How You Can Help Your Employees Overcome Seasonal Depression
The weather gets colder and the nights are longer. That can take a toll on most people’s mental health. A term that is often used for this is “winter blues.” It refers to the sadness that comes with cold weather and affects our everyday lives. In the most serious cases, it comes in the form of depression and can be paralyzing. People who suffer from winter blues might struggle with their normal tasks. Companies need to pay attention to the symptoms, as one in four employees experience it. Some early signs include loss of interest, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and others. Luckily, there are things you can do to help your employees, mainly by engaging them in different activities. Below, you will find 7 tips you can follow to aid your people in their winter blues phase.
7 Tips To Support Your People Through Their Winter Blues
1. Check On Them
You never know how much someone’s struggling with their mental health. One thing you have to do is frequently check on your people’s well-being. Whether it’s in one-on-one meetings or through a simple message on your communication platform, showing that you care can make an impact. You don’t have to wait for the signs of winter blues; you can make it a standard practice to ask them how they feel, even if they don’t want to share their true feelings. They may be reluctant at first, but when they see that you genuinely care, they will open up and build a mutual sense of trust. They will also feel more engaged with the company, too.
2. Encourage Days Off
You don’t want your employees to feel stressed and overworked, right? Fast-paced work environments and anxiety can lead to winter blues and depression. You need to encourage your people to use their days off. Highlight the importance of making time for themselves and stress that it’s something that will benefit the company as well. Relaxed employees are more focused and productive. By reminding them to take their PTO, you make them feel supported and cared for. There’s nothing that an employee likes more than being appreciated and valued in the workplace.
3. Group Activities
Whether you work from the office or remotely, your employees will appreciate a fun group activity. It will help them unwind and focus on something other than their workload and upcoming tasks. Establish team-building events, like mystery solving or board games. You can also try having a daily tea time, with chatting and snacks. If your employees are feeling outdoorsy, you could make it a habit to have a group afternoon walk once a week, or even jog. Exercise is very beneficial for mental health, and you could set a great example by embracing it as a company.
4. Mental Health Awareness Training
Mental health is a sensitive topic, yet of high importance. The workplace should be a safe space for employees, who may often get flooded with negative feelings that they don’t know how to address. Training in mental health awareness will help managers and employees to know how to handle such a delicate matter. People will be more aware of their own feelings and know better when to seek help. In addition, they will get the support they need when they decide to talk to someone about their mental health struggles. Employers should also consider having a professional on board. This way, their people can have all the necessary resources to alleviate some of the stress or other negative feelings.
5. Arrange Meetings
Whether they work from home or at the office, people need to socialize. Consider arranging meetings to offer them the opportunity to see other people, talk about their day, hang out, and alleviate some of the stress. It’s a nice way to check on everyone, too. Is an employee less chipper than usual? Send them a private message asking them how they’re feeling. Someone isn’t participating as they used to? Address the issue personally and offer them any help they need. You won’t be able to care for your people if you don’t meet with them. Plus, they will have the reassurance that they can rely on you.
6. Offer Flexibility
Strict work schedules and necessary working from the office can have a toll on your employees’ mental health. Someone who’s experiencing winter blues may have a hard time getting out of bed or wearing nice clothes to go to work. Sometimes they also procrastinate and are late. The best way to help them set their own pace and eliminate the anxiety that comes with commuting is by offering them flexibility. Working from home may be less stressful and feel safer for people with seasonal depression. Let them have time to recover by being in a quiet environment, where they can start working later or earlier in the morning, at their own schedule. Your employees will appreciate the support and feel better.
7. Regular Breaks
Working too much is anxiety-inducing. To make things worse, most people don’t realize they’re doing it. It’s your job to look for signs that an employee is overworking themselves. For example, you don’t see them getting up often, or they are always available on your communication platform. However, everyone should take regular breaks. That’s why it’s a good idea to encourage them to do so by reminding them every hour or two. Breaks will help them recharge and collect their thoughts, focusing on something less stressful than work. Even if they spend their break on their phones, it is a change from constantly having to deal with work matters.
Conclusion
Winter blues is a common experience among employees and can be serious if left untreated. As an employer, there are some things you can do to help your employees get ahead of that experience. The most important thing is to check on them regularly. You should also encourage PTO and breaks to help them unwind, or a flexible schedule. Group activities and other forms of socialization are also helpful for mental health. Of course, you should also establish training on mental health awareness to help everyone know how to recognize and handle struggles. Remember that employees need to feel safe and supported in their workplace.