Blog

Wellbeing at Work

Wellbeing at Work: Dse Assessment

November 22, 2018 DSE Assessments, Ergonomics, Workplace Wellbeing

Wellbeing is the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy mentally and physically. The more you focus on the state of your wellbeing, it is likely to increase the positivity in your life.

There are many different ways to improve your wellbeing and the wellbeing of others. These include; connecting, being active, taking notice, learning and giving.

Connecting

It is natural for humans to want connections with people. Connections are what forms friendships and relationships, which are important components of our lives. Feeling valued by others and having a meaningful connection will increase the feeling of positive wellbeing.

Connecting at work:

  • When you ask how someone is, or how their weekend was, really listen to the answer
  • If you find it difficult to connect with your co-workers, ask them about their interests outside of work
  • Call or talk to someone instead of emailing or sending a message
  • Take breaks with a colleague or eat your lunch with others

Being active

Keeping active on a day-to-day basis will increase wellbeing. If you are sitting down at a desk all day it may feel like you don’t have the opportunity to do any physical activity, but it is! Getting up out of your desk and going for short walks counts as physical activity, and doing that is better than nothing.

The following ideas could help you get more active at work:

  • Go for a brisk walk around the block for ten minutes during lunch or break;
  • Take the stairs instead of the lift where possible;
  • See if your workmates would be interested in doing some exercise together, this could be a walk, a run, a kick about or even a yoga class;
  • Try to stand up and walk around throughout the day as much as possible. This could mean walking to someone’s desk to talk to them, standing up when you’re on the phone or suggesting a walking meeting.

Taking notice

When working in an office environment, in particular, it may feel like every day is the same and nothing changes. But it does. It is important for our wellbeing to be aware of what is happening around you and appreciate the present moment.

Try the following:

  • Take your headphones out so you can pay attention to what is going on around you
  • Notice how your colleagues are feeling or acting. Also, notice your own moods and how they affect others
  • Vary your lunch and snacks
  • Take a different route to or from work and go somewhere you’ve never been before on your break

Learning

In any environment, whether it be work or school, learning is a great thing. It can make us feel motivated, engaged and can make us feel like we have accomplished something. If there are no opportunities for formal training or development in your workplace, it might be worth enquiring about whether this would be possible.

There are also plenty of other ways to learn at work:

  • Ask those who do a different job role to you to tell you about their job, they may even be able to teach you some new skills;
  • Set up a group or class where you can learn something with your work colleagues, for example, a language or a craft;
  • Find out about your colleague’s interests and skills outside of work, and consider asking them if they could teach you about them;
  • Research something you’ve always wanted to learn about;
  • Read a book during your lunch break;
  • Learn a new word and try to use it at work.

Giving

Doing things for others means you are promoting happiness and kindness, this will improve wellbeing.

Here are some ideas:

  • Make colleagues a cup of tea or coffee
  • Make sure to ask colleagues if they’re okay, and if not, can you do anything to help
  • If you enjoy baking, bring in some treats for your colleagues
  • Ask your colleagues if you want to have lunch together
  • If you’re going to the shops, simply ask if you can get anything for anyone

DSE Assessment

Having a comfortable workstation setup at work can also improve wellbeing. This could include having an ergonomic chair or desk to decrease the risk of strain on the body and improve posture. If you’re unsure on what you’re looking for when it comes to your specific workstation needs, then our DSE Assessments can help you identify any issues with current setups or identify specific products that may allow DSE related issues to be resolved.

References

https://fitforwork.org/blog/how-to-incorporate-the-five-ways-to-wellbeing-into-your-working-life/


Back to blog list