Why mentalhealth@blue.works?

It’s the end of my probationary period meeting and on the way back I tell my line manager that I want to introduce mindfulness at blue.works. The inspiration for this came from a course I completed in Zurich, which I now want to incorporate into my everyday life. Expecting skepticism, I was surprised by his enthusiastic reaction. Not only did he like the idea, but he expanded on it by suggesting holding sessions on mental health. As I would be graduating two months later with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, I was beside myself with excitement.

At blue.works, our journey into mental wellness is not only a story of awareness, but also a testament to our belief in growth, resilience and excellence in our services.

Our first event on the topic of mental health took place in August 2023. We started with 15-minute mindfulness and meditation sessions and now run 30-minute sessions every two weeks, where we try to develop a better understanding of mental health, learn coping strategies and encourage interactive discussions. This commitment represents a significant investment in our well-being and the future quality of our services.

Why should a company invest in this topic?

Because we know that mental health is the foundation on which we build our resilience, our relationships, our strength and our performance.

Good mental health improves our decision-making, stress management, interpersonal interactions, performance and overall decision-making processes. By focusing on our mental wellbeing, we aim to improve not only our personal lives but also our professional skills by creating an environment where we can be the best version of ourselves and give others the space to achieve this too.

blue.works is not only about raising awareness of mental health, but also about anchoring these practices in our work culture. We know that investing in mental wellbeing leads to happier, more productive employees who are not only better able to cope with stress, be more resilient and be creative, but also produce better products and services.

One step at a time

So, did everything go well? No … but we are learning, and we want to share our journey.

Our first discussion was about mindfulness and meditation, which we also tried to practice. While this was beneficial for some, it proved difficult for others, which highlighted my lack of knowledge but also my learning curve in teaching these types of practices.

Although we left traditional meditation aside for the time being, we discovered that sleep-free deep rest (NSDR) techniques went down well with our team. Mindfulness has many benefits, and I believe it is the first step in recognizing how we feel and why we feel a certain way. Apart from my lack of presentation skills or experience in working with groups, there is another challenge: one part of the team is in Estonia, the other in Switzerland; bridging this gap makes the meetings more complex, but also challenges us to find strategies.

Joint exploration of mental health issues

Each topic was chosen for its relevance to our personal and professional lives. From understanding the role of dopamine in motivation to treating major clinical depression, procrastination, stress and the importance of sleep, the sessions are designed to inform and empower us.

One collaboration that was particularly close to my heart was the development of strategies for coping with stress in the workplace with psychotherapist and psychologist Lena Rusti, whose toolkit I will be presenting in a future blog.

We’ve also done exercises like self-help forms and gratitude as icebreakers, and my goal now is to engage our team more and more through interactive discussions.

Beyond consciousness: A call to action

We share our journey not to brag, but to inspire. In a world where mental health is often neglected, we believe that healthy employees are actually better employees. Through resilience, creativity, focus and better relationships, we not only create a better workplace, but also contribute to a more successful, understanding and empathetic society.

As we continue to learn, we invite others to learn from our experiences. By fostering an environment that values mental health, we can all develop personally and professionally. At blue.works, we strive to be the best versions of ourselves, for ourselves, for blue.works and for our customers.