You’ve hit the afternoon lull, and you need just a little burst of energy to push through to five o’clock. You think running to the vending machine to grab a pop is harmless and will give you that kick you need, right? Wrong!
Regularly drinking pop (or soda depending on where you live) and other sugary drinks is a huge health hazard. Not only does pop contribute to poor dental health and obesity, but it even increases your risk to develop diabetes, gout and heart disease.
There is a solution, though. It’s called water. Water is the ultimate healthy drink because there’s nothing artificial in it that will harm you, and it will keep your body hydrated. A crisp, cool glass of water can even do wonders to boost your energy.
So here’s a crazy idea. Why not try to replace pop with water where you work? There are plenty of wellness activities that can help you do just that.
Pop-Free Week
In your employee wellness program, sponsor a pop-free week in the office. That means no pop can enter your doors. You can even make the week a challenge with prizes for people who abstain from pop the longest, or people who drink the most water.
This type of a healthy drink promotion is an excellent opportunity if you have relatively good engagement with your wellness program. It’s important that your employees are on board if you plan to set a pop-free mandate.
Water Availability
The easiest way to promote water consumption is to make it easy. That means making water available in the office. There are tons of ways you can do that, including:
- Providing and regularly filling shared water coolers
- Investing in an ice machine for people who enjoy cold water
- Offering bottled water to your employees
- Purchasing quality, re-usable, branded water bottles for your employees
- Installing drinking fountains with a spout for filling water bottles
If choosing water is inconvenient for you, it is for coworkers too. Be intentional about the water supply in your office.
Charity Partnerships
A variety of charities aim to provide water to people in developing countries. Many of these charities have promotional partnership opportunities for all types of organizations.
Consider partnering with a charity to not only give back to the community, but to raise awareness for the importance of clean and healthy drinking water. As your employees get involved, they can learn about how clean drinking water can completely transform a community, and that this fact shouldn’t be taken advantage of.
Water Tracking
There are so many tools available to make tracking water consumption easy. From old school charts to marked-up water bottles to smartphone apps, water tracking can be done in a way that makes sense with your employees’ lifestyles.
Tracking water consumption can provide an excellent base for wellness competitions. It can also help your employees be intentional about their goals and the amount of water that’s necessary to really stay hydrated. As a bonus, you might consider bringing in a nutritionist to speak with your employees about determining the amount of water that’s healthy for them to drink daily.
Ultimately, water is the healthiest drink choice around. We completely understand the afternoon lull, and sