Let me start by saying that if you’re reading this post, you obviously want the best for your staff, which is fantastic! Perhaps you’re not getting the results you hoped for from your wellness initiative. Or maybe you’re just starting your wellness program search (in which case, I suggest you also check out this blog post).
I’m not going to tell you that self-care isn’t an important part of wellness. It Is! It just shouldn’t be the end-all, be-all of your program. So, let’s dive into why emphasizing only self-care, however well-intentioned, could undermine rather than support employee wellness.
Connection Is Key As humans, we crave connection. This connection is especially important for addressing workplace stress, anxiety, and burnout. Wellness programs focusing solely on individual solutions (such as meditation apps or gym memberships) can leave employees feeling isolated and disconnected, leading to depression, poor physical health, and mental and cognitive health declines.
From Self-Care to Caring For Each Other When we begin to look at wellness as a “group project”, so to speak, it opens up many opportunities to unite – a.k.a. connect – to tackle problems together. Sharing personal experiences, feelings, and coping strategies improve physical health, mental health, and the ability to handle stress – all desired wellness program outcomes.
Collective Wellness Strategies Benefit Your Organization Ignoring the emotional reality of our work doesn’t make those feelings go away. Instead, it can breed resentment and isolation. Receiving compassion and acceptance from like-minded individuals, on the other hand, fosters a sense of “we’re all in this together”. This improves resilience, communication, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving – all traits that benefit your healthcare organization.
Purposeful Discussion, Not A Pity Party Empowering your staff to engage in guided discussion about how work situations impact them is the goal. The idea is to validate feelings and discover constructive ways to cope. This is where a holistic wellness coaching program like TAP Wellness Coaching can be helpful. You need a program that offers both individual resilience skill-building and broader opportunities to share experiences. Giving employees a safe space to share lived experiences and be part of a group that “gets it” fosters the genuine connection that is the cornerstone of wellness.
To connect with me about a TAP Wellness Coaching program for your hospital or health facility, email me at info@healthliteracypartners.com