2. Start a positive habit. RedBrick Health Corp., a Minnesota-based health technology company that specializes in developing wellness programs for employers, has created a behavior change system called Journeys. Combining Web and mobile technology along with live interaction, employees can take on a tailor-made wellness habit, like choosing a new attitude or making time for play. Within the "choosing a new attitude" Journey, thoughts about hope, faith, love, and humor can perk up your spirit when you need it most. Individuals then rate the experience and can use channels like email to reinforce the behavior on a daily basis.
"Patterns of behavior only change if I make it simple enough to do it," says Eric Zimmerman, chief marketing officer for RedBrick Health. So the next time a series of irate customers or a reduction in hours puts a damper on your mood, try Journey's "new attitude" technique to alleviate whatever stress you may be feeling at the moment.
3. Take advantage of what employers offer. The dream of your employer taking away on-call shifts or providing every work hour you need is, well, just a dream.
Still, some employers offer programs that can help with shorter-term issues, like in-the-moment anxiety, and longer-term ones that address financial or familial struggles. "Being healthy is great ... but you have to teach people coping mechanisms," says Chaifetz, explaining that employees facing longer-term struggles need more sustained care.
[Read: 7 Reasons to Take Advantage of Employee Healthcare Benefits.]
Partnering with thousands of employers nationwide, ComPsych offers employees services including counseling, wellness programs, and work-life services. It also offers the FinancialConnect program, in which employees can meet with in-house certified public accountants and certified financial planners to discuss topics ranging from personal debt to budgeting.
The aim of such programs is to limit off-the-job distractions that may effect an employee's work performance. "They remain more productive and have better performance on the job," adds Chaifetz, noting the benefits these services can have on employee performance.
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