Building resilience: Mental health and wellbeing in the workplace

We are all subjected to stress in our daily lives. From raising families and managing finances to juggling schedules and caring for loved ones, it's all part of the job. And that's all before we even get to work in the morning. When we arrive at work, we have an inbox full of emails, urgent meetings, and looming deadlines.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-quarter of all employees consider their jobs to be the most stressful aspect of their lives. Rising levels of workplace stress should be cause for concern, as stress can lead to decreased productivity, higher staff turnover, higher healthcare costs, and employee burnout.

Employees' long-term health consequences can include an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, obesity, lowered immunity, gastrointestinal problems, and a longer recovery time from illness.

Unfortunately, the intensity and pace of modern life and work are unlikely to change. As a result, it is more important than ever to learn how to be more resilient and to foster a resilient environment for our employees.

Resilient people are better able to deal with the demands that are placed on them. They can "roll with the punches" or "bounce back" more easily from increasing demands or constant change.

The good news is that anyone can develop habits and strategies to improve their ability to deal with stress. Try out these six strategies to help you become more successful.

• Create strong social networks in the workplace. Positive relationships not only make coming to work more enjoyable, but they also ensure that you have a strong support network when you need it.

• Self-care is essential. If you don't take care of yourself, your ability to deal with stress and other challenges will likely suffer. Get plenty of rest, move around frequently, and nourish your body with nutritious foods.

• Be adaptable. Nothing remains constant. Accepting that things can and do change will make you more resilient than someone who continues to resist change.

• ‍Consider problems to be a learning experience. It is entirely up to you how you respond to a given situation. Instead of panicking and reacting negatively, view challenges as opportunities to learn a skill or lesson.

• Celebrate your accomplishments. Instead of dwelling on the negative, pat yourself on the back when things go well. Even better, congratulate your coworkers on their accomplishments. Recognizing the achievements of others can aid in developing a resilient culture in your workplace.

• ‍Allow yourself time to recharge. You can restore your batteries throughout the day by taking regular breaks and leaving your desk for lunch. Take regular vacations and time off from work to do things you enjoy. You will be more energized and motivated when you return to work.

You can't always control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it!