As Brits return to work this week it can be tricky to tell the difference between the January blues and depression. Dr Leigh A.Neal from Smart TMS revels his top tips on how companies can safeguard their employees’ wellbeing.
Blue Monday, which this year falls on January 15, 2018, is said to be the most depressing day of the year for us Brits, with many struggling with feelings of depression, lethargy and irritability as we had back to work, try to get back in shape and await the end of the long, cold nights.
It’s no wonder that many of us struggle emotionally in January. Not only is it the peak season for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), it’s also become a month of enforced austerity and grueling fitness regimes as we battle to compensate for the excess of December. As the nights draw in and the temperatures drop, as many as one in five of us will experience symptoms of depression, including grumpiness, lack of energy, feeling low, sluggishness and insomnia.
With going back to work one of the other main factors, it’s important that you look out for your employees and ensure that they are kept upbeat at work. Luckily there is some good news. Without putting too much pressure on them, there are a few simple lifestyle changes that can be implemented without too much disruption to the working day.
Encourage your employees to spend their lunch break outside
It might be cold, but there’s no reason for them to bury themselves inside, at a desk, all day every day. Sunlight and fresh air can have amazing benefits for health and wellbeing, boosting levels of vitamin D and serotonin and helping to de-stress and unwind. Spending time in nature has been proven to reduce our stress levels, so even if you’re a city based company, make sure to encourage employees to find some green space near the office. Wrap up warm, plan for the winter weather and go for a walk, bike ride or jog. There’s a high chance that they’ll come back feeling much better afterwards.
Try new things
January can often be a time when we feel stuck in a rut. Encourage your staff to stimulate their creativity and imagination by trying something completely new. You could even put classes on for your team to try – why not go trampolining (great exercise and good fun), learn a new instrument or take a life drawing class? When you tap into your creativity, studies show that you reduce your stress levels and experience fewer symptoms of depression.
January can often be a time when we feel stuck in a rut. Encourage your staff to stimulate their creativity and imagination by trying something completely new.
Sort out your serotonin
You may have heard about serotonin before. It’s an important chemical neurotransmitter that is thought to have a strong effect on our overall mood, wellbeing and sleep patterns. As well as being found in the brain, serotonin can also be found in the gut. Research suggests that consumption of alcohol and coffee or a poor diet could disrupt the production of serotonin. Not only that, but lack of sunlight could also contribute to disruption in serotonin production, so it’s no wonder that December could have left you feeling a little out of balance. Luckily, it’s possible to start putting your serotonin levels back on track. Cutting back on drinking and over-eating will definitely help, plus, adding more fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes and oily fish could contribute to regulating your digestive system. For January, why not arrange a healthy breakfast counter for your staff to ensure that they are getting a good amount of their five a day at work?
A regular exercise pattern will also help, but make sure that they don’t torture themselves. Opt for physical activity that is fun, social and stimulating – like a long walk in a new neighbourhood or a game of tennis with friends. You could even put on a company wide sports match to get everyone involved.
Think Scandinavia
Encourage your employees to have a quiet night in, but stress that a quiet night in doesn’t have to be bland and boring. The Danish word ‘hygge’ refers to moments in life that are particularly cosy, charming and cherished. Advise them to take their self-care home with them and take a little time to freshen up the house, put out some soft rugs and cushions and create a perfect nest for themselves. Alternatively, why not turn one of your spare meeting rooms into a Scandinavian haven and allow employees to invite friends over for a really good chat or put on a special viewing of a popular movie.
Keep an eye on employees’ mood
Most cases of SAD will be relatively mild, but if you think one of your employees is one of the six per cent of people who experience severe symptoms of SAD, which are classified as those that seriously impact your daily life, there are ways you can help.
Offer drop in sessions in the building with a mental health professional or a doctor. Talking therapies can be extremely beneficial in the treatment of SAD, and some doctors will also recommend anti-depressant medications in more severe cases.
Alternatively, help educate your employees on the warning signs and things to look out for. A quick online search will also reveal several affordable options for home light boxes, which provide treatment by mimicking daylight in order to ease symptoms.
Alternatively, if they would prefer to stay free of medication, you may want to suggest looking into Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS is a new mental health treatment, approved by NICE for the treatment of depression which doesn’t require any invasive surgery or anesthetic.
If you think someone at work is experiencing severe symptoms of depression, persistent low mood, loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities, lethargy, irritability, feelings of despair, guilt or worthlessness, then make sure you reach out and talk to them and encourage them to visit a health care provider about their options. No one should suffer in silence.
