CEO, Strauss Zelnick who leads by example. Age, 61.
CEO Health: Why employee wellbeing and morale so often starts with a company’s leadership setting examples of prioritizing physical and mental health in the workplace.
As a C-suite executive, you have a lot on your plate. Aside from long hours and high expectations to meet, you have a major responsibility to set an example and adequately oversee a huge team.
With so much going on in your life, it would be easy to overlook your mental and physical wellbeing. You may be able to push past the warning signs for a time, but eventually, you’ll need to address your health problems and make a few changes.
That’s why you need to prioritize your health now, preventing major health problems before they leave you immobilized. Doing so will also serve as an example for workers and help improve company morale.
Preventing Burnout and Mental Health Problems
The biggest risk to individual workers and leaders is mental health burnout, which can lead to a number of mental wellbeing problems. According to CareerBuilder, 61 percent of employees say they feel burned out in the workplace, and that number includes CEOs.
Furthermore, the same research showed that when a capable, energetic, and supportive CEO was the backbone of the company, 54 percent of professionals said that the morale among the whole office improved.
As a CEO, you have the responsibility of holding up the entire team, and you can’t let burnout creep under your door. It’s important to take care of your mental health now. Here are a few solutions you can try.
Try CBD
You may have heard of CBD before and associated it with marijuana. However, CBD is not a drug. On the contrary, it’s a supplement that can do wonders for your mental health. CBD is a product of the cannabis plant, but it has no psychoactive properties and little or no side effects for the user. That means you can take it at work, and your awareness will go unaffected.
CBD products, such as this top-rated CBD oil offered by Penguin CBD, are hugely beneficial for those suffering from mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and insomnia. These are all symptoms of burnout and workplace stress.
CBD works by inhibiting neurotransmitters in the brain that send stress and anxiety signals. Instead, you’ll feel peace and calm that help you sleep and look at the big picture without anxiety.
Speak with a Therapist
There’s no shame in visiting a therapist regularly to go over your greatest concerns. Speaking with a therapist regularly can be used to treat a mental health issue or as a preventative measure.
There are several types of therapy you can undergo, including interpersonal therapy, talk therapy, family focused therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, art therapy, light therapy, animal therapy—the list goes on! Speak with a professional about what might be most effective for your case to help promote your health and wellness.
Eat Right and Exercise
Many people don’t realize that how you take care of your physical body impacts your mental health. It’s a key proponent of your overall well-being, your mind included.
Research shows that exercise has a direct impact on the brain. It increases oxygen supplies, blood supplies, and nutrients traveling to the brain, helping you to feel the best hormones and to silence the ones that make you feel depressed or anxious. It’s not a cure for mental health disorders, but it can help!
Eating right has a similar effect. When you’re eating a proper balance of fiber (fruits and vegetables), grains, protein, and carbohydrates, your brain receives the fuel it needs to function normally.
According to a recent CNBC report, WholeFood’s founder and CEO, John Mackey only eats only three organic, vegan meals a day, barely drinks water and never snacks — or eats dessert. Having sold his share to Amazon, at the age of 65 the multimillionaire is still turning up to work at the company he once founded.
Preventing Long-Term Physical Health Issues
According to a study from Harvard Health, those who overwork themselves are more likely to die at a young age from heart disease. Their study reported a 13 percent risk increase of having a heart attack and a 33 percent higher chance of having a stroke for those who work more than 55 hours per week compared with those who work 35-40.
These health issues are most likely related to too much stress and a lack of attention to your physical health needs. Failing to exercise and eat right is the biggest contributor to obesity, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
Contracting one of these problems could mean you’re unable to work in your current capacity. You may be forced to resign or retire early. To prevent that problem, try some of these tactics for handling your physical health.
Eat Right and Exercise
Yes, this is on the list twice, but that’s because it has a dual benefit. When you take care of your physical body, it helps both your mental and physical health flourish.
Make it a priority to exercise at least 150 minutes per week, even if it means taking a brisk walk on your lunch break or keeping a treadmill in your office – or wake up early in the morning and get your groove going as these 9 NYC CEO’s religiously do. You might also consider implementing a wellness program within your company to promote greater health and wellbeing among your employees. Consider taking CBD for post-workout recovery as well.
In addition, limit how often you eat out, and when you do, know what’s in the food you order. Brown-bagging your lunches with healthful foods can enormously improve your overall nutrition.
Receive Regular Checkups
Medical professionals recommend getting a medical exam at least once per year, and twice per year for those who are at a higher risk for certain medical problems. Don’t ignore this recommendation—getting checked out regularly could save your life!
Problems like heart disease and cancer often go unnoticed for months or years if you don’t receive an exam. You probably don’t know what to look for with these problems, and you only go in when the symptoms manifest themselves strongly. By then, it’s usually too late.
Encourage health screenings around your office as well. Some corporations even bring a medical professional on-site a couple times per year to offer free medical exams for employees. It’s a great morale booster and an excellent way to handle physical health problems before it’s too late.
Prioritize and Take Time for Yourself
As you learn to set priorities and let less important things wait, you’ll have more time for yourself. This will naturally reduce stress and increase the time you have to cook healthy meals and exercise.
This may require a habit of saying no on occasion. You’ll have to delegate and avoid taking on tasks that will prevent you from having the time to exercise, eat right, and care for your mental and physical health.
By implementing these things, you as a leader of your workforce can set a powerful example that encourages wellness and positivity among your entire workplace.
