Wellbeing at Work

A workshop byTony Tidey, Wellbeing Officer

Development and Personnel Office

What do we mean by wellbeing?

‘That part of a person’s overall wellbeing that they perceive to be determined primarily by work, which can be influenced by workplace interventions, and which has the potential to provide a positive benefit for the Methodist Church’

Why this approach?

• Wellbeing is influenced by factors both in and outside work

• A person is responsible for their own wellbeing outside work (and in work, to some extent)

• Wellbeing initiatives must benefit both the church and individual

• The church can only control factors within work

The 5 key elements of wellbeing

• Be active• Take notice• Give/volunteer• Connect with others• Keep learning

What do these mean?What do these mean?

Be active

• Seek out opportunities for physical activity• Eat healthily• Pace yourself

Take notice

• Take regular breaks; balance work and home life

• Vary your daily routine• Be mindful of the world around you

Give and volunteer

• Seek out opportunities to serve others• Look outwards, as well as inwards• Act generously

Connect with others

• Develop a supportive network of family and friends

• Nurture your relationship with God• Take up opportunities for social interaction in

and outside work

Keep learning

• Develop and use new skills• Pursue new interests• Embrace change positively: seek learning

opportunities

Wellbeing at work – positive influences

• Using our skills• Pressure &

responsibility• Variety in job tasks• Knowing what the

future holds• Good pay

• Good working conditions

• Supportive supervision• Interpersonal contact• Status & social position• Control and autonomy

Feedback Exercise

We have developed a Self assessment toolkit for wellbeing

In small groups, spend some time looking at this and feedback your views:

• Is it useful?• Is anything missing, or should be taken out?• Will people use it?

Some other dimensions of wellbeing

The importance of balance

‘Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm and harmony’

Thomas Merton

‘Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some’

Robert Fulghum

Learning from reflection

‘The practice of living reflectively enables a person to take time to consider the outcomes of their actions, the impact their comments have on others, the message their life is giving to their family, friends, work colleagues. It gives one time to reflect on these and if the desire is to live a Christ-like life, then the opportunity, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to change’ www.livingreflectively.com

How do we learn from reflection?

Putting this into practice

Developing an ability to reflect constructively and make changes in our lives increases our wellbeing, preventing us from getting ‘stuck’ in unhelpful behaviours and attitudes. It can also positively assist our spiritual growth

Any questions or comments?