9 ways to bring more movement in to (and out of) the office
According to the Cleveland Clinic, Americans spend an average of nine and half hours sitting each day. Between their commute, meetings attended throughout the day and desk time, it’s easy for employees to sit all day without even thinking about it.
By getting your employees up and moving throughout the day, you decrease their risk of chronic disease, improve their mental well-being and help them be more productive. Here are five ideas to help your employees get more movement in the workplace.
5 ways to get your employees moving more
1.
Schedule walking meetings throughout the day
Consider holding meetings by walking around your work space. Walking meetings are known to boost energy levels and stimulate creative thinking.
2.
Walk to a local restaurant instead of ordering lunch in
Urge employees to get up from their desks to take a walk to grab lunch at a local spot rather than having it delivered. Encourage them to eat at a new common space, a park or a break room in a different part of the building rather than taking lunch at their desk.
3.
Strategically build wellness incentives
Incentives can do more than attract employees to your wellness program — they also help employees build lasting healthy habits. Many organizations design their wellness incentives to encourage ongoing engagement rather than just one-time participation. Offering meaningful incentives is essential: gift cards, vacation time or monetary bonuses can motivate employees reach their wellness goals.
Build a physically active work culture
The Wellmark Well-being Team is here to help you create a culture that prioritizes mental and physical wellness. Connect with a well-being consultant to find the right health and wellness solutions for your business.
4.
Invest in ergonomic furniture
Ergonomic furniture prevents pain, discomfort and injuries for employees who perform repetitive tasks or work in awkward body positions — like typing or sitting at a desk. Invest in exercise balls, standing desks, ergonomic keyboards and chairs, or even walking pads or stair-stepping desks to help employees get more movement at work. Check if your workplace needs an ergonomic checkup.
5.
Coordinate wellness meet-ups during the week and weekend
Provide opportunities to meet up after work or on the weekend for wellness-focused activities. Wellness groups are a great way to help employees remain accountable, bond and meet new individuals within the company. You can even encourage these groups to participate in wellness challenges that promote movement.
More team activity inspiration outside of the workplace
There are several ways you can get active as a team outside of work hours. Not only will your employees be participating in movement good for their body, it’s also a great opportunity for team building. From sharing resources to sponsoring a recreational team, consider these options.
- Check out local, upcoming races in your city for employees and their families to participate in.
- Join a local sports league. Whether it’s basketball, sand or indoor volleyball, flag football or slow pitch — get a group of interested employees into a team for a fun, weeknight team-building exercise activity!
- Hike or bike the local trails. Check out local trails within your community where employees can meet up to hike or bike around!
- Try out a game park. Schedule a team outing at a game park that has different activity options (e.g., racquetball, table tennis) for all ages and abilities.
Offer a virtual well-being solution for more movement
With Wellbeats®, Wellmark’s virtual well-being solution, employees can stream on-demand or live wellness classes and programs for all ages, levels, abilities and interests. Wellbeats offers more than 1,200 fitness, nutrition and mindfulness classes — making it easy for employees to move whenever, wherever and however they like. Download the Wellbeats flyer from the Wellmark Marketing Toolkit to learn more about this solution and its offerings.
Or, connect with a Wellmark Well-being Consultant to get expert advice on how you can implement health and well-being solutions in your workplace for healthier and more engaged employees.