The Secret of Wellbeing Results that Last

Many employees approach the New Year with an enthusiastic, 'things will be different and they're going to be dramatically different as soon as possible' approach.  They try to make changes with many areas of life at once - career, family, health - but this can feel overwhelming.

So, if there's one vital thing you can achieve with your wellbeing initiatives this year, it will be to help staff appreciate and adopt a slightly more considered approach.

This may mean that their desired results may take a little longer but this is always preferable to seeking instant and dramatic results and ending up with nothing to show for their efforts or, worse still, having to revisit the same changes next January but feeling that they're starting from an even worse position.

It is possible to get great wellbeing results quickly.  It's even better if these results last.  For example, here's an extract from an email someone sent me today.  This person attended a leadership programme and we worked with them in September 2012.

Gym membership sorted. No sugar / sugary drinks, no alcohol and eating well so you’ve had a pretty major effect.  Weight takes longer to get and stay off but pretty good so far….a work in progress!

These are great achievements in 3-months but's what's most important is that there has been a change in mindset and this change will be long-lasting.

So, one useful question to ask at the beginning of the year is, what wellbeing initiatives can you set up that will contribute to results that will benefit your staff for the next 3, 6, 12 months and beyond?