With the dynamic nature of the society, more and more people in the technology and software development space need to start taking the mental health and wellbeing of both their users and workers into consideration.
This has already started with the inflow of really good mental health and wellness apps into the tech space, as more tools are now available to keep a positive outlook and reduce stress without having to wait for a therapy session. Although the importance of professional help and therapy is not being relegated, it is also important to have a buffer and a self-help tool to help you on your daily endeavors, be it at work, at home or at school.
Mental Health and Wellness in the Workplace
Employers are now being advised to promote great workplace mental health environment to motivate workers. This will, in turn, will lead to great output. It is no wonder that in the TV series Billions, there is an in-house therapist in Axe Capital keeping the workers’ mind in great form to enable them to be at the top of their game as they trade on Wall Street. This is just to show that the importance of mental health and wellness in all aspects of life can never be overemphasized.
While not all companies can afford an in-house therapist, a lot of companies are introducing digital wellness technologies in the workplace.
Digital health and wellbeing tracking devices as they are being called are really just now becoming popular and a new concept in the workplace. By offering these wellness-promoting technology in the workplace, employers motivate their workforce. According to this study, only 9 percent of organizations offer employees the use of wellbeing tech or devices to encourage wellbeing. Although this is a small percentage, it is showing the potential that the trend will grow and possibly become a norm in the distant future.
Millennials, Techies and Wellness as a Concept
A lot of millennials are more involved and interested in their gadgets and tech, if it’s not an app or online then you might as well be speaking in tongues. In fact, most young people view mental health and wellness as just a concept or something associated with wellbeing blogs and Gwyneth Paltrow.
It’s only smart that to promote and encourage great mental health and wellness amongst this generation, it can be done through tech as well. This is the reason that few tech and software development company explore this niche, making it easy for great mental health and wellness apps to be built, working with professionals and coming up with research-backed features that meet mental fitness and health goals thereby increasing user engagement and motivation among young people.
Now, psychological and wellness concepts like mindfulness, positive mindset, compassion, empathy, altruism, etc. are no longer foreign lingos to the tech and young people space — now many Millenials and techies are abreast with wellness programs, incorporating them into their daily life, just like exercising and social media.
The Effect of Technology on our Lives and How to Manage it
According to SimplyHealth in “Three Ways to use Technology to Promote wellbeing”
“Almost half (45 percent) of respondents in the CIPD/Simplyhealth report believe advances in technology have either a slightly positive or very positive effect on employee wellbeing2. Technology’s positive impacts on our working lives – and wellbeing – including being able to work flexibly and, being better connected through faster and easier communication. On the flip side, technology can mean that people find it hard to switch off from work and can feel stress caused by technology failures – both of which negatively impact wellbeing”.
In other words, while technology brings with it positive sides which are good for our wellbeing, it also comes with some negatives that are bad for our wellbeing. This is the nature of life, there is hardly anything that doesn’t have both pros and cons.
Technology is like a thread through fabric, woven into every aspect of our lives including the home, school and every workplace. So, how can you make sure you are using it in a way that is developmental and promotes wellbeing making the pros in this case to outweigh the cons?
Answer?
By creating and or using the techs that do promote these goals – engaging ourselves with those wellness apps that make our lives better and promote healthy living. So now, if you can’t switch off from your tech, it’s a plus because you are doing something that’s further enhancing your life quality.
References –
Thrive Global – https://community.thriveglobal.com/stories/the-benefits-of-wellbeing-technology-in-the-workplace/
Psych Central Reviews – https://psychcentralreviews.com/2016/positive-computing-technology-for-wellbeing-human-potential/
Reba Global – https://reba.global/content/three-ways-to-use-technology-to-promote-wellbeing
Very Well Family – https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-will-future-well-being-be-impacted-by-technology-4176165