Workplace Wellness Whisperer – (Apr 16)
Hello Workplace Wellness Seeker,
Do you know that two-thirds of our workforce is still not fully engaged?
Employee engagement and wellness are finally gaining priority in the business world and are now recognized as an integral part of a business strategy. It is increasingly clear that unhealthy and unengaged employees are a drag on productivity, innovation, and the bottom line.
My workplace wellness consulting practice is founded on the principle that engagement and wellness are inseparable. Healthy employees are happier and show higher rates of job satisfaction. Engaged employees show up to work with a bounce in their step and are less vulnerable to stress, a significant driver of poor health.
Let me share these statistics from Forbes to reiterate my stance on the importance of workplace wellness programs.
- Highly engaged teams show 21{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} greater profitability.
- 89{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of HR leaders agree that ongoing peer feedback and check-ins are key for successful outcomes.
- Employees who feel their voice is heard are 4.6 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work.
- 96{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of employees believe showing empathy is an important way to advance employee retention.
- Disengaged employees cost U.S. companies up to $550 billion a year.
- 61{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of employees are burned out on the job.
- 89{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of workers at companies that support well-being initiatives are more likely to recommend their company as a good place to work.
- 70{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of employers have improved their physical environments to encourage healthy behaviours.
- 61{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of employees agree that they have made healthier lifestyle choices because of their company’s wellness program.
- 87{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of employees expect their employer to support them in balancing work and personal commitments.
I invite you to visit my YouTube channel and subscribe so you don’t miss any of my amazing practical workplace wellness tips.
Here’s a summary of this week’s videos. Read, Listen and Share!
Tip #1. 5 Tools to Help You Reframe A Stressful Situation
There are several ways to manage stress, however, they typically fall within these two types.
Cognitive = Change how we perceive stressors or distract ourselves from stressors via mindfulness techniques. Physical = Activating vagus nerve to enter Parasympathetic Nervous System via breathing exercises or bodywork.
In this video we talk about the cognitive ways. Changing our perception of stressful events is known as ‘reframing’. Here are 5 Tools to help us reframe a stressful situation:
1. Question your thoughts: Are they real? Are they true and accurate?
2. Shift threats into challenges: Does this experience give you an opportunity to grow?
3. Expand time: Will this event matter in a year? 5 years? At the end of your life?
4. Increase your sense of control: You can’t control events, but you can can ask for help, find creative solutions, draw on resources, influence others involved. Focus on what actually do have control of.
5.Recognize that not all stress is harmful: Can you reframe the experience of a rapid heartbeat or butterflies in your belly as excitement? As a thrill and not a threat?
Reframing is a magical tool to practice every day.
Tip #2. Do You Have A Morning Routine?
According to the hotspots of longevity around the world, Purpose is the #2 secret for living a healthy long life.
The Okinawans from Japan call it “Ikigai” and the Nicoyans from Costa Rica call it “Plan De Vida”, for both it translates to “why I wake up in the morning”. In all Blue Zones people have something to live for beyond just work. Research has shown that knowing your sense of purpose is worth up to 7 years of extra life expectancy.
One practical way to help you with your purpose is to establish a morning routine. Yup I know it sounds simple but it’s super powerful.
A morning routine helps us set the tone for the day, better allowing us to control our schedules rather than our schedules controlling us.
As we start each day fresh, we can better focus on what is in front of us, where to prioritize our time, and, ultimately, increase our productivity. I have found that I am most productive as soon as I wake up. So I tend to do all my creative tasks in the morning. After my 60mins of self-care which is usually a mix of Breathwork, Yoga and weight training or spin.
Creating a morning routine for yourself is essential to a successful life. Waking up a little earlier than usual will give you ample time to focus on your goals and conquer the day with more energy, mindfulness and strength.
Listen to the Self-Care Goddess podcast #21 with Fiona Campbell titled “How to focus on what you want using NLP”. In the podcast we explain how reframing can be an effective NLP tool. Listen on the Self-Care Goddess Podcast.
Tip #3. How do you UNPLUG ON VACATION?
When you go on vacation are you going to unplug completely or check messages just once or twice a day?
Establish boundaries before leaving for vacation. No matter what you decide, make sure to communicate those boundaries clearly, even following up with automatic reminders to those who text or email. You should also determine what constitutes an emergency and discuss what colleagues should do when urgent matters arise.
Successful transition back to work is just as important, so spending the first day after a vacation in relative isolation is highly recommended, if possible, of course.
Responding to emails, returning phone calls, and determining a to-do list for the rest of the week can make returning to a normal schedule more pleasant and less dreaded. And make you look forward to your next vacation.
Tip #4. Breath Awareness Meditation
Breath awareness means paying close attention to the breath as you allow it to come and go on its own, you become an observer of the breath.
Practicing breath awareness can be a key factor in learning how to become more self-aware of our emotions. When we are more self-aware of our emotions, we can begin to self-regulate our stress response and truly respond to stress and avoid reacting to it.
The objective of this meditation is to you relax and become aware of your breath. This simple breath awareness meditation is a mindful practice and is a great way to train your focus and concentration. Learning to notice your breath without judgement, just being with the breath.
Get started with your workplace wellness strategy with my Workplace Wellness Calendar here.
Tip #5. What to Eat to Live to 100?
Do you want to live passed 100? Then eat like this.
About 95{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} plant-based and 5{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} animal-based. A typical centenarian plant-based diet from the famous Blue Zones is made up of beans, and legumes including fava, black, kidney, chickpeas and lentils, complex carbs like garden vegetables and ancient grains, and accented with meat. Meat is largely reserved for Sundays and special occasions.
Of course, I always recommend starting with fibre first, so have a salad – the bitter the better – like arugula or spinach to get the enzymes going and prepare your body to digest your food.
Going plant-based can sound like a daunting task if you’re a meat lover, but you can begin with just a few meals a week and ensuring that you always have something GREEN on your plate. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t know where to start and want an accountability partner contact me to help you begin your plant-based journey today.
If you’re ready to leverage your workplace wellness strategy and explore how to optimize individual, team and your company’s performance, book your complimentary Workplace Wellness call here.
Download my FREE morning routine here and learn how to: Increase Energy, Improve Sleep and Decrease Mood Swings.
References: