Corporate wellness programs deliver wide-reaching benefits that include reducing costs, energizing the workforce, and increasing employee retention. Those are reasons why upwards of 85 percent of large companies provide workplace wellness activities.
Among the wellness activities offered by companies, stop smoking programs, mindfulness, yoga, fitness, and healthy eating rank among the most popular. These activities typically help improve workforce morale, improve co-worker relationships, and increase employee loyalty and trust. The mere fact decision-makers take the time to invest in wellness resonates with valued employees.
But creating a company known for driving workplace wellness can be something of a challenge. Staff members who feel overwhelmed performing daily tasks and meeting deadlines too often view wellness activities as a time-consuming item that puts them further behind. For industry leaders to successfully create a culture with a healthy foundation, they may have to promote the positives of wellness activities.
Promoting Wellness in the Workplace
According to a report published by the American Institute of Stress, more than one-third of sufferers schedule a doctor’s visit because of stress-related issues annually. Wellness activities are vital programs that employers can use to improve mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. Once decision-makers decide to move forward, the following encouragement practices can help bring people to the table.
- Encourage Employees to Relax and Participate
- Encourage Workers to Share Preferred Wellness Activities
- Encourage People to Discuss Stress and Anxiety in a Nonjudgmental Setting
- Encourage Participation through Incentives
- Encourage Staff Members to Participate in Office Wellbeing Challenges
Although encouragement tends to subtly motivate people to become more engaged, it’s also crucial to create balance. Address internal issues such as team members skipping breaks and working through lunch before promoting wellness activities. Industry leaders cannot move forward with holistic solutions while people feel overwhelmed.
Wellness Activities
For corporate wellness activities and programs to succeed, they must emerge as part of the organization’s culture. This generally means company leaders must consider them part of the decision-making process and instill whole-person encouragement at every level. Needless to say, wellness activities must also prove enticing to people with diverse backgrounds and needs.
Fun Wellbeing Activities At Work
People who desire an emphasis on wellness typically want activities that further their physical health. Wellbeing activities, to some degree, take a holistic approach to a life well-lived. The following highlight examples of wellbeing activities that may prove popular among co-workers.
- Institute Casual Fridays Dress Code
- Conduct Walking Meetings One Day Per Week
- Schedule a Mindful Meditation Session to Start “Hump Day”
- Pair Co-Workers to Promote Professional Relationships
Like wellbeing programs, inviting wellness activities help engage people and bring them closer together. The following popular and sometimes offbeat wellness options could prove inspirational.
Out of the Box Health and Wellness Ideas in the Workplace
- Matcha Meditation: This activity pairs matcha tea drinking with an informal meditation session at work.
- Morning Manicure: Companies that provide discounted manicurists during scheduled breaks or after work gain favor with employees.
- Healthy Potluck Lunch: Challenging staff members to make a signature healthy menu item to share once per month typically emerges as an exciting cooking event.
- Volunteerism: Non-profit organizations are often short-staffed. Allowing employees to invest work hours at facilities such as a local soup kitchen or women’s center demonstrates the company’s commitment to the community.
- Holistic Workshops: Planning workshops that bring in experts involving things such as essential oils and spiritual awakening can expand employee understanding of personal wellness.
Fun Nutrition and Wellness Activities for Remote Employees
- Virtual Luncheons: Companies with remote talents can promote employee unity and cohesiveness by hosting a virtual luncheon. People can talk about healthy work-from-home solutions.
- Recipe Video Meetings: Imagine how inspired the workforce would be to watch a video with their CEO or direct supervisor preparing fine cuisine.
- Alt-Coffee Break Meetings: Although caffeine may not rank among the healthiest beverages, discussing nutritious alternatives makes for a pleasant production meeting.
Fitness Activities and Wellness Challenges for Work Teams
- Hydration Challenge: Hard-working people sometimes become reliant on caffeinated drinks. Returning to healthy water hydration improves health and wellness.
- Inclusive Activity Challenges: Companies have an opportunity to connect people across departments by pre-selecting teams to encourage each other to incorporate more movement into their lives. The fitness benefits are only rivaled by the improved morale.
- Healthy Eating Programs: The sedentary nature of office work often results in everyday people adding a few extra pounds. By encouraging healthy eating and fresh recipes, colleagues can improve self-esteem and increase their energy.
- Smoking Cessation: Cigarettes ranked among the most anti-health habits, bar none. By bringing in experts to help employees and encouraging them to support each other, industry leaders provide an invaluable health service.
Business Leaders Can Elevate Workforce Enthusiasm with Wellness Activities
It’s essential for wellness activities to seamlessly fit a diverse workforce. But by offering wide-reaching opportunities and some that appear outside the box, industry leaders demonstrate they are fully invested in staff members. The trust and loyalty wellness activities lead to are only outpaced by seeing everyday people enjoy an improved quality of life.
