Work in communications? Feel stressed? You are not alone. A recent survey found that PR is one of the most stressful professions in America. Stress factors could include interacting with hostile members of the media, meeting tight deadlines and maintaining good relationships with internal and external stakeholders. In a fast-paced communications environment, it is crucial to nurture your overall wellness as you work.
This week, organizations, communities and individuals around the country are joining the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) for National Wellness Week—a week of activities dedicated to encouraging individuals, families and communities to improve their health behaviors, while also exploring their talents, skills, interests, social connections and environment in order to incorporate other dimensions of wellness into their lives.
Throughout the week, wellness activities and events will incorporate one or more of SAMHSA’s Eight Dimensions of Wellness, which embody the eight dimensions of our health and well-being: emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, physical, social and spiritual.
To help staff take time to improve their wellness, Vanguard instituted the Wellness Half Hour. Every day, Vanguard team members can take 30 meeting-free minutes to do whatever they need to improve their wellness. Activities can include taking a walk outdoors, reading a book, catching up with an old friend, or anything that refreshes staff before they get back to the rest of the day’s work. The Wellness Half Hour is Vanguard’s way of keeping staff’s wellness on the daily agenda.
How can you improve your wellness? Here are examples of the many things you can do to manage stress, maximize job performance and maintain physical and mental health.
- Prioritize your workload — Keep a “To Do” list with priority tasks on top to reduce the risk of forgetting something and to help you focus on due assignments.
- Take short breaks — Not only do short breaks help you remain energized, but they also increase productivity.
- Go explore — During your lunch break take a walk and explore what your neighborhood has to offer. Try a new restaurant, visit the local library or take photographs at the park.
- Exercise — Set aside some time to get up and moving! At Vanguard we are lucky enough to have a gymnasium downstairs, but if you don’t, go for a walk.
- Stretch — A few minutes of stretching at your desk can help you relieve stress and relax tensed muscles. Click here for a few tips!
Want to bring more wellness to your life and workplace? Learn more about the Eight Dimensions of Wellness and find wellness activities in your community you can participate in by visiting SAMHSA’s Wellness Initiative website: www.samhsa.gov/wellness.
