Employee Health and Wellness Tip: Stop and Listen to the Bugs

“What’s that noise?” My 8-year-old son asks. It’s almost pitch black as we walk across my in-laws’ front lawn in rural West Virginia. It’s 9:30 p.m. and we’re in a holler (a narrow valley between hills more commonly called a “hollow” outside of Appalachia) surrounded by the tall silhouettes of trees.

I stop walking and listen, trying to figure out what he is referring to. I hear no cars, no wind rushing through the trees, no people talking—and then I realize. We’re surrounded by the sounds of cicadas, crickets, and other insects.

A Late-Night Mystery, Solved

“Oh, cicadas and bugs!” I tell him. We live in the city, so he isn’t used to the symphony of bugs we’re hearing right now. Even on our camping trips, we haven’t encountered quite this level of insect sound before. It’s amazing how loud the natural world is without the distracting noises of the city. The bugs are literally all we can hear. So we stop and listen.

Thirty seconds later, he’s done and runs off to the house. I stand still, trying to soak it all in and embed the sound into my brain.

More Bug Breaks = Better Work?

That sound came back to me this morning. I was feeling stuck on what to write about in my Chief Banana newsletter this week, so I sat down, hands in my lap, and closed my eyes. I remembered the hum of the cicadas, the crisp chirping of crickets, and the amazing joy that I felt in watching my son discover something completely new to him during our family vacation. Suddenly, I felt inspired.

I know it can be hard for people to take a break from work sometimes, but it’s so important—and not just for the obvious reasons. Spending time with family and friends is essential for employee health and wellness (yours included). We need joy and fun in our lives to be our best selves, and taking time off can also improve our work. Even a quick break during the workday to eat a piece of fresh fruit or take a short walk can make a difference. It changes our perspective, breaks us out of routine, and allows our minds to wander in new directions, drawing inspiration from other experiences.

Listening to cicadas with my son did that for me. When I got home from West Virginia, I found myself wondering whether there are things in the business that I may need to look at (or hear) in a new and different way.

So, cheers to the nighttime summer sounds of Appalachia, and whatever else may refuel and inspire you. I hope you’ll go out and find it, and encourage your coworkers to do the same. Encouraging (and taking) breaks is one of the best ways to unlock better employee health and wellness. Even if you do something as simple as stopping to listen to the bugs.

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