Integrating Wellness into the workplace
By: kathleen J Kweskin LMT RYT RM, CEO & Founder of Grow Wellness
Studies show that happier people are more successful in their careers, in their relationships and thus in the life they create. It is a common misconception that we must be successful to be well and happy, when all signs and research point to the opposite. The question is, why? Well, we must BELIEVE we can do something in order to do it and do it well. Whether you are satisfied with your business environment or think it could use improvement, think about the potential impact that could occur with simply creating an encouraging, supportive culture within.
When it comes to positive psychology studies of happiness, we see that utilizing our individual strengths and cultivating our best qualities are methods of not only overcoming trauma and healing, but also gateways of achievement. Our greatest successes are the product of our best qualities, not necessarily of focusing on overcoming weaknesses. Our moods and emotions are contagious. They are contagious because of mirror neurons in our brain that allow us to mimic the environment around us. Therefore, if we are trying to have a productive brain in an environment that is not actively creating a culture of uplifting emotions and positive encouragement, it is more strenuous to fulfill our potential.
When it comes to positive psychology studies of happiness, we see that utilizing our individual strengths and cultivating our best qualities are methods of not only overcoming trauma and healing, but also gateways of achievement. Our greatest successes are the product of our best qualities, not necessarily of focusing on overcoming weaknesses. Our moods and emotions are contagious. They are contagious because of mirror neurons in our brain that allow us to mimic the environment around us. Therefore, if we are trying to have a productive brain in an environment that is not actively creating a culture of uplifting emotions and positive encouragement, it is more strenuous to fulfill our potential.
Ways to uplift your team with wellness
ONE: Recognize and embrace the diversity of everyone within your business or company. Leaders must learn to delegate and encourage productivity based on an associate’s strengths and best qualities instead of imposing a one size fits all standard.
TWO: Integrate positive psychology practices into the rituals you already have, as well as add some structure to build a supportive community. For example, a few strengths and qualities that can be focused on and strengthened within your team are: kindness, gratitude, resourcefulness, courage and wisdom. Begin your next team meeting by asking for shout-outs or tokens of gratitude that anyone would like to share towards a fellow coworker or something that went right since the last meeting! Create a presentation of what resourcefulness looks like in the context of your company, encouraging them to turn to each other and their environment for resources and support!
THREE: CELEBRATE! Make sure to celebrate achievements, taking everyone into account! If an associate hit record sales, for example, make sure to also celebrate all of the people who facilitate those sales. Lift up front desk associates and staff that provide the much needed help behind the scenes!
FOUR: Bring activities that encourage people to embrace and believe in themselves into the workplace, such as yoga, meditation, and other self-care modalities! Encouraging mental well-being within the workplace can take many forms! You can offer a Mindfulness series to your associates, where they learn together as a community how to wield the tool of mindfulness for mental and physical wellbeing. You can schedule a live-streaming yoga, stretching or meditation class for your team once a week! Some companies do contests and raffles to encourage productivity, why not raffle off a customized wellness box filled with self-care tools?
This is where we come in, as a personal resource for you and your team. Grow Wellness specializes in customizing Workplace Wellness programs to fit businesses and companies across the United States and abroad. Whether it be a class once a week, where associates meet as a supportive community for their own wellness experience together, uniquely designed series options with completion certificates, or wellness boxes, we have you covered! It is our passion to spread wellness and happiness into the world, and we would love to be a resource for you and your community. To learn more, click the button below. To set up your consultation, email us at [email protected]
TWO: Integrate positive psychology practices into the rituals you already have, as well as add some structure to build a supportive community. For example, a few strengths and qualities that can be focused on and strengthened within your team are: kindness, gratitude, resourcefulness, courage and wisdom. Begin your next team meeting by asking for shout-outs or tokens of gratitude that anyone would like to share towards a fellow coworker or something that went right since the last meeting! Create a presentation of what resourcefulness looks like in the context of your company, encouraging them to turn to each other and their environment for resources and support!
THREE: CELEBRATE! Make sure to celebrate achievements, taking everyone into account! If an associate hit record sales, for example, make sure to also celebrate all of the people who facilitate those sales. Lift up front desk associates and staff that provide the much needed help behind the scenes!
FOUR: Bring activities that encourage people to embrace and believe in themselves into the workplace, such as yoga, meditation, and other self-care modalities! Encouraging mental well-being within the workplace can take many forms! You can offer a Mindfulness series to your associates, where they learn together as a community how to wield the tool of mindfulness for mental and physical wellbeing. You can schedule a live-streaming yoga, stretching or meditation class for your team once a week! Some companies do contests and raffles to encourage productivity, why not raffle off a customized wellness box filled with self-care tools?
This is where we come in, as a personal resource for you and your team. Grow Wellness specializes in customizing Workplace Wellness programs to fit businesses and companies across the United States and abroad. Whether it be a class once a week, where associates meet as a supportive community for their own wellness experience together, uniquely designed series options with completion certificates, or wellness boxes, we have you covered! It is our passion to spread wellness and happiness into the world, and we would love to be a resource for you and your community. To learn more, click the button below. To set up your consultation, email us at [email protected]
Benefits of Workplace Wellness Classes and WOrkshops
More Research and articles to check out
- Ofei-Dodoo S, Cleland-Leighton A, Nilsen K, Cloward JL, Casey E. Impact of a Mindfulness-Based, Workplace Group Yoga Intervention on Burnout, Self-Care, and Compassion in Health Care Professionals: A Pilot Study. J Occup Environ Med. 2020 Aug;62(8):581-587. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001892. PMID: 32358474.
- Della Valle E, Palermi S, Aloe I, Marcantonio R, Spera R, Montagnani S, Sirico F. Effectiveness of Workplace Yoga Interventions to Reduce Perceived Stress in Employees: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2020 May 26;5(2):33. doi: 10.3390/jfmk5020033. PMID: 33467249; PMCID: PMC7739364.
- Aikens KA, Astin J, Pelletier KR, Levanovich K, Baase CM, Park YY, Bodnar CM. Mindfulness goes to work: impact of an online workplace intervention. J Occup Environ Med. 2014 Jul;56(7):721-31. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000209. PMID: 24988100.
- Brown K.W., Ryan R.M. The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2003;84(4):822–848.
- Toniolo-Barrios M, Pitt L. Mindfulness and the challenges of working from home in times of crisis. Bus Horiz. 2020 Oct 5. doi: 10.1016/j.bushor.2020.09.004. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33041346; PMCID: PMC7535863.
- "How Workplace Wellness Programmes Benefit Business: Latest Research" Emerald Publishing https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/archived/realworldresearch/wellbeing/how-workplace-wellness-programmes-benefit-business.htm
- Burger KG, Lockhart JS. Meditation's Effect on Attentional Efficiency, Stress, and Mindfulness Characteristics of Nursing Students. J Nurs Educ. 2017 Jul 1;56(7):430-434. doi: 10.3928/01484834-20170619-08. PMID: 28662260.