Wellness in the Workplace - 2 of 14 Tips

After a recent Divisional Review meeting, we challenged each other to think of ways to more actively introduce wellness (a holistic approach, not just diet and exercise) to our business. I found 14 potential methods, and I’m posting each one on LinkedIn for us (and you) to think about. 

#2 – Mindfulness Training

Immediately you’ve conjured up visions in your mind of people in a darkened room, sat in some elaborate yoga pose while some soundtrack with chanting plays in the background. Well, that’s the furthest from reality that you could have possibly got.

Mindfulness could be the new jogging – research has shown that people are adopting ways of mindfulness and weaving techniques into their daily programme to great effect. In an odd sort of way, most of us have been adopting this method of mental health wellness for years without knowing it. You know those moments where you may have escaped in your book, on a golf course, or listening to music – that effect of having no thoughts, totally removing yourself from everything? – well that’s mindfulness in a roundabout sort of way.

Mental Health – Our mental health is firmly on the agenda, and as much with men as with women. The escalating numbers of people suffering depression and anxiety to whatever extent has forced us into healthy dialogue about our cerebral condition. Campaigns to tackle suicide and self harm are rightly at an all time high, and high profile public figures are more readily sharing their own battles with mental health, which in turn is breaking down the stigma of mental health conditions and the scepticism of reactive and preventative measures to address this.

The mental health charity MIND report that one in four people with suffer some sort of associated condition in the course of a year and one in six people report suffering some degree of anxiety in any given week. The impact on businesses is huge as managers’ battle with how best to help an employee with the issue, while not putting the business at risk and at the same time maintaining outputs and meeting obligations.

Whether the stress has a basis in the workplace or in the home, its in every employers interests to offer proactive support to their workforce in order to prevent episodes occurring, and give them early opportunities to spot emerging issues and remedy them at the earliest opportunity.

So if you are an employer or leader of people, how would you go about incorporating this into your business?

Mindfulness Workshops – Have you ever wondered what’s the best way for the entire business, regardless of corporate level structure, physical ability, age, gender, etc. to do undertake a team building exercise without the awkwardness? Mindfulness Workshops may just be that thing. From the cleaner to the CEO –we are all able to benefit from improved Mental Health and the techniques for practicing mindfulness are same for all of us. There are numerous organisations able to help your business with high-impact, low cost, easy to implement sessions that won’t cause your business to grind to a halt for days on end.

Phone Apps – With a short amount of pre-training, people can be directed to their most-loved accessory, the mobile phone or tablet to develop new mindfulness techniques, implement a mindfulness routine and see the effects of their investment in themselves. The beauty of this particular tool is that it enables people to practice mindfulness at a time which is most convenient for them. Many are free and the ranges of applications are endless, so everyone will find a style or theme that suits them.

Still not convinced? –Transport for London (TfL) recently introduced a Mindfulness programme amongst its highly diverse staff. They reported the following outcomes; Absenteeism caused by stress, anxiety and depression dropped by 71%; 84% of participants say they “are relating to others better”; 82% have increased the amount of exercise they do; 77% have improved their diet or tackled drinking and/or smoking problems; and 54% have improved their sleeping patterns.

If you need further persuasion before announcing your new mindfulness initiative at next months staff conference wearing a kaftan! Try it for yourself and see the results in terms of your ability to concentrate, your improved focus and your general level of happiness.

Take a look through my other LinkedIn posts for the other things I discovered.