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As the founder of a workplace wellness company, I understand the pressure to improve the health of employees can be extremely stressful at times. Wellness is serious business. You want to make a difference, you want to improve the health and well-being of your employees and you want them to feel like they’re invested in the program.
But sometimes in between putting out fires, ROI discussions and tracking participation, we forget that employees are human beings. Unfortunately, many are stressed, sleep deprived, and burnt out. Many see their company’s wellness program as just another task to finish or box to check in their busy lives. Sadly, a workplace wellness program is not something they look forward to or get excited about.
What if you could change that mentality by lightening things up and adding some fun into your wellness program? Now I know what you might be thinking. The words "employee wellness" and "fun" don't necessarily go together. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
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Infusing fun will help improve your employee wellness program. Making wellness fun is one of the best ways to engage your employees, and engagement is one of the keys to a successful workplace wellness program. So with fun in mind, I’ve put together a list of ways you can build a supportive environment that helps improve employee well-being.
1. Bring Back Recess
Recess was the best part of the day when I was a kid – so why not bring it to work? Encourage employees to go outside to toss a Frisbee, play a pick-up game of kickball or run around for a round of "freeze tag." Providing employees with more options for being active at work results in happy, engaged, productive employees. An added benefit is an increased sense of camaraderie among team members.
2. Go To The Fair
Wellness fair that is. Hosting a wellness fair is an excellent way to educate your employees about their health and well-being through exhibits, workshops, activities, demonstrations and biometric screenings. Create a relaxing environment with massages, music, healthy snacks and door prizes.
3. Encourage Lunch Breaks
Fewer employees are taking time for lunch. Research shows that only 1 in 5 five people step away for a midday meal. And while doing so may seem like a luxury in today’s work environment, it’s actually a necessity when it comes to the health and performance of your employees. Organize lunchtime classes or groups dedicated to walking, yoga, cycling, etc. so employees have a good reason to leave their desk.
4. Support Your Local Community
You can encourage volunteering by offering programs such as paid time off for volunteering, days of service, or skills-based volunteering on company time. Even better yet—recruit family members to join in. Parents get to spend quality time with their children, while serving as positive role models. A 2013 UnitedHealth Group study found that volunteering makes employees feel better physically, emotionally and mentally. 76% of participants said that volunteering made them feel healthier and 94% said that volunteering improved their mood.
5. Get Moving
Try starting or ending meetings with a quick round of group exercise, such as simple yoga poses, light stretching, or jumping jacks. You could also set up different activity stations around your office that encourage employees to take 10 minute breaks. This could include hula-hoops, dumbbells, resistance bands or jump ropes. Making time for activity breaks throughout the work day can help your employees get refocused and reenergized, as well as help them fit some fitness into their day.
6. Have A Laugh-In
Hold a laughing meditation or laughing yoga workshop at work. These wellness activities are newer trends that get employees laughing through playful exercises and helps them appreciate the value of laughter. If your employees get more laughter in their lives, they will be better off. Laughter releases endorphins and boosts feelings of positivity, plus laughing in a group setting adds a sense of connection with coworkers.
7. Start A Peer-To-Peer Recognition Program
Give employees an opportunity to praise their coworkers for doing healthy things at work with wellness recognition cards. Simple notes provide instant recognition, which helps build team morale. Plus, it provides extra encouragement for employees who are making healthy lifestyle choices. It’s a win-win! You could also sweeten the pot and give employees who earn recognition cards a chance to win additional rewards.
8. Host Regular Team Outings
Let your employees off early on a Friday afternoon and help them unwind after a stressful week. By spending time with one another in a fresh environment, employees can get the chance to know one another outside the office. A few fun activities to try: laser tag, cooking classes, bowling, scavenger hunts, healthy happy hours, escape rooms or go-kart racing.
You can’t guess what your employees define as fun, so be sure to ask your employees what they want before you get started. Getting employees involved not only results in the development of passionate, creative ideas; it also truly gets employees engaged, and thus makes them far more likely to encourage others to participate in your wellness program. It creates a true wellness culture, and a fun one at that.
