Stress Awareness Month: What Workplaces Can Do

The low-down on stress

April is International Stress Awareness Month and starts conversations of the causes and solutions to the modern day stress epidemic. Stress is a normal and natural physical response to situations that demand more of us, it can even help us to perform better. However, prolonged stress can take a serious toll on both mental and physical health.

Making stress work for you

A degree of work related stress is inevitable, with Statista stating over 79% of polled individuals saying they often experience it. Most people spend 1/3 of their lives at work, as a result there is a huge opportunity to reduce the negative impacts of stress by taking steps to prevent work related stress. Let’s make the workplace somewhere that offers solutions and resources to help people better cope with stress. 

Nourishing the workplace

Here at Social Pantry, we see ourselves as part of the stress solution, we know that what (and how) we eat impacts how we feel. Therefore office catering is a key component of workplace wellbeing, plus food is so much more than just fuel. Meals are social, mood-enhancing, team-building occasions, as well as a source of delicious, nutritious food.

What you can do

To mark International Stress Awareness Month, we’re sharing ways employers can maximise mealtimes to counteract stress. As a result, we’ve put together some ideas for Wellbeing Events designed to provide immediate stress-relief and stress-proof your workplace.

At Social Pantry, we are huge advocates of taking a proper lunch break. Accordingly, there is a wealth of research to back this up. Employees gain focus, energy and fresh perspective after stepping away from their desks, boosting productivity and creativity. It gives employees a chance to practice health-promoting, stress-reducing habits, resulting in improved mental wellbeing. A recent article in Forbes quotes a nutrition and wellness expert, “taking breaks like lunch breaks can boost performance”. It’s a win-win for both employers and employees.

Our clients naturally want to take time over enjoying our meals because our food is fresh, vibrant, varied and inspiring and we love it when clients want us to make meals as interactive as possible such as themed food stations and family-style team meals.

Nutrition can feel like a bit of a minefield with lots of different opinions on what and how to eat. However there are a few simple principles that nearly everyone can agree on. Eating more fruit and vegetables and keep it fresh, local and seasonal. Produce that is in season has higher levels of nutrients including stress-busting anti-oxidants. It can be grown more easily without chemical intervention, meaning less stress on the environment too. Fruit and vegetables begin losing nutrients soon after they’re picked. Plus the transport of fruit and vegetables contributes to nearly 20% of CO2 emissions from food. That’s around twice the amount of greenhouse gases released during their production. Keeping it local is a no-brainer, for you, or for the planet. 

Social Pantry is committed to serving fresh, seasonal, local produce prepared with a zero-to-landfill ‘root-to-leaf’ approach. Accordingly, this shrinks our carbon footprint and also locks in vital nutrients found in commonly-discarded parts of the ingredient e.g. skin, stems or leaves. Our April menu includes whole-ingredient focused main dishes such as Roasted Aubergine, Lemon Marinated Kale, Pomegranate and Wild Garlic Yoghurt Dressing; a great example of our plant-rich, and seasonal approach which crams in tonnes of stress-combatting nutrients too.

Take it further than the lunch break and explore the ever-expanding range of Workplace Wellbeing days this International Stress Awareness Month! Businesses and Workplaces can offer days dedicated to encouraging healthier lifestyles with workshops, talks, activities, mindful meals and more. Social Pantry have friends throughout the wellness sphere and would love to put you in touch with any or all of the businesses below!

Here are some of our top ideas for Workplace Wellbeing Events:

Replenish

Bringing the stress-busting benefits of yoga to the office is Stretching the City. Their corporate classes range from full-on vinyasa flows and HIIT classes to Chair Yoga and Move at Your Desk. Social Pantry can set up a fresh juice and smoothie bar making bespoke drinks from wonky fruit and veg, sustainable superfoods and adaptogenic ingredients. Plus, we will lay on a delicious and nutritious brunch for your team to sit down and enjoy. Expect locally-sourced, Ayurvedic inspired brunch dishes designed to support the different energy systems served family-style to encourage team-bonding and connection.

Paws in work

Paws in Work deliver mental health training during puppy therapy! Employees can cuddle and play with an adorable litter of puppies and learn all about mental health at work through their MHFA certified workshops. As a result, the Mental Health Foundation states that just by stroking, sitting with or playing with an animal, people are given a chance to relax and calm the mind! So why not take a ‘pause’ in between puppy therapy and mental health training to feed any growling stomachs with Social Pantry’s delicious and nutritious bowl food (not the dog bowl kind!) and CBD-enhanced drinks from our friends Intune Drinks. 

Wind down – wine down

Help employees wind down the healthy way without alcohol with a “Wine Down!” evening curated by Social Pantry. For instance, non-alcoholic wine from some of our favourite makers, plus hand-crafted non-alcoholic cocktails, nourishing comfort-food inspired canapés, soothing soundscapes, relaxing aromas from our friends Neal’s Yard Remedies, plus a sustainable goodie bag to help your employees get a great night’s sleep. We can also arrange keynote speakers and panel talks on all things Sleep & Stress, so all you have to do is sit back, listen and relax!

So, if you’d like Social Pantry to take the stress out of workplace catering (and out of your workplace, period!) please get in touch with us today!