2020 has been an interesting year to say the least so it’s no wonder that many companies are placing a bigger emphasis on wellness programs and we’re no different. Here are some of our favourite ways to encourage wellness amongst our teams.
Wellness Challenges
Everyone loves a good challenge and the bragging rights that come with winning so this is a great way to promote a healthier lifestyle. It can be a challenge that encourages team members to workout or drink more water within a given timeframe and everyone tracks their progress. At the end, the winner gets a gift (preferably something that also promotes a healthy lifestyle). Make these a monthly occurrence as a good way to motivate the team to reach goals, bond and stay healthy.
Mindfulness Sessions
It’s no surprise that many people have reported elevated levels of stress this year so it’s important to create avenues that help manage that stress in the workplace. Mindfulness is a good way to help teams focus on the present moment and pull focus away from their doubts and fears. It can be as simple as a few minutes to breathe and re-center, or something more involved like a guided meditation.
Dance Breaks
These are great especially when the team is working on a tough project or trying to meet a deadline. Schedule a time for the whole team to get up and dance and each team member can take turns being the DJ during different breaks. Music and dancing have been shown to help relieve stress, boost productivity and increase creativity.
Work-free Zones
Whether it’s dedicated Slack channels, a book club, or “No-work-talk” happy hours, it’s important to be able to take a real step away from your work and connect with your team. This is especially true for remote workers and can help reduce the feeling of isolation that often comes with working remotely.
Safe Spaces
This can be tough to establish but extremely beneficial once in place. The most important thing is to set clear safe-zone rules so everyone feels comfortable sharing/venting without judgement or looking incompetent. It’s helpful being able to talk about stress with others as you get an outside perspective and solutions (as the popular adage goes, a problem shared is a problem halved!)
