Not to jump on the ‘New Year, New Me’ bandwagon, but we think that 2025 should really be about prioritising health and we’re here to help…
At UKIM Occupational Health & Wellbeing, we understand that everyone has different health concerns and the state of people’s health and healthcare services in the UK are negatively impacting various areas of life.
Why should employers invest in occupational health?
Because poor health and mental wellbeing means that more people in the UK will be absent from work on long-term sick, damaging the UK’s economy even further, damaging businesses and organisations financially and operationally, making it harder for the NHS to cope, and ultimately, those who are unwell will be suffering, and for longer than they should be.
That’s why we offer bespoke occupational health packages to support mental and physical wellbeing in all sectors. Whether you’re an SME looking for pay-as-you-go solutions or a larger company looking to implement ongoing health and wellbeing strategies, UKIM Occupational Health & Wellbeing have you covered.
Both physical health and mental health are incredibly important, and in many ways, they are often linked together. Therefore, it’s crucial that we look after ourselves and really, workplaces should be supporting employees in their overall wellbeing too.
Health can sometimes be pushed down on people’s lists but in order to live a full, healthy life, where you can go about your day to day and be the best that you can be, it’s imperative that people look after their health and listen to their bodies. As for employers, make sure to listen to employees and their health concerns- it has a bigger impact on you than you think!
How to look after your mental health…
Taking care of our mental health can be as simple as spending time in nature, taking a walk, reading a book, watching a movie, meditation, or counselling etc. The list could really go on and to be completely honest, it’s all up to you! What works for one person, might not work for another and that’s absolutely fine. For instance, someone might enjoy watching movies, whereas someone else might prefer reading or listening to music. Ultimately, self-care is what people should focus on and it’s all about doing what you enjoy or find relaxing and soothing.
If you want something a little more than at-home remedies, counselling or a form of talking therapy through occupational health might be useful, whether this is face-to-face or via an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) over the phone. Talking about things you’re stressed or concerned about (it can be about a specific problem or general mental wellbeing), is something that can be incredibly beneficial as it allows you to figure out what’s going on and what the next steps to improving your wellbeing might be. How much you engage in talking therapies can vary depending on what suits you and if you try it but don’t like it, then that’s fine too.
How to look after your physical health…
First things first, living a healthy lifestyle can really make such a difference to your physical health. Simple things like daily exercise and eating a balanced diet can reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, reduce chances of diabetes or place it into remission, and help with weight management. When it comes to health, one thing can lead to another, having a further negative impact and you might not realise how little and simple things can affect you. Making lifestyle changes can also help with mobility, muscle health and in terms of work, it can reduce your chances of developing musculoskeletal (MSK) issues.
Workplaces, with the help of occupational health, can implement health and wellbeing strategies to ensure staff take breaks and have regular movement at work. With occupational health, MSK issues can be addressed, and workplace accommodations can be recommended and implemented. This reduces absences at work, improves productivity, and gives organisations better return on investment (ROI).
