Why Wellness Is the New Productivity Strategy

A few things taking root.

by Donna Letier

For years, productivity was measured by output — how many boxes checked, meetings held, or hours logged. But the truth is, growth — in life or work — doesn’t come from constant motion. It comes from care.

The garden has been teaching us this forever: nothing thrives without tending.

Forbes shared a great read titled: The Undeniable Link Between Well-being and Productivity. It is worth revisiting and sharing with your team. We’re learning that wellness isn’t just a luxury; it’s the foundation for everything else. Whether you’re leading a team, caring for a family, or simply trying to find a moment of peace between all the noise — wellness is the new productivity strategy.

From Hustle to Health

According to the American Psychological Association, 54% of employees say job insecurity affects their mental health, and 92% want to work for organizations that prioritize emotional well-being. Meanwhile, Gallup research shows that engaged employees are 23% more productive — and the number-one driver of engagement? Well-being at work.

At a recent corporate planting workshop with Aya Healthcare, one participant shared:

“I thought I didn’t have time for this. Then 20 minutes in, I realized I hadn’t taken a deep breath in weeks. When I looked down at my little garden, I felt calm — and more focused than I’ve been in months.”

When we take care of our well-being, we show up better everywhere: at work, around the dinner table, and for ourselves. The real shift isn’t from doing less, it’s from doing better.

What the Garden Reminds Us

A thriving garden doesn’t bloom because we force it to — it blooms because we nurture it. Growth happens when we give it sunlight, patience, and time.

Wellness works the same way. It doesn’t always require grand gestures — just small, daily choices:

• Taking a breath before reacting
  
• Misting your microgreens
  
• Stepping outside for fresh air
  
• Making tea with herbs you’ve grown yourself
  

Those little rituals are the roots of balance. They reconnect us to something steady — to nature, to our senses, and to ourselves.

And science backs it up: time with plants has been shown to lower cortisol levels, improve focus, and even boost immune health (Harvard Health, Journal of Environmental Psychology).

Wellness for Every Kind of Life

Wellness isn’t just for the office, the gym, or the yoga mat. It’s for the parent balancing it all, the retiree finding new rhythms, the caregiver who keeps giving, and the leader trying to create space for calm in a noisy world.

When we slow down long enough to nurture what matters, we find energy in the pause and creativity in the quiet.

The New Definition of Growth

The future of growth — in business, families, and communities — won’t be measured by how much we produce, but by how we feel while producing it.

Because when we care for the roots — our people, our purpose, and ourselves — everything we grow is stronger.

Growth isn’t just about output. It’s about outlook.