Transforming Workplace Wellbeing

At Unity Place, wellbeing is about more than one-off initiatives – it’s about creating an environment where people can feel connected, supported and able to thrive at work. As part of our January and February wellbeing focus, we’re pleased to share this guest blog from Jon Manning, founder of the Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation, a UK charity supporting individuals and organisations through practical, early mental health interventions and everyday wellbeing behaviours

Whether you work as part of a busy office team, rent space in a co-working environment, or spend most of your week working alone from home, one thing remains true: if you’re human, wellbeing applies to you.

Productivity, motivation and connection don’t come from grand initiatives or expensive perks. They come from small, consistent behaviours that support how our brains and bodies work every day. During Unity Place’s January wellbeing focus, I am delighted to share five fundamental wellbeing behaviours that are simple, adaptable, and effective for everyone, from sole traders to large employers.

We often refer to positive wellbeing behaviours as “bananas”.

Think about adding one banana to your daily diet. It’s quick, affordable, easy to do on the go and, over time, it makes you healthier. You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle for it to work. These wellbeing behaviours are the same: small, achievable actions that fit naturally into daily life.

They work best when they’re:

• Simple
• Repeatable
• Easy to switch up when boredom sets in
• Not tied to unrealistic targets

Over time, these small habits quietly build resilience, focus and emotional balance.

Rather than thinking in terms of “wellbeing activities”, it’s more helpful to think in terms of behaviours, things we actively practice.

1. Move
Movement doesn’t have to mean the gym. A 20-minute walk at lunchtime, stretching between meetings, or simply breaking up long periods of sitting can make a meaningful difference. The key is consistency, not intensity.

2. Focus
Focus is about giving your brain a rest from constant stimulation, especially screens. Any activity that draws your attention into the present moment counts: reading, cooking, gardening, puzzles, creative hobbies, even mindful cleaning.

Importantly, this isn’t work-related focus. It’s about switching off. Even 10–15 minutes is enough to give the brain a genuine break. Many workplaces see staff “taking breaks” while still scrolling on their phones, meaning the brain never truly rests. Simple, low-cost changes like board games, puzzles or screen-free breakout spaces can encourage genuine mental downtime.

3. Discover
Discover is linked to motivation, confidence and self-esteem. It’s the feeling of accomplishment that comes from learning or completing something, whether that’s finishing a small task at work, setting a manageable goal, or finally tackling a DIY job at home.

For younger workers especially, these moments of achievement are crucial for building confidence early in their careers.

4. Communicate
Face-to-face interaction matters more than we often realise. Communicate means prioritising real human contact, not just emails or messages, throughout the week.

This is especially important for those who live alone or work remotely, particularly during winter months when isolation can creep in unnoticed. Face-to-face communication strengthens social skills such as assertiveness, conflict resolution and negotiation, all essential for both professional success and healthy personal relationships.

5. Help
Helping others, even in very small ways, has a powerful effect on the brain. Acts of kindness can trigger the release of dopamine (the reward hormone) and oxytocin (the bonding hormone). Together, these chemicals help regulate our stress response and can reduce levels of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.

Importantly, this only works when help is given without expectation. Making someone a cup of tea, holding a door, offering support, these small actions build connection and reduce stress far more effectively than social media “likes” ever could.

When we stop practising positive behaviours, they’re often replaced by what we call “doughnuts” - behaviours that feel good in the moment but have negative effects over time.

Scrolling endlessly on social media, binge eating, excessive drinking, these aren’t things to feel guilty about. Enjoy them in moderation. The issue arises when doughnuts replace bananas entirely.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s balance. Prioritising healthy behaviours most of the time while allowing space for enjoyment.

Many people entering the workforce today, particularly those aged 27 and under, have grown up communicating primarily through technology. As a result, some core interpersonal and emotional skills haven’t had the same chance to develop.

What we’re seeing increasingly is that younger employees may not naturally have the tools for:

• Conflict resolution
• Assertive communication
• Managing stress and relationships

This isn’t a failure, it’s an opportunity.

Employers don’t need to “fix” people, but they can create environments that encourage these five behaviours from day one. By embedding them into induction, training, workplace design and culture, organisations help young people develop habits that can support them for life, while also building healthier, more resilient teams.

Wellbeing doesn’t require grand gestures. It requires consistent, human-centred thinking. When individuals and organisations focus on small, everyday behaviours, the impact compounds over time, for productivity, connection and mental health alike.

Sometimes, all it takes is choosing a banana over a doughnut.

Jon Manning, is founder of the Arthur Ellis Mental Health Foundation - the online mental health charity whose mission is to help the estimated 1.7 million people across the UK who struggle to reach support, without long waits or high thresholds. They support every mind, everywhere, promoting access over awareness.

Throughout January and February, Unity Place is championing wellbeing through a programme of activities, content and experiences designed to encourage movement, connection and moments of pause during the working day. From wellbeing-focused events and breathwork classes to shared spaces that invite people to step away from screens, the aim is to make healthy behaviours easier to build into everyday routines. By creating opportunities for people to mix, connect and feel part of a wider community, Unity Place continues to support a more balanced, human way of working.