Double Olympic shot put gold medallist Dame Valerie Adams has teamed up with Snap Fitness and mental health charity I Am Hope to launch the Happy Hour initiative, which she says will help boost staff morale and business productivity.
The idea is for company boardrooms, construction sites, studios and offices to shut down for an hour a day and allow employees and staff to “fill their cup”.
“Do what they need to do to feel a little bit normal, to be able to regenerate, to be more productive in the business. I think we recognise that this is necessary, especially in today’s society.”
A survey by Southern Cross Insurance and Business New Zealand found that in 2020, 64% of organisations reported increased stress levels among employees, with Covid-19 a significant contributor, while the 2023 Umbrella Wellbeing Report found that 43% of employees had to neglect some work tasks due to an increased workload.
Adams says businesses have a responsibility to help reduce stress levels among employees, and hopes the conversation started by Snap Fitness and I Am Hope can encourage managers and business owners to take up the challenge.
“They can give you better productivity, they can give you the best of themselves. An hour is just an hour, but an hour less at work and an hour more for them and we’ll give you the benefits at the end of the day.
Taking a break ‘important
“It’s a challenge and I get it, loss of money, et cetera, et cetera. But you’re not going to get the best out of people if we just keep hammering them day in, day out.”
Dame Valerie’s understanding of the importance of taking a mental break to increase physical productivity comes after more than two decades at the highest level of professional sport.
“I’m not an expert in this area at all. But it’s something I’ve suffered from myself and I know how important it is to be able to give yourself time.
“For me it’s about physical training. I’ve been training professionally for over 25 years as a job, and now I’m doing it for my mental health. I do it to be able to function on a daily basis.
“Yes, everyone is busy, I’m a busy māmā, and life gets in the way. But it’s just a matter of making time, because it’s important. If you’re not well, you can’t give your best to others.
After retiring from competition last year and moving away from the environment of private gyms with psychologists and therapists on hand, Dame Valerie described being a bit whakamā (shy, embarrassed) and using public gyms such as Snap Fitness to keep training.
Found my mojo
“Suddenly I didn’t want to do these big lifts, I just wanted to look like everybody else. Now I’ve kind of found my mojo, it’s an amazing place to be. But I recognise myself that if I don’t give myself that time, I can’t be the best mother for my children, I can’t be the best person for myself.
“And it’s hard, don’t get me wrong. It’s hard!
And some of those days when I just can’t be bothered, I don’t do it. I just know I need the rest and I pick it up the next day.
As Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close and I Am Hope’s annual fundraiser, Gumboot Friday, takes place this week, Dame Valerie also encourages Māori and Polynesian people to continue to reach out for help when it’s needed.
“When you need help, it’s not a weakness, it’s actually a strength to be able to acknowledge it and get the help you need.”
