As the winter months roll in, bringing shorter days and longer nights, many of us might experience the winter blues, especially at work. For us as a company, the well-being of our employees is always a priority and for this reason, it is important to address this seasonal change and its impact on mental health. In this article, we’ll summarise practical approaches to combat winter blues in the workplace.
At CLIQ, we foster a culture of mental health awareness throughout the year. That is why we offer all employees free access to OpenUp, a 360-degree mental well-being platform that supports each employee in all aspects of their mental well-being. By providing this service, we want to tackle the barriers to improving mental well-being and create a culture of trust.
Practical Tips for Employees to Beat the Winter Blues
1. Maximise Natural Light: Exposure to natural light can significantly improve mood. For example, you can rearrange your workspace to maximise exposure to daylight.
2. Stay Active: Physical activity is especially helpful on dark days! This can be a yoga session during the lunch break, an extended walk after work, or a visit to the gym. At CLIQ, we provide our employees with an in-house gym that is free of charge.
3. Healthy Eating Options: Nutritious meals can improve overall energy levels and mood. On every floor at our CLIQ office, we serve fresh fruit, nuts and energy bars to ensure that all team members have access to healthy, energising snacks throughout their day.
4. Breaking Monotony: New year, new challenges! Fresh challenges keep us active. CLIQ offers all employees free access to LinkedIn Learning, for instance. On the online platform, industry experts teach in the fields of software, creative, and business skills.
5. Encourage Social Interaction: Organise regular social events, even virtual ones, to foster a sense of community. The gatherings also allow everyone to bond, share experiences, and create memorable moments that enhance team cohesion and workplace morale, regardless of physical distance. Our CLIQ colleagues, for example, host board game nights, ZOOM-quizzes, wine tastings and suchlike after office hours. Not to forget: our traditional Friday drinks to kick off the weekend together!
By fostering a supportive environment as a company, promoting health and wellness, and encouraging open conversations about mental health, we can help our employees navigate the winter months with positivity. And don’t forget: spring is definitely on its way!