Work is important, but one thing both employers and workers are beginning to realize is that you can’t work if you’re not well. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly important for everyone in the workplace to start prioritizing wellness.
Wellness in the workplace is not so different from wellness at home. Especially now that, for many, the workplace is the home, prioritizing wellness at work and at home comes in many of the same forms.
You may have thought of wellness as having to do with work-life balance, physical fitness, or perhaps mental or emotional health, but wellness actually incorporates all of those things.
Wellness in a work setting then is keeping track of your mental, emotional, and physical health daily, and making sure you create space to recharge when you need it so you don’t burn out.
Wellness in the workplace is a collaborative effort between employees and employers as well. For example, if your boss doesn’t take lunch, or is constantly looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re being productive, it’s highly unlikely you’ll feel able to take time for wellness.
Culture is key in making employees feel cared for and like they can actually prioritize their health and well-being. If employees feel pressured to work overtime because of a fear of losing their job, the effects of that pressure are going to have a negative impact on their work-life balance, their mental health, and potentially even their physical health.
The benefits of wellness at work are enormous and obvious. For one, it’s actually been proven to improve overall employee health, reducing health care costs for employers.
But health care costs aren’t the only thing employers should be concerned about; according to Gallup, “the costs of poor employee wellbeing go far beyond insurance—they ultimately impact employee engagement, productivity and performance.”
When we feel happy and healthy at work, we might actually start enjoying it and want to be there. On the other hand, if you're feeling on edge, stressed out, and are hunched over a desk 24/7, you won't enjoy your work, and it'll take a toll on your personal well-being.
Wellness helps people be more productive—not less—it helps lower stress levels, and increases the ability and willingness of employees to contribute to business objectives. It's for all these reasons that it's crucial for businesses to take hold of.
Think about your mental and emotional state on a typical day at the office, or the amount of exercise you’re getting and the breaks you’re taking. Do you feel balanced? If not, why might that be?
Try asking yourself questions like the above to determine how “well” you feel at work. If you notice some gaps due to lifestyle or work habits, you may need to develop some wellness practices to help you stay balanced during the run of a workday.
Does your employer help you prioritize your wellness? Maybe they don’t, but that’s not necessarily on purpose. Try suggesting some ways that your company can make everyone feel a little better at work. Are you a leader? You can help start a culture of wellness by simply building wellness habits within your own team.
If you have people reporting to you at work, you can take the lead on wellness at work. And even if you don’t, these tips can still be the starting point for your own wellness journey on the job.
Walking meetings are a fantastic way to get work done while prioritizing wellness. A favourite of Apple founder Steve Jobs, walking meetings let workers get up out of their desks, stretch it out, and exercise, all while still getting the job done. If you can, take it outside for the added benefit of fresh air.
Work from home? You can take walking meetings virtually too. Pop in some headphones and take your brainstorming session on the go; you can prioritize some face time with your team via video later.
Taking lunch ideally starts at the top, but that being said—it doesn’t have to. And for whoever needs to hear this: even if your boss doesn’t stop for lunch, you should. While it might seem taboo, you’re not likely to get fired over taking the lunch break you’re legally entitled to.
Start by asking one or two team members to join you. They might be encouraged by the fact that you’re taking a break to start doing the same. That’s creating a culture of wellness at work.
If you’re a leader, give your team permission to stop. You might even want to book a meeting in the calendar for everyone to take lunch at the same time. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate event either, it can be as simple as meeting up in the lunchroom at noon.
Set reminders for yourself (or use ones that already exist, like the 10 minute reminder your calendar sends you before your next meeting) to stand up and stretch. Take a lap around the office. Remembering to do this frequently can counteract the effects of bad posture and stress and help you feel energized.
You can even make standing and stretching exercises collaborative; every hour, try encouraging your coworkers to join you by asking them in person or sending them a message to get up and move!
Wellness at work is something that hasn’t always been prioritized, but today, more employees and employers are understanding that wellness can severely impact how an organization performs. Putting employees and their well-being first can help everyone feel more at home at work, leading to increased productivity and a more enjoyable work environment where people want to be.
