Are we being kind to ourselves?
Kindness. A simple word with a powerful impact. Being kind not only helps to reduce stress, increase happiness and improve our overall wellbeing, but as the events of the past year have shown, it can also offer much needed comfort and hope to people in their darkest hour.
As the Coronavirus continues to rage on, it’s fair to say that pandemic weariness and fatigue is taking its toll on all of us. Figures from the Office for National Statistics found that satisfaction and happiness were at their lowest levels in January since the crisis began, while anxiety has risen to its highest level.
Often, when we start a new year, we do so full of hope and the promise of new adventures and achievements, but this year has been very different and left many of us despairing. However, instead of piling on the pressure with unrealistic and unattainable goals, we have an opportunity to do something more important. Rather than focus on what we haven’t yet done, we can use this time to take stock, celebrate the small things that make us happy and importantly – be kind to ourselves.
The importance of self-kindness
The changes to our everyday lives have been monumental. Many will be juggling work with home-schooling, while others may be feeling isolated, lonely or living in a cramped flat share with no outlet. A recent study showed that nearly three quarters of UK employees have experienced a degree of burnout since working from home, with the boundaries between work and home life blurring. Sleeping problems, feeling isolated and finding it difficult to concentrate were found to be the most common burnout symptoms.
As human beings, we must recognise our own limitations and understand that the myriad of emotions we are feeling and the difficulties we are experiencing through this unprecedented time are completely normal. It is natural to have good and bad days.
But it’s important for our wellbeing that we find the good in the everyday and think about what makes us feel happy – whether that’s chatting to a friend on the phone, taking 10 minutes out of the day to read a book or curling up to watch TV with the children. We must use this time to reflect on what truly matters to us and take joy in those small moments.
In the same way we take care of our physical health through diet and exercise, taking care of our mind is just as important for our wellbeing. We can often be our own worst enemy, guilty of being overly self-critical when we make a mistake, or something doesn’t go the way we had hoped.
But think about the advice you would give to a friend or family member if they told you the same thing. Rather than chastise ourselves, we need to learn to replace those negative thoughts with a kinder, gentler voice that celebrates the small wins and gives us praise for achieving the simple tasks.
Kindness in the workplace
Kindness to ourselves and others in the workplace is also essential. As a leader, being expected to be constantly energetic, dynamic and visionary can be tiring, particularly during turbulent and challenging times. At the same time, the fast pace of modern life can make it difficult to see how to do things differently or make time for self-care. That’s why it’s important that leaders have a network around them – a safe space to share ideas and frustrations and lean on for support.
Leadership and culture are inextricably linked, so leaders are in a unique position to embed values that can drive cultural change for the better. By highlighting and championing the importance of self-care, kindness and wellbeing, and role-modelling the behaviours that reflect those values, leaders will reap the rewards of a happier and more supportive workforce.
At JourneyHR, we’ve seen some fantastic examples of businesses reaching out to their employees during this crisis, sending thoughtful gifts, notes and tokens of appreciation that remind employees they are a valued part of the team. One client sent their staff a voucher using the money that would have been allocated to a Christmas party, while another gave their employees an extra two days of annual leave in February.
Clear and consistent communication is also a vital part of a kind workplace culture. We work with companies who regularly check in to find out how their teams are doing and encourage employees to be open without fear of judgement. This can go a huge way to helping relieve some of the pressure people may be feeling, with research showing that over three fifths of employees felt the same or a higher level of stress since working from home.
Sadly, nearly a third of employees (30%) say the stigma attached to mental health has prevented them from speaking about it in the past, and one study found that UK businesses still have a long way to go, with 45% of employees saying they haven’t discussed their mental wellbeing with their manager since the pandemic began.
By showing kindness, empathy and an understanding for employees’ individual pressures and worries, leaders can help to break down these barriers and normalise conversations around mental health.
Kindness is contagious
We’ve all had those warm and fuzzy moments watching someone do something kind for someone else. Kindness helps to release ‘feel good’ chemicals serotonin and dopamine, both of which have been proven to relieve feelings of stress and anxiety and boost happiness. These feelings are what makes kindness, quite literally, contagious, and can have a hugely beneficial effect on the culture of a business.
Experiencing kindness can make us want to do something kind for others and this chain effect can help to create more meaningful connections in the workplace. Seeing the benefits of an act of kindness can also provide employees with a greater sense of purpose and achievement.
Employee engagement and motivation is a vital part of any successful business, but with only a tenth of UK employees feeling engaged at work, it remains an ongoing challenge for many leaders. By actively taking steps to build a kinder, more empathetic culture, leaders will naturally create teams and organisations where people want to work.
Since the start of the crisis, JourneyHR has seen a growing number of businesses interested to know how their teams are feeling and this is a hugely positive shift. Leaders are recognising the need to celebrate the great work their teams are doing while wanting to know what they can improve on. A great way to do this is through employee engagement surveys, which are incredibly helpful in providing leaders with an honest insight.
As we look to the future, it will be important to learn from the lessons of the past. The pandemic has shown us just how quickly life can change and that we can’t always control or know what tomorrow will bring. What we can do, however, is make the active choice to be kind to ourselves and others, come what may.
“Rather than focus on what we haven’t yet done, we can use this time to take stock, celebrate the small things that make us happy and importantly – be kind to ourselves. ”