Well-being: Beyond the “fluffy” buzzword

Well-being has become a buzzword and a social media trend as we see influencers taking challenges to exercise more, eat balanced diets, reduce meat consumption, meditate and practice mindfulness. And let’s be honest, this kind of influence could help some people – but some people think it’s “fluffy” and see it as just one more hashtag that will pass.

I strongly believe that it is time to take health and well-being seriously, not only as individuals but also as organizations! And it is happening:

According to the International Labor Association, “enterprises and organizations are increasingly recognizing the need to take the well-being of their workers seriously. The more progressive organizations are doing so because they appreciate that their most important resources are their human resources - their people”. For some other people or organizations it might just be simple mathematics: Healthier, happier employees are less sick and more productive and therefore provide a clear impact on the bottom line results of a company. 

Holistic well-being means addressing the needs of employees as whole persons, not just as workers. If we aren’t taking a proactive approach towards workplace health and well-being, then our people are more likely to be unhealthy, unhappy, and unmotivated. To achieve that end, we need to widen our definition of well-being. A recent survey by Robert Half, the global staffing firm, shows that companies are moving in the right direction. Increasingly, they are expanding their focus and realizing that physical health is just one piece of the puzzle.

The company I work for – DHL Global Forwarding, Freight – takes well-being seriously. It is not a “fluffy topic” and our CEO Tim Scharwath is actively promoting our initiative and leading by example. We are driving our initiative – Well-Being at DGF – forward under the headings Being Social, Being Present and Being Active, and are providing our employees with offerings and ideas that are inspired by them.

Do you feel joyful after connecting personally with colleagues, family or friends? Well, that smile you get when you do so is contributing to your well-being. The same happens when you do social work or volunteer to help communities around you. Helping others is good for your mind and body. Did you know volunteering helps counteract the effects of stress, anger, and anxiety? It combats depression? It makes you happy? It increases self-confidence, and it provides a sense of purpose? I am always impressed by how much we do at DHL and that our Global Volunteer Day sees our employees helping out all over the world.

For myself “being social” comprises of small things such as having dinner with my husband and kids in the evening, chatting briefly with the old neighbor next door or playing football with my sons. I also participate in DHL initiatives such as the “Lesepaten” (reading mentors) ran in cooperation with www.stiftunglesen.de (a German foundation which promotes reading) and read to kids at our local kindergarten. When others smile, I simply have to smile, too. 

Years ago, practices such as meditation, yoga, mindfulness had nothing to do with the workplace. Instead, they were connected to specific cultures and you did them in your spare time.

Today, we see mindfulness being included in our daily working agendas and HR facilitating sessions to “disconnect” staff from work even during working hours. Leadership training and programs are incorporating these practices since they play an important role in holistic leadership and the way we interact and connect with our employees.

After a very hectic day with lots of calls, emails, screen time, deadlines and juggling family and work, I sometimes struggle to disconnect and my mind keeps buzzing. That’s when I really enjoy going for a walk with my husband. I leave all my electronic devices behind, disconnect from all my “what-still-needs-to-get-done” thoughts and enjoy walking and taking in the fresh air. Recently, I have also explored how observing nature’s seasonal changes has helped me calm my mind.  

This one is no surprise since well-being in the sense of “feeling well” is usually associated with physical health and exercise.

But let’s be honest, this is not something we can all do, not only because being active requires extra motivation but also  because finding time to keep fit while we balance work, family, friends, is not easy.

One practice I learned through our “Well-being at DHL Global Forwarding” program, is to start exercising even if it’s just for 20 minutes. It doesn’t need to be strenuous – walking the dog or stretching in the morning will do – but obviously the more you do the better it is. Just remember to start off small.

Personally, I have never really enjoyed exercising. But I have learned that it helps me to stay healthy and to reduce my stress levels. I will never love it but when I complete a 45-minute exercise on my home trainer bike while watching Netflix, I feel fitter and stronger.

These three ways of connecting with ourselves and focusing on our well-being are about taking this ”fluffy” buzzword seriously and becoming better people, better leaders and better employers. For me personally, it is not necessarily about taking BIG steps but making small changes to our daily habits that suit our circumstances.

What do you think about well-being?
Is well-being more than just a “fluffy” buzzword? 

Published: October 2020