Wellness is Worth It

Health and wellness have become increasingly important topics inside and outside of the workplace in recent years. At StringCan, we’ve been passionate about mental wellness and wellness at work for many years. In fact, wellness-focused companies are some of some of our top clientele, and we love working with - and learning from - them. Here are some of the well-being tips we’ve gathered to help you at work and in your own life.

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Holistic Health

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While we mentioned life inside and outside of work above, the truth is that all of it is life. No matter how hard we try to compartmentalize, the person we are at the office (or working remotely) is the same person we are at our kid’s soccer game or on a date with our spouse. The point is; you can’t be healthy in one area and unhealthy in another. The unhealthy parts of one will always seep into the other parts because we’re holistic human beings.

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Similarly, our mental and physical health cannot be extracted from one another. The physical impacts of stress on our bodies are well documented, for instance, and our physical well-being can take a toll on us mentally. This is why it’s imperative we look at wellness as one unit, and focus on how we can become well as individuals and in every part of our lives.

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Many health experts agree about two of the best places to start: nutrition and sleep. People can debate different diets all day long, but the more whole foods that are unprocessed (grown, not made) you eat, the better your body works. And, the better you sleep, the better your body works. You can start small, by adding in one piece of fruit each day or trying a five-minute wind-down meditation before bed. The key is just to start.

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Business Impact

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It’s also important to realize how poor health can take a toll on organizations. It’s obvious that illnesses and injuries can make someone unable to work, but many people don’t realize how mental health also influences a person’s ability to work (and work well).

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For example, stress can negatively affect employee job performance and productivity, while depression can reduce cognitive performance about 35% of the time. Furthermore, mental illnesses are associated with higher rates of disability and unemployment.

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For employers, this can create problems with productivity and the bottom line. For employees, this can create a cycle of even more stress and illness. Poor health makes someone unable to work, so they use all their sick time. Eventually, they may get put on leave or let go, which creates financial and overall stress. More stress, more negative health impacts - and on the cycle goes. This is why it’s critical for individuals to take charge of their own wellness, and for employers to care about their team members’ well-being and do what they can to support it, too.

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Internal Commitment

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So, then, how does this look? Well, incorporating wellness at work can be done in a multitude of ways. The fact that an employer even wants to do this is a positive sign that they’re on the right track.

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At StringCan, we have wellness sessions every week with our team where we learn new tips and focus on an area of health together. Then, we get to partake in individual wellness sessions too. We also have a wellbeing coach named Jane Cebrynski, who has helped us make small changes - both on our own and as a group. This has really helped us form stronger relationships, improve our mental health and take charge of our physical health. It’s also made us better at work.

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Creating wellness changes isn’t always easy, and shouldn’t just be reserved for this time of year and New Year’s resolutions. It’s worth every investment you can make into it. We wish you wellbeing at home, work and everywhere else you go. You are worth it!

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Want to connect and work together? Give us a call!