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Exercise: best practice tips for the workplace
Creating the right environment for employees to get active is one of the best ways to take care of your employees’ health. Here are some proven strategies to help your company create an exercise program that will help you stay healthy and happy in the workplace:
- Encourage your employees to exercise.
- Offer incentives for healthy behavior.
- Create a culture of health at work.
- Focus on small steps.
- Make it easy for employees to get active.
- Don’t force exercise on anyone.
- Be open about your plans for physical activity.
- Teach about the benefits of exercise.
Related: Nine (9) Habits Of Mentally Strong People In The Workplace
Implementing a workplace exercise program
If you plan on implementing a physical exercise program in your workplace, there are some key considerations to remember.
- Have the right equipment. You don’t want to create false expectations by getting people excited about a program that doesn’t work or is expensive to set up.
- It’s all about motivation. If people do not do it for themselves, they won’t go all out for the sake of their health. That means you should ensure that the health benefits are clear for them to take action.
- Encourage employees to stay at it long term. A short-term program won’t be as effective if it only lasts for weeks or months.
- Ensure you have a clear path from training to ongoing support and monitoring.
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How to set up exercise programs in the workplace
Exercise programs in the workplace are becoming increasingly popular as more and more companies recognize the benefits of an active workforce. A recent study by Zippia suggests that 56% of employees who participate in company wellness programs say they have fewer sick days because of these programs.
If you are considering introducing a workplace exercise program, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to get the ball rolling:
- Decide what type of exercise you would like to offer: Select the exercises your employees can do (e.g., yoga, Pilates, strength training, etc.), how often the classes will occur, and where they will take place. Some companies have on-site gyms or offer fitness classes during lunch breaks. Others encourage employees to take walking breaks or take part in group activities. Whatever the approach, the goal is to get employees moving and improve their overall health.
- Create a class that is convenient for your staff: Start with something simple, such as walking meetings or a team-building activity. It will help ease any fears about joining and make them more likely to join.
- Make sure it is fun: Making the classes enjoyable will increase participation levels. Try putting on music or offering prizes for those who take part regularly. You could also suggest group activities outside of working hours, so everyone takes part at different times during the week.
- Make sure you involve everyone in the planning process: Everyone should have a voice in planning and setting up the sessions to ensure they are convenient for everyone involved.
Related: Workplace Emergency: Learn How To Create A Response Plan
In conclusion, you can not afford to invest in workplace exercise. The benefits of a healthy workforce are too many to ignore. However, these programs are not as costly or redundant as some think. You probably have everything you need to start one already—all you have to do is start today.
Related: The Negative Effect Of Workplace Stress On Your Health
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