How To Teach Good Health Habits In The Workplace

It can be difficult for employees to get to the gym after a long day at work. For many, exercise before work is not an option because they leave so early in the morning. These dedicated employees need a way to stay fit. Help teach them good habits with a hands-on approach and implement ways to make health an easier option in the office.

Exercise In the Office
It is easy to go a full day at work without exercising. Finding the time to get to the gym and clean up afterward can become a chore. So do what you can to simplify this important part of health.
Bring treadmills into the office for an accessible gym. Everyone will appreciate the effort. But to make sure that this makes a difference, offer incentives to work out. Help each employee set an attainable weight or cholesterol goal and set a time limit to reach it. It has been proven that when goals are written down, monitored, and given a time limit, they are more successful.
Turn this into a company challenge. Each office or team can participate as a group or as individuals. Those who do the best to reach healthy goals are rewarded with time off, a vacation package, or other desirable incentives.
Exercise Outside Of The Office-Even Better!
Give stretching bands and bicycles away as raffle prizes. Make sure to include a helmet or any other protective gear to encourage safety, of course.
Something that is becoming more and more popular is to organize company sports. Set each team up with jerseys and pit them against each other in a friendly match of ultimate Frisbee or softball. If kids can do it, you can. Sports unify groups of people and provide fun ways to burn calories.
To turn the whole company into a unified team, challenge another company to a game. Invite families and turn this into the event of the year. Serve up some chicken, corn on the cob, and salad for a healthy picnic.
Change The Menu
Take a look at what is being served in the office cafeteria. Fried foods and pastries should really be removed. Offer better choices, like large salads, light soups, and lean meats. Some companies have started hiding dessert behind a wall to get rid of the temptation. You can do better than that by serving healthier dessert, such as low-sugar, low-fat cookies, or fruit salad with light whipped cream.
Sometimes employees are caught up at work for last-minute meetings. Change the menu with some effort put in ahead of time. Make a few calls to find healthy eateries. When it comes time to order food, you will have a list of good places to eat so that your employees can forgo the regular fried Chinese food loaded with MSG.
MSG tells the brain to keep eating, well beyond the point of being full. That is why so many large companies have removed it from their food products. But many restaurants still use this dangerous ingredient. Make sure to check into this when selecting restaurants.
Wipe Down The Office
Preventative care can keep down sickness at the office, especially when the flu is going around. Make sure that office restrooms are cleaned thoroughly. It may help to meet the cleaning crew and make sure they are doing their job. Sometimes there is an emotional disconnect between workers and who they are serving. Make sure they know your clean policies so they can uphold them.
Provide hand sanitizer for each row of desks. Post a sign in the office entryway to use it. Washing hands and using sanitizer cuts down on germs that are commonly spread while shaking hands.
Take these steps to teach employees about health without having to show them what to do. People appreciate learning from example. Give them the opportunity to do so by taking these healthy steps in your company.