Workplace Wellness

WORKPLACE WELLNESS Culture & Care

BY STEFANIE BARANOWSKI

We all know hustle. From a recent graduate entering the workplace, the mom who is trying to balance work and home life to the stresses of remote working. Corporate wellness goes beyond stocking the break room with yogurt and granola. Whether you are introducing a wellness program, or looking for ways to improve your current initiatives, you are on your way to creating a healthier workplace environment – where healthier fit the narrative of the workspace. The first step is defining what wellness means to you in your workplace and in your community of co-workers.

WHY IS CORPORATE WELLNESS IMPORTANT?

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the workday and to let your mental and physical health

decline as you struggle to meet deadlines and the demands of your job. Sometimes when we are stressed it can become so easy to get wrapped up into that circle of gossip or to lash out in frustration or stress as a co-worker.

Imagine a workspace that felt purposeful, positive, energizing, and rewarding both at the start of your day, throughout your day and at the end of the day. You know you are in a good work environment when your work environment leaves you feeling energized, positive and purposeful as you walk out the doors at the end of the day. A place where you feel mentally, emotionally, and

employees are happier, and happier employees are more productive, which leads to corporate financial health and growth.

WHAT IS CORPORATE WELLNESS?

The workplace is a space we invest a great amount of our time during our waking hours and our co-workers become our own separate community outside of our personal life. Corporate wellness is just that; wellness in the workplace. Wellness can be introduced and incorporated into the workplace in a multitude of ways and can be tailored to

spiritually healthy, a place where you feel accepted and part of a community.

There is a great deal of research studies that have expressed an increase in job satisfaction and mental well-being when a wellness program is introduced and carried out within the workspace. That a wellness program not just be carried out but that it comes part of the workplace culture. What is buzz word wellness all about? Wellness is the act of regularly practicing or partaking in activities that contribute to positive healthy outcomes in one’s life. These outcomes can be emotional, environmental, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual. Research has shown that companies that regularly engage in Wellness opportunities have seen benefits for their employees, as well as their organizations. Some of the benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Improved productivity and performance

• Reduced Elevated Health Risks

• Reduced Health Care Costs

• Reduced Absenteeism among

Employees

• Improve Employee Recruitment and

Retention

• Improve and Sustain Morale

WHAT ARE SOME TYPES OF WELLNESS STRATEGIES I CAN START INCORPORATING TO BRING WELLNESS INTO MY WORKPLACE?

1. Showing appreciation amongst your staff/co-workers to develop an energetically positive space 4. Incorporating team building strategies and workshops to create a more cohesive work environment.

5. Give your co-workers/staff a challenge and encourage towards autonomy over a specific staff to boost confidence and purpose in the workplace. 

2. Introducing physical fitness to get the endorphins going and keep the body and the mind in good shape

3. Having a quiet space in the office area/meditation area where people can have a space of peace to help manage stress Diamond Lotus stefanie@diamondlotus.ca diamondlotus.ca

Sleeping Beauty A n ural way get a er sleep

BY THE MINT EXPERIENCE

How many of us have gone from working from an offi ce to working from an offi ce on our living room, bedroom, or even your bed? The line of separation between home and work has been all but erased and there seems to be litt le escape.

Once our salvation and escape, our cozy nook for bedtime reading, cuddling and down time has now been invaded by the #workfrombed and has become our new home offi ce.

Sleep specialists have been telling us for years, the bedroom should be for the three S’s – sleep, sex or for when you are sick. The more you start to use your bedroom for other uses, your brain starts to condition itself and your bedroom is no longer a space to wind down from your day. You’re literally training your brain to be alert.

There are a number of ways scents and essential oils can be used to help us get on the path to a more relaxing sleep patt ern. Add a few drops to your bath, light an aromatic candle or mist your pillows with your favorite scent.

How to make your own pillow mist

Add half a cup of water, half a teaspoon witch hazel and 5-7 drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle. Shake. Gently spray the mist over your pillows before going to bed.

5Soothing scents for a fabulous sleep

Lavender Jasmine

Jasmine scents are thought to lead to a more productive sleep, helps you wake up more refreshed and tends to make you feel more alert in the afternoon hours the next day. It eases sleep with its pleasing scent, and seems to reduce movement sleeping and waking up with less anxiety.

Well known for soothing qualities and most commonly used for relaxation and sleep. Diff use lavender an hour or so before turning in to your bedroom for the night. Apply a light rub directly to your feet, temples or wrists - a litt le goes a long way.

Ylang Ylang

It is believed that Ylang Ylang helps release negative emotions, helping you fall asleep faster while reducing stress and anxiety. On top of that, it has a gorgeous scent, a light fl oral aroma that doubles as a natural air freshener.

Cedarwood

If you struggle with insomnia, you may want to try this earthy and smoky scent. Cedarwood boasts natural sedative properties, as it’s believed to be emotionally grounding. Cedarwood mixes well with lavender for a unique relaxing blend. Bergamot

Extracted from the rinds of the citrus fruit, and is used to fl avour Earl Grey Tea. Bergamot tends to elevate moods and alleviate stress. Unlike other citrus scents, bergamot is calming and possesses sedative qualities.