Hi all!
My last post was over a year ago and it's amazing how much can happen in a year. My blog posts have become less frequent as the years go by. This blog post is inspired by the life experiences I have had. Sometimes with life experiences you feel like where does it end. Have I not experienced enough. I guess though if I hadn't been through what I have been through my blog wouldn't be the same and my writing wouldn't be the same. We all have a story to tell.
This post has multiple meanings. Let's talk about feeling appreciated. Have you ever heard this phrase:
A lot of people refer to the above quote when talking about the work place. I see it shared across multiple platforms. It is true and it holds value. If you feel appreciated in your work there may be times you will go above and beyond. We spend most of our lives at work and working somewhere that shows you that you are valued has a very positive impact on your life and on your mental health. Working somewhere where you can contribute and where you feel people appreciate you whether that's customers, clients or your colleagues give you a boost. I understand not every job is built this way. Some jobs are dealing with difficult situations. Although I have seen if the appreciation comes from the managers and those above, no matter how difficult the work environment is, people feel more able to do more and more positive towards the work place if they feel appreciated.
I have had supportive managers who have been amazing and I have also had the opposite end and struggles in the work place where you don't feel valued. I have seen the difference that a supportive manager can make. I have seen how companies and people thrive because they work in a place where they not only contribute but they get something back too. It's not about telling your employees they are valued, it's about showing them how. Whether that's pay rises, overtime bonuses, helping with their hours and giving them benefits, acting on their suggestions. Let's see what employees value and no it's not a pizza party or a paid workplace Christmas meal. They value their time out of work, they value a good income and bonuses, they value feeling like they are making a difference. People that feel appreciated will always do more. Pay attention to the bold points they are key.
Time out of work is your rota management. There are many times employees are called in when they don't want to be or having to stay when they don't want to. Let's face it, everyone needs that break away from work. We don't work for works sake, we work to build a life we want and also to help pay for what we need. Burning people out is not going to make them feel appreciated. Not offering them any pay rises or benefits is not going to make them feel appreciated.
While work places need to run, they also need to function and you have to remember as much as there are standards your employees are not machines they are people and every person functions differently. I think with the lack of appreciation in the work place the human aspect gets lost and people get looked at as someone to complete a job rather than a person. Appreciation is important in the work place because if leaders appreciated people more and showed it, it would help a lot of work places that are failing and turn them around so they would thrive. You may be the leader but you are not a leader without the support of your people and you are not a leader without supporting your people.
While the first part of this blog has been appreciation in the work place as you can tell I am passionate about it, let's talk about appreciation in relationships. Whether that may be friendships, family or romantic relationships or just in general with others in public. I think already that makes you think if you feel appreciated it gives you a boost. It makes you feel that people value you and care about you. Already I hope you are seeing the pattern. You are probably thinking back to times you didn't feel appreciated by those you know and times where you have.
You may be in a situation where you do feel appreciated whether that's by your partner, friends, family or anyone you know or meet. You may be also be in a situation now where you don't feel appreciated. The lack of appreciation is massive and sometimes it filters down and starts to affect your mental health more than you know whether it's lack of appreciation at work or in your personal life. So why did I write this blog post.
I have experienced and am experiencing all kinds of scenarios good and bad. I am not going to elaborate specifically on my life as that's not why I wrote this. I wrote this blog post to get the message across that appreciation in life is important and has an impact on you. It is also important to show appreciation to others. Again pay attention to the bold.
I am sure that this topic itself has brought back memories for you of different times in your life where you either received appreciation or a lack of appreciation. The lack of appreciation has a bit of a knock on effect. That is where employees leave jobs, friendships fail and relationships fail and can impact your mental health. We were not built to be machines. We all function differently but we all appreciate appreciation wherever it comes from.
You know what else I have appreciated sometimes it's the life lessons I have had. I have not appreciated them being given to me but I have appreciated what they have shown me. Appreciation is also appreciating the things around you and what you have in this moment because tomorrow is not promised and you never know tomorrow you could lose it all.
Can you see why appreciation is important?
I hope that you are experiencing appreciation in your life somewhere because it does impact your mental health. I hope that by reading this it helps you understand the value of appreciation. It important to have people that appreciate you and equally to show appreciation to those around us. If you don't have it maybe something needs to change.
With that I shall love and leave you,
Until I write again (will try to make it sooner than over a year apart this time)
Nicola Hill
