As a company located in India, the country that spearheaded the global adoption of yoga and meditation, mental wellness has naturally been a cornerstone for us at 21st Century Relocations. And not in a way where we have ideas only on paper and not in practice.

Our focus on mental health began with the COVID-19 pandemic, which served as a wake-up call. While everyone was talking about social distancing and physical health, we made sure our employees did not experience the stigma of grappling with Covid. We offered additional insurance coverage and wages, ensuring that everyone continued to have a job and knew we had their back. The process of ‘humanizing’ our workplace began from there, and soon, mental health became a priority.

For inspiration, we embarked on a global exploration, examining various mental wellness practices implemented by people and companies worldwide with the aim of incorporating them into our own workplace. And we were glad to know we weren’t alone on this journey. 

Many other companies began introducing mental wellness programs. Barclays started a ‘This Is Me’ campaign that shared stories of their employees to tell others that they were not alone in their mental health struggles, while Ernst & Young started a ‘Better You’ program that created a resource bank to support the physical, financial, social, and emotional needs of their employees. There were many more, and they acted as catalysts for us.

To adapt them to the local context, we started understanding the concepts and ideas behind such programs. The outcomes were remarkable, and it is with great pleasure that I share some of these global practices and their positive impact on our organization.

The Indian Ideas of ‘Dharma and Karma’ and the Swedish Idea of ‘Lagom’

To begin with, we didn’t have to look too far from home. Ancient Vedic texts write widely about the body reflecting the mind. The Bhagavad Geeta talks about refraining from an excess of anything to find a work-life balance, continuing to work without worry about consequences (nishkama karma), and having equanimity (samatva) in success and failure. Similarly, the Swedish idea of moderation and finding a balance in everything to achieve happiness inspired us.

We advocate these principles at our organization and encourage the practice of yoga asanas for mindfulness and fitness. And I, too, as a leader, have been practicing yoga for years, reaping its many benefits. With patience, consistency and open communication with every individual, we were able to instill a sense of trust and optimism that soon began reflecting in our work. Our employees were happier and calmer and knew how to better navigate various challenges at work. 

The Japanese Art of ‘Wabi-Sabi’

While we value a perfect customer experience, we also understand that it puts a lot of pressure on our employees. Many of them work long hours in various locations, braving the weather to get a relocation project executed to a client’s satisfaction. This is why ‘Wabi-Sabi’—the art of embracing imperfections and impermanence—is important to us.

As we adopted this philosophy at work, we observed how our employees were less anxious and were able to learn gracefully from their mistakes. They were no longer overly preoccupied with perfectionism. Each mistake became a valuable learning block—and this increased authenticity and accountability at the workplace. 

The Swedish Philosophy of ‘Fika’ and the Dutch ‘Niksen’

This idea is already present at many workplaces in India and abroad. Fika is nothing but a coffee break. For many of our employees, it is a chai break. These are short 5-10 minute breaks they can take when they want to destress and give their minds a break. We also encourage them to completely switch off from work on holidays in line with the Dutch idea of ‘Niksen,’ which means to do nothing. 

This has not only increased job satisfaction at 21st Century Relocations but also boosted efficiency and prevented burnout—a concern many organizations face today.

The Path Ahead

We have come a long way, but there is a long way to go. We are working on conflict resolution practices at our organization by taking inspiration from the Hawaiian ‘Ho’oponopono’ practice, which is all about ‘making things right with yourself and others.’ It is about understanding that each individual is first a human and then an employee, and their own personal experiences will shape their behaviors with their colleagues. When used at work, it can encourage active listening, articulation and healthy expression.

We also love the concepts of ‘Ubuntu’ from South Africa (about connecting with others) and ‘Hygge’ from Denmark (which talks about building cozy, comforting places) for our workspaces, something we want to implement in the near future.

While we may not be perfect and may have our share of struggles in the moving and relocation industry, we will keep trying. We see our company becoming more supportive, more emotionally inclusive, and a place that promotes mental well-being, come what may—and I hope this piece encourages you to do the same. Mental wellness is not just a priority but also a necessity.