Workplace wellbeing is vital for any organisation that wants to thrive. When employees feel positively about their work environment and are supported in their physical and mental health, they are more engaged, productive and loyal. As a manager, you play a key role in cultivating workplace wellbeing and it should be a top priority. Here are some of the main reasons why taking action to improve wellbeing will benefit your team and organisation. Improved Employee Health Unhealthy, high-stress work environments can negatively impact employees’ physical and mental health over time. This can lead to increased absenteeism as well as presenteeism, where employees come to work but are not fully productive due to health issues. By making wellbeing a priority and implementing initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles, nutrition, exercise and work-life balance, you can dramatically improve your team’s health. Employees who feel cared for in this way will be more motivated and energised at work. Increased Engagement and Productivity When employees are mentally and physically well, they will be more engaged with their work. Wellbeing initiatives show workers that they are valued, which increases loyalty and motivation. Things like wellness challenges, mental health support and stress management assistance also provide workers with tools to cope better at work, making them more productive. A Gallup study found that teams with high wellbeing are 21% more productive than those with poor wellbeing. Investing in wellbeing boosts your bottom line. Lower Absenteeism and Turnover Unwell or unhappy employees are more likely to take time off work or leave their jobs altogether. Absenteeism and turnover cost UK companies billions each year in lost productivity and recruitment/training expenses. By making workplace wellbeing central to your management strategy, you can substantially reduce absenteeism caused by preventable health conditions. You’ll also boost retention rates by showing employees you care about their welfare. This saves you substantial amounts of time, money and disruption. Improved Company Culture and Reputation Focusing on wellbeing helps create an engaged, collaborative and supportive company culture. Things like wellness activities, mental health days and health insurance build camaraderie between employees and make them feel cared for. Word spreads, making your company more attractive to top talent. Prioritising wellbeing can also boost your external reputation with customers and stakeholders who want to associate with socially responsible businesses. This gives you a competitive edge. Taking Action on Workplace Wellbeing Improving workplace wellbeing requires an active, ongoing commitment from managers. Here are some steps you can take: Survey employees regularly on wellbeing needs Provide education/training on health, stress management and work-life balance Offer counselling, EAPs and mental health support Encourage physical activity through discounts and workplace facilities Monitor workloads and adjust to prevent burnout Support healthy nutrition and sleep habits Foster social connections between employees Lead by example when it comes to wellbeing practices Work with a workplace happiness expert like The Happy Business School for more advice. Making employee health and wellbeing a true priority takes effort but pays off enormously. A thriving, supportive and positive work environment is critical for attracting talent, driving productivity and living up to your duty of care as an employer. By taking purposeful action as a manager, you can make a real...

There has been much focus on mental health issues in recent years. Long working hours, family stresses, bad health, and the current global pandemic have taken their toll on even the most optimistic individuals. So, what can be done to ensure safeguarding mental health as a priority? Healthy Eating Eating a well-balanced and nutritious diet is vital for physical and mental wellness. If you only eat junk food, the body will struggle to perform all the processes needed for healthy function. The brain relies upon vitamins and minerals for optimum performance. It’s essential to eat regularly so as not to allow your blood sugar levels to drop. Slow-release foods such as oats and bananas will help stabilize mood and prevent dips in energy. It’s good practice to try to eat your ‘5 a day’ as recommended. Fruit and vegetables will provide vital nutrients and help protect your digestive system as well as the brain. Omega 3 fatty acids are a great way to regenerate nerve cells in the brain and are known for helping prevent age-related brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Exercise Physical activity has long been known for its ‘feel good’ properties. When you exercise, your body pumps more oxygen to the brain and stimulates the growth of new cells. Increasing the body’s activity will act as a mild antidepressant and improve memory and learning. You don’t have to be pumping iron each day for hours at the gym. Small changes such as walking every day or playing sports you enjoy will provide a plethora of benefits. Keeping Busy If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that humans need structure in their lives. Along with daily routines and working life, it is essential to have things to look forward to and time with friends. Staying busy helps the mind from dwelling on spiraling negative thought patterns. If you have missed your busy schedule and not socializing has affected your mental health, why not plan a party or event to make up for a lost time? It will give you something to focus your mind on and something to look forward to. Research some local venues and start asking your friends about availability. Compile a list of all your guests and get an idea of the numbers. If you make it a ticketed event, it will keep costs down and allow you to make it a little extra special. If you decide to outsource the catering, you could use Event Bartenders to attend the function and provide the first-class service throughout the evening. You can then relax and enjoy the party and make special memories to mark the end of restrictions. Relaxing As well as keeping busy, it’s essential to find time to relax. Meditation and mindfulness have become popular in recent years, and they are a great way to de-stress after a busy day. Integrating meditation into daily life will help you control stress levels and not allow worries to overwhelm you. There are various apps available with guidance on how to get started. Meditation takes some practice but is well worth it for the benefits it offers. Looking after your mental health is crucial to prevent further problems and remain happy in everyday...

