​In the domain of the workplace, supporting the health of the organisation whilst maintaining the wellbeing of its people is a challenge. While both are undeniably crucial to the organisation’s success, prioritising one over the other can lead to divergent outcomes. Let's delve into this topic and explore why finding a balance between people's wellbeing and company wellbeing is paramount.

The Case for Employee Wellbeing:

• Human Capital: Employees are the lifeblood of any organisation. Investing in their wellbeing fosters a loyal, engaged, and productive workforce. It has never been more understood that wellbeing in the workplace is a vital element of our working culture. As employees we are most productive when we experience a balance of healthy leadership, supportive company culture, and genuine care for our wellbeing. We thrive, are creative, and champion success when we imbue our organisation's values and vision. Providing a supportive company culture literally creates healthy, happy people.  
• Moral Responsibility: Companies have a moral responsibility to prioritise the mental, emotional, and physical health of their employees. Neglecting this aspect can lead to burnout, high turnover rates, increased absences, and a toxic work environment. 
• Positive Company Culture: Organisations that prioritise people's wellbeing tend to cultivate a positive company culture, leading to higher retention rates, enhanced creativity, and ultimately, sustained success.                                                        

The Importance of Company Wellbeing:

• Organisational Resilience: A company's ability to weather challenges and adapt to change is contingent upon its overall health. This is when we want our people well. A consistently delivered wellbeing program ensures that your people are resilient and ready to ride the storm. Prioritising wellbeing at work involves strategic planning, financial stability, and effective risk management.
• Stakeholder Confidence: Investors, clients, and partners are more likely to trust and engage with companies that demonstrate stability and profitability. Therefore, maintaining the financial and operational health of the organisation is vital.
• Fulfilling Purpose: Companies exist not only to generate profit but also to fulfil a purpose and create value for stakeholders. Prioritising company wellbeing enables organisations to fulfil their missions and enact positive change in their respective industries.

Striking a Balance:

• Synergy: People wellbeing and company wellbeing are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they are interdependent. A thriving workforce contributes to the overall success of the organisation, while a healthy company provides resources and support for employee wellbeing.
• Holistic Approach: Effective leadership involves taking a holistic approach that considers the needs of both individuals and the organisation. This may entail implementing wellness programs, fostering a supportive work environment, and aligning company goals with employee values.
• Continuous Improvement: Striking a balance requires ongoing assessment, feedback, and adaptation. Companies must remain agile and responsive to the evolving needs of their workforce and the ever-changing business landscape.

In Summary:
When we consider people wellbeing and company wellbeing, the key lies in recognising the symbiotic relationship and striving for equilibrium. While a healthy organisation is crucial for long-term success, it cannot flourish without a thriving workforce. By prioritising both people and company wellbeing, organisations can create environments where individuals thrive, teams are productive, and the company achieves sustainable growth and prosperity.
 
Want to know more about you can deliver simple, supportive wellbeing services email us on [email protected].

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1. Plan Your Day
The most vital step in any wellbeing plan is understanding what and how you are going to do it. Its why most resolutions to health and fitness fail. We haven’t taken the time to understand what will fit into our day, and more importantly we didn’t make it an easy change to make. 

So, ask yourself, how can I fit wellbeing into my day today. Is it exercise before work, sitting listening to a mindfulness practice at lunch, or is it planning your food in advance for busy weeks so you have everything you need to grab and go?

Shift workers - create plans for each shift pattern so it’s easy to visualise your week's meal plans and exercise opportunities.

Request our free shift planning resource for meals, shopping, and exercise . 

2. Take A Break – "Push more, work longer hours, work when ill" are all statements that may not be said out loud but are part of our work culture. We are all striving for success but at what cost to ourselves. 

Taking time out for a break reduces cortisol, calms adrenaline, and opens our minds to a big-picture solution. Breaks without tech are perfect. It can be as simple as a chat with a colleague. 

