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We’ve all heard the adage, “Take care of your employees and they will take care of your customers.”  But what does that mean when it comes to maintaining wellness in the workplace?  If you don’t care about the well-being of your employees, then they’ll leave you and find someone who does. But that’s just one reason why it’s so important to integrate workplace wellness into your business no matter what field you are in.

In addition, employee well-being and satisfaction also lead to overall increased productivity. If you have a staff that is frequently sick or too fatigued to perform perhaps they are neglecting their own personal health?  Doing the right thing by your employees, also turns out to be the best thing.

The same goes for bosses too. To be a good manager, you must set a good example for your employees—and be well enough to manage them with positive energy.

Lastly, as wellness is becoming a mainstream concern and lifestyle management is now a priority, workplace health initiatives are desirable perks for a company to offer. So, investing in those standing desks or company yoga classes may result in more capable, happy, productive employees being drawn to your business and company culture.

It’s Easy to Maintain Wellness in the Workplace

There are so many ways to incorporate healthy habits into your daily work routine and not all of them will cost money. Here are seven great simple habits you should prioritize for your staff when maintaining wellness in the workplace:

1. Step away from the screen. Too much time spent in front of the computer screen can cause employees to suffer from eye strain and impaired cognitive functioning. And, employees sitting behind a screen all day become sedentary. So, encourage your staff to take frequent breaks to allow minds and eyes to relax while their bodies get some much-needed activity.
2. Get moving. Sitting at a desk for hours reduces circulation, causes back problems, puts employees at greater risk of carrying excess weight and may contribute to heart disease. So, get their blood pumping and heart rates up. Encourage an active regimen: walk to lunch, take a stroll while on a call, join an exercise class on break or stretch in the hall. Be imaginative! And make sure to fit exercise into the routine.
3. Take time to practice mindfulness. When workers are honed in on tasks from morning ‘til evening, they can easily get caught up in your flow that forget to come back down to earth. By finding moments to reconnect with their body/environment, they can discover a tranquil mental state. Choose a method that’s comfortable: deep breathing, doodling, sitting in the sun alone for five minutes or going on a brisk walk in the parking lot. These brief activities will help your staff work better and feel better throughout the day.
4. Stay hydrated. Many full-time workers experience dehydration because they either forget to drink water or choose other, less hydrating beverages instead. As appealing as that second cup of coffee may be, water is a better option for maintaining both alertness and focus on work. Dehydration decreases brain function. Adequate water intake helps support brain cells, boosts mood and flushes body toxins that may hinder work performance and overall wellness.
5. Practice pranayama (deep breathing exercises). Yogic breath work exercises (inhaling for a certain count, like 5-8 seconds, pausing and then exhaling for that same amount) can help employees feel at ease even when the job becomes stressful. Breathing increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, which will not only help people think more clearly but also feel more awake through that midday slump.
6. Stay organized (physically and mentally). Company environment often represents the internal state. A messy, cluttered desk, file drawer or calendar can lead to feelings of chaos. Organized spaces and schedules, however, will help staff feel more in control at work. Stress has massive impacts on one’s physical health, and the stress incurred by a disorganized work space will greatly affect well-being.
7. Try not to multitask. Multitasking actually fogs the brain, makes workers less productive, and increases the likelihood of work-induced anxieties. It’s tempting to tackle several jobs at once, but employees will be healthier, happier and more productive by conquering one task at a time.

While these tips may seem easy enough, integrating them consistently into the workplace may be challenging.

Maintaining Wellness in the Workplace: Discover, Incentivize, Engage

For some employees it will be second nature, while others will struggle. This is why encouragement, persistence and communication pay off. Post reminders everywhere for staff to prioritize their health. Let them discover the benefits of maintaining wellness in the workplace. Incentivize them for engaging, and be the leader they deserve. When you embrace workplace wellness, everyone benefits!