In this episode of the Transform Your Workplace podcast, Brandon Laws gets practical tips on holistic wellness from Xenium team member, Sara Bradley. They cover everything from work-life balance to methods for incorporating self-care into a busy schedule. Finally, the two discuss how employers can be a solid support system for employees by fostering connection and wellness in both their work and personal lives.
A QUICK GLIMPSE INTO OUR PODCAST
🔊 Podcast: Transform Your Workplace, Sponsored by Xenium HR
🎙️ Host: Brandon Laws
📋 In his own words: “The Transform Your Workplace podcast is your go-to source for the latest workplace trends, big ideas, and time-tested methods straight from the mouths of industry experts and respected thought-leaders.”
GUEST AT A GLANCE
The guest of this podcast episode is one of Xenium’s own, Sara Bradley. Sara is an HR Account Representative and is passionate about delivering the best service to her clients. She is a coveted member of the Xenium team and an expert in all things HR.
DEFINING TERMS
What is wellness?
It’s critical to understand the “what” and the “why” behind wellness. So, what does holistic wellness look like? “To start,” Sarah answered, “I think wellness looks different for everybody, and it’s multi-dimensional.” Holistic wellness can encompass our physical, mental, spiritual, financial, and even environmental health, and it can change over time based on what’s happening in one’s life.
In large part, Sara’s understanding of the meaning of wellness comes from her personal experience. “When I feel healthy and I’m in a good state of wellness, I have improved energy which correlates to being able to combat stress or any challenges that come my way. I also see improved relationships because I have the energy and time to put into relationships whether that’s personal or work-based.”
When we take care of ourselves, we see greater productivity. As someone who works in a client-facing role, Sara says that her energy and productivity at work hinge on her willingness to take care of herself first. She also believes that employers can partner with their employees with regard to their own wellness and support them in challenges they’re facing right now.
GETTING ANSWERS
What is the employer’s role in wellness?
“I think there are resources that we can offer to employees, such as the employee assistance program, a gym membership, massages. I think the most important thing that employers can offer is just the time and the green light to say, ‘Hey, go take a workout on your lunch break,’ and employees feeling that it’s okay to take care of themselves. And if an employer does all of that at that point, I do think it’s up to the employee to take some initiative in caring for their health. But I think it starts with the employer and continues with the employer to do check-ins with their employees, to see how they’re doing and encourage them to take care of themselves.”
How do we find that work/life balance when we work from home?
“I think some of us are still trying to figure that out. The biggest thing is to set boundaries. And that in itself is difficult. First, you’ve got to identify what your non-negotiables are and priorities are in terms of your work and personal life. Then, use that information to set boundaries, communicate to your coworkers and management, and hold yourself accountable.”
“And I would say the other thing is, if you do have a separate physical space, work in a location apart from where you unwind and relax. That’s the best thing, but we don’t always have that. If that’s the case, put away your laptop and put away the papers on your desk.”
How do you keep yourself motivated?
“It’s important to connect with people. For me, that’s motivating. And, of course, I think we’ve lost that when we’re not in the workplace anymore. If there’s a way that you can, then connect with people that you work with via zoom or even a phone call.”
“For me, physical activity is also a motivating factor. And I think another is opportunities to learn. If I’m having a rough day and the work that’s coming across my plate is not super motivating, I try to find an opportunity to learn something new. Because, for me, increasing knowledge is motivating. It makes me want to jump back into work and better help people.”
How do we find authentic connection in a virtual environment?
“This is a real challenge. But I think some of the things that we’ve had positive feedback about have been methods such as virtual tea- or coffee-tasting, wine-tasting, or learning how to make a cocktail. […] And I think we just see more participation if it’s a structured activity. Even just projects within the organization like pairing two people up that wouldn’t normally cross paths or associate with one another — that’s a way to build connections. I think it’s important to talk about one-on-ones and small-team meetings too. I think we’ve had some really impactful conversations in what was meant to be just a weekly team meeting, and it has really built trust and connection between our teams.”
What are some tips for adding exercise into our already busy schedules?
“The first thing that comes to mind is this: at the start of the week, I take a look at my work schedule and my personal schedule. At that point, I identify some times that I can block out on my calendar — maybe it’s before work or at night after the kids are in bed. I schedule these times early on in the week and hold myself accountable to them. Because again, I know that when I spend time on myself, especially in terms of exercising, I feel energized. I can put more back into the relationships I have and the work that I produce.”
Should employers provide any sort of wellness services for employees?
It’s super important to encourage employees to use wellness services that are provided, allow time for employees to use them, and model that from a leadership standpoint. I think we can pay for people’s gym memberships, but if they have so much on their plate that they can’t step away from their desk for an hour, it doesn’t make sense. So I think the bigger piece of that is making sure that we are providing an environment where employees can step away for a moment and focus on their health.”
LEARN MORE
Want to learn more about transforming your workplace? Find more podcast episodes here or connect with the Xenium team by going to our website. We look forward to talking to you soon!