Whether it's a long hike or a little daily meditation, a more sustainable approach to media consumption or an entire study programme on Sustainability: what colleagues are doing for their physical and mental well-being in 2022.
My mental balance during the stressful time of the last few months was clearly my little daughter. I have spent every free minute with her and my wife. But my siblings and friends were and are also very important. What has also helped me are long hikes through our beautiful Sauerland region, where you can simply take in nature. For the new year, I have resolved to hold my own against the competition with my store and to achieve the target figures together with my team. Together with my assistants, I have set out in writing how we intend to achieve these goals. These are displayed in the store so that we are reminded of them every day. We all find motivation together as a team by supporting each other every day. This makes it easier to give our best every day. I made a conscious decision to become self-employed. It's a great incentive for me because I want to be a good employer and simply enjoy what I do.
Martin Wodniok, 33, has been a REWE salesman in Bestwig since November 2021 and is the proud father of a ten-month-old daughter
"My resolution is to lose weight through exercise, but above all through conscious eating. I want to be aware of my food without being distracted by my mobile phone, laptop or television. When I eat, these distractions are now turned off or switched off. My "media detox" is not only good for me, but also helps me to better recognise whether I'm hungry or already full.
Eating consciously requires me to shop and cook more consciously. I take more time for all three - shopping, preparing a healthy meal and eating. That works really well, because I have good motivation: my sister's wedding in May - and my beautiful bridesmaid dress..."
After completing her training as an office management assistant, Elvan Eda Özdemir has been working in the Employer Branding department (HHZKA) since 1 February.
"The Camino de Santiago has been on my bucket list for a while, a list of things I would like to do in the course of my life - and this year I want to tackle this challenge. My father is Spanish, so I spent many summer holidays in Spain during my childhood, including a big family holiday in Galicia and a visit to Santiago de Compostela. So for me, the Way of St James is less about religion and more about my Spanish roots.
Even though I'm not a classic "hiking fan", I'm in the mood for an active holiday. To my delight, my best friend accompanies me and we walk the Way together. I prepare for the Camino de Santiago with my normal sports programme: Yoga, swimming, running. Oh yes, and I'll soon be buying my hiking boots.
I'll start at the beginning of May: I'll have about two weeks off and want to walk part of the classic Camino (Camino Francés). So I'll start and finish in Spain and walk 200 to 300 kilometres."
Alicia Reinekehr, HR Development Stores and Logistics Toom
"My big goal for this year is to finalise my MBA* in sustainability management. Even before I started the programme in 2019, I was already working intensively on the topic of Sustainability, especially in my private life. A friend of mine started her degree programme a year before me, which really inspired me.
Sustainability drives me, it gives me a sense of purpose. I'm currently in the final spurt and plan to hand in my Master's thesis in May. Especially now, in these times, a goal like this has a special meaning for me and my mental health."
* The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a degree programme that can be studied after a first academic degree (e.g. bachelor's or diploma).
Ribanna Jansen, Sustainability Project Manager at Toom
More about physical and mental fitness
An interview with Fabian Laukamp from Gemeinsam.topfit:
"An unachieved goal is not the end."
Read more here.
"I first heard about the book "Tiny Habits" in a podcast. It's about small habits with a big impact. The steps are so small that they can be easily integrated into everyday life.
In January, I started to do something for my mental health and the first thing I did was to set a quiet phase on my smartphone from 10 pm to 7 am. The display is then grey and blocked for notifications. I also got into the habit of leaving the flat at lunchtime for a long walk during my home office time. The positive effect is clearly noticeable. You can use these little habits in so many places. I can only recommend it to everyone."
Sabine Kaunzner, Sales Specialist DER Travel and Tourism Hotels & Resorts GmbH
"Mindfulness training, meditation and regularly practising gratitude are things I want to do more often this year. These practices have helped me enormously to take difficult times as they are and to focus on the positive. I have realised how important it is to do something for mental health on a daily basis alongside physical fitness in order to unite body and mind and live more intensely in the moment, and I feel that the positive effects of these practices have a positive impact on my entire life in every respect and I am sure that everyone can experience the same. I think many people don't do enough for their mental health and these practices can help them gain inner peace and strength in this performance-orientated, fast-paced and digital world. I am therefore very pleased to be able to give a training course on gratitude as part of my internship at PENNY for our office management retailers and the trainees from the Abitur programme."
Daniel The Kien Gräve, Learning Intern, PENNY HR Competence Centre national
More on the topic of physical fitness
Bianca van Wijnen tells us in the podcast what REWE Group is doing for the health of its employees.
Listen to the podcast here.
"I have resolved to do more yoga in 2022 to compensate for sitting at my desk for so long and to become more flexible. I've been doing yoga on and off for a few years now, initially at the gym. But that was initially cancelled due to coronavirus, and now it's no longer an option for me either: I'm still a long way from being in a classroom with lots of other people because it's too risky in terms of infection.
So I was all the happier when I discovered YouTuber Mady Morrison's January yoga challenge. for 30 days, there is a different programme of between 15 and 30 minutes every day, which she accompanies virtually. I usually do the exercises in the evening to wind down at the end of the day. I also do a ten-minute yoga sequence in the morning before work to start the day - and that's my fitness programme for the start of the year! My plan is to continue it throughout the year. But I'll have to see if I can stay that consistent first..."
Carolin Wachhorst, Cross Channel Content Manager at Toom
"After some traditional sporting events were cancelled due to the pandemic and unfortunately could only take place virtually, I'm looking forward to hopefully being able to "duel" with friends and other athletes again this year. A little more everyday life and normality would be great!
As we all know, necessity is the mother of invention, which is why I organised a few trips for myself last year, regardless of events and dates. And I'm also planning a mixture of spontaneous activities and hopefully competitions for 2022: a multi-day bikepacking tour, for example - only the most necessary things, such as a tent and sleeping bag, are packed together and attached to the bike in bags. Also on my list are a hiking marathon in the Franconian Forest, where around 500 participants hike 42 kilometres, a triathlon in Erlabrunn near Würzburg and a half marathon in Frankfurt's city forest, as well as bike tours with colleagues. And a lot more besides..."
Very important: even if it all sounds like a lot, the focus is always on fun and socialising! Colleagues who would like to join one or other of these events are very welcome to get in touch with me.
Alexander Kallasch, Product Manager Southern Europe - Italy DER Travel and Tourism
