Month: February 2023

Some days it seems like the work never stops. We rush to our desks and have a second for coffee before a tornado of meetings, emails, and impending deadlines spin us around for eight hours. The nonstop chaos Corporate America is infamous for taking a massive toll on work-life balance. The result? Employee stress continues to grow, leaving many unsure of how to keep sane amidst it all.

Encouraging team members to add small work breaks to their daily flow helps bring some peace and order to the grand scheme of things. This also improves employee wellness. Of course, more breaks at work sound fantastic, but on a day with an already overwhelming workload, what are the upsides to breaks and how can we, as employers, fit them into busy schedules?

The Benefits Of Work Breaks

Everyone would love the chance to feel a little more free at work and find time for rest, but work breaks positively affect more than our exhaustion levels. Factor in productivity increases, less stress, and ultimately higher job satisfaction and you’ll quickly wonder why it took so long to find fresh ways to empower employee wellbeing.

Boost Productivity

Taking regular breaks gives our brains the time it needs to refresh and refocus. Studies show that not only does a 5-minute break every hour improve productivity, but work accuracy goes up and fatigue goes down. With a routine break throughout the day, smaller decisions are easier to manage, and strategic prioritization of projects becomes habitual. Better focus and higher energy means a more productive work day.

Reduces Stress and Health Problems

A nonstop day at the office can be stressful; work breaks give your bodies time to decompress and relieve that pressure. In a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, taking frequent breaks can lower the risk of musculoskeletal illnesses and other physical health issues that are linked to extended sitting and computer use.

More Job Satisfaction

Having the option to take a break here and there also improves the way employees feel about their jobs. This also creates an opportunity for coworkers to get to know each other. Who knew water cooler talk actually boosted morale? 

Leaving space for employees to step away from their workload is monumental in overall job satisfaction. Your team will see that you’re making steps towards helping them find their own work-life balance and want them to feel valued in the workplace. This mutual understanding will be hugely beneficial for your bottom line. According to a survey conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, businesses that offer regular breaks and flexible work schedules have lower employee turnover rates and greater levels of employee engagement.

How To Incorporate Wellness Into The Work Day

Incorporating employee wellness is as easy as adding breaks to the day (or the option to take them). Starting the conversation with your team or department leads is a great place to start this positive change to your workplace culture. 

Encourage Employees To Take A Mental Health Break

“Idleness is not just a vacation, an indulgence or a vice; it is as indispensable to the brain as vitamin D is to the body, and deprived of it we suffer a mental affliction…It is, paradoxically, necessary to getting any work done,” says Tim Reider in The New York Times. 

Adding breaks to the day starts with attitude. Breaks shouldn’t feel like a mistake. They’re essential recharge points that give our minds time to rev back up to full power. If you have the time to unplug for a few minutes, join your team in the break room and start getting their opinions on what they’d like to see from you, as their employer, in terms of workplace benefits and employee incentives. We’ve seen businesses in tech, healthcare, even the legal profession benefit from wellness programs such as in-office massage. It’s the perfect 15-minute break that truly helps anyone lost in their day-to-day hit the reset button!

Handle The Scheduling So Employees Can Turn On Focus Mode

While employees may hold the same job title, they have different working styles that impact the way they approach projects and deadlines. If letting employees schedule their own breaks isn’t feasible for your business model, try hosting a company-wide event and build your own stress management program! This can actually help your team because they can focus on what’s currently in their queue and not so much about, “Did I take my break yet?” They should still have the flexibility to take a five-minute break here and there, but going the extra mile to put on an appreciation event of sorts will encourage employees to meet you in the middle when it comes to workplace expectations and job engagement.

Host A Company-Wide Event To Give The Whole Office A Break!

Every company needs time to destress and relax together. Our stress management programs all take the meaning of “work break” to the next level, with corporate massage, yoga, meditation, and fitness sessions to refresh the mind, body, and soul. Ask your employer about corporate wellness packages and events to bring some calm and energy back to your office! Better yet, build your own program and we’ll give you the one-on-one help you need to customize your benefits package in a way that keeps employees healthy, happy, and prepared for whatever tomorrow might bring. 

