It’s not just this time of year that our nearest and dearest are there to support us – through the trials and tribulations of life, picking us up when we’re down and encouraging us with our dreams – but it is now that we choose to show our appreciation and say thank you – but what about our friends and work colleagues?
Spending time with friends and colleagues is not only fun it can build new friendships that we can enjoy the rest of the year.
It can also yield a multitude of long-term physical and emotional health benefits – studies have shown that maintaining positive relationships rank up there with healthy eating and exercise as a necessary investment to your health:-
· Happiness is catching – smile at strangers and there’s a 50% chance they’ll smile back!
· Friends can help you achieve weight and fitness goals.
· Laughter can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones and increase memory and learning.
Consider putting this into practice in the work place:-
· Dedicate a space on your intranet so colleagues can say thank you to each other.
· Arrange to meet a colleague or new team for lunch.
· Design ‘thank you’ postcards that colleagues can give to each other.
· Hold ‘employee of the month’ awards.
“It’s all about spending time with others – those you know and work with – or better still…. those you don’t know quite so well – get to know new colleagues and teams!”
How will you spend your Valentines with your friends and work colleagues? Take a moment and share your ideas and experiences.
