Workplace Wellness Whisperer – Weekly Tips Summary (Dec 27)
Hello Wellness Seeker,
Are you aware that according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
- 59{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of employees get inadequate exercise
- 50{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} or more have high cholesterol levels
- 27{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} are at the risk of cardiovascular disease
- 24{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} have high blood pressure
I assure you that 70{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60}-90{1e16acf445973e61fdbd53de1c132af7e84fd195cf15d57956db2b0426c8fa60} of these health risks are preventable and reversable. A healthy workforce is a more productive workforce. The essence of wellness programs is to encourage individuals to take preventive measures to avert the onset or worsening of an illness and to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
I’m delighted to be sharing with you a summary of this week’s workplace wellness tips videos on my YouTube channel here and remember to hit the SUBSCRIBE button, so you don’t miss any videos.
A strategic focus on wellness could be the antidote to optimum productivity at the workplace.
Here are 5 curated wellness tips for the workplace to help you optimize performance.
Tip #1– How to stop reacting & start responding to STRESS?
Did you know that we often confuse our stressors with our stress response? Although we are not in control of our stressors like our boss, jobs, partners and even kids, but we are in complete control on how we respond to these stressors.
1. Before reacting PAUSE and allow your initial reaction to pass.
2. TUNE into your emotions.
3. ASK for divine guidance.
4. Find a healthy outlet like movement.
5. See the Bigger Picture – will this matter in 1yr, 5yrs or 10 years from now.
6. Recognize and forgive your emotional triggers.
Are you willing to try these simple steps?
Share this with someone you know that easily stresses over things.
Tip #2- Get Your Body Moving With Chair Yoga
How are you moving your body throughout the workday?
It’s important to take physical and mental breaks throughout your workday. Even though I don’t recommend it sometimes, it’s difficult to leave the office and go for a walk. So the next best thing is chair yoga. Try these simple and quick exercises that I have demonstrated for you in my Youtube video, do about 20 repetitions 3-5 times throughout your work day.
Hot Tip: Gather a few work colleagues and use a meeting room and do these together – for moral support and make it more fun!
Tip #3- Pay Attention to Your Inner Voice and Self-Talk
Worrying is like a rocking chair – it give you something to do but it doesn’t get you anywhere.
We all underestimate the power of our self-talk that inner voice usually over exaggerating making things worse than they really are because our amygdala – which is a part of our limbic brain – love to deal with fear.
I recently experienced this, I was going to turn down an awesome opportunity for fear of failing and luckily I surround myself with pretty awesome people that encouraged me to take the opportunity because hey what’s the worst that can happen. Believe or not this changed my perspective and now when I hear that inner voice – I tell it to bugger off!
So next time you’re faced with tough circumstances just pay attention to what you tell yourself and remind yourself that often times things are not as bad as they seem.
Do you pay attention to your inner voice on a regular basis?
Tip #4 – Mindfulness Gratitude Meditation for Mental Health | Feeling Thankfulness & Appreciation
This gratitude meditation is a daily practice to learn how to take things with gratitude. Whether it’s the little day-to-day things or the most important people in our lives, appreciating them helps us shift our perspective from a place of lack to one of abundance.
Research studies show that a daily gratitude practice helps with depression, building personal resilience and improving mental health by literally rewiring our brain to be happier.
In the wise words of author G.K. Chesterton, “When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.”
Let’s practice how to develop an attitude of gratitude.
Tip #5 – Take a (1min) Time Out: Connect with Your Breath & Gratitude
In my Youtube video I take you through a quick coherence technique. It can be done any time to check in and relax.
I love to do it before it client meeting or a client call and it’s an amazing way to connect with your heart and your mind.
So start by relaxing your shoulders, keeping your spine straight and deep belly breaths in through the nose, out through the nose and focus your attention in the area of the heart. And as you continue this heart focused breathing you can also lower your gaze or close your eyes if you’re not driving or operating machinery.
I invite you to consider somebody that you’re grateful for today. Send them some love and gratitude for them being in your life.
Get started with your workplace wellness strategy with my Workplace Wellness Calendarhere
P.S. 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.
References:
https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/u-s-department-of-health-and-human-services