Instituting Mandatory Relaxation Period at Work- Want some help figuring this out logistically
So, basically, the idea is that I want to give everyone in the office 30 minutes, every day, where they aren't allowed to work//think about work//talk about work.
Initially, I just really wanted 30 minutes, in the middle of the day, to meditate, because it helps with dealing with shit that comes up. But I realized it would be pretty cool to give everyone this same opportunity. Obviously, not everyone meditates etc. so I don't want to force people to meditate, or do yoga or wtvr the fuck I view as "relaxing"... Everyone has their own shit that relaxes them.
Anyway, I wanted to get some thoughts on how I could make this work//any other thoughts you guys have about it.
I was initially thinking of having everyone take the same 30 minute period, every day, but that doesn't really make sense, logistically.
My thought right now is to basically allow everyone to take the 30 minutes whenever they want, but they have to take it. And they have to have it blocked out on their schedule, and they aren't allowed to engage in work or talk abou work in any way. Obviously, I'll set the example of me taking 30 minutes to meditate in the conference roomm, but everyone could basically do whatever they wanted during these 30 minutes- but it really needs to have a relaxation focus
That last part about it needing to have a "relaxation focus" is something else I have a question on- How do I make this 30 minutes different from just your typical "lunch break"... Like, for me, it's easy cause I'm actively using this period to meditate, so it's a very specific relaxation activity.
But I could see other people just using it as a lunch-break type thing.... which I kinda want to avoid. Like I don't just want people taking longer lunch breaks, becuase I don't think that serves the purpose. The point is to have 30 minutes to relax, and I thinkt hat going out to lucnh isn't really "actively relaxing", but I don't know if I'm being too close-minded about this.
Thoughts Fellas?
You coud conconct a hybrid mix of ex-lax and prune juice and put it in the coffee/water station.
I go in and I'm crisp, clean and my vocals are fucking coming out like music. - Anonymous MW student
- Autismus Terminus Finis (Root Cause/Cure of Autism Epidemic)
- Called Off My Wedding & Other Turn Tail Signs Of The American Male
You should probably have someone come in to speak on meditation and active mindfulness, etc. This shouldn't be you. This'll jump start the idea and you'll get a lot more compliance. Otherwise you're just going to have people being playing craps in the bathroom.
I go in and I'm crisp, clean and my vocals are fucking coming out like music. - Anonymous MW student
- Autismus Terminus Finis (Root Cause/Cure of Autism Epidemic)
- Called Off My Wedding & Other Turn Tail Signs Of The American Male
You coud conconct a hybrid mix of ex-lax and prune juice and put it in the coffee/water station.
^hm, this seems like it would be effective if you wanted them to take say 6 manditory 5 min breaks throughout the day.
i think you probably have the mechanisms already in place. Have them submit an action plan for how they're going to spend that time relaxing and hold them accountable. Treat it like an assignment, not a break
How tough are workplace laws? How about a 30 min mid day freak fest
That's actually a great idea, Manwhore
@Jack: Yeah, I was just thinking of doing something similar to that- my initial thought was to do check-in periods at the end of each week and talk with each employee about how they used their relaxation time, whether they felt it was helpful, and if there was anything they think would make it more useful//relaxing
Hadn't considered forcing people to submit action plans beforehand, and I'm not rejecting that idea, but I'm also unsure if that's the way that I would want to introduce this new policy, right out the gates
How big is the office? Sounds like you have a start up kinda vibe there? If so I like a combo of manwhores and jacks idea. But maybe a free time would work better for those who don't get the "active relaxation." Depends on the vibe you have there
Yeah I think its all in the presentation. Ie. maybe consider it "encouraging" rather than "forcing" amirite? Basically I'm suggesting you present it as a fun "work project". Not a "forced assignment" nor a "break". Heck, you could probably even make it optional and everyone would still be intrigued and participate. Something designed to be a bit of both which includes some lite accountability. Else, like MW says, its gonna degrade to an extended lunch break.
How big is the office? Sounds like you have a start up kinda vibe there? If so I like a combo of manwhores and jacks idea. But maybe a free time would work better for those who don't get the "active relaxation." Depends on the vibe you have there
It's def. a startup vibe. We have like 10ish people, with a few who travel and are here every other week or so
And yeah- I'm totally on-board with a hybrid of Manwhore//Jack's ideas, but maybe instead of forcing people to submit "action plans" right out of the gates, I can start-off with just interviewing people at the end of the week. I want buy-in right off the bat, and I think forcing people to give me something of an "action plan" might turn people off prematurely. But I like the idea of action-plans, becuase I do believe this isn't necessarily a "break" as much as it's an opportunity to actively engage in something that is relaxing (in a mindful way)
I think getting everyone's thoughts at the end of each week, also helps promote the idea that this is something we should be taking seriously, as opposed to just fuckin around.... but it's also less over-bearing than an iniital action-plan
@Ice: I'm with you on also allowing for a more general, "Free time" type of thing.... my main issue with this is how to frame it, such that people stil do something productive, because I respect that some people don't get the mindfulness thing (and some won't ever do it, even if I bring someone in to talk about it) and I want them to have the freedom//option to engage in an activity that helps them, but yeah... don't want that to get out of hand. (and maybe this is where Jack's idea can come in handy.... like if you're going to use it as "free-time" you need to indicate how you're going to use the time)...
