SGS Packaging Europe

It’s the seventh and final day of Mental Health Awareness Week, so we’re finishing off our series of articles by focusing on this year’s event theme: kindness. We all know that being kind to someone can brighten their day and strengthen the relationship you have with them. In fact, small acts of kindness can have an enormous impact on the world overall, as happiness spreads very quickly. In tribute to MHAW, we’re taking a look at the benefits of kindness and why it should play a crucial role in your everyday life. Better mental health Needless to say, someone who’s having a bad day can be greatly cheered up by an act of kindness. The format of this can range enormously, from large surprises such as a party in honour of their achievements, to a simple chat that allows them to take a weight off their shoulders. By being kind to someone, you help to alleviate their stress and anxiety, shoo away any depressive thoughts, make them feel valued, and turn their frown upside down, ...

It’s Day 6 of Mental Health Awareness Week and this time we’re focusing on the benefits of lifelong learning. Whatever you choose to learn, it can bring multiple advantages alongside the additional knowledge. Read on to find out how lifelong learning can improve your mental health and quality of life. What is it? Lifelong learning is when you choose to educate yourself voluntarily, so it’s completely self-motivated. It could be in order to advance in your career, enhance your personal life or simply add another string to your bow. How is it done? Lifelong learning can take any form you wish, ranging from a part-time degree through the Open University or another provider, to attending workshops and classes on a more casual basis. Alternatively, you could teach yourself at home using books, video tutorials and online resources, or you could get friends and family involved and learn together. What can I learn? Anything you like! Popular examples are foreign languages,...

It’s Day 5 of Mental Health Awareness Week and this time we’re focusing on the benefits of hobbies. Whether it’s baking buns, making models, painting landscapes or anything else that keeps you busy, even the simplest hobbies bring multiple advantages, especially when it comes to your mental wellbeing. Relieves stress and sadness Simple yet very powerful, taking part in a hobby on a regular basis is an excellent way to alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. The more you enjoy it, the greater the effect will be on your mood. Breaks up the day Putting aside some time for your hobby can break up the day nicely, preventing you from becoming bored or spending too much time watching TV and scrolling on your phone. In turn, this helps to keep your energy levels up during the daytime. Presents a challenge No matter how amazing you are at your hobby, there’s always room for improvement and the opportunity to learn something new. The more advanced you are, the more experim...

It’s Day 3 of Mental Health Awareness Week and this time we’re focusing on the benefits of regular fitness. We all know that exercise is good for us, but some of our colleagues may not realise just how many advantages it offers, from physical strength to higher levels of mental wellbeing. A healthier heart Exercising on a daily basis is great for the heart, which in turn reduces the risk of having problems later in life. Getting your heart pumping for 20-30 minutes each day will keep your heart healthy and strong, and we guarantee that you’ll feel the difference very quickly. Weight management Needless to say, exercising will help you to shed excess weight. This brings with it a variety of other health benefits, plus everyone feels a buzz when they check the scales and find they’ve lost a few pounds. (Suddenly fitting into clothes that have been hiding in your wardrobe for years is also a happy bonus.) Extra strength All types of exercise support the building of mu...

It’s Day 2 of Mental Health Awareness Week and this time we’re focusing on the benefits that gardening can bring to your wellbeing. Whether you’re a green-fingered pro or only have space for a few potted plants, read on to discover how a bit of gardening can greatly improve your mental health. Alleviates sadness If you ever find yourself feeling down or suffering from depression, getting into the garden can really turn things around. Studies show that just thirty minutes outside can do wonders for your mental health, so why not pop outside during lunchtime and enjoy some al fresco while the weather is nice? Also, did you know that soil and sunshine trigger the release of serotonin? This is the hormone that stabilises your mood and increases positivity. On top of this, sunlight stimulates the production of melatonin, which helps us to balance our biological clocks and promotes a good night’s sleep. This means that doing a little gardening can bring health benefits very quickl...

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week, so we’re helping our colleagues around the UK and Europe to celebrate the event. Aside from the Art and Crafts Competition focused around this year’s MHAW theme of "kindness", we’re sharing tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing. First up is a guide to achieving a productive, welcoming and efficient working arrangement at home. Get comfy By this we don’t mean lying on the sofa, but instead arranging your home office so that you remain comfortable whilst working. For instance, your desk or workspace needs enough room for easy movement and your keyboard should be positioned in a way that prevents wrist ache. Also, the top of your computer screen should be at eye level or a little lower and you can adjust the brightness to prevent eye strain. Arranging your home office setup around comfort will ensure that you don’t develop aches and pains, all while helping to maintain a positive mood. Keep it clean and tidy Multiple st...

Monday 18 th May sees the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is “kindness”. As dedicated advocates of positive mental health and wellbeing across our company, SGS Packaging Europe is celebrating this special event and encouraging all of our colleagues to get involved. We’re very excited to be running an Art and Crafts Competition, which is now open to all UK colleagues. We’re inviting you to submit any form of art as long as it’s influenced by mental health, wellbeing or kindness, so be as imaginative as you like and get those creative juices flowing! All employees can take part and you can even get people who live in your household involved, making it a fun activity that you can share with your family. This is a great way to express yourself and have some fun during breaks, lunchtimes, evenings and the weekend. Make sure to submit one piece by Monday 18 th May to Jessica Thompson and Ellie Akam (their contact details are in the email you all r...

We love it when colleagues celebrate their anniversaries of joining SGS Packaging Europe and share with us their experiences so far. Laura Derbyshire at SGS The Maltings recently reached two years with the company, so we caught up with her to find out about her experiences and career progression. Laura is the Project Manager in the Pharma department, working mainly on AstraZeneca but also on the Shire accounts. She joined SGS following previous roles in customer service, deciding that she wanted to work in a business-to-business customer service environment. She now liaises with SGS Packaging Europe’s clients and everyone in the studio to ensure that artworks are created correctly, on time and to the very highest standard. Laura says that this role has allowed her to develop a variety of new skills and working practices: “I have learnt a lot about the amount of work involved in creating the packaging and information leaflets, which many people as consumers will usually take ...