Virtual Wellness Spaces

Virtual Wellness Rooms: What are They & Why We Need Them

There is no question that our daily lives are filled with the craziness of completing tasks, performing responsibilities, and working on various chores and other items. Often in the midst of this craziness, taking a break and/or taking time to reset ourselves is needed. These pauses and breaks are essential in maintaining our well-being and ensuring that we are working and completing tasks as our best selves. Whether we’re students grappling with complex academic tasks or adults immersed in the challenges of the professional world, breaks serve as crucial opportunities to recharge, refocus, and rejuvenate our minds and bodies.

Although break spaces and wellness rooms are fairly prevalent in schools and places of employment, the same cannot be said about online workplaces. Yet, providing a space where students and employees can recharge is important. That is why school districts, and any online business should create and use a virtual wellness room/break space.

What is a Virtual Wellness Room/Break Space?

A virtual wellness room or break space is an online platform or digital space that is designed to support the well-being and mental health of individuals working in an online setting. “​Research shows that taking purposeful breaks (anywhere from 5–60​ ​minutes) from studying​/working ​to refresh your brain and body increases your energy,​ ​productivity, and ability to focus” (Cornell University​, 2024). A virtual wellness room/break space allows individuals this time away from their work to take a mental break and help refocus.

These spaces provide ​a range of​ resources and activities that promote mental, emotional, and physical health, offering employees a dedicated place to recharge and rejuvenate during their workday. Some of these activities and resources include guided meditations and relaxation videos/resources, brain break videos or activities, yoga/stretching, mindfulness activities, virtual workshops and webinars, calming music, community support, and many more activities and resources. When set up and used properly, “a break reduces stress and anxiety” (Varinder, 2023). Hence, the goal of a virtual wellness space is to provide an online break space that individuals can use when they need to take a break, recharge, refresh, refocus, and/or take time for their mental well-being.

Why is a Virtual Wellness Room/Break Space Needed?

So why do we need virtual wellness rooms/break spaces? Why are they important? What is the rationale of allowing individuals to use an online break space? As mentioned above, breaks provide an opportunity to recharge, refocus, and rejuvenate our minds and bodies. Even in a virtual setting, individuals need a break, and these breaks can provide and serve many benefits.

First, a virtual wellness room/break space allows individuals to take care of and address their mental health needs. Continuous work without breaks can lead to burnout, stress, and decreased productivity. Virtual break spaces offer an opportunity to step away from work-related tasks, reducing mental fatigue and promoting overall well-being.

These spaces also allow individuals to make connections and build their social skills. This is especially important for students in an online school setting. “Breaks offer a chance for socialization.” (Teaching Channel, 2022). When the online break space is set up in a way that allows students/individuals to connect and communicate with each other, then students/individuals can build their social skills and communication skills through informal conversations, bonding activities, and collaborative ideas and activities.

Virtual wellness rooms/break spaces allow individuals to refresh and refocus which fosters and stimulates creativity and innovation. These spaces may include interactive activities such as games and puzzles that foster creative thinking and innovation. No matter what activities and resources the individual accesses and uses in the virtual space, the aim is to help the individual relax and recharge. This often leads to new ideas, thoughts, and perspectives.

Finally, virtual wellness rooms/break spaces allow individuals to be more productive. Research has shown that taking breaks enhances productivity and work quality. According to Michigan State University (2023), “​Taking a break from work increases​ ​focus when employees return to work, thus improving their productivity​.” Stepping away from work momentarily allows individuals to recharge, leading to improved focus and concentration when they return.

Whether we’re students grappling with complex academic tasks or adults immersed in the challenges of the professional world, breaks serve as crucial opportunities to recharge, refocus, and rejuvenate our minds and bodies. Thus, creating and utilizing break spaces online has become vital in today’s modern society. These spaces allow individuals who work online to have a break space for rejuvenation and self-care. In a world where stress and burnout are pervasive, these digital sanctuaries serve as vital resources, fostering community, providing valuable resources, and promoting holistic wellness. Below is a how-to tutorial on how to create an online wellness space.

How to Create a Virtual Wellness Room/Break Space (via Google Slides)

Click Here for an Example

Part 1: Creating a Background

1. Open Google Slides
2. Click “create a new slideshow”
3. Choose whatever title you want
4. On the first slide, select the “Background” button > Choose Image > Google Images
5. Search for “wall and floor” background
6. Choose a background that fits your desired design
7. The more inviting the space looks, the better
8. Make it look and appear like an actual break space
9. Helpful hint: choose one that has more “wall space”

Part 2: Add Items

1. At the top bar, select Insert > Image > Search the web
2. Add items that would be found in physical wellness rooms: Shelves, bean bags, chairs, tables, lamps, etc.
3. Helpful hint: include in your search “clear background”
4. Example: “shelves clear background”
5. Select an item you like
6. Select “Insert” at the bottom right corner of the screen.
7. Repeat these steps for all items desired.

Part 3: Add Icons

1. Think of activities, videos, resources, etc… that would be found in a wellness space
2. Search for icons or images to represent these activities, resources, videos, etc… using the steps above
3. Insert these icons and images into the Google Slides
4. Example: if you want to add a playlist of calming music, add a music note.
5. Example: if you want to link a website to watch penguins at the aquarium, add a penguin.
6. Repeat these steps for all icons desired.

Part 4: Steps to Add Links

1. Select the icon that you want to add a link to.
2. At the top bar, select Insert > Link > paste the link in the box > Apply
3. Repeat these steps for all links