Category: COLLABORATION

Why employers must consider corporate wellbeing programs that focus on mental health

Woman phone smiling online

A study published in the ‘Journal of Clinical Psychiatry’ reveals that 85% of employee mental health problems go undiagnosed. Given the stigma that surrounds mental health, what are the odds that your employees are experiencing an undiagnosed mental health problem? Mental Health conditions are costing Australian businesses $11 billion annually in the form of reduced productivity, absenteeism, presenteeism and direct employee health care costs. It’s all the more reason for employers to actively work towards creating a holistic work environment that attributes equal importance to mental and physical health. Wellness programs that encourage healthy physical activities might be addressing only one half of the equation. A well-rounded corporate wellness program like the one offered by Happy Melon, can address both these concepts separately and help employers create a holistic work environment.  Corporate Mindfulness for the mind Employees today are constantly surrounded by technology that’s bombarding them with information 24/7. Emails, social media, fast approaching deadlines, chat tools, there’s so much going on all the time, that it can be overwhelming.  Mindfulness is defined as taking a few moments to detach oneself from our surroundings. There’s a growing body of research that shows that it is very effective in reducing stress, depression and anxiety. In some cases, it might be even more effective than frontline medication used to treat these conditions. A corporate mindfulness program encourages your employees to take timed pauses from work and meditate. Even brief meditation can help improve attention and focus in employees, which positively influences productivity. An on-going mindfulness program can… Read More

Our top picks of at-home wellness and why it will continue to grow

Men wellness

A few fit facts as we head into 2021. Between 2015 and 2017 the wellness industry grew by 6.4 per cent to become a $4.2 trillion market. That’s nearly twice as fast as global economic growth (3.6 per cent annually, based on IMF data). The wellness industry now represents 5.3 percent of global economic output. Despite 2020’s massive disruption to face-to-face wellness operations, the growth rates have not dropped. Rather, engagement with online and at-home solutions have increased – and by all accounts, and common sense, does not look like it will be slowing down anytime soon. The accessibility and variety of online options has made it easier to not only reap workout and wellness benefits, but has also provided the social connection that humans naturally crave, especially after isolating for much of the year. Today we speak to a bunch of business owners in the wellness space to hear their thoughts. Mindfulness online Luke Mcleod is the founder of meditation and mindfulness app Soul Alive, a service that encourages people to take a moment and reset. He launched it right before the pandemic in August 2019 but it turns out that his mode for delivery could not have been more perfect. “My point of difference is that I host the sessions live, not only for social connection but to make people accountable to turn up” says McLeod.  “While a lot of our clients are mums, so they do tend to catch up on the sessions after the live class from time to time, people try their best to get to the live sessions so they can chat before class.” “As… Read More

Freelancing in the free world: being a nomadic creative

Man photographing his shoes with smartphone

There’s a lot of talk about being a digital nomad but what about being a nomadic creative? In other words, someone who goes where the work is. For many creative types, this is essential. As a result, you end up getting in your car and forever feeling like you are on a road trip. But being a nomadic creative is a lot of work. It’s not just about going where the work is, but it’s about organising your life in such a way that you can constantly be in work, but also be able to cope with the rigours of constant travel. Let’s show you some of the practicalities, and personal components, involved in being a nomadic creative.  Travelling Right The best way to be a nomad is to have your own car. Some people like travelling via train, or public transport, but the big problem with this is that you are bound by the timetables. If you have a phone call at 6 pm for a job that is starting at 9 am 500 miles away, you’ve got no time to book a train, get on it, and set up any accommodation! You can get in your car, and off you go! But this means you’ve got to have your car in top condition. You don’t want it breaking down in the middle of nowhere. But this is easily fixed. You can learn how to maintain your vehicle, but also make sure that you book your car in for a regular servicing or a… Read More

Perrier collaborates with renowned Japanese artist and filmmaker Takashi Murakami

murakami

The latest artist to restyle the recognisable Perrier bottle is renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Incorporating his famous flowers and characters Kaikai and Kiki, the original range of bottles will be made available through select retailers and two highly collectible Limited Edition Perrier screen-printed glass bottles will be available to win through competitions.  The Perrier x Murakami collaboration continues the long-standing creative relationship between Perrier and some of the world’s greatest and respected artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Bernard Villemot, Raymond Savignac, Carlu, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue. Murakami is considered one of the most important Japanese artists of our generation. Drawing from traditional Japanese painting, sci-fi, anime, and the global art market, Murakami creates paintings, sculptures, and films populated by repeated motifs and mutating characters of his own creation. His wide-ranging work embodies an intersection of pop culture, history, and fine art. He also has a history of collaborating with major brands such as Louis Vuitton, Supreme, Vogue Nippon & Commes des Garcons, Google, KAWS, Vans, UNIQLO and PANGAIA.  Murakami says, “When Perrier first approached me I felt extremely lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with this sparkling water brand with such a long history. It held many positive associations for me. For example, when I was 32 and started living in New York, I used to drink Perrier a lot.” “I also wonder if today, when we can no longer unthinkingly hug, kiss, or shake hands, the stimulating sensation of the Perrier bubbles on our tongues will be even more heightened as one… Read More

