Mindfulness Day - cause the mind likes hammocks too

Last year was full of unexpected changes and limitations. Everyone had to adapt to the new normal and try to make some yummy lemonade out of these super sour 2020 lemons. Many people got a new roommate called “work” making it all the more difficult to keep private and work life separate - and find an off switch for that concerned monkey brain. So stress levels are at an absolute high these days. Time to find some relief for our exhausted mind.

With the start of 2021, we take the next step on our journey towards more mindfulness. We’ve already been attending workshops regularly helping us e.g. to organize our work or to deal with challenging situations and remote working has always been an option at Laika. The occasional boat trip or wine tasting is also part of our well-being routine. To give everybody time to reflect on the past year and what lies ahead the agency is closed every year between Christmas and new year - so nevertheless this year we kicked it up a notch by granting each crew member a full day of mindfulness.

A day for play

The idea is that everybody takes full advantage of this special day to rest and refill their resources. It is not just another day of vacation one uses for doctor appointments, helping a friend move, or finally clean out that closet. Appointments, emails and social media shouldn’t be part of this day. Best case scenario for this special occasion: spend it with yourself, leave all the distractions and digital gadgets that usually dictate your rhythm behind.

In order to encourage more replenishing activities, everyone at Laika gets an extra allocated yearly allowance for that day - whether it is yoga, massages, visiting the zoo or whatever is necessary to put our minds at ease. Everything that helps to forget the stress for a moment and makes us feel more zen is fair game - within reason of course.

We are very excited about this little change in our work world. It’s a privilege to have this and we are well aware. We hope that 2021 will give all of us more moments to breathe deeply and hang loose for a bit.