Twelve weeks that have given Gomero's coworkers a new perspective on sustainability

Since its inception, Gomero has been assisting clients in the energy sector in achieving long-term sustainable economic growth through the development of predictive maintenance systems and services. In the autumn of 2022, Gomero decided to expand its sustainability efforts to encompass each individual coworker.

With the program "12 Weeks of Joy," Gomero's coworkers have had an opportunity to enhance their own sustainability and well-being through exercise, dietary guidance, and discussions related to both physical and mental health. The program has been a significant part and the beginning of Gomero's long-term efforts aimed at enabling conscious "sustainability choices" in daily life. By promoting a culture where sustainability is a natural part of everything we do, we create the conditions for growth and challenges, both at work and in our personal lives.

"We had internal discussions and ideas that resulted in the realization that our products and services are truly sustainable only if our way of taking care of each other and ourselves is also sustainable. We are convinced that an organization's culture and its performance are directly linked. And we can only truly succeed if we start with ourselves as individuals," says Jan-Eric Nilsson, CEO of Gomero.

"Our program and approach are based more on engagement and joy rather than demands and performance at any cost. The exercise that actually happens is the best and, frankly, the only one that counts. The same goes for changing habits and attitudes. Hence the name of our sustainability initiative. We wanted to make it easy and enjoyable to discover and develop our own sustainability," Jan-Eric continues.

Anders Hansen's research on what exercise and physical activity do for the brain has been a significant source of inspiration for "12 Weeks of Joy." Therefore, the activities on the opening day were related to the book "The Real Happy Pill" and how we are influenced by exercise, diet, and sleep.

"Most of us were attracted by the opportunity for a mental and physical 'upgrade.' Kicking off the program with a full day of cycling tours, relaxation exercises, discussions about exercise related to both physical and mental health, climate issues, and fun team-building activities left us wanting more," says Gomero's Lisa Hedström, who has been involved in the planning and execution of "12 Weeks of Joy."

In addition to exercise and diet, Gomero's coworkers have gained increased awareness and a greater interest in how their own decisions can make a difference.

"With a little knowledge and commitment, it's possible to make many conscious choices in everyday life. From the way we choose to commute to and from work and client meetings to the transportation services and products we choose to purchase. Perhaps these aren't massive efforts individually, but when viewed as a whole and over the long term, each individual coworker has the opportunity to make a difference. With '12 Weeks of Joy,' we have gone from merely stating things to better understanding what can be done and why. It feels like we have collectively made a positive shift," continues Lisa Hedström.

Gomero's customers manage what is likely the most critical infrastructure - the electrical grid. As many of us are aware, a significant portion of it was put into operation several decades ago. At the same time, the majority of today's electrical grids are in great need of modernization and development.

"In Gomero's case, most of what we do often has a very long-term perspective. This has also contributed to our understanding that sustainability and well-being cannot be confined to one single project. It must be an ongoing process. It's particularly exciting here that we have encouraged several coworkers to change their mindset, break bad habits, and take more interest in sustainability issues. We expect that '12 Weeks of Joy' is just the beginning of work that will continue, both in small and large contexts," concludes Lisa Hedström.

At Gomero, we're happy to be inspired by others. When we embarked on a journey to promote the health and sustainability of our employees, the story of 80-year-old Åke Jonson became a particularly strong source of inspiration. Åke's transformation from being bedridden to becoming a multiple-time veteran champion in athletics demonstrates that it's never too late to start exercising and live a sustainable life. You can read more about it here.