Women in the professional sphere frequently encounter a stressful workplace, which is exacerbated by the responsibilities they endure at home. Managing home tasks like childcare, chores, and caring for family members adds to their already difficult schedule. Balancing family responsibilities with professional obligations creates a considerable load on women, leading to increased stress levels. This mismatch can be exacerbated by societal expectations and conventional gender roles, leaving women with little time and energy for self-care and personal well-being.
Recognizing mental health issues in women working in the corporate sector, such as worry, anxiety, stress, and depression, is critical for their well-being and the organization’s overall productivity. “Worry and anxiety can manifest as overwhelming concerns, restlessness, and difficulty focusing, whereas chronic stress can be identified by increased irritability, fatigue, decreased motivation, and a variety of other subtle and overt medical issues.” “Depression symptoms frequently include persistent sadness, loss of interest, and changes in sleep or appetite,” says Dr Samir Dwivedi, Medical Director, Indian Subcontinent, International SOS.
Acknowledgement is critical to their entire well-being, allowing them to maintain adequate brain ability, resilience, and emotional equilibrium. As a result, persons with good mental health are more engaged, focused, and motivated at work, increasing their productivity and efficiency. Furthermore, by prioritizing women’s mental health in the workplace, we can actively promote gender equality.
“It is critical to address the mental health needs of women in the workforce,” says Dr. Dwivedi. These mental health concerns can have a substantial influence on an organization’s productivity, resulting in worse job performance, more absenteeism, and higher turnover rates. These issues, if handled, can create a bad work atmosphere, hurting team chemistry and general morale.”
Women have a variety of solutions at their disposal to deal with the stress caused by work and family obligations. “First and foremost, limits must be established. This includes explicitly establishing the boundaries between work and personal life, allocating specified time slots for business-related tasks, and allocating time for leisure hobbies and self-care. Prioritizing self-care is critical, since it includes activities that promote physical and mental well-being, such as regular exercise, enough sleep, and relaxation techniques such as meditation or deep breathing exercises. Effective time management skills may help women balance their obligations by prioritizing activities, delegating where possible, and avoiding over-commitment. Seeking help is essential, whether by confiding in a trusted friend, joining support groups, or seeking professional counseling. Communicating openly with employers or superiors about workload and personal restrictions may result in potential adjustments or more flexibility. Creating a supporting network of family, friends, or coworkers who may give emotional support and help with household duties can also help to reduce stress. “Adopting stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness or engaging in hobbies and activities that bring joy also contributes to overall well-being and effective stress management,” Dr Dwivedi continues.
Organizations must emphasize mental health and provide supporting frameworks such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), flexible work schedules, and mental health services. “By taking proactive steps to address these issues, organizations not only promote employee well-being but also foster a positive and productive work environment.” The use of realistic and yet simply accessible approaches, such as mindfulness techniques, stress management tactics, and work-life balance initiatives, is tailored to the specific needs of the business environment. This, in turn, adds to increased employee satisfaction, greater retention rates, and, eventually, the organization’s overall success. “We educate corporations, providing them with valuable guidance on recognizing and addressing mental health issues through effective and accessible tools,” Dr. Dwivedi believes. Our efforts must be aimed continually at increasing individuals’ functionality and overall well-being. We must have a thorough understanding of the many issues that employees experience in the workplace and advocate for the importance of mental health inside enterprises.
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