WITH INCREASING RATES of chronic illness across the country, it’s more important than ever to make health and wellness a priority. Many of us spend our mornings rushed, drink coffee as our first meal, and are lucky if we get a break to eat between patients. After work, we’re drained and skip that evening workout. We repeat the pattern week after week and find this cycle of unhealthy living difficult to break.
Americans employed full-time will spend an average of 47 hours at the office each week so we can’t afford to neglect our health at work. By incorporating wellness into our workday, we are able to feel better and be more efficient. Healthy employees are happier, and perform better than unhealthy ones.
No matter how you or your office goes about it, adopting healthy habits at work can pay dividends.
More Energy
Focusing on wellness is the best way to optimize productivity. Getting enough rest and starting the morning with a nourishing breakfast boosts energy and focus. Eating healthy foods throughout the day keeps you energized and averts the post-lunch fog. Consider stocking the office with healthy snacks or ordering a healthy option for your next team lunch. Nutrition and health are closely related and by making better food choices at work, you’ll experience increased energy and a healthier lifestyle.
Better Morale
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Focusing on wellness at work is a great way to build office morale. You don’t need a formal program to create excitement around wellness. Small wellness challenges with prizes are a great way to motivate your team. You could compete to get the most steps for a week and monitor progress using a pedometer. Perhaps your office is full of runners and you’d like to run a 5K. These simple ideas can be inexpensive but transformative by helping your office be more active together.
Lower Costs
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Inspiring your office to lead a healthier lifestyle decreases the chance of chronic health conditions that could cost you and your employees over the years. Studies have found returns on workplace wellness investments in the form of slower growth in healthcare spending and a reduction in rates of obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition.
Creating a culture of wellness at work can help your staff as individuals and your team as a whole. The definition of workplace wellness will continue to expand as healthcare evolves. Don’t be afraid to try something new and explore what wellness at work means for you!