Really cool and forward thinking idea btw. I think Japan has begun something like this. Maybe try a bit of research and see if there's an existing working model. I think with the jp its 'nap time' maybe? I think maybe also yoga/stretching
Yeah if you have enough access to people to be able to call them in individually and get their thoughts on it beforehand that's stellar. Pretty much in the bag
I go in and I'm crisp, clean and my vocals are fucking coming out like music. - Anonymous MW student
- Autismus Terminus Finis (Root Cause/Cure of Autism Epidemic)
- Called Off My Wedding & Other Turn Tail Signs Of The American Male
So just to clarify thigns on my end a lil:
1. My thought is that by checking-in with people at the end of each week, that, along with setting a good example myself, will help prevent it devolving into an extended lunch break
2. I'm going to look into finding someone who can come in and talk about mindfullness
3. I like the idea of making it "optional", or framing it as a "Work Project"- I want to hammer this one out a lil more, because I think I see a lot of potential in this framing, and just need to figure out how it actually plys out in reality
4. Need to find a way to allow for more of a "Free-Time", for those who just don't do the active mindfulness, without allowing that part of it to devolve.
4a. I thinkt hat by implementing 1), 2), and 3) though, it will sorta naturally prevent this from devolving.
Also- I just have to accept that it's not gonna be perfect form the outset. I can't control the way people react to being given this opportunity. I gotta just adapt properly and learn as I go.
Oh shit- so yeah, instead of forcing people to write something up beforehand, I'm just going to call them in individually and basically do what I was going to do afterwards and just switch it around and do it beforehand .... and possibly also do a check-in at the end of the week to see how what we discussed panned out
BOOM- that's how I frame it in a way that gets massive buy-in..... fuckin a manwhore//jack
Bring them in beforehand and talk about it. That way it's not like a "chore"... but instead they're just talking with me
"Google does it. Look at Google."
No way google does this..
Do they?
lol either way- this entire policy is solely being implemented so I can get my 30 minutes of meditation in every day, without people asking questions.... I'm a selfish fuck for sure ; )
I was kidding...kind of. I know one of the big tech mogul companies gives their employees LITERALLY A WHOLE DAY to work on a project that they are interested in. This could be online poker, running a website, reading, meditation, etc. The only stipulations are they have to love it and it has to enhance their creativity.
I was kidding...kind of. I know one of the big tech mogul companies gives their employees LITERALLY A WHOLE DAY to work on a project that they are interested in. This could be online poker, running a website, reading, meditation, etc. The only stipulations are they have to love it and it has to enhance their creativity.
That's sweet- and yeah that's def. the kind of shit I want to implement down the road. One step at a time..
Is it one day once a year? Once a month? That's pretty cool
Here it is, check out the 80/20 rule: http://www.businessinsider.com/google-employee-favorite-perks-2013-3?op=1
this is obviously tech sector. For sales, I would definitely encourage constructive relaxation. Reading, meditating, yoga, think tanks, etc.
also, beer Fridays is badass. My company does that.
So just to clarify thigns on my end a lil:1. My thought is that by checking-in with people at the end of each week, that, along with setting a good example myself, will help prevent it devolving into an extended lunch break
2. I'm going to look into finding someone who can come in and talk about mindfullness
3. I like the idea of making it "optional", or framing it as a "Work Project"- I want to hammer this one out a lil more, because I think I see a lot of potential in this framing, and just need to figure out how it actually plys out in reality
4. Need to find a way to allow for more of a "Free-Time", for those who just don't do the active mindfulness, without allowing that part of it to devolve.
4a. I thinkt hat by implementing 1), 2), and 3) though, it will sorta naturally prevent this from devolving.
Also- I just have to accept that it's not gonna be perfect form the outset. I can't control the way people react to being given this opportunity. I gotta just adapt properly and learn as I go.
yeah. Good stuff. What manwhore said too maybe talk to them as a group and individually. As well as weekly check ups until they get the hang of it. Look at Rsd. Tyler promotes meditation and green juice while Alex promotes "eating m&m's" and doing stupid shit. Both achieving the same thing. Some ppl who are regular meditators might be better served taking a nap or punching the fuck outta a punching bag. And vice versa.
Good of implementation strategies, the trick is explaining what to do with the time. Most startup employees are nerds so maybe bringing in someone to explain active meditation would work. And then give personal attention to whomever needs it after the weekly checkups
Oh shit. Yeah you kinda already said this^^
and I'm all for beer Fridays if the freak fest doesn't fly