3 things you should outsource immediately if you’re trying to grow your business

Work advice

Business owners love the idea of being able to control their workforce, and many will decide to go in-house for everything, even things that are not necessary. However, they might not be aware of the benefits of outsourcing, or they may have their apprehensions. The truth is that there isn’t a single major company that doesn’t outsource at some level. As a matter of fact, your refusal to hire outside help could be your number one obstacle to scaling. Here are some of the functions you should outsource immediately if you’re trying to grow your business. Cleaning One of the first things you should outsource is cleaning. Having someone in-house is too much trouble, especially if you’re thinking of adding or acquiring new space. You don’t want to have to manage additional employees that don’t add to your bottom line. You also don’t want to have to deal with all the liabilities that come with it. We would suggest you look at office cleaners like Nexus Kleen instead. They will handle everything for you, and you won’t have to worry about things like turnover, formation, and payroll. Also, they will take full responsibility if there’s an incident. You won’t have to think about employees not coming in and you’ll get predictable services at a predictable price. Of course, all of this goes for co-working spaces, too! Customer Support It can take years for a company to refine their message and get a steady flow of clients, but it can take only a few minutes to… Read More

The risk of trading cryptocurrency

Man hand car trading phone

Cryptocurrencies have become more widespread in public consciousness in recent years. By now, most people have probably heard of the biggest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, even if they might not be able to explain exactly how it works. Cryptocurrency is very different from other financial assets. For one, there was never a time in history where “currencies” could be non-local with no way of physically exchanging them. This makes cryptocurrency one of the only assets that are totally dependent on technology. This comes with its own set of risks. Royalty Free Photo Cryptocurrency markets also don’t behave like most other markets, and while few will admit it, a lot of it is guesswork at the moment in terms of price movements. Into this scenario come people with absolutely no prior experience in trading, and end up making costly mistakes as a result. Here are some of the risks of cryptocurrency trading that you need to beware of if you’re considering stepping into this field. Losing Your Coins This is one of the most terrifying risks of trading cryptocurrency, but one that happens much more often than it should. Basically, some people will make the mistake of keeping their coins stored on an exchange. There’s absolutely no need to do that with crypto wallets, but some people also make the mistake of trusting shady exchanges. The truth is that the crypto space needs more regulation. As a result, virtually anybody can set up an exchange. And these can fail or be hacked, believe it or not. So, don’t… Read More

Things to consider when buying your wedding dress

Wedding dress

Your wedding day is arguably the most important day of your life and most of us go into it intending to only do it once. When all is said and done, and the food has been eaten, and the last drunken guests have gone home, all that’s left of the celebrations are your memories, photographs, and of course your dress – which is why it feels so important to choose the right one. Here are some things to consider when buying your wedding dress. Where to go If you are looking at wedding dresses in Melbourne, consider a boutique, like Eternal Bridal. You want somewhere that stocks the type of dresses you like and has exceptional customer service. When choosing something so personal and important, you want to be made to feel special by the consultant, and this might involve travelling a little further than you normally would, to ensure it’s the right place (with the best gown) for you. When to start looking As soon as you’re engaged, you will likely be bursting to look at wedding gowns, however, there is guidance on how soon you should buy specific types of dress, just to ensure that it is ready in time, and you are still the same size when it comes to the big day. For a made-to-order gown, you should look to order at around 8-10 months from the big day, and for made-to-measure, you should look at 10-12 months. Your budget The average price of a wedding dress in Australia is $2,637,… Read More

What you need to make the best Asian delicacies

Chinese food

If there is any awe-inspiring cuisine on the planet, the Asian delicacy must be the most experimental and adventurous with excellent results. And that is simply because Asians are not afraid of trying new things and create magic. The Asians eat these tasty and tantalising cuisines, and you can also emulate the same in your household. Ever heard of the Fugu, or as many like to call it, the pufferfish? Well, the Asians meticulously cook and devour this fish, despite being one of the most poisonous fish on the planet. And that is just the bare minimum of what they can make. To make a meal, you need ingredients, right? Well, here are some of the must-haves in your pantry to make the best Asian delicacies. Read on to find out what spots like Lee Kum Kee Australia and many more Asian sites have in their collections. Soy sauce Soy sauce is a staple in almost all Asian meals, and so you will be doing yourself a disservice if you do not include it in your Asian ingredients. Soy sauce adds an extra umami that no other spice can achieve. And they can be found in different strengths, including the light and the heavy ones, and it depends on the sauce’s source. For the rich flavors, ensure you get one that is naturally brewed and not artificially made. These soy sauce can be used to uplift the flavours to all kinds of stews, including meats like beef, poultry, stir fry noodles, and pork. Some people… Read More

The best ways to travel in a COVID world

Man airport plane travel

If you are someone who loves to travel, and you are keen to make sure that you can still do so no matter what might be going on in the world, then there are a number of things that you might want to bear in mind about that. If you are looking at the post-covid state of the world and wondering if it is even going to be possible to travel in the way that you would like, the answer is that it’s always possible to travel in some way or another, but you do need to make sure that you are changing things up a bit. Let’s take a look at some of the things you might want to bear in mind in order to make sure you get this right. Drive a private car The main thing is that you want to keep away from other people as best as you can, which means that you are going to want to look into the mode of transportation you use and make sure that it is as suitable as possible for this. In most cases, the best way to get around without putting anyone else in any harm is to drive your own private car. Whether you grab the fastest car in forza horizon 4 or you just find something cheap to hire, this is going to be an effective means of ensuring that you avoid spreading the virus around, while still seeing plenty of the world in the process. Avoid hot spots You… Read More