323-3311.