Stress busters at work please!!!

[nevernotstruggling]

I am in a very stressed team at work just now. I'm on leave and thinking about things we can do when I get back that will improve wellbeing or at least try to. We are sw for context and hot desk on a team specific bank. There's plenty of room for items and we have piles of snack food and stuff. I want to buy things that will help us feel better. I've just read something about cinnamon warding off germs.....what can I buy/start?
Plants? Essential
Oils? Vitamins?

What sort of snacks? Do you have fruit, for instance or just sugary stuff?
I think plants are a good idea, as well as making sure there is good lighting (blue lights if necessary if the room is dark) and the room is not stuffy, so regular airing.

I'm open to snack ideas. We are in a huge room with other desk banks. The lighting and airing is an issue we can't control

I suppose you couldn't stop hot-desking? People feel less stressed if they have their own space.

Un hot desking not an option sadly

Might be worth encouraging the use of an app like Headspace - which encourages guided meditation / breathing / mindfulness exercises. May be able to get a corporate account so it is free for everyone to download and use?

Agree re: avoiding snacks and junk food. That can make people feel worse. Maybe ensure that there is plenty of fresh fruit - fruit bowl perhaps?

Also encourage people to take regular breaks from their desk (if that's possible), getting some fresh air and sunshine at lunchtime or periodically during the day.

If everyone is desk-bound, definitely ensure seats are orthopedically suitable and comfortable, desks properly adjusted etc. All the usual H&S checks.

Is there any way to give people time off in lieu after this particularly stressful period? It would help with goodwill and give everyone a sense of "light at the end of the tunnel".

Is there a break room? Any outside space at all? Any green space nearby?

Honestly the best thing is regular breaks, outside if possible, even if it's just ten minutes. If cover/working patterns permit, all going for a 20 minute team gentle walk is a way to re-connect and will do more good than a "meeting" (usual caveats apply if anyone has mobility issues etc).

Some form of closure at the end of the working period, so people feel things are recorded / handed over / have been "heard" by someone, to help alleviate the feeling of carrying potentially traumatic stuff home with you? Perhaps the team members have ideas of the best way to do that?

Bird feeders to stick on the window with seeds/fat balls? We all find it relaxing watching the different birds feeding