Customize your employee stress management program today!

Workplace burnout is a pervasive issue that affects employees across all industries and sectors. Burnout can arise from a variety of factors, including heavy workloads, long hours, and stressful work environments. When left unchecked, burnout can lead to decreased productivity, increased absenteeism, and an endless void of physical and mental health problems.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Today, employers have more resources than ever before to help manage stress levels around the office. Read on to explore coping strategies for dealing with workplace burnout, particularly through workplace massage and the benefits it brings. By incorporating these coping mechanisms into the workday, you can help your team improve overall well being, as well as maintain job satisfaction and performance!

Recognizing the Signs of Workplace Burnout

Just like any other issue, the first step in addressing workplace burnout is recognizing it exists. This means understanding the signs and symptoms.

Burnout can manifest in a variety of ways, including physical, emotional, and cognitive symptoms. Physical symptoms can include exhaustion, headaches, and muscle tension, while emotional symptoms can include feelings of cynicism and detachment from work, as well as reduced job satisfaction. Cognitive symptoms can include difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, and impaired decision-making abilities.

By recognizing these signs early on, you can take steps to prevent burnout from becoming increasingly severe. If you’re unsure of how to gauge how employees are feeling, try sending out an internal form where they can anonymously give feedback or – at the very least – rate their stress levels and workloads to start the conversation.

How to Help Employees Avoid Burnout

The signs of workplace burnout may seem obvious, but helping employees cope is another story. There are a variety of coping strategies that can be effective in managing burnout.

• Self-care. These strategies can include taking breaks throughout the workday, engaging in stress-reducing activities like yoga or meditation, and getting enough sleep and exercise.
• Time management. Try setting realistic goals and prioritizing tasks to prevent feeling overwhelmed by a heavy workload.
• Seeking support. Be it colleagues or supervisors, or both; encourage your team to reach out for help with specific tasks or projects, or to discuss the sources of stress and workload concerns.

These coping strategies can be used in combination to help manage and reduce workplace burnout. The key is to remember that each employee is different and thus, has different needs. This is where having a custom stress management program can be helpful to ensure everyone is set up for success, specifically one that includes workplace massage.

Incorporating Workplace Massage as a Coping Strategy

One of the most effective coping strategies for dealing with burnout is workplace massage (aka corporate massage). Workplace massage is a form of massage therapy that is offered in the office during business hours, usually in a chair or table set up specifically for massage. This type of massage typically focuses on the upper body, such as the neck, shoulders, back, and arms, and can be done with or without the use of massage oils or lotions. Workplace massage can be a practical way to reduce muscle tension and stress, improve circulation, and boost mood and productivity. Incorporating workplace massage into the workday can also help create a more relaxed and positive work environment, which can contribute to better overall job satisfaction and performance!

Hear from our massage therapists and learn how to prepare your office for a workplace massage event.

Other Workplace Strategies to Help Employees Thrive

While massage is a great tool to reduce employee burnout, there are many ways to stay ahead here! Flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting or hybrid scheduling, can give employees greater control over their work and personal lives, which reduces stress and burnout. Stress-reducing activities, such as employer-sponsored virtual exercise programs or taking mental health breaks to walk outside, can also help prevent burnout by promoting physical and mental wellbeing.

Establishing clear boundaries between work and personal time can also help prevent employees from feeling overwhelmed by their workload and responsibilities. By combining workplace massage with other effective strategies, employees can take a more holistic approach to managing and preventing workplace burnout.

Custom Stress Management Programs Curb Workplace Burnout

Employers have a responsibility to create a safe and healthy work environment for their employees. By understanding the signs of workplace burnout and taking steps to prevent and manage it, businesses can sustain a more productive and positive workplace. One effective strategy that could be implemented is a stress management program featuring workplace massage. By offering massage therapy to their employees, employers can promote physical and mental wellbeing, reduce stress and burnout, and improve job satisfaction and performance!

If you’re an employer looking to build your own stress management program, consider incorporating workplace massage as a key component. Your employees will thank you for it. Body Techniques partners with brands across the country to create healthy work environments. Start building your own program today!