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Work is important, but one thing both employers and workers are beginning to realize is that you can’t work if you’re not well. As a result, it’s becoming increasingly important for everyone in the workplace to start prioritizing wellness.
Wellness in the workplace is not so different from wellness at home. Especially now that, for many, the workplace is the home, prioritizing wellness at work and at home comes in many of the same forms.
You may have thought of wellness as having to do with work-life balance, physical fitness, or perhaps mental or emotional health, but wellness actually incorporates all of those things.
Wellness in a work setting then is keeping track of your mental, emotional, and physical health daily, and making sure you create space to recharge when you need it so you don’t burn out.
Wellness in the workplace is a collaborative effort between employees and employers as well. For example, if your boss doesn’t take lunch, or is constantly looking over your shoulder to make sure you’re being productive, it’s highly unlikely you’ll feel able to take time for wellness.
Culture is key in making employees feel cared for and like they can actually prioritize their health and well-being. If employees feel pressured to work overtime because of a fear of losing their job, the effects of that pressure are going to have a negative impact on their work-life balance, their mental health, and potentially even their physical health.
The benefits of wellness at work are enormous and obvious. For one, it’s actually been proven to improve overall employee health, reducing health care costs for employers.
But health care costs aren’t the only thing employers should be concerned about; according to Gallup, “the costs of poor employee wellbeing go far beyond insurance—they ultimately impact employee engagement, productivity and performance.”
When we feel happy and healthy at work, we might actually start enjoying it and want to be there. On the other hand, if you're feeling on edge, stressed out, and are hunched over a desk 24/7, you won't enjoy your work, and it'll take a toll on your personal well-being.
Wellness helps people be more productive—not less—it helps lower stress levels, and increases the ability and willingness of employees to contribute to business objectives. It's for all these reasons that it's crucial for businesses to take hold of.
Think about your mental and emotional state on a typical day at the office, or the amount of exercise you’re getting and the breaks you’re taking. Do you feel balanced? If not, why might that be?
Try asking yourself questions like the above to determine how “well” you feel at work. If you notice some gaps due to lifestyle or work habits, you may need to develop some wellness practices to help you stay balanced during the run of a workday.
Does your employer help you prioritize your wellness? Maybe they don’t, but that’s not necessarily on purpose. Try suggesting some ways that your company can make everyone feel a little better at work. Are you a leader? You can help start a culture of wellness by simply building wellness habits within your own team.
If you have people reporting to you at work, you can take the lead on wellness at work. And even if you don’t, these tips can still be the starting point for your own wellness journey on the job.
Walking meetings are a fantastic way to get work done while prioritizing wellness. A favourite of Apple founder Steve Jobs, walking meetings let workers get up out of their desks, stretch it out, and exercise, all while still getting the job done. If you can, take it outside for the added benefit of fresh air.
Work from home? You can take walking meetings virtually too. Pop in some headphones and take your brainstorming session on the go; you can prioritize some face time with your team via video later.
Taking lunch ideally starts at the top, but that being said—it doesn’t have to. And for whoever needs to hear this: even if your boss doesn’t stop for lunch, you should. While it might seem taboo, you’re not likely to get fired over taking the lunch break you’re legally entitled to.
Start by asking one or two team members to join you. They might be encouraged by the fact that you’re taking a break to start doing the same. That’s creating a culture of wellness at work.
If you’re a leader, give your team permission to stop. You might even want to book a meeting in the calendar for everyone to take lunch at the same time. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate event either, it can be as simple as meeting up in the lunchroom at noon.
Set reminders for yourself (or use ones that already exist, like the 10 minute reminder your calendar sends you before your next meeting) to stand up and stretch. Take a lap around the office. Remembering to do this frequently can counteract the effects of bad posture and stress and help you feel energized.
You can even make standing and stretching exercises collaborative; every hour, try encouraging your coworkers to join you by asking them in person or sending them a message to get up and move!
Wellness at work is something that hasn’t always been prioritized, but today, more employees and employers are understanding that wellness can severely impact how an organization performs. Putting employees and their well-being first can help everyone feel more at home at work, leading to increased productivity and a more enjoyable work environment where people want to be.
