This essay was published on Finews.com. Please find the links to the language versions and the English text below.
The stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace is fading slowly, giving way to a new focus on «mental fitness». By treating psychological well-being as an active, ongoing practice – just like physical fitness – companies can unlock greater resilience, sharper focus, and improved performance, Patricia Ordody writes in her essay for finews.com.
In the corporate world, many roll their eyes when hearing the term «mental health» – perhaps because it is not deemed relevant in the context of our professional being or more likely, because it carries a stigma we would rather avoid.
Nevertheless, today, when personal and professional lives are more intertwined than ever before, and we spend more time with co-workers than loved ones, we need a new way to think and talk about our mental well-being, not as something separate but as an inherent part of our health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health is «a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.»
That's quite a tall order – the definition covers many elements within us as well as expectations from outside in. Furthermore, the WHO defines health as «a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing», yet the latter two parts of this short definition are generally ignored or smothered with taboos.
When we talk about physical wellness, the average person does not categorize themselves as either healthy or sick, unless an illness, virus, or infection is present. We speak of physical fitness, acknowledging that we have good training days and bad ones, recognizing that our strength and endurance fluctuate because of many variables, and accepting that maintaining our physical condition requires ongoing effort.
So why do we treat our psychological well-being as an absolute state? You are either mentally healthy or you are not – in many environments, particularly corporate settings, admitting to anything less than perfect mental health still carries a stigma.
Just as we have good and bad days at the gym, our mental state naturally fluctuates. Some days we are sharp, focused, and resilient; other days we struggle to concentrate and cope with stress, family, or other personal, social, physical, geopolitical, and economic challenges, news, and influences. This is not a sign of weakness or illness – it is simply part of being human.
Trouble comes when we have consecutively bad or worsening days or when we hide the fact that we feel burdened, anxious, sad, or exhausted over a longer period and suffer in silence. Our mental state impacts how we think, feel, act, and decide and thus affects us and those around us far more than our physical well-being.
Mental fitness, like physical fitness, is something we can actively develop and maintain. As nothing in life is free, it requires regular practice, a conscious effort, the right tools, and sometimes professional support.
Neuroscience research increasingly supports the concept of neuroplasticity, our brain's ability to change and adapt throughout our lives. «The brain is like a muscle; the more we exercise it, the stronger it becomes,» explains Dr. Michael Merzenich, a pioneer in brain plasticity.
He adds that brain function can be boosted by learning new things, good nutrition, exercise, and loving relationships, amongst other factors: «When your brain works right, you work right.»
Furthermore, Dr. Bruce Lipton, renowned cell biologist and author, has transformed our understanding of the mind-body connection and the role of consciousness in health and wellbeing with his groundbreaking research in epigenetics: «Your DNA is not your destiny. Your beliefs and perceptions can override your genes.» That is the exact reason why mind over matter is key.
One of the most powerful insights from modern psychology is understanding emotions as «energy in motion». On average, we have over 6,000 thoughts per day, and each one triggers an emotional response that drives our thoughts, and consequent feelings and thereby influences our behavior.
This creates what psychologists call the cognitive triangle, the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and actions. The key insight here is that by catching the initial emotional trigger, we can intervene in this cycle for a more positive result. Why are we not investing more time in addressing the source of the issue – emotions, thoughts, and feelings – and investing billions in fixing the resulting symptoms of burnout, depression, absenteeism, sleeplessness, and anxiety?
The shift from «mental health» to «mental fitness» is not just semantic – it's a fundamental change in workplace culture in which fluctuations, challenges, and the development of mental well-being must be normalized. This is not merely about preventing burnout and managing stress – it's about recognizing that our psychological well-being directly impacts team dynamics, decision-making, and ultimately organizational success.
Companies must move beyond superficial wellness initiatives to foster environments where discussing mental fitness is as natural as scheduling a gym session. The future of work demands leaders who understand that peak performance stems from both physical and mental fitness – and that journey begins with changing how we talk about it today.
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