1. There's Nothing Special About the Workplace
Being well in the workplace isn't much different from being well at home, on vacation, at school or anywhere else. The circumstances and the people may vary, but you still need some fundamentals in order to be well. As an example, the educational organization Search Institute, identifies 40 "Developmental Assets" that are correlated with young people's success. They're good guidelines for adults as well: When you feel good about your work, you'll probably feel good about your life.
2. Some Things You Get From Yourself, Some Things You Get From Others
Search Institute organized its Developmental Assets into four internal categories---what you get from yourself---and four external categories---what you get from others. Translated into the workplace, the four internal categories are "Commitment to your Work," "Positive Values," "Social Competencies" and "Positive Identity." The four external categories are "Support," "Empowerment," "Boundaries and Expectations" and "Constructive Use of Time." The more you exhibit attitudes and behaviors in each of these categories, the farther along the path of wellness you'll be.
3. Start With Taking Care of Yourself
Think about how you can become more engaged in your work---whatever it is---and how you can motivate yourself to do well. For the work itself, act on your convictions and take responsibility for what you do. Learn how to plan and make good choices. For the work environment, develop skills to have empathy, to be sensitive to others, and to make and keep friends---just as you would in your weekend world. Try to take control over things that happen to you, and become optimistic about your personal future. The more often and the more comprehensive you can be in these efforts, the better you'll feel.
4. Get the Support You Need
It's one thing to make internal changes, but you can do things to get support from the people you work with, too. Dedicate yourself to communicating positively with your employer and your colleagues. Do whatever you can to make your environment caring and encouraging. Identify useful roles and then offer to fill them. Clarify the rules and consequences for your behavior. Give your employers reasons to value you. And make some time outside work for creative activities and activities with your family and your community.
5. Change Is Possible
Some things are easier to change than others. It may be a lot easier to change your own behaviors than those of others. Still, it's to everyone's benefit to adopt these changes. As the employee assistance program, Workplace Wellness says, "Educated, well-informed employees are the primary ingredients of a healthy and productive workforce." Everyone wins: Your employer gets competent and reliable workers. Your colleagues get a supportive environment. And you get that warm, fuzzy feeling of doing something worthwhile and enjoying yourself while doing it.
Undoubtedly, not every problem will be solved to your satisfaction, but by identifying positive actions and then taking them, you can increase your chances of becoming emotionally healthy in your workplace.
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