WellMe – Connect

Earlier in the year, we launched the wellbeing initiative WellMe for our Churchill colleagues. The programme consists of five pillars that are designed to promote positive mindsets, personal development, and physical and mental health awareness. These include:

• Be Active
• Keep Learning
• Give Back
• Connect
• Take Notice

We’ve covered ‘Be Active’, ‘Keep Learning’ and ‘Give Back’ in previous blogs. This month, we’re focusing on ‘Connect’.

There is strong evidence that indicates that feeling close to and valued by other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to functioning well in the world.

Social relationships are critical for promoting wellbeing and for acting as a buffer against mental ill health for people of all ages.

The past few months have placed a strain on many people’s ability to connect, particularly those who lived alone during the lockdown or had to self-isolate.

With that in mind, we recently partnered with the House of Wellbeing to give every Churchill employee free access to a guided meditation platform. The platform is completely anonymous and has more than 90 meditation audios on topics such as anxiety, stress and confidence. Designed by highly-qualified hypnotherapists, we hope that every employee will be able to find a guide that will truly benefit them.

We also have mental health champions across various teams and regions who will be arranging virtual coffee mornings, all in the name of staying connected.

While virtual meetings of course have their benefits, nothing beats connecting with someone in real life. As the lockdown eases and workplaces gradually reopen, the challenge now is how to form and maintain strong connections while adhering to social distancing. Fortunately, there are ways to do this.

The lockdown did actually encourage people to consider how and when they connect with people. Many people found the time to speak with a friend or family member that they hadn’t spoken to in a long time. Others got to know their neighbours better with conversations over the garden fence. These examples highlight the innate human need for connection.

Whether connecting with someone new or an old friend, really listen to someone when you ask a question. It’s easy to go on auto-pilot when chatting about your weekend, but really listening and asking more questions can help build a deeper connection.

The type of connection is as important as the frequency. Seek out positive connections to provide a balance to any connections that may cause distress (distressing connections aren’t a bad thing per se, and may involve helping a friend through a difficult time). Make sure to connect with those close to you who make you laugh and bring positive vibes to the conversation.

As you connect with more people, always consider what the difference is between making contact and connecting. If you want to bridge that gap, ask questions, listen more, show genuine interest and the connection will grow.

Finally, when we think of connection, we naturally think of connecting with other people. But connecting with nature also brings many benefits to mental health and wellbeing. Take time to enjoy nature on a regular basis and you’ll reap the rewards.

We’ve been utilising our digital platform Mo:dus to keep employees connected and as workplaces reopen we’ll work on a mix of physical and digital solutions to keep those connections strong.