This blog posting shares some of the experiences and insights into the importance of wellbeing gained by spending the day together, as a team, exploring the beauty and tranquillity of Kew Gardens.

“It’s not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between 9 and 5. It’s whether or not our work fulfils us.”

Malcolm Gladwell

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”

Mahatma Gandhi

“It was a great pleasure to spend time with my team, enjoy our company and green spaces to reflect and experience quiet contemplation”.

Wendy Anderson, Director of International Development

Give yourself permission to just calm down and be quiet

Just settle into your seat and allow yourself the time to get comfortable, and most importantly give yourself the permission to just breath, let your hands rest in your lap and let the body become still, now close your eyes…

“As the newest member of the team this was my first ever Away Day. I was excited to get to spend time with the team away from the office/screen for the first time. Kew was the perfect environment to be able to talk to everyone without work pressures. Wellbeing is so important, and nature can be such a big part of feeling good. We were spoilt with our trip to Kew! After visiting Kew’s glasshouses I felt like I’d had a holiday, as well as inspiring conversations with new friends and colleagues.” 

Sophie Alston, International Academic Co-ordinator

Notice your breath, don’t try to change it, just notice, how does it feel, how do you feel?

Begin by allowing yourself a moment to become aware of this moment, this is the key to the practice. Let’s start with a few minutes of box breathing, a chance to lengthen the breath and breath evenly, calmly and with attention. The technique is simple. We inhale to the count of four and at the top of the breath we simply hold for the count of four, and then we allow the breath to release and empty for the count of four

“Spending the day at Kew Gardens with the team was a great way to get to know one another beyond the office (or screen) and be one with so many pretty plants and trees. After two years of remote working, well-being within work has become so important and its days like the one we spent at Kew Gardens that go a long way to helping strike that work/life balance we’re all constantly trying to perfect.”

Yusuf Tamanna, International Mobility and Projects Officer, International Office

At the bottom of the exhale we hold again for the count of four.

Inhale 2,3,4 now hold, 2,3,4, now exhale 2,3,4, hold 2,3,4. If it helps imagine the breath drawing up as an outline to the shape of a square. Just imagine yourself inhaling up one side of the square, holding your breath as it draws across the top and then as you exhale feel the breath draw down the other side of the square, holding at the breath draws along the bottom.

It was wonderful to be given a day to step away from the screens and away from our working routine. We were able to take time collectively to enjoy our surroundings and breathe deeply.

One of my favourite short stories, Kew Gardens by Virginia Woolf captures some of the sensations that we experienced.   “…the colour was flashed into the air above, into the eyes of the men and women who walk in Kew Gardens in July.”  …” the glass roofs of the palm house shone as if a whole market full of shiny green umbrellas had opened in the sun;”

Kate Scully, International Academic Co-ordinator

To have a full day dedicated to wellbeing is a rarity and was certainly welcomed.  Connecting with nature at Kew and feeling oxygenated by the array of plants in the glasshouses felt invigorating and heady in a good way. I also had time and space to meditate.  I loved the way we came together as a team and the one to one conversations that were not centered around work or a screen.    

Makeba Lewis, International Academic Co-ordinator and Senior Tutor

This day felt so important given the last two years. I think that the pandemic and also current worries about the climate emergency, cost of living, employment etc. all create stresses that may not always be visible or be on the surface but we carry them with us in our day to day journeys through life. This can impact on all areas of our lives and it is great to have well being acknowledged through the creation of group activities and days away. Going to Kew Gardens was a chance to reconnect with how amazing the natural world is that surrounds us and to pay attention to it. To be aware that these environments nourish and are needed and that we must never take them, ourselves or others for granted. 

Jordan McKenzie Academic Co-Ordinator, International Office

Practice this technique together for four rounds…