Workplace Wellness Whisperer – (Nov 12)
Hello Workplace Wellness Seeker,
Happy Saturday! I had an amazing podcast interview with Jennifer Stevenson who
has more than 13 years of experience delivering a variety of yoga, meditation, self-
development and leadership training programs internationally with the Art of Living
Foundation. Check out my post on the 5 Essentials for Self-Development on
my Instagram or Facebook.
Did you know that increasing gratitude at work improves employee mental health,
fosters relationships between colleagues, and creates a positive work culture?
đGratitude Practiceđ
What is one thing a colleague has done for you recently that you’re grateful for?
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How Are You Responding to The Growing Importance Of Employee Wellness? Globally, employees face challenges in meeting targets and deadlines and self- development on their professional front and relationship struggles, work-life balance, family and health issues on the personal front. As an add-on, the uncertainty and emotional trauma induced by the covid-19 pandemic have taken a toll on the mental wellness of employees.
With a drastic shift in the workplace environment and the fading demarcation that has almost merged home and workplace together, undoubtedly, there is mounting stress, fear, and anxiety in employeesâ lives. Several employees across organizations are battling a spectrum of mental health issues. Thanks to the taboo around mental health, often, these are ignored. At this juncture, it becomes an organizationâs responsibility to provide the much-needed and stable assistance for an employeesâ emotional wellbeing.
My Workplace Wellness Calendar can guide you with some ideas for implementing your wellness strategy.
Well-being is the number one issue that companies need to address in order to thrive. Employees who arenât happy may want to work less, see fewer reasons to be loyal to the company and no longer see a salary as a valuable return, if the sacrifice is their mental health. Employees donât want grand gestures; they want trust until there is a reason to question it. They want flexibility so that if they have a childcare issue, they can pick up the phone and let management know without fear of judgment. And they want, basically, to work under the proviso that they are human and sometimes life happens, and itâs okay for that to take priority sometimes. Many HR and employee experience professionals are putting championing wellness in the workplace as a strategic priority for 2023.
I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel for amazing practical daily workplace wellness tips that can help in your wellness program.
Hereâs a summary of this weekâs 5 tips that can help you personally and professionally.
Read, Listen and Share!
Tip #1 – 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 itâs 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. Get my step-by-step guide to starting your day right and learn how to drop stubborn weight from the trouble areas that are resistant to diet and exercise!
Download my FREE morning routine here and learn how to: Increase Energy, Improve Sleep and Decrease Mood Swings.
Tip #2 – 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.
I invite you to listen to the Self-Care Goddess Podcast Episode #4 titled â12 Essential Nutrients & Foods For Boosting Your Mental Healthâ.
Tip #3. Myth: Fasting is like reducing your calories!
Fasting is like reducing your calories? Wrong! You may have heard about calorie restriction and fasting diets and wondered why they’re getting so much attention in the news. Aren’t they just another way of dieting to lose weight? No, they’re not. Calorie restriction means reducing average daily caloric intake below what is typical or habitual, without malnutrition or deprivation of essential nutrients. But let me be clear here, Calorie reduction does not give you the same benefits as fasting, especially the hormonal changes. During fasting, unlike caloric reduction, your metabolism stabilizes or even goes up to maintain normal energy levels. Hormones like adrenaline and growth hormone increase to maintain energy and muscle mass. Blood sugar and insulin levels go down as the body changes from burning sugar to burning FAT! You may be tempted to try one of these eating patterns. It’s important to make sure that whatever you try provides you with a safe level of nutrition. If youâre ready to begin your fasting journey, contact me and I can guide you on the benefits and risks before making any significant changes to your eating patterns. Contact me for more strategies on how to begin a fasting lifestyle.
Check out my amazing âChili Sin Carneâ recipe.
Tip #4. HeartMath Freeze Frame Technique for Decision Making
Are you stuck with a decision and don’t know what to do? Here’s a really interesting technique that works, every time. It is my honor to lead you through a freeze frame technique from the HeartMath Institute. The freeze frame technique is a multi purpose technique that can be used in the moment for gaining clarity and stopping energy drains. It also helps balance your mind and emotions so you can think more creatively and make better choices. This technique helps you gain a clear and balanced perspective. By accessing your intuitive intelligence. Clear clarity or insight may not come right away. This could have a lot to do with the complexity of the issue, past history and the intensity of any emotion that may or may not be related to the issue or situation. That’s okay. Be patient with yourself. Repeat the process later or the next day, it will begin to feel more natural with practice. Often solutions are inspired through communication or input from others. Be sure also to notice any subtle shift in the way you feel shifting from feeling anxious but an issue to feeling calm significant. You’re not only plugged that energy, but you also shifted your feeling experience and opened the door for a solution to emerge at another time. This technique is designed to use regardless of whether or not stress is present by bringing heart qualities to the forefront can help with mental clarity, decision making and creativity.
Tip #5. Do Yoga for Brain Health
Have you given a Yoga class a try? Yoga with its emphasis on breathing practices and meditaÂtion brings mental benefits, such as reduced anxiety and depression. What may be more surprising is that it actually makes your brain work better. When you lift weights, your muscles get stronger and bigger. When you do yoga, your brain cells develop new connections, and changes occur in your brain strucÂture as well as function, resulting in improved cogÂnitive skills, such as learning and memory. Yoga strengthens parts of the brain that plays a key role in memory, attention, awareness, thought, and language. Think of it as weightlifting for the brain. The easiest way to begin your Yoga journey is with sun salutations. It is preferred that you face the sun as you work, and expressing your gratitude to the higher power of the Sun, the life source of the Earth.
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.
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