Read this and you’ll thank a colleague every single day

Thank a colleague for what they do. It improves the physical and mental condition of both that colleague and you yourself. That’s the evidence from a recent study by Portland State University and Clemson State University.

The study explained

The university staff ran a study of 146 nurses practicing in Oregon, USA. Nurses in the USA are subject to burnout at an especially high rate.

That’s due to the physical and emotional stress of their work. The stress is why they were perfect for the study.

Over three months, the nurses completed surveys about their experience inside and outside work. There was a notable correlation between nurses being offered gratitude at work and uptick of mental health.

How “thank you” boosts health

Thanking colleagues affects both their mental and physical health. The two are inextricably linked, and inform each other.

Alleviation of mental stress from being thanked is the catalyst for other health benefits.

Mental health

Improving a co-worker’s mental health is a noticeable result of taking the time to thank a colleague.

They’ll feel appreciated, and they know their work is appreciated. They enjoy a positive afterglow they’ll carry into the hours and days after hearing your thanks.

Feeling gratitude increases overall job satisfaction. And it lowers the stress employees feel while going about their work.

That lower stress makes it easier to handle difficult situations in the workplace. the result is a more overall more positive work experience.

Giving gratitude, in turn, makes us feel good. Contributing to a positive feedback mechanism gives us a sense of wellbeing of our own.

Physical health

The physical health aspect comes down to two areas – lower stress and better self-care. Both have a strong link to the mental health benefits of hearing gratitude.

On a direct level, people who feel less stress from work get sick less often, and they enjoy better sleep. But there’s also a knock-on effect; less stress leads to employees exercising more self-care.

By lowering overall stress levels and making staff feel better, the nurses in the university study showed a greater level of self-care.

When hearing gratitude, the nurses in the study were more likely to make positive lifestyle choices. In turn, that fed back into their physical health.

Time to take action

Get out there and thank a colleague doing something worthwhile. When you see someone doing well, let them know.

Not just behaviour that benefits you and your work directly. Include performance that benefits the whole workplace.

Ethical behaviour, exemplary service, improvements in their performance, or even small but worthwhile gestures for other staff.

Or, if you’re in management, encourage and facilitate your employees showing gratitude for each other. Put systems and schemes in place that make it simple for your staff to express gratitude.

Good for you, good for your business

Thank a colleague today. It’s good for you. It’s good for your co-workers. And if you’re an employer, that’s good news for more than just your conscience.

Long term, having a more mentally and physically healthy workforce is good for business. Lower stress and healthier lifestyle choices reduce the amount of working days lost to sickness.

Mentally healthy employees, with lower levels of unhealthy stress, are more likely to be productive and stay in your company for longer.