When running a business, you might think the most important thing is the number at the bottom of the profit and loss sheet at the end of every financial year. Whilst it’s important to work on making that number as high as possible, it’s more important to protect those assets that help you earn money. Here are some top tips to protect the three most important assets of any company. People Your staff is the lifeblood of your company. They’re the ones who come up with new creative ideas and then help you implement them in the best way possible. The best employees care massively about the success of your company, so it’s important you also care about their own success. Make sure all your employees feel valued for their work. If they don’t, you could find them putting less effort into their day to day tasks or even find they want to leave the company. It’s important you also look after your employee’s health. Encourage healthy lifestyles by providing nutritious snacks, time for exercise and regular breaks throughout the day. Sickness can cost businesses thousands of dollars every year, so try and do everything you can to protect their welfare. IT   A decade or two ago, some businesses may have been able to run without an IT system. These days, even if you run the most traditional of businesses, like a horseshoe fitter or even a cobbler, it’s almost impossible to run it without the help of IT. Your computer can help you complete so many tasks. It enables you to organize your team’s work schedule, your business’ finances and even helps you communicate with your customers. That’s why when your IT system is down, it could bring your whole business down with it. Your productivity could ground to a literal halt, wasting your colleagues’ time and valuable opportunities to make revenue. IT is so important that big companies employ a member of staff or even a whole team whose sole purpose is to keep their computer system up and to run. If you run a small business, you might think this is a luxury you could never afford. The reality is that even if you can’t afford to employ someone full-time, it could be extremely cost-effective to employ a support agency to look after your IT systems. For example, outsourceIT have a team of expert technicians who won’t only offer support when things go wrong, but also maintain your systems, back up data and even protect your company from hackers. For a small fee, they could be on hand whenever you need them. Brand As well as the people and the equipment, it’s important to protect your company’s brand. A bad story in the press, or even a negative post about you on social media, could lose your customers. Try and deal with any disputes as quickly and fairly as possible before they have time to go viral on the internet. As well as protecting your brand when things go wrong, there are lots of things you can do to enhance your image. For example, consider working with charities and community organizations to show you don’t just care about making a...

