7 mindful philosophies from around the world to boost your wellbeing
Updated: 3 days ago
Starting and growing a business can be tough work. Physically and mentally. It can eat up your time, keep you away from your loved ones, and apply considerable pressure.
So, it’s vital that you maintain a healthy mindset. Your business is a representation of you. If you’re not looking after yourself, it’s unlikely your business will fare much better.
The challenges of life are universal. Many people around the world are likely facing the same kind of problems, frustrations, and hurdles — whether it’s at home or in the workplace. Different cultures have different ways of handling stress, anxiety, and general wellness.
Here are a few mindful philosophies and techniques from around the world that we’ve picked out, that we believe could help boost your wellbeing and keep you on track towards your business goals.
1. Do less, think better: the Dutch practice of Niksen
Niksen is the Dutch art of doing nothing for the sake of doing nothing. No productivity goal, no podcast playing in the background, no emails being answered while you supposedly take a break.
Just a few minutes of allowing your mind to wander.
That might sound unproductive, particularly during a busy working day, but that is rather the point. Constant stimulation and pressure to be productive can leave little room for your brain to properly switch off.
Taking a few minutes to stare out of the window, sit quietly with a coffee or simply let your thoughts drift can provide a valuable mental reset.
At work, Niksen could be as simple as stepping away from your screen for five minutes and giving yourself permission to do absolutely nothing. A beneficial reboot in the middle of your day.
2. Stay healthy and fresh with Kanpu Masatsu
Kanpu Masatsu is a traditional Japanese practice involving a gentle massage of the skin with a dry towel. Once commonly taught to schoolchildren as part of their daily routine, it involves spending five to 10 minutes rubbing the body in slow, steady circles, either directly on the skin or through light clothing.
The technique generates warmth and stimulates circulation, and has traditionally been associated with supporting the immune system and helping ward off colds.
There is also some research suggesting that dry-towel massage may help with relaxation, stress, and lymphatic flow.
You probably won't be bringing a towel into the next team meeting, but the wider lesson is useful: small, consistent habits can help you look after yourself. Taking regular breaks, moving around, and paying attention to how you're feeling can all help you stay well at work.
3. Make time for connection with Sobremesa
In Spain and much of Latin America, Sobremesa is the tradition of staying at the table after a meal has finished. The plates may have been cleared, but nobody is rushing off. Instead, people stay to talk, share ideas, drink coffee, and enjoy each other's company.
There is something worth borrowing from this tradition at work. We spend a huge proportion of our lives with colleagues, but busy schedules and back-to-back meetings can leave surprisingly little time to actually connect with them.
Creating spaces where people can talk without an agenda can help build stronger relationships and a greater sense of belonging. That might mean having lunch together, organising a social activity or simply making space for conversation in the workplace. We are social animals, after all.
Work doesn't have to be all deadlines and deliverables.
4. Get outside with Friluftsliv
Friluftsliv is a Nordic philosophy centred around spending time outdoors, whatever the weather.
The name roughly translates as "fresh air life", and unlike some approaches to outdoor activity, it isn't about how far you can run or how many calories you can burn. It is simply about being outside and connecting with nature.
For many people, particularly those working in offices, warehouses or other indoor environments, getting enough daylight and fresh air can be surprisingly difficult. During the darker months, that becomes even more important.
You don't need to climb a mountain on your lunch break. A walk around the block, eating lunch outside or simply stepping away from your workspace for some fresh air can make a difference.
Friluftsliv is a reminder that sometimes the best way to reset is to leave the building.
5. Discover your inner resilience with Sisu
The Finnish have a word for a quality that is difficult to translate neatly into English: Sisu. It encompasses determination, courage, resilience, tenacity, and the ability to keep going when things become difficult.
Sisu isn't about pretending everything is fine or stubbornly pushing through every challenge alone.
It is an action-oriented mindset: recognising that something is difficult and finding the courage to face it anyway. That could mean having a difficult conversation, tackling a problem you've been avoiding, or standing up for something you believe is right.
For business owners and employees alike, challenges are inevitable. Projects go wrong, plans change, and unexpected problems appear. Sisu offers a useful reminder that resilience isn't about never struggling. Sometimes, it's simply about taking the next step when the situation isn't easy.
6. Find balance through Yin and Yang
The concept of Yin and Yang is based on the idea that seemingly opposing forces can exist together and remain interconnected. Applied to wellbeing, it offers a useful way of thinking about the balance between activity and rest, effort and recovery, and periods of difficulty and happiness.
Modern working life can make it tempting to treat anything other than productivity as a problem.
If you're tired, work harder. If you're struggling, push through. But constantly operating at full speed isn't sustainable.
Accepting that life naturally contains highs and lows can help us respond to difficult periods without feeling that something has fundamentally gone wrong. At work, that might mean recognising when you need to slow down, take a break or ask for support.
Rest isn't the opposite of productivity. Sometimes, it's what makes sustainable productivity possible.
7. Deal with problems head-on with Hoʻoponopono
Hoʻoponopono is a traditional Hawaiian practice centred on reconciliation, forgiveness, and restoring balance in relationships. Historically, it was often a communal process involving families and guidance from elders, providing a structured way to address conflict rather than allowing resentment and unresolved issues to build.
There is a useful lesson here for the workplace. Problems rarely disappear simply because we avoid talking about them. Whether it's a disagreement with a colleague, a difficult relationship or a challenge that has become too much to handle alone, addressing it openly can prevent it from becoming something much bigger.
That doesn't mean every difficult conversation will be comfortable. It means recognising that bottling things up usually isn't helpful.
Talk to the person involved, take responsibility where necessary, and seek support when you need it. Sometimes, dealing with the problem is the first step towards feeling better.
Running a business can be hard — you don’t have to do it alone
Having someone you can turn to for advice, guidance, and support can make all the difference. At First Enterprise, we’re here for the long term. We want to hear your story, find ways to make your dream a reality, and join you on your journey as you face challenges on the path to success.
Our team of experienced Business Advisors (Start Up Loans) and Investment Managers (Business Loans) are here to talk through your plans, understand your goals, and help you explore the finance options available.
Get in touch with the First Enterprise team today for a friendly, no-obligation conversation by completing the form below or by calling 0345 602 7355.
Remember: one simple way to look after your wellbeing is not being afraid to ask for help from others.
