The COVID-19 pandemic has had a lot of long-lasting effects on our lives and society at large, including in the workplace. And strange as it may sound, not all of them were bad. One silver lining of the pandemic is that it cast a new light on the importance of mental health in the workplace. Today, companies who are acknowledging the importance of mental health to employees are succeeding – and those that aren’t are falling behind.  

Why the renewed focus on mental health? 

When the pandemic hit, it cast a shadow of uncertainty over the world. At the same time, many employees who used to work on-site suddenly started working from home for the foreseeable future, many of whom are still doing so. And all of that uncertainty and isolation made for a poor mental health environment – many workers were more stressed, burnt-out, and mentally unhealthy than ever before.  

How have employers responded? 

Companies and employers who take their employees’ mental health seriously have responded in a variety of ways as the pandemic shifted a new focus onto this area of our lives. Some companies gave employees extra mental health “recharge” days, started encouraging regular breaks throughout the day, or even provided financial stipends to help families cope during difficult times. Other companies provided training to management so that leaders could help their team members cope, or started hosting virtual meditation sessions or happy hours to help employees feel connected and supported. 

How can becoming an entrepreneur help? 

The pandemic also demonstrated for many people how important and rewarding it can be to take charge of your career by being your own boss. Becoming an entrepreneur is one of the best ways to do that. It means you can make your own hours, working when it’s best for you – that means better work/life balance and an even higher level of job satisfaction. 

Take Charge of Your Career – And Your Mental Health

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