BLUE MONDAY WITH A DIFFERENCE
Today is “officially” the most depressing day of the year. Since 2005 when they started measuring these things, the third Monday in January has been known as Blue Monday. Not altogether surprising; the shine has worn off after the Christmas break, credit card bills are coming in and payday is yet another week away.
But this year, things are just a bit different. People’s mental health is suffering more than ever before, and even if you don’t believe in Blue Monday as a “real” thing, we cannot overlook the importance of looking after our employee’s mental health right now.
Things are tough, there’s no denying it. The times are taking their toll on people. Normally we would be talking about things to do in the office to bolster staff morale and establish some good habits to get into for the rest of the year; but with many of us still working remotely, what can we do differently?
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
We always talk about this around Blue Monday, and wonderfully, it is easy one to adopt remotely too! It’s amazing the response when an employee feels valued. If any of your team have perhaps made a big effort to bring something across the line prior to Christmas, or have started the year off with real zeal and a great attitude then recognising it, even just informally with a “great job” can go a long way.
HIGHLIGHT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Support for your employees right now is crucial! Hopefully, your business has already got things in place to support the extra strain, whether this is telephone support lines, additional mentoring or simply dedicating a couple of hours a week during a working day where employees are encouraged to step away from the laptop and take some time for self-care.
Use this time to remind them of all the support you do have available, and if there isn’t any, this is a great chance to get some things in place! This is an especially important strategy to maintain throughout the year, not just now. It is a topic that in our opinion, must always be accessible and never swept under the carpet.
GIVE YOUR EMPLOYEES SOME SPACE
Be sensitive to the fact that employees might be feeling a little low; perhaps consider that high pressure meetings or activities could be delayed or restructured to a time that would be more effective.
A BIT OF BONDING
It can be challenging with people in and out of the office, but encourage small teams to have a short video call with a cuppa if they can’t meet face to face. Just a chat or to share some success stories (big and small). Or schedule a quick call in yourself. Not to “check up” on progress, but to touch base and see how people are really coping at home.
Whilst January can be a depressing time of year, it can also bring some positives. It’s a great time for embracing change with a sense of a new beginning. The most important message however is not being afraid to talk to your staff and connect with them; an attitude that we should really embrace throughout the year, not just at this time.
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