Our entirely imagined, completely over the top, laws of physics defying office, designed for utmost wellbeing.
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 is ‘Prioritising mental health in the workplace’, which we take seriously at Mere Mortals. We know that individuals who feel safe, supported, and free to express themselves make for a happier team and more interesting, varied, and creative work.
And we love flinging ourselves headfirst into creative challenges.
So, we let our imaginations run wild, asking ourselves: ‘What would our utopian wellbeing workplace be like?’ Below are just some initial ideas we thought we’d share. They may not be for everyone. But we liked them.
Creature Comforts
Firstly, and rather unsurprisingly, bringing in pets of all shapes and sizes is to be thoroughly encouraged.
Sure, no self-respecting creative space is complete without a pooch enthusiastically greeting visitors and bossing social media engagement metrics.
It's hardly a surprise. The healing nature of animals is well known. They can improve mental and physical well-being, alleviate stress, depression, and anxiety, improve mood and promote socialisation.
Therefore, we’d vigorously encourage pets of all shapes and sizes, from cats and dogs to snails, sharks and dragons. And they’d all magically get on, of course. It’s our imagination; we set the rules.
The Great Indoors
Next, we’d fill our office with flora and fauna, plus a giant sunroof would unfurl when the weather allows.
We’re not talking fake grass here. Or tins of paint splashed willy-nilly across the ceiling to spark ‘blue sky thinking’. We’re talking actual Mother Nature at her finest.
Connecting with nature can have many positive effects on mental health, wellbeing, and restoration. It has been shown to increase the ability to conduct focused tasks in the workplace and can improve mood, generating happy emotions like joy, calmness, and creativity.
So, we’re stuffing our office floor to ceiling with the living, breathing world. Think Little Shop of Horrors, on turbo, minus the bloodthirsty alien.
Swapping Perspectives
We’d have a magical room in which we could swap shoes and see the world through each other’s eyes.
Swapping shoes sounds icky, right? Not at Mindful Mortals HQ. All footwear in our office would stay forever brand-spanking-new, smelling of nowt but roses.
When individuals feel that their unique perspectives are valued and accepted, when they feel seen and understood, they experience higher self-esteem and emotional resilience. Inclusion and a sense of belonging are vital for mental health and wellbeing at work.
We want to experience the world through each other's eyes. What's more, the greater the diverse perspectives our team draws from, the deeper, more powerful, relevant and effective the work we can create.
Friendly Feasts
Each lunchtime, we’d throw a jovial banquet, complete with legit court jesters, seconded from the 1500s.
Social connection at work is important for mental health because it fosters a sense of belonging, reduces feelings of isolation, and provides support systems that enhance emotional resilience and overall well-being.
So, we’d down tools each lunchtime and pick up the conversation over a full-blown medieval banquet.
Attendance is far from obligatory, of course. If anyone would rather munch sandwiches at their desk or head outside for a walk, that’s fine. There’ll always be a place on a heavy oak bench waiting for them, if and when, they fancy.
Escape Pods
We’d tether escape pods to our office, perfect for escaping the hustle and bustle when deep focus is required.
Sometimes, we just want a little ‘me time’ to focus on completing pressing tasks and managing the stresses of looming deadlines and long to-do lists.
Providing environments where employees can focus on their work and manage and balance their emotions effectively helps reduce stress, prevent burnout, and promote overall well-being and productivity.
Our escape pods can be flown anywhere in the universe and are 100% distraction-proof. So, there will be no more unwanted distractions from Deborah in management or Colin from accounts.
Monster Stress Ball
We’d build a full size wrestling ring and provide a suitable opponent to facilitate the letting off of steam.
Stress happens. Whether we’re striving for creative excellence, reacting to curveballs, or dealing with day-to-day interactions in a creative environment, stress and frustration can often creep in.
Finding effective ways to let off steam is essential. Physical activity, meditation, and breathing techniques are all great ways to manage stress and frustration and improve wellbeing.
We’d go extreme in our office with a full-size Mexican Wrestling ring and ginormous stress ball. Alternate options will cater to individual needs, including the ‘Scream at the top of your lungs room’ and the ‘Smash things up with a bat or hammer room’. Of course, all thermal energy created from such activity will go to powering the office.
Off-Road Office
And, finally, the whole shebang would be on roller skates; seeking out fresh locations and creative adventures.
Last but not least, our office would be fully mobile on GoGo Gadget roller skates.
Because new experiences can reduce stress and anxiety by providing a sense of novelty and excitement. They can help create new neural pathways in the brain, improving memory and cognitive function. Furthermore, they can redirect focus away from ruminative thoughts and feelings.
So, we’d roam the land, pitching up on beaches, farms, fields, festivals, forests and on top of tall buildings seeking out creative stimulation to boost our brain power and mental wellbeing.