3.  Get Moving - Have you ever noticed how your mood improves when you have been out in nature, hen you have taken a few minutes to soak up the sunshine? Our bodies were not designed to sit or work in a singular position for hours on end. We are designed for movement, and it is vital for joint health that we make movement part of our everyday. So, if you are working from home, schedule stretching breaks and maybe a walk outside at lunchtime. If you are working long shifts get access to a local gym or fit in a run/walk where you can. 

4. Reflect - Within the Gestalt Cycle of Change, reflection is a crucial component of the change process. By assessing what went well and what went not so well, we are presented with a choice – to refine the process or to release it altogether. This applies whether we a considering the impact of a specific marketing campaign or how a particular lifestyle choice is working. It is in this reflection that the magic happens. We become leaders in our wellbeing, actively shaping our path forward.  

Try the following process every day for 2 weeks. Think of it as an experiment in developing a positive mindset. 

ACTION
Take 3 minutes in the morning to visualise how your day will flow and then 3 minutes at night to reflect on what worked, what didn’t and note 3 positives that you were grateful for. Take 1 minute to acknowledge and be thankful for your experiences. If only negatives appear (we all have those kinds of days, right?) then look at what learning you could be grateful for from that experience. 

5.  Breathe
Take a moment to breathe with a mindful minute meditation, it’s an ideal way to create a pause from your computer screen and rejuvenate your mind. It’s common to find ourselves glued to our desks, engrossed in tasks for extended periods, losing sight of potential solutions, but introducing mindful breathing can carve out mental space, cultivating creativity and alleviating stress. Aim to practice this 2-3 times daily and observe how it positively impacts your wellbeing throughout the week.

Want to know more about how to support the mindset of your teams with our wellbeing at work programs? Or are you interested in Health Coaching and our Whole Health Model? Get in touch to discuss the best options for your organisation. 

8It's a challenging read when you sit back and consider what were the Top 10 most prescribed chemical substances for NHS England in 2022/2023.  It's even more challenging when you consider that the majority of these chemical substances were prescribed for conditions that could be improved dramatically by us choosing to consider Eating well, Moving well, and Sleeping well, 3 of our Whole Health Model components. In fact, improving the gut microbiome would improve all of the conditions outlined in Figure 8 (Vitamin D absorption may be supported by improved gut microbiome.) ​

​Source Data : National  Statistics 2022/2023

 
BOOST NUTRITION

As our body needs nutrients to complete every function of our body then it makes sense to start with nutrition. Although every food isn't as nutrient-rich as it once was ( consider over farming, crop spraying, soil quality, and seed quality) we can make one basic change that will support our health immediately. 

1. Choose to Boost Gut Health 
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​Our gut microbiome is designed to support the production of hormones, mood-boosting neurotransmitters, energy, skin health, and much more.

Increasing vegetable intake, hydration levels and reducing highly processed foods are a great place to start. Vegetables and whole grains are great sources of fibre that feed our population of good bacteria helping them thrive.

Choosing to increase fermented foods such as kombucha, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi are a great boost to our good bacteria levels. If you suffer from digestive conditions such as IBS, Crohns, Colitis or Diverticulitis, consult a nutritionist or gut health specialist before increasing probiotic foods. 

2. Choose to Boost your Immune System 

Vitamin D  
In the winter months get outside on sunny days and leave the sunglasses at home.
Increase vitamin D-rich foods such as oily fish, egg yolks, and mushrooms, and consider taking a supplement during the winter.

Increasing vitamin D will boost your immune system and support the absorption of magnesium and calcium. 

3. Support heart health and muscle health

​Magnesium 

An essential mineral that supports conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, migraines, low energy, indigestion, muscle relaxation, insulin and glucose production and sleep quality. 

• It supports 340 enzymatic processes in the body.
• Highly stressed individuals, athletes, and pre-menstrual and menopausal women may all be affected adversely. 
• A common symptom of magnesium deficiency is restless leg syndrome. 

Magnesium Food Sources 
Pumpkin seeds, kelp, nuts and seeds, apricots, wheat bran.
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Alternative Sources 
Epsom salt baths are 100% magnesium and a relaxing way to boost your levels whilst lowering your stress levels.