Find yourself working from home and wondering how to do it right?  Here are some authentic DIY work from home tips backed up by some beautiful images from Pinterest and Instagram to support the argument. From – Cozy.happy.home The past few days, this space has been my hangout, my plant jungle, my work space, my lunch spot, my barre studio & ultimately, my inspiration!Which space in your home are you getting the most use out of and what’s that look like for you? Everyone’s home office is different and used differently, but we have one thing in common, we want that home office organized. From- Lady Decluttered From – Theeverygirl Work-from-home lunches can be even better than office lunches because you don’t have to worry about getting them to the office, food getting soggy while sitting around, or getting judged by your coworkers for bringing homemade celery soup like I did. A lunch break should be, in my opinion, something to look forward during the day—a nice little break with a meal you look forward to eating to let you really step away from work. From – Lovelylivingdesignco I adore this space. I like that the desk is near the window, I love the plants and green chair against the white. It looks light, airy and a great place to work.  From – Lifeasmama Printable daily planner to keep you organized. I love all the colors on this planner. There’s lots of room to write things that absolutely must get done, to-do lists, who you need to call, things you need to do in the morning and during the day, how much water you’ve drank and what you’re thankful for.  From – Clean & Scentsible Add some fun to your weekly goal list to keep you in high spirits. From – Bromabakery Let’s face it: working from home can mean days without leaving the house, wearing the same shirt three days in a row, and wearing cotton 95% of the time. Which is great and all, but it’s also great to have a roster of cute-but-casual outfits for the work from home entrepreneur– ones that require minimal effort, but maximize your style. From – Loveshanta  As we are still settling into our new norm and practicing social distancing, some of us have the privilege of working from home. We are still figuring out how to be the most productive and make the best of our days at home. I created and implemented a work-from-home schedule for myself and wanted to share it with you...

15 Super Ways to Handle Stress at Workplace+ Yoga     Some jobs have such high demands on your personal time that they practically become a way of life. The pressures and unpredictability of these types of jobs make it very difficult to find time to relax. Say for example, many who work in the grocery industry deal with customers face-to-face on a daily basis. This kind of high level customer service and constant interaction can take a toll on emloyees’ wellbeing and drain them as well over an eight hour shift. Mixing this exhaustion with other job responsibilities creates a perfect storm for stress. So, how does one cope? Ironically, jobs devoted to improving the wellbeing of others can be stress-inducing themselves. They call for excellent problem-solving and time management skills, as well as being sensitive to people’s needs. How does someone working in the health care industry eliminate stress without sacrificing the quality of their work? Well, the solution is not as hard as you may think or want it to be. With little changes in your lifestyle and habits, a great deal can be achieved to bring harmony in your work-life balance. Here is a list of 15 ways as to “How you could relieve stress?” Exercise Try simply leaving the building you are in and taking a short (10-15 minutes) walk around the block when you are feeling stressed, you will be amazed at how much better you feel. Most of us don’t realize that exercise releases endorphins that make us feel good. Research indicates that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise performed 3x over a week for 20 minutes is the most effective at helping manage stress levels. Even short bursts of 5 minutes of cardiovascular exercise stimulates anti-anxiety effects. Breathing Here’s a good one. Try breathing in to the count of 4. Hold for 7 counts, breathe out for 8 counts. This is a well-known relaxation technique and works out like a charm. It also comes in handy when you are dealing with pain. Eat Something Healthy Eat a piece of fruit if you’re hungry. Don’t load up on the sugar and caffeine because you will experience a rebound crash in about an hour or two. You’ll end up feeling worse than you were already. Take a Mental Vacation Go to a place where you can be alone for about 10 minutes and imagine that you are in a location that you’d find relaxing. Imagine that you are in a beautiful beach all alone with waves caressing your feet. Feel the comfortable warmth of the sun on your skin. Listen to the sounds of birds flying overhead. Feel the sand on your feet and legs. Sounds wonderful eh! Relax… Pray Research has shown that people who pray have positive correlation with the Almighty and they do handle stress better. Pet a Small Animal Stroking an animal can be very soothing and comforting. There are now programs where volunteers take their trained pets into hospitals and convalescent homes. It has been proven that stroking pets can help patients get well faster. Smile More – The Power of Smiling Smiles are a universal greeting. They make you look more pleasant and trustworthy, as well as releasing endorphins- making you feel better too. Smiling is very important for our wellbeing, as people who smile live longer, are less stressed and more successful in life. Tip: Smiling can add 7 bonus years to your life! So Get Smiling… Make time for fun Play an online game. Participate in a hobby. Hang upside down from your bed, walk backwards around the block, wave at the cars passing by, or dance in...