This is a hard time of year. Summer and vacation time may be a forgotten memory. Weather is changing, indicating that winter is just around the corner. Year-end is looming. Making budget is an issue. Holidays are approaching. The pressure is all around us.
It is also the time of year that seasonal depression (SAD) may take hold. SAD is more than the blahs or the blues. It’s symptoms can include lethargy, sadness, disconnection, an inability to concentrate, sleep issues, a sense of worthlessness and even thoughts of suicide.
I find this time of year hard and I know I am prone to experiencing the winter blahs. I know that getting outside into the daylight is one way to combat the winter blahs, as well as SAD. It is a great way to keep fit. However, I am a fair-weather walker. I hate the cold and I dislike battling the elements just go for a walk. I know that getting outside, even if it is only for 20 minutes is good for me, but I would much rather curl up and sit by my fireplace.
Motivation and Workplace Wellness
And so it is with many of our wellness challenges. As wellness educators and wellness cheerleaders, it is often not a lack of information that our team’s face. It is about finding a stronger motivation to fight the no’s and the excuses. That being said, any kind of program, must cover off the basics. Even though it has been presented before, you never know what your team has taken in.
But providing strategies, without first discussing the barriers that get in the way of doing what we know that we should, is bound to lead to the status quo.
Look for example at your smoking cessation programs. I would venture to say that almost everyone who smokes know that it is harming them in one way or the other. They know that there are a variety of programs out there to support them to kick their habit. It is not until someone has a clear mental picture as to what the benefits are or how they see their life without smoking, that they can even hope to be successful. Losing weight to be thinner is usually unsuccessful. Losing weight to be able to play with your grandkids, or breathe without gasping as they go up the stairs, is usually much more successful.
Help people to have a picture in their head of what life will look like when they have achieved their goal. I like this quote:
- “… really successful people feel the same boredom and the same lack of motivation that everyone else feels. They don’t have some magic pill that makes them feel ready and inspired every day. But the difference is that the people who stick with their goals don’t let their emotions determine their actions. Top performers still find a way to show up, to work through the boredom, and to embrace the daily practice that is required to achieve their goals”.
So, my picture, is to be able to still run a successful business and to have the creativity and motivation to keep trying new things. It is to be teaching karate to young boys and girls when I am older. I want to be that cool grandma that goes on the roller coaster rides and can walk along the beach.. I want to be in my gardens and I want to stay living in my two-story house. I want to go on vacations with my husband and experience the adventures. I want to be sure-footed and not afraid to go out and about. I want my back to be straight and my eyes looking forward, not hunched and looking at the ground. So I try to walk at least a couple of times every week, sometimes, complaining the whole way. I go to karate class as often as I can, and when I can’t, I try to practice at home. I throw the frisbee in the snow, because even though it’s only the dog getting exercise, I am taking in the benefits of the light that will positively impact my mood and energy.
There are so many wellness programs that you could put together for your teams. How are those programs going to help them be the person that they picture themselves being? Help make the picture crystal clear and your success rates will go up exponentially.
Do you need someone to work with your leaders on developing a supportive culture?
If you have some strategies to share – comment on this posting!
Additional Postings:
Mental Health In The Small Business Workplace
Employee Health and Barriers To Wellness
Do You Know Your Stress Numbers
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