WRITTEN BY ALICIA KOCH, FOUNDER OF THE LEGAL BELLETRIST
Ah wellness.
We often take it for granted, don’t we? Like it’s this “thing” that needs to be constantly maintained. Another “task” or item on your to-do list that you need to take care of.
So, when the company you work for provides activities, resources and screenings to support your and your colleague’s health, you are relieved that it’s one less thing you have to worry about.
Sure, the goal of these activities is to help employees recharge, decompress from stress and return to work feeling more productive and engaged, but you often wonder whether one wellness day every couple of months is really going to cut it.
Let’s be honest here, is one day of yoga or one day of mindfulness sessions really going to bridge the gap between feeling fulfilled and at peace with your work environment and working to your full potential? Or do you need something a little more concrete? A little more permanent? A little more constant?
Let’s take a look, shall we?
Learning Is a Sure-Fire Path to Happiness: And Science Proves It
The title from an article that appeared in Forbes talks about how learning empowers you – which is 100% true.
While happiness arises when we are generous, grateful and connected with our people, research suggests that another path towards happiness is learning, growing and challenging ourselves in new ways – all of which results in us thriving.
This can be translated to both our work lives and our personal lives. Thriving tends to occur when we experience success, but also when we are continually developing our skills and capabilities.
Why is learning so important to happiness and thriving? What is it about learning that makes it a key ingredient of joy and achievement? There are multiple studies which demonstrate the relationship between learning and thriving and how these can increase happiness. Here are some of the outcomes –
Self-Determination – we all crave choice and want to feel like we have some control over our lives and futures. Learning is frequently oriented toward self-determination. Some roles or companies may require certain learning, but many times learning is the result of pursuing your own interests and goals. No matter what the learning involved entails, it has the potential to open doors or provide options for growth that are uniquely interesting to you.
Self-Confidence – learning can also be a source of self-confidence or likability. When you know more, you can contribute your perspectives and expertise and ask questions about others’ points of view that build on a solid foundation of your own knowledge. Your expanding capabilities can provide you with skills which help you contribute confidently to your current and future success.
Resilience and Motivation – learning also helps to build resilience. How you may ask? Well, learning requires you to admit that you don’t know everything. It also requires you to try something new and fill in gaps of information. So, both resilience and motivation. Fascinating research at the University of California Davis also finds that curiosity helps your brain remain more open to additional learning and this openness helps you remember new information and cement memories.
Broadened Perspective – when you learn new things, you also expand your horizons. Greater perspective is linked to experiences of happiness and joy. No matter what you’re studying, you gain a new view and extend your knowledge of the world. This broader view of others, of the world, of circumstances and of possibilities. Brings about greater happiness.
Health and Happiness – a study between Oxford University and the Workers Educational Association of England and Scotland finds when people participate in classes outside of work, they improve their mental and physical health and report greater satisfaction with their lives. According to a study by San Francisco State University, those who engage in formal education experience greater happiness and life satisfaction overall.
So, learning – in whatever form it takes – on a regular basis has been proven to have a positive impact on overall wellbeing, happiness and confidence. It also helps you further your career.
One would say that those are a lot of positives, as far as ongoing learning is concerned.
So, are ad hoc wellness days enough?
We have already established two things –
- Wellness days offered by companies are intended to help employees recharge, decompress from stress and return to work feeling more productive and engaged; and
- Thriving in life and in work is a result of (amongst other things) continually developing our skills and capabilities. In continually learning.
If we accept the above two points as fact, it makes sense that one wellness day every now and again is not enough. Companies should invest in scheduled, structured training days which seem to be essential for long-term team development, genuine behaviour change and sustainable workplace wellbeing.
If a company is curious about what they will “get out of it,” here is a list of key benefits of employee training and how it can transform their workforce.
10 Key Benefits of Employee Training
- Increased performance – Knowledge changes fast. Continuous learning keeps teams sharp, confident and capable. Companies that invest in professional development see better results, productivity and innovation.
- A stronger workforce – Employees no longer stay just for the pay cheque. They stay where they can grow. Ongoing training helps attract, retain and inspire top talent.
- Fewer costly mistakes – Well-trained teams make fewer errors, saving time and money while improving safety, efficiency and overall quality.
- Alignment with company goals – Prioritising learning shows that growth and adaptability matter. It strengthens trust, loyalty and shared values across generations.
- Motivation and engagement – Learning fuels purpose and self-belief. When people feel challenged and supported, they’re more creative, energised and willing to take ownership.
- Knowledge sharing – Open access to training breaks down silos, encourages empathy and helps teams understand each other’s challenges and goals.
- More innovation – A culture of learning naturally sparks curiosity and experimentation. When people feel empowered, new ideas follow.
- Better processes – Skilled employees spend less time firefighting and more time improving systems, experiences and performance.
- A stronger brand – Investing in people builds reputation from the inside out. It positions your company as one that values growth, inclusion and excellence.
- Competitive edge – Training your people is cheaper and smarter than constantly hiring new ones. Cross-training builds flexibility, resilience and long-term success.
With that, we have set out the benefits that ongoing training has for the individual as well as what scheduled, structured training days has for the company.
A happier and more well-adjusted, confident employee and a company that has a staff contingent that is engaged, that shares knowledge freely amongst the different teams, that’s open to and welcomes innovation and that makes less errors.
Of course, wellness days are good (don’t get us wrong), but ongoing training and development is better.
It’s about investing in the assets of your company. Those assets are your employees and when it comes to investment, the employee/employer relationship is reciprocal. If employees feel that their company is investing in them, they will return that investment with excellent work and a positive culture. When employees have more than just access to training and knowledge, it will not only create a culture of learning that will help employees enjoy their work more, but it will also better equip them to manage unexpected events.
So, from where we’re sitting – it’s an easy decision.
(Sources used and to whom we owe thanks – Forbes and Continu).
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