Feeling burnt out at work lately? Try incorporating some wellness activities like gentle stretching, yoga, or meditation into your daily routine to recharge your body and mind.
But listen up, leaders: here’s your sign to reenergize your team.
Companies can offer all sorts of employee wellness activities to help everyone out.
We’re talking yoga classes to stretch out stress, walking groups to get those steps in, or even workshops to tame that workday anxiety.
It’s all about creating a healthier work environment, you know, less stress, a happier team, more productive everyone!
Let’s dive into some doable wellness activities that you can incorporate into your team’s daily routine.
We’ll identify several options that are easy to fit in, without disrupting your team’s productivity. Furthermore, these activities will help you and your team feel your best, both in and out of the office.
Benefits Of Wellness Activities
Considering the common struggles of workers, like high stress, long hours, sitting too much, and trying to balance work and personal life, wellness activities in the workplace are very important.
Therefore, these activities help improve physical health by lowering the risk of diseases and keeping people fit. For instance, one study found that leisure-time physical activity is linked to better heart [³] and metabolism health, underscoring the benefits of encouraging such activities.
Also, wellness activities help workers [²] balance their work and life better, increase productivity, and create strong social connections.
For employers, these activities can lower healthcare costs, reduce absenteeism, and help keep employees longer.
Overall, wellness activities lead to a healthier, happier, and more engaged workforce, benefiting everyone involved.
15 Innovative Wellness Activities
A. For Physical Wellness
1. Virtual Fitness Challenges
Firstly, organize step challenges using fitness trackers or apps to encourage employees to stay active the whole day. Therefore, these challenges can be individual or team-based, fostering a sense of competition and camaraderie among colleagues.
Moreover, you can set daily, weekly, or monthly step goals and track progress using popular fitness apps. Afterwards, award the winning employees with prizes like health insurance vouchers to maintain their motivation.
2. Active Breaks
Schedule short, active breaks during the workday to help employees stretch and move away from their desks. Furtheremore, these can include team desk yoga sessions or simple stretching exercises led by a volunteer or professional instructor.
Moreover, these sessions not only promote physical well-being but also help reduce stress and improve mental clarity, leading to increased productivity and morale [⁴].
3. Healthy Potlucks
Encourage teams to participate in healthy potluck lunches where everyone brings a nutritious dish to share. Moreover, this fun wellness program promotes healthy eating habits and provides an opportunity for employees to exchange recipes and discover new, healthy foods.
To make it more engaging, you can organize themed potlucks, such as “Salad Bar Day” or “Smoothie Bowl Party.” Therefore, sharing meals in this way can foster a sense of community and collaboration, making it a fun and enjoyable event for everyone involved.
4. Workplace Olympics
Firstly, divide employees into teams to compete in different events, promoting teamwork and friendly competition. Moreover, you can also include less physically demanding activities, like office chair races or paper plane contests, to ensure everyone can participate.
Then, providing small prizes or certificates for the winning teams can add an extra layer of motivation [⁵] and excitement. Furthermore, the Workplace Olympics can be a great way to boost employee health and morale, improve physical fitness, and strengthen team bonds.
B. For Mental Wellness
5. Mindfulness & Meditation Sessions
Host guided meditation sessions in a quiet space to help employees improve focus and manage stress. Furthermore, these sessions can be led by a professional or a trained volunteer and scheduled during lunch breaks or at the end of the workday.
Moreover, regular practice of mindfulness and meditation can enhance mental clarity, reduce anxiety, and promote employee wellness and overall well-being.
6. Gratitude Challenge
Firstly, encourage team members to write down things they’re grateful for daily, fostering positivity and well-being. Then, this simple wellness activity can be done individually or shared during team meetings.
Also, the Gratitude Challenge helps employees focus on positive aspects of their lives, enhancing mood, improving mental health, and creating a more supportive and positive work environment.
7. Sleep Hygiene Workshops
Offer workshops on healthy sleep habits and creating a relaxing bedtime routine. Moreover, these workshops can include tips on establishing a regular sleep schedule, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and practicing relaxation techniques before bed.
Furthermore, by improving sleep hygiene, employees can experience better rest, increased energy levels, and enhanced overall health and productivity.
8. “Unplug” After Hours Policy
Encourage employees to disconnect from work emails and messages outside of work hours to promote rest and relaxation. Moreover, implementing an “unplug” policy helps create clear boundaries between work and personal life leading to a more engaged [¹] and motivated team, reducing burnout and improving work-life balance.
This practice supports mental health, allowing employees to recharge and return to work more focused and refreshed.
C. For Social & Financial Wellness
9. Volunteer Day
Organize a team volunteering day for a local charity, where employees can work together on community service projects. Furthermore, this not only gives back to the community but also enhances team spirit and cohesion.
Then, volunteering can provide a sense of fulfillment and purpose and can help employees build stronger relationships through shared experiences outside the usual work environment.
10. Healthy Cooking Demonstrations
Host healthy cooking demonstrations where a chef or nutritionist shows how to prepare delicious, nutritious meals. Also, these sessions can be interactive, allowing employees to ask questions and sample the food.
Moreover, aroviding recipes and tips encourages employees to recreate these healthy meals at home, promoting better eating habits and overall well-being.
11. Financial Literacy Workshops
Offer financial literacy workshops focusing on essential skills like budgeting, saving, and debt management. Furthermore, these workshops help employees improve their financial well-being by providing practical advice and tools to manage their finances effectively.
Moreover, understanding personal finance reduces stress related to money issues, leading to greater peace of mind and improved overall health.
D. Virtual & Remote Options
12. Virtual Game Nights
Host a virtual wellness retreat featuring online yoga sessions, mindfulness workshops, and healthy recipe demonstrations. Furthermore, this retreat provides employees with tools to enhance their physical and mental well-being from the comfort of their homes.
It encourages relaxation, stress relief, and healthy habits and living practices, contributing to a more balanced and healthier lifestyle. Organize online game nights where teams can connect and have fun remotely.
Games like trivia, virtual escape rooms, or multiplayer video games foster camaraderie and help employees unwind. However, these events provide a fun, informal way for colleagues to bond, enhancing team spirit and reducing feelings of isolation among remote workers.
13. Virtual Wellness Retreat
Host a virtual wellness retreat featuring online yoga sessions, mindfulness workshops, and healthy recipe demonstrations. Therefore, this retreat provides employees with tools to enhance their physical and mental well-being from the comfort of their homes.
Moreover, this encourages relaxation, stress relief, and healthy habits and living practices, contributing to a more balanced and healthier lifestyle.
14. Online Support Groups
Create online support groups for remote employees to connect, share experiences, and build a sense of community. Then, these groups can focus on various topics, such as mental health, parenting, or professional development.
They provide a platform for employees to seek advice, offer support, and foster meaningful connections, reducing the isolation of remote work. Moreover, a study demonstrated that workplace support from both supervisors [⁶] and organizational leaders can significantly reduce employee turnover.
15. Ergonomic Assessments
Offer ergonomic assessments to ensure remote workspaces are comfortable and promote good posture. Professional ergonomic consultants can provide personalized recommendations for setting up a home office, addressing issues like chair height, monitor placement, and desk organization.
Proper ergonomics help prevent discomfort and injuries, enhancing overall productivity and well-being.
Conclusion
Incorporating wellness activities at work improves health, happiness, and productivity.
Simple initiatives like virtual fitness challenges, active breaks, and healthy potlucks boost physical and mental [⁷] well-being, strengthen team connections, and reduce absenteeism.
Companies that invest in wellness show they value employees, fostering loyalty and engagement. Offering virtual options ensures inclusion, even for remote workers, ultimately leading to a more motivated and successful team.
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Rick Kaselj MS, is a leading kinesiologist and injury specialist as well as co-creator of the best-selling Unlock Your Hip Flexors program. Rick creates exercise programs that help people heal injuries and eliminate pain, so they can go back to living a full, active, healthy life.
