After nearly a year of shifting routines to accommodate working and learning at home as well as safety measures to stay healthy, many people are feeling a strain on their mental and physical health. A recent study showed a significant decline in the number of steps people take now that they are staying home more often. It’s safe to say that many people could use a reset—and these employee health challenges and wellness giveaways can help.
Meal planning
When people feel drained, they tend to eat whatever is easiest, even if it isn’t always the healthiest option. Meal planning can help them make better choices. As part of an employee challenge, ask employees for recipes. Give everyone who participates a citrus peeler or a portion control set. Offer tips on how to stay on a healthy eating track when things get stressful, such as cooking an elaborate meal over the weekend (or whenever they have the time to do it) and then having the leftovers on hand during the week.
Set routines
We all know it’s important to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night, but many people struggle to reach that goal. Having employees establish morning and night routines can help them feel rested and ready for each workday.
Ask each employee to determine what is the best time for them to go to sleep each night and then encourage them to turn off all electronics 30 minutes before bedtime. Encourage employees establish a morning routine and stick to it. Have them set a ‘no-snooze’ rule. A wireless charging clock can help.
Get organized
While a clean desk might seem like an unusual choice for an employee wellness challenge, it has many benefits. A study revealed that 49% of employees said having a messy workplace affected how they felt about working, while almost a third thought it increased their stress level. Challenge employees to get organized and hand out desk caddies or bottles of paper clips to help get them started.
Play games
It can be difficult to find wellness challenges that appeal to every staff member. So, let them pick a few of their own. Put together a list of possible wellness ideas, place them on a Bingo card and let employees choose the ones that appeal to them. Examples might include:
- Meditate for five minutes a day
- Take a walk each day for two weeks
- Take time for an in-house dance break
- Try a yoga video
- Step away from their desk for lunch
- Call a friend they haven’t talked to in a while
Get a start on health
A health reset starts with a single step—whether it’s more sleep, better eating or some other starting point. By sharing a few fun employee wellness challenges, you can encourage your staff to stay healthy. And that’s a big win for everyone.