How to Be More Effective with Mental Health in the Workplace

Create a safer and more positive work environment that values mental health with these team building activities in Sydney and empower your employees through arts and crafts. Whether it’s bringing nature into the office space thanks to a terrarium workshop or clearing your team’s mind with Tai Chi, these fun things to do in Sydney for corporate teams will help build relationships, improve staff morale and promote mindfulness in the workplace. 

With so many options of enjoyable things to do in Sydney when it comes to team building activities, it’s important to remember that they’re not all equal. Corporate speakers and Friday night drinks have their uses, but to ensure your staff are mentally healthy and happy to be in the office you’ll need to put in a bit more effort. These hands-on workshops are specifically tailored for corporate team building activities that focus on improving office wellbeing. 

Decorate the office for team bonding

Many team bonding activities focus on creating a shared experience among employees as it promotes a sense of unity and togetherness and most of our Sydney workshops are very effective in nailing this aspect. Our terrarium classes, however, take this to the next level. 

Adding a touch of nature to your office is a scientifically-proven method of boosting office wellbeing and promoting individual mental health. A study in the US found that when plants were introduced to a workspace there was a 37 per cent fall in reported tension and anxiety, and a further 60 per cent decrease in work-related depression. There are many reasons for this - most predominantly our biological instinct to be around nature (biophilia) and the relaxing effect the colour green has - but whatever is the main cause, the resulting increase in productivity and creativity is inarguable.

Our terrarium building workshops allow you to take this a step further and let your staff create the natural decor your office needs. By giving them the opportunity to design and create the greenery that goes into improving the office environment and aesthetic, you’re offering he shared experience while also giving the staff the opportunity to control how the office looks and feels.

From terrarium building to flower arranging and the increasingly popular Ikebana workshops - you’ll be able to find a class that matches your office aesthetic and your staff vibe! The effects of your team building workshop will live on long after the event is over, and the reminders of its success will be decorated around the office.

Get crafty at art classes and help boost your team's wellbeing

Team building activities regularly centre around an arts and crafts element, and for good reason. Many of the best things to do in Sydney involve engaging with the city’s vibrant arts community and the rewards speak for themselves. In recent years, art therapy has been taking the medical community by storm. Once considered irrelevant and ineffective, art therapy has now shown proven results in individuals living with chronic pain, mental illness and more.

Engaging in a creative outlet and expressing yourself through an artistic medium is a wonderful method of de-toxifying after periods of stress and depression. If you’re looking to rejuvenate the office vibe after a busy period, our pottery classes in Sydney are a great place to start. 

Whether it’s working with your hands in our clay sculpture and hand building workshops or perfecting the art of wheel throwing, pottery courses are considered a highly valuable commodity when it comes to art therapy for their effectiveness in managing work-related stress. Many of our classes centre around creating specific, practical ceramics such as mugs and teapots, so it’s also a crafty way of stocking the crockery cupboards in the office kitchen.

We recommend paint and sip classes nearly all the time, but that’s because they truly are an all-in-one workshop when it comes to team building activities for work. Combining personal, artistic expression with the sociable nature of a few cheeky wines, our paint and sip classes are a great way to help your staff unwind and relax after a long week. It’s also a therapeutic alternative to the Friday office drinks and is a warm and inclusive environment to bring new staff into the social fold. 

For more insight read our article on adapting the workplace for millennials.

Nourish the mind (and the stomach) with cooking classes

Despite being a daily activity in our lives, we sometimes forget to carve out some time in our days to relax in the kitchen and cook. Improve the wellbeing of your colleagues at a hands-on cooking class, and give them skills behind a stove that can last a lifetime. Whether it’s making simple pasta dough from scratch or getting your team familiar with healthy Japanese cooking or Indian cooking, these Sydney cooking workshops are a great way to get creative.

Guided by a passionate local cooking school, you and your colleagues will get a taste for good food while learning tips and tricks for making the cooking process easier and more satisfying. The best part? At the end of the class, everyone will sit down to enjoy their yummy creations!

Try team bonding with these mindful activities

Planning fun team building activities can sometimes feel like a juggling act as you have to coordinate schedules and preferences for a big group but don't worry, we're here to help! With flexible class schedules and teacher guidance, you can get creative with your team building plans in 2024. Let's help your team boost their wellbeing and make them feel refreshed more than ever!

Out of all of these Sydney workshops, nothing can aid in the overall wellbeing of your staff like regular yoga or Tai Chi classes. Both have numerous health benefits, but in recent years their effectiveness in the workplace has been found to have profound effects when it comes to improving the mental health of employees. Tai Chi and yoga focus on reducing stress and anxiety through “mindful movement meditation” and regular practice has been found to increase overall productivity. 

On the search for mindful Sydney activities where you can stay seated? Treat your team to this mindful tea ceremony experience with Altitude Tea in Waterloo. Guided by your passionate teacher, you and your colleagues will get to sample a wide range of teas from around the world as you learn how to drink tea more mindfully. These relaxing experiences are the ultimate way to invite mindfulness into your team environment and boost workplace wellbeing.

There are so many ways to take your team bonding activities in Sydney to the next level. With so many options, it’s important to sometimes focus less on the short term benefits and more on the long term wellbeing of your staff and workplace. 

Teamwork makes the dream work, and if you get them working together to collectively improve their mental health, they’ll reward you with a happier workplace and increased productivity.