5 Ways to Help Employees Get in More Steps Throughout the Day
It’s no secret that many employees spend a handful of their workday glued to their desk chair. And when employees are facing a chair-heavy day, it’s important that they get up and move as much as they can. In fact, studies show that’s it’s the actual movement that’s essential to better health, not just standing up.
Here are 5 ways to help your employees incorporate more movement into their workday, and get in the steps they need to have a healthy and productive day at the office.
Encourage walking meetings
Help employees step away from the conference room..literally! Encourage staff to schedule some walking meetings, instead of only opting for traditional conference rooms. If you have 1:1s with your teammates, set the example, and suggest hitting the pavement while you discuss your latest projects and tasks. Chances are, others will follow your lead.
Break for lunch
Do your employees have trouble parting ways with their desk during lunch? If so, they’re not alone. Studies have found that over half of Americans eat lunch alone and 62% of professionals are guilty of dining at their desks. To help employees mix things up, encourage them to take a desk-breather, eat in the kitchen, or better yet, dine al fresco with colleagues. They’ll likely welcome the change of scene, feel refreshed when they get back to their desk, and best of all, sneak in some steps getting to their lunch destination.
Stretch it out
If employees are having a tough time leaving their desk, encourage them to take stretch breaks at the workstation. Hang up posters around the office that demonstrate some desk-friendly stretches, like shoulder stretches, neck movements, and leg lifts. You can even send out calendar reminders so people are prompted to stand up and move around.
Opt for lunchtime workouts
Remind employees that their lunch break can be a convenient time to sneak in a sweat sesh. Share which gyms are nearby the office on a communal bulletin board, designate certain meeting rooms as yoga rooms, and if resources are available, organize a group workout led by a qualified employee or local trainer. Show employees that it’s possible, and encouraged, to break for lunch and do something healthy for themselves.
Host a corporate step challenge
Sometimes all you need is a little friendly competition… Host a company-wide step challenge that encourages employees to rack up their step count throughout the workday. You can split teams up by department or location and crown winner to the team with the highest average step count. Ideally, you could incorporate a corporate wellness solution that includes activity trackers, like Fitbit, to help make the tracking, organizing, and reporting easy as can be. Check out this blog post for all the details you need to run a seamless walking challenge at work.
This article is not intended to substitute for informed medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or condition. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, altering your sleep habits, taking supplements, or starting a new fitness routine.
