Being mindful of, and for many, finding ways to improve our wellbeing seems to be the hot topic for the workplace at the moment – but what does it actually mean and why is it so important?
To answer that best, we have to acknowledge that wellbeing is subjective. It will be different for everyone and is based entirely on our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and body. Past experiences, our attitudes, our outlook, and our choices all impact our sense of wellbeing. However we define or pigeonhole it, wellbeing is fundamental to our health and overall happiness and organisations play a key role in that when looking at their own employee’s wellbeing.
Enhancing your wellbeing isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it. The basics can start with simple tweaks to our lifestyle such as eating a healthy balanced diet, getting enough sleep and exercise, and creating healthy habits to look after ourselves more.
But it’s not just a personal project, your employer can help too and those who commit to a variety of initiatives to improve and embrace wellbeing to have healthier and happier employees. There’s lots of information on what employers can do out there, but the most popular are:
- Provide an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – this would provide private and confidential advice, information and signposting to those in need.
- Introduce wellbeing focused benefits – discounted gym membership, healthcare or screening and cycle to work schemes work really well.
- Use tech – there are lots of apps, on-line networking groups and websites out there that provide wellbeing services, could you link up with companies like ‘Headspace’ or ‘Mind’ to help?
- Look at what’s out there in terms of training and development and how it helps to link positive wellbeing to increased performance.
- Upskill your leaders in everything wellbeing.
- Arrange get-togethers – taking people away from their desks and providing time to focus on anything but the day job can have massive benefits.
- Encourage breaks and early finishes when things are quite – this works particularly well in spring and summer.
- Create positive and healthy relationships, particularly between managers and their teams.
- Tweak routine and patterns to help your employees – promoting a flexible and inclusive approach can work wonders.
Here at Futureproof, we know how important this topic is and will continue to be and have the knowledge and experience to help companies promote a healthy workplace. Click on the link (Personal Development & Well-being), give us a call or email us at info@futureproof-training.co.uk to learn more.
