Empowering your workforce’s wellbeing makes good business sense

Did you know an estimated 17 million working days were lost due to work-related anxiety, depression, and stress in 2021 and 2022?

This is over half of all working days lost due to work-related ill health and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) cites the annual economic cost is £18.8 billion.

The effects of anxiety, depression, and stress has a significant detrimental impact on an employee’s life and on their ability to perform their best at work.

An effective wellbeing programme can make these issues less likely to affect your business.

Here are five ways you can offer support for your employees and foster a healthier and happier workforce. All can be delivered in the workplace or in nature at one of our retreats.

Meditation and breathwork 

The pressure to achieve targets, meet deadlines, and handle working relationships can take its toll on mental and emotional wellbeing. Meditation and breathwork is a recognised way to reduce anxiety and stress. Regular sessions also increase focus and attention, improve sleep quality, and enhance feelings of wellbeing and calmness.

Sauna 

The many benefits of the sauna are well-known. Time in the sauna is a deeply relaxing experience which eases pain and muscle tension and relieves symptoms of stress. The heat stimulates blood flow, which flushes out toxins and boosts the immune system so staff will be less likely to catch and spread coughs and colds!

Sound baths 

Studies show that sounds and vibrations affect brainwave frequencies and prompts healing effects on the mind and body. Sound baths can help ease anxiety, depression, and tension, while elevating mood and enhancing calmness.

Yoga

Yoga offers many physical and mental health benefits and is a superb way let go of distractions and find a sense of peace within. As well as improving balance, flexibility, and strength, yoga is known to improve sleep, boost energy and mood, and reduce stress.

Connect with nature

Extensive evidence shows a dose of nature therapy reduces stress levels, improves mood, and can even boost creativity and memory. This is because the natural environmental lowers the ‘negative mind chatter’. Whitby Wellbeing retreats take place in nature at the beach, the moors, and the wooded valleys in North Yorkshire and offer a combination of the above activities. This provides space and time to escape the daily grind and build positive team camaraderie.

Incorporating any or all the above options into your corporate wellness programme will build a culture of care, help you get the most out of your workforce, and recruit and retain the best quality people.