There has never been a more appropriate time to think about how our team are feeling and support them on their wellbeing journey. Not only is it Mental Health Awareness Week, but the last year has been one of the most challenging that any of us will have ever faced. Now is as good a time as any to check in with your colleagues and start the conversation about mental health.
Digital Storm have been getting involved with Mental Health Awareness Week by taking a screen break and connecting with nature. We all know what working from home is like by now and, faced with another big change as the roadmap out of lockdown progresses, looking after our mental health has never been more important.
The Mental Health Foundation found that more than half of adults say that being close to nature improved their mental health. That’s why the theme of this Mental Health Awareness Week is nature and how you can connect with it.
Digital Storm has always tried to keep a dynamic team atmosphere, whether working from the office or remotely. With daily morning meetings and payday lunches all taking place on video chat, it was nice to find a reason to take a screen break and get outside.
Lesley Simmons, Director at Digital Storm, challenged her team to take a break from their desks and head out to explore the wilderness. She said:
“The team are often juggling several projects at once. They have collaborated brilliantly throughout the pandemic, often working across departments to ensure tight deadlines and objectives are met. This Mental Health Awareness Week, I want to remind them that it’s okay to take a breath and talk about mental health, and a great way to start is by taking a walk.”
Lesley’s challenge was their opportunity to peel themselves away from their screens. Everyone set off with the same task: take a selfie with a tree.
Dorset has some outstanding walks, as well as being home to the best beach in the UK. The challenge was a brilliant opportunity for Digital Storm to switch off for half an hour while they explored their area, snapped their tree selfies and connected with nature.
We think you’ll agree, all of their selfies turned out great. Oli, Creative Lead, decided it was best to keep a safe social distance from the tree. Lesley used her screen break to go for a run, discovering lots of trees on route. Olivia, Marketing Executive, didn’t have to go far but agreed that the blue sky and sunshine definitely lifted her spirits.
In fact, everyone at Digital Storm said how impressed they were at how much better they felt after taking a short screen break and going outside. They all went back to their desks ready to work, the short break actually making them feel more productive.
Mental Health Awareness Week is all about supporting each other and supporting yourself. If you’re feeling stressed or work is becoming too much, a short walk might be exactly what you need. Get your team involved, just like Digital Storm did, and go and find the best tree you can to take a picture with.
Turn away from whatever screen you’re reading this on and head out to connect with nature. And just so we’re really clear, house plants don’t count.