Would you like to try mindfulness in your workplace?
Want your staff to feel valued and listened to?
Want to increase staff productivity and reduce sick leave?
It sounds like you are ready to invest in a staff wellbeing event!
Mental health difficulties are the biggest cause of sickness absence in this country (Health and Sickness Executive, 2018). So poor mental health costs employers money. Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems. But major changes or challenges in life, such as bereavement, relationship problems, having a baby, debt or a workplace restructure may also affect mental health.
On Wednesday 11th March we visited Plymouth Job Centre Plus in Exeter Street, to offer a mindful art club session to the work-coaches, and other members of staff, as part of their wellbeing day.
We started with a brief chat about how everyone was feeling. They were actually feeling quite good, as they had been attending different staff wellbeing sessions all day. We then did a five minute mindfulness meditation, some mindful drawing and then made some collages. The mindful drawing exercise is simply making simple marks on paper with your eyes closed. This eliminates any self-judgement or need to make an image that is “good”. Then we can focus on the feeling of drawing, which quickly produces quite a relaxing sensation. In mindfulness this is called “being in the flow”.
While making collages, staff were able to relax and chat to colleagues they might not have usually met. We received feedback that everyone enjoyed the session and the work coaches were keen to recommend our community drop-in sessions to their job centre clients.
It is every employer’s responsibility to provide a workplace where people experiencing mental health difficulties, major life events or juggling caring responsibilities can talk openly without fear of stigma.
If you would like to offer a mindful art session to your staff, colleagues or service users contact us now to find out more.
