Workplace Wellbeing – a Compilation of Boo Wisdom

Oh hey, it’s us talking about wellbeing again! Help yourself to some free fruit and the mats for lunchtime yoga are over in the corner…

Wellbeing – or specifically workplace wellbeing – is not about lunchtime yoga. Well, it might be for some of us.

Wellbeing is impossible to acheive if our basic needs are not met first.

The cornerstones are having the support and resources we require to function successfully. Next, a culture of psychological safety and conditions that make us feel secure. We also need to feel valued and cared for and a sense of belonging.

Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs. Image source: Simply Psychology

Also key is the absence of barriers to wellbeing. Obstacles to be removed or overcome could be anything from the temperature of the office to our inner critic. The other ingredients to wellbeing are as individual and nuanced as we are. For Cath and Amy this might be flinging yourself in a river (preferably in fancy dress), Julia and Becci love a gig. Helen likes to grow things and bake.

Although we have pretty much done all these things in the course of our work, they are not generally part of our day to day roles and responsibilities. However, wellbeing is at the heart of all we do – and it shows. Here are some quotes from #TeamBoo, talking about specifically about workplace wellbeing. We know the theory, and we also know what it feels like.

Connection to our values

“Conscious connection to our values supports our wellbeing. How are we paying attention to what matters to people? What makes a great day? What are you most proud of? Let’s celebrate the good stuff, recognising our unique gifts and qualities so that people can be their authentic selves.” – Cath

Recognising our unique gifts and qualities

“Spend time getting to know and understand our own individual values, identify our strengths and creating opportunities for these to show up in our roles.” – Cath

Paying attention to what matters to people

“I’m not going to tell you what to do – you know yourself the best and who are we to tell you what works for you? I really don’t enjoy being told what to do!” – Becci

Being our authentic selves

“Including elements of playfulness into your work life.” – Amy

Being part of a supportive team. Being trusted, encouraged and appreciated

“I am struggling to find the right words to describe how it feels working for Boo: ‘Nice’ and ‘lovely’ just sound a bit lacklustre. But it feels so right when you’re trusted, encouraged, appreciated, and truly are part of a supportive team who are doing such meaningful work for other businesses and staff in public services.” – Julia

Doing meaningful work

“When we have a role in helping our communities to thrive, when we know that we are needed by others, we feel useful, important, and full of purpose.” – Amy

Awareness of what triggers us and what soothes us

“What springs to mind when you think of self care? I think about those little foam toe seperators for home pedicures and a gloopy face mask. These things can indeed be self care, but so can saying ‘no’. So can saying ‘yes’. So can treating your brain by slowing down, or treating your heart and lungs by speeding up.The most impactful and lasting kind of self care involves approaching the basics of life in the right way to keep our nervous systems in balance.” – Amy

Financial security

“No amount of online yoga classes or team step challenges can prevent the devasting impact of panic and anxiety associated with worrying about paying your bills or choosing whether to heat or eat! Create Money and Wellbeing champion roles and consider an employed role focused solely on staff financial wellbeing and support. Create a financial wellbeing section of your health and wellbeing strategy and build on it.” – Becci

Openness and honesty. Listening Deeply.

“Listening deeply and building trusting relationships helps create a space of psychological safety where we can have open and honest conversations about what’s working and not working and where we are comfortable to share ideas.” – Cath

Time spent in nature

“I find that nature grounds me and helps me to feel balanced. It helps me to sort through my thoughts and to find calm and order in my busy, messy mind. And I love that nature always provides a metaphor for whatever is going on in my life, and by following that metaphor, I can work out what I need to do next – if indeed I need to do anything at all.” – Helen

Kindness, inclusion and protection from risk

“We recognise that some of the toughest working environments can be the hardest within which to integrate practises and policies that optimise mental health and wellbeing. We understand that the specifics of what this looks like may differ across industries and across teams. However, the underlying concepts that support good mental health such as kindness, inclusion and protection from risk, can and should be there.” – Amy

The ripple effect of individual wellbeing

“Investment in individual wellbeing leads to the creation of a resilient workforce, which in turn, has a positive impact on customers, and positively contributes to the organisation’s ability to deliver high quality products and services.” – Becci