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It’s the season of fresh starts, half-hearted resolutions, and the annual ritual of pretending we care about mental health. This year, HR has decided it’s time for construction workers to step up and start prioritizing their well-being. But not everyone is on board.
Enter Kime Naggit, a local goat yoga enthusiast and self-proclaimed “mindset warrior,” who has her own take on mental health in the workplace. “Stress isn’t real,” Kime said while balancing a baby goat named Sprinkles on her back. “You know what’s real? Tightening bolts properly so no one dies.” Inspirational.
For those working 14-hour shifts in steel-toed boots, mental wellness probably feels as far away as the last time OSHA inspected the site. But HR insists it’s time to think about your mind. And no, they don’t mean wondering if your foreman hates you (he does).
Here’s what HR wants you to know—and why ignoring it might just lead to your next existential crisis during coffee break.
Mental Health in Construction
1. TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS—Even If You’d Rather Eat Rebar
We know. Construction workers aren’t exactly known for their emotional vulnerability. If the idea of sharing your stress makes you want to fake a call from the supplier, you’re not alone.
But according to HR, talking about your feelings is as important as wearing your hard hat—except you can’t just duct tape your emotions and call it a day.
What You Can Do:
Toolbox Talks: Swap one of those endless safety briefings for a mental health check-in. Think of it as airing grievances before someone’s nail gun mysteriously jams.
Resources: HR loves handing out pamphlets on mental health resources. Read them. Or at least use them to prop up that wonky breakroom table.
Lead by Example: If your boss can admit they cry during Hallmark movies, maybe you can admit that the job’s been getting to you.
Kime’s counterpoint? “Feelings are for people who can’t deadlift goats. Man up.”
2. WORK-LIFE BALANCE—Because 80-Hour Weeks Aren’t a Personality Trait
If you’re clocking in so much overtime that your shadow thinks you’re a stranger, it might be time to reconsider. Sure, the pay is great, but so is having a shred of sanity left by the weekend.
What HR Suggests:
Reasonable Schedules: Maybe don’t pour concrete at 2 a.m. unless you’re pouring it into your foreman’s coffee mug.
Take Time Off: Vacation days exist. Use them. Even if Gary calls you “soft” for taking a Tuesday off to fish.
Flexibility: There’s no law requiring a 5 a.m. start time. Sleep in, just once, and see if the world collapses. Spoiler: It won’t.
But Kime? She’s got a different view. “Burnout is just weakness leaving the body,” she says, sprinkling lavender essential oil on a mat. “You’ll be fine.”
3. LEARN TO SPOT CRACKED SOULS, NOT JUST FOUNDATIONS
You know how to spot a busted beam or a crooked wall, but can you tell when your coworker is one Monster energy drink away from losing it?
HR Recommends:
Training Programs: Teach foremen how to recognize anxiety and depression—or when someone’s about to throw a wrench at the forklift.
Peer Support Networks: Create a space where workers can actually help each other—beyond just holding the ladder.
Kime’s advice? “Stress builds character. And goat yoga builds abs.”
4. ACCESS TO PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT—Therapists Are Real, Kime
Therapy isn’t just for “soft” people (or so HR keeps saying). It’s for anyone who’s ever screamed at an inanimate object.
What’s Available:
EAP Services: Your Employee Assistance Program isn’t just a corporate myth. Use it.
Telehealth Options: Because no one wants to waste PTO to cry on a stranger’s couch. Now you can cry on your own couch.
Still, Kime remains skeptical. “Therapists are just people who couldn’t handle goat yoga. Get a grip.”
5. STOP MAKING WORKPLACES TOXIC—Unless You’re Literally Working at a Toxic Waste Site
Even the toughest crew can’t function in a jobsite that feels like the Hunger Games.
HR’s Plan:
Recognize Achievements: Maybe a simple “Good job” before barking out the next task? Revolutionary.
Respectful Culture: Stop harassment before it starts. And definitely stop bringing tuna sandwiches to the microwave.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Mental Health in Construction: Here’s the truth: ignoring mental health doesn’t make you strong—it just makes you a ticking time bomb. Workers who prioritize wellness are safer, more productive, and less likely to shout obscenities at a clogged cement mixer.
Even Kime has a tiny soft spot. “If all else fails, come to goat yoga,” she says with a shrug. “You’ll cry, but at least it’ll be in the presence of adorable goats.”
Whether it’s toolbox talks, better schedules, or just a break from Kime’s unsolicited advice, take care of your brain this year. Because even the hardest workers need a mental reset—and if Kime’s goats can chill, so can you.
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