Physical and Mental Wellbeing

Tips for Physical and Mental Wellbeing

Are your employees physically well? Do they have good nutrition, sleep and exercise habits?

Physical wellbeing relates to our energy levels at work which are ultimately caused by healthy behaviours such as regular exercise, stretching, sleeping well and eating well.

Physical wellbeing is one of the quadrants that make up whole-person health. When this area of health is improved, employees tend to be happier, more engaged and much more productive. Workplaces need to promote and foster physical wellbeing in employees.

Physically healthy employees will get better sleep, leading to more energetic work performance. They’ll also be more alert and self-aware, lowering the risk of injury onsite.

Healthy employees will request time off less often and will be sick less often.

Exercise leads to a stronger workforce, with healthier minds and better overall company culture.

1. Avoid sugar slumps.

That post-lunch sugar-hit may feel good for an hour or two but the slump is not far behind. Educate employees on the best way to fuel their body and sustain energy throughout the day.

2. Don’t spend all your time sitting.

Even when sitting down in a desk all day, you come home exhausted and all you really want to do is relax on the couch. Get your employees moving where possible. Walking meetings, going outside for lunch, doing some simple stretches, and taking the stairs rather than elevator can all lead to improvements over time.

3. Promote tips for good sleep.

Employees may not know why they aren’t getting good sleep, but they definitely know that they aren’t. Provide tips for better sleep to employees; they may not all be intuitive. Limiting screen time, avoiding stimulants such as caffeine before bed-time, and exercising can all lead to better, more solid sleep.

4. Encourage work-life balance.

Don’t create a company culture that encourages employees to always put work first; not only is that not healthy, but it’s also not sustainable. Tell employees to consider their health both during and outside of work hours, and make sure that your company culture emphasises happy, healthy employees. Employees who know that their company cares about them are more likely to care about their company.

5. Implement a team health challenge.

Not only can a team health challenge motivate employees to create long-lasting behavioural changes and to develop better personal health, but it can also be a part of your team-building exercises. Working as a team will help your employees bond and will begin to build a stronger company culture.

Employees need to be able to put their health first if they want to focus on their work. When employees are healthy, they are able to better focus on their job. If employees are not feeling well, it is difficult to focus on work no matter how hard they try.