As the warm weather leaves us, it is easy for employees to get caught up in staying indoors, using the weather as an excuse to sit at their desk and do more work, rather than go outside and enjoy the fresh air. As a part of your company wellness program, it is your job to help your employees continue to stay active; this is the most important time of year to keep their bodies in good health. Sitting at their desk all day without a break will only contribute to higher stress levels, more illnesses, and ultimately more sick days. Here are a few quick ideas to get your employees to continue to enjoy the last few months of decent weather:
1) Create cool weather walking groups – It is easy for employees to get motivated to walk during the summer months, but once the weather cools, everyone seems to fall by the wayside. This fall, create your own cool weather walking groups. Encourage people to sign up and stick to their commitment. Even 30 minutes of exercise a day could keep the doctor away.
2) Create a group enrollment for indoor exercise classes – For those employees that do not enjoy being outdoors when the temperature dips, find a facility that will give your employees a group rate for exercise classes. Whether you want to promote yoga for stress reduction, or a cardio class to keep everyone fit, when people sign up together, they are more likely to stick with the program, and they also have the added benefit of socialization while exercising.
3) Offer onsite massages – Massage therapy has many benefits, aside from making people feel relaxed. It also boosts immunity, helps to fight insomnia, and decreases stress levels. Many employees likely have a hard time making time for themselves, which means that a massage is probably the last thing on their mind when they are not at work. With an onsite massage therapy session available, many more people are more likely to partake in its advantages, helping to fulfill the goals of your company wellness program.