Can Mindfulness Meditation Be The Answer To Employee Wellness During COVID-19?
It is safe to say that every organization has been affected by COVID-19--- where we work, how we work, and how we maintain professional and personal balance
Laura Sage, CEO + Founder of Chill Anywhere recently sat down with Margaret Mueller, President + Chief Executive Officer of The Executives’ Club of Chicago as part of their “Coffee + Connect” series to discuss how mindfulness can be an accessible practice to help organizations support their employees mental health needs, navigate stress and create a sense of connection as we all navigate this unique time.
How has Chill Meditation pivoted during the pandemic?
As soon as COVID hit the United States, Chill closed our studio in River North and started offering complimentary meditations via Zoom and IG Live while continuing to work with our corporate clients offering custom virtual sessions. Similar to other businesses affected by COVID, it’s hard to not make money and survive. The pandemic has accelerated the launch of the Chill Anywhere app. It was important to be of support to the global community during this time of need when stress, anxiety, depression, domestic abuse were on the rise.
Why should leaders be invested in employee mental health?
Some leaders are comfortable talking about mental health while others are not. It’s tough to be a leader and to find the balance between empathy and productivity. People in leadership positions have a responsibility to step-up and support their employees - your teams are counting on you.Yes, it’s our responsibility to support our employees and give them the tools to be successful during this time. The only way a team will use these resources is if it comes from the top, to let them know that you care, that you invested in their mental health on your dime.
What are the return to work office strategies as it relates to health and wellness? What should employers be keeping in mind?
We are worried about the commute and the extra time we have been given as we’ve been working from home. Bottom line it’s going to be scary and hard to return back to work, even for the people that are going bonkers that can’t wait. People find new routine stress provoking and they may not realize this until they start. Productivity has not declined from working from home. We’ve all gained hours and have more time in the day.
What’s the best way for an organization to start a wellness program?
We recommend a combination of live and on-demand options to cater to your employee’s schedule and needs. A great way to start is with a live session bringing employees together virtually and then provide them a resource such as Chill Anywhere so that they have ongoing support. As you develop your wellness program strategy, we recommend you survey employees to better understand their needs. We will then work with you to identify topics based on their feedback.
What is the biggest hesitation toward mindfulness?
Time. People think you need to dedicate a significant amount of time to practice. The truth is meditation gives you back time with a short, consistent practice. Today start small with 3 deep breaths. Tomorrow pause at the same time and take 10 deep breaths. Then the next day breathe for 2 minutes and so on. Try it and you will start to feel the difference.
What nonprofit organizations are supporting mental wellness within Chicago?
NAMI, National Alliance for Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They have a very large presence in Chicago.
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