A lot of us are concerned with health and wellness at home, but, it is just as important to maintain our wellbeing at work to enjoy a balanced life.
The workplace can be challenging with demanding schedules and often limited options, but, if, we can find ways to implement exercise, healthy eating and decreased stress, we can increase our overall happiness and productivity.
Did you know that studies have shown that good eating habits help increase our attention span, improve memory and boost well-being? Here are some ways that companies can help out.
Stock vending machines with healthy choices like natural snacks including protein bars, trail mix, iced herbal tea and juice drinks. Try to add a bowl of fresh fruit to lunch areas and, if you have a cafeteria, make sure there are healthy meal options. For meetings, order healthy lunches in and serve veggie platters instead of donuts.
Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle and encouraging physical activity can also positively impact our health and productivity.
Companies can offer safe, well-covered bike parking to encourage commuting via bicycle. They can also have a fleet of bikes that employees can use during breaks or for errands. Not only will you help yourself by not driving, but you will also reduce your carbon footprint and help out the environment.
Companies may also offer discounts or subsidize memberships to local gyms. If possible, the company may have their own exercise facilities. Having showers at work is also helpful for those who bike in or work out during lunch.
Sports teams are also a fun option to get employees exercising and involved.
Another great idea is having ergonomic work stations and ones that allow standing as well as sitting.
But what about mental stress? Stress has been linked to heart disease, insomina, migraines and more, and, at work inefficiency, absences and dissatisfaction. A great idea is to have health or life coaching, and assistance or classes for healthy cooking, yoga, smoking cessation and weight loss.
Forward thinking companies can also incorporate stress breaks and meditation coaching.
Ultimately, work and home life do not have to be completely separate entities. We can incorporate good habits into the entirety of our life – creating wholeness, balance, and overall wellbeing.
This blog is being sponsored by Sodexo, global leader in Quality of Life Services (www.Sodexo.com)
Sodexo, a worldwide leader in Quality of Life Services, believes that to create value, businesses and society as a whole must make people’s well-being a priority.
This made me reflect back to the days when I worked out of the home full time. I wish those companies had been in the right frame of mind and willing to do some of these things.
I love that companies are starting to realize that employees need a healthy balance! I hope more companies follow this trend.
These are all great ideas. One of my old jobs used to subsidize gym memberships which was super helpful.
I wish more workplaces cared about improving the health and wellness of their employees. Unfortunately many don’t and just focus on the bottom line.
Great ideas about how to improve health! I especially like biking to work.
I love this kind of thinking. More companies need to adapt these practices. I think the more we talk about it, the more we will insight change in the work place.
Love these ideas, wish they had them when I was working outside of the home. Thankfully I can do these at home now.
It’s been a while since I have worked outside of my home. These are some really great ideas for companies.
I hope more companies realize that investing in their employees health will increase productivity. Discounted gym memberships are an excellent idea!
After leaving the classroom when I was always on my feet, I am a writer and spend a ton of time sitting. That’s why it’s so important for me to get up and moving as much as possible throughout the day….thankfully my active little boys help out with that.
My daughters work place owns a gym that allows it’s employees to work out at free of charge. It’s in a different town though so many don’t take advantage of it. They need to build one at their job site.
These are all great ideas. I’m not a work out of the house mom but my husband does. I will have to share these with him and all my working friends!
I had a bestie that worked for a law firm and they were awesome with this kind of stuff! They gave gym memberships and tons of breaks. Definitely made working in such a place a tad bit less stressful!
My husband’s office has instituted some great measures for health and wellness in the workplace. They have a landscaped trail for walking on the property as well as a gym upstairs. They have a daily healthy meal for lunch that is just a couple of dollars compared to the other meals and after four of those meals, you get the 5th one free. So, my husband eats the healthy lunch every day. They also have a clinic in the office if you are feeling bad.