Our Director Claire Gray shares her 5 top tips on how to improve your wellbeing at work.

1. Mindfulness

This is possibly overused, but it feels right to bring in as a point around wellbeing at work. Worrying about the future or dwelling on the past can have a negative impact on the mind and body.

Mindfulness does not need to be hours of meditation a day, it can be a simple stop that you bring into your work day. Step away from your work and your desk/and screens and pay attention to the world around you. You’ll be amazed what you notice and it may also encourage enhancing other colleagues too as in point 3 and 4 below.

2. Stress awareness

This is a growing problem, particularly since the pandemic and one we all need to be tuned into in the work place.

Combating work stress can be as simple as taking one task at a time; staying organised and prioritising action lists that can get overwhelming when you are stressed and tired. Ask a colleague or manager to help you talk through what you need to get done – it can really help get clarity and calm any feelings of being overwhelmed.

Avoid conflict at work; you spend all day with your colleagues and conflict should be avoided. Constructive conversations are always better.

Go out at lunchtime or just take a break mid afternoon; a walk is a good thing always, and outside light and a break from your screen and your office environment is always beneficial, even if it’s just 10 minutes, it’s a good habit to get into.

3. Social connection

Social connection is always a good boost in a work environment. Take time to go to a social space in your office to chat to colleagues and decompress from your work tasks. This can be as simple as a conversation making a cup of tea or getting a glass of water or might just be at the stationery cupboard for a few minutes with a colleague you don’t perhaps often talk to. Small connections and social interactions make all the difference.

Strong social connections at work are shown to make people healthier and happier, which improves performance. Socialising after work is to be encouraged whether it’s a quick drink or social away days, both add huge value to employees wellbeing.

4. Mental health first aid

At Bain and Gray we recently did a mental health half day and it reminded us all to look out for one another and recognise signs of stress, depression or anxiety for one another as well as the wider community. Mental health is key for everyone and we learnt that just like our physical health, it can

be good and bad for everyone at different times. We learnt how we can be more aware, to help one another, and useful tools to help ourselves as well as others.

Small acts of kindness and care can make big differences to all of us, and if we spend more time with our work colleagues than almost anyone else, we can really make a difference with even a small amount of thoughtfulness in our day.

5. Learning and development

This is always a good way to motivate and promote a sense of achievement and progression. Providing programs for staff makes them feel valued and shows that you are committed to their development and growth as a person whether inside or outside their career. This is a significant factor for work wellbeing and self esteem