Start the new year with healthy habits to help your team thrive. Here are 7 things you can do to help your colleagues avoid burnout.
At least 79% of UK adults experience burnout, and 35% report extreme levels. Burnout can happen because of excessive workloads, insufficient support, or a lack of work-life balance.
If your colleagues are struggling to manage their time and responsibilities, you can implement changes to help them find balance. It’s a meaningful way to foster a supportive and productive work environment, and demonstrates your commitment to setting healthy boundaries.
Here are some strategies that can make a difference:
1. Promote balanced workloads
Start by encouraging realistic workloads. Help colleagues prioritise tasks by focusing on key projects and identifying which tasks can wait. Advocate for balanced distribution of work within the team and speak up if you see someone overwhelmed. Ensuring tasks are shared fairly can prevent any one person from bearing an excessive load.
2. Encourage work-life balance
Emphasise the importance of setting boundaries. Encourage colleagues to disconnect after work hours and to take breaks throughout the day. Respect personal time by limiting communication after hours unless it’s urgent, which reinforces the idea that rest is valued. And try to support flexible schedules, allowing for a balance between personal and professional responsibilities, which reduces stress.
3. Show empathy
Regularly check in on your colleagues’ wellbeing and listen actively if they express concerns. Even a simple, empathetic conversation can help reduce stress by reminding them they’re not alone. We regularly share insights on mental health and wellbeing, with practical solutions to support your colleagues.
4. Promote mental health resources
Make sure your colleagues are aware of any mental health resources available, such as therapy services, mental health days, or wellness programs. Encourage a culture where seeking help is seen as a proactive step, not a weakness.
5. Model healthy behaviour
Lead by example and show your colleagues what ‘good’ looks like by setting clear boundaries, taking regular breaks, and managing your own workload effectively. When others see you practicing healthy habits, it normalises these behaviours and makes them feel more comfortable doing the same.
6. Encourage team connections
Foster a supportive team atmosphere by organising activities, celebrating successes, and recognising individual contributions. Strong team cohesion helps everyone feel connected, reducing the emotional toll of high-stress projects. Implement mentorship or buddy systems to provide mutual support within the team to prevent feels of overwhelm.
7. Celebrate rest
Research by Mental Health UK revealed that 1 in 5 workers (20%) in the UK needed to take time off work due to poor mental health caused by pressure or stress in the past year. Busyness has become a status symbol – we often associate it with feelings of self-worth and importance – but it can heighten stress and negatively affect our wellbeing. It’s important to remember that downtime is necessary to disconnect and recharge. Publicly encourage people to fully disconnect during evenings and weekends and remember to recognise team accomplishments when projects are completed. This sense of closure can help prevent burnout by reminding everyone that their hard work is valued.
By proactively thinking about ways to tackle and prevent burnout within your organisation, you’ll maintain a healthier, more productive work environment where everyone feels empowered. Found these tips useful? Let us know!
Do your internal communications need a refresh? Let our copywriters save you time and resource – get in touch!
