Why employee wellness plans are necessary
A company’s success is intertwined with the well-being of its employees
Travelling for wellness has been seeing an uptick since the pandemic. There is rising awareness, and acceptance even, that there’s more to leading a fulfilling life than merely chasing goals. Wellness Tourism Association, US, defines wellness travel as that which allows the traveller ‘to maintain, enhance or kick-start a healthy lifestyle, and support or increase one’s sense of well-being’. Unlike traditional thinking that encouraged taking one long holiday at the end of the year, wellness travel underlines the idea that rest and relaxation are integral to our well-being and should be treated as such. Citing Global Wellness Institute’s data, digital travel platform, Roadbook, states that the world’s wellness tourism market is projected to reach $1 trillion in 2024.
This year, along with sustainable travelling, a trend that’s predicted to be in vogue in wellness tourism, is slow travelling. It’s a concept that encourages a traveller to spend time getting to know one place rather than rush around checking off many places, mindlessly. In millennial speak, it is a mindset that embraces JOMO (the joy of missing out). A surge in searches for terms like “staycation hotel” and “slow life” on platforms like Pinterest serves as a testament to the growing popularity of slow travel. How does one plan one? Hyderabad-based lifestyle coach Priya Rajiv Mohan shares a few ideas.
“Choose culturally rich and beautiful destinations, stay in eco-friendly accommodations, use slower transportation like trains or buses, and immerse yourself in local communities through markets and festivals,” says Mohan. She also advocates for a less-packed itinerary. “Explore fewer places as it helps you delve deeper and foster a more meaningful connection with each location,”she says.
Delhi-based entrepreneur, Kushal Jain, recently went on a staycation to Nainital, Uttarakhand without much of a plan. A portmanteau of ‘stay’ and ‘vacation’, a staycation is a great way to practise slow travel. The idea being to unwind in the comfort of familiar surroundings — think a resort, a five star hotel or a luxury bed and breakfast in your own city or the suburbs —for a long weekend. Besides being affordable and easy to plan with minimal stress, a well-planned staycation gives you the opportunity to reset from the daily grind.
“During my staycation, the absence of a rigid itinerary allowed for unexpected discoveries. Whether stumbling upon charming alleyways or hidden cafes, these unplanned encounters became the essence of a truly laid-back and enjoyable journey,” says Jain.
AN UNHURRIED BREAK
Slow travelling also entails pursuing activities that align with relaxation and personal growth such as spa treatments, wellness workshops or nature walks. Aware of their popularity, holiday retreats and vacation homes are curating immersive experiences that their guests can enjoy at a leisurely pace. Dharana at Shillim Pune, for instance, offers a range of physical and mental wellness programmes for their guests. “Along with well-thought out yoga programmes, our wellness offerings include guided meditations, nature walks, health workshops, cooking classes and clay therapy,” says Srikant Peri, general manager, Dharana at Shillim. The idea is to encourage individuals to step away from external distractions and reconnect with their inner selves, Peri explains.
Parul Kaushik, an engineer from Mumbai, recently tried her hands at pottery, which was being offered as a creative activity to guests at Igatpuri Hills Retreat, Nasik. “Moulding clay was therapeutic. Feeling the earthy texture of clay between my fingers was a welcome contrast from the habit of constantly holding my phone. It was a reminder of the simple and grounding joys we often overlook in our touchscreendominant lives,” Kaushik says. Another facet of the slow travel movement is a rising interest in meditation retreats. With mental health becoming a priority, travellers are increasingly planning holidays to reconnect with themselves in a tranquil environment.
Wellness retreats and resorts are adapting to this trend by providing guests with spaces specially designed to foster mindfulness. Ekaanta, a boutique experiential luxury wellness retreat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand has hexagonal pods inspired by the beehive concept — the pods allow guests to unwind and meditate in a soundproof, energy-efficient setting. That is not all. With sleep health becoming a rising concern, hotels, resorts and retreats are investing in creating optimal environments for rest and rejuvenation. So, from comfortable mattresses to blackout curtains and a range of sleep-enhancing amenities, slow travel enthusiasts can now get away to catch on some much-needed zzzs. At Dharana at Shillim, interested guests can get a polysomnography test done that offers a detailed insight into their sleeping habits.
While slow travelling gains momentum this year, a trend from 2023 whose popularity continues unabated is solo travelling. An idea that has been propagated by books and movies for years, more people today are opting to travel by themselves for the convenience it affords them. Not to mention the undiluted experience of freedom or lessons in self-reliance it proffers.
FLYING SOLO
Saloni Kapoor, had a life-affirming epiphany on her first solo trip to the US, after being asked to stand aside by a TSA security personnel at a domestic airport there for lack of ID proof.
“I have never travelled on my own within or outside India but after attending a wedding in New Jersey along with a friend from India, I was encouraged by my hostess to go see a few places within the US. I decided to go to Chicago to meet my school friend. And then, this happened!” she says. What has left Kapoor stunned about the experience is how calmly she handled the situation. “This incident has given me so much confidence in myself, I now go on trips by myself,” says Kapoor who is seemingly unworried about things going wrong. “I know it can be seen through. After all, I reasoned it out with a TSA security personnel, didn’t I?” she laughs before describes the trip a ‘rebirth’. That’s also probably the phrase Ashalatha Srinidhi would pick for her first solo trip to the Himalayas.
Having lost her husband a few years ago and spending a few tough years alone, Srinidhi signed up for a trip to Rishikesh for a yoga camp. It was a transformative experience. “Although I stayed largely to myself, the interactions I had with others helped me discover myself. I found talking to strangers relaxing because I could control my narrative. It helped me get back to mainstream life when I returned,” she says.
Avinash Kumar, a lawyer from Bengaluru, advocates solo travel for battling one’s issues. Having missed several trips with friends and family all these years because of his paranoia for public bathrooms, Kumar recently decided to drive down to Coorg to attend a friend’s wedding. “If I had gone with others, I would have been on the defensive and frustrated. On this trip, I promised myself that I would turn back if it got too difficult. But I persevered and that was life-changing,” he says.
Call it life-changing, a rebirth or an inward journey, solo travel is a mindset. It has the power to help you discover yourself, take responsibility for your choices and be at peace with them. To paraphrase a cliché, the destination isn’t as important as the journey itself.
Afocus on the health, fitness and general well-being of employees is a relatively recent phenomena among Indian companies. The POV that fitter employees are happier, more efficient and perform better, is sharply in focus these days, especially after corporate India had to deal with the immediate challenges of covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns. Organizations are now looking beyond simple employee fitness and taking measures to ensure wellness, including mental health. The reason is simple: Wellness has a direct bearing not just on job satisfaction and performance, but also overall organizational morale, output and performance.
Business leaders and HR experts also note that prioritising employee wellness helps reduce absenteeism, lost work hours and high turnover rates, saving the organization both time and resources with regards to recruiting and training new staff members. “There’s been a noticeable shift in how corporate entities approach employee wellness, particularly concerning mental health. The Indian corporate sector is making commendable progress in tackling the stigma associated with mental health, nurturing a culture of support within the workplace, and offering vital resources to enhance overall employee well-being,” says Vijayaraghavan Venugopal, co-founder and CEO of the nutrition business Fast&up.
At infotech and software giant Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which is a partner to multiple races around the world, including the New York City Marathon, Tata Mumbai Marathon and the TCS World 10k Bengaluru, the company recognizes that employee wellness is intertwined with organizational success.
“In the dynamic landscape of corporate culture, employee wellness isn’t just a perk, it’s a prerequisite. Employee health and wellness have been a top priority and we embrace holistic wellness,” says a TCS spokesperson. Kellanova India, the company behind popular brands including Pringles and Kellog’s, has a structured programme called “My Total Health” for ensuring mental support.
From enhanced productivity to positive organisational culture, there are plenty of benefits, says Dr. Shaunak Ajinkya, consultant psychiatrist at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai. “When employees feel mentally well, they focus better, make informed decisions, and contribute effectively to their tasks. This ultimately leads to increased productivity. It also helps reduce stress and anxiety which can exacerbate or lead to other major mental health issues like panic attacks, depression, substance abuse, schizophrenia or suicidality,” he says citing a recent Mckinsey survey where 47% respondents felt anxious when there was no clear communication from their firm about the future. When organisations actively address mental health, it creates a culture of empathy, understanding and support. This attracts, and is more likely to retain, top talent.
For travellers today, a good holiday is about discovering new places and experiences
at their own pace
Employees who feel mentally well tend to be focussed and effective in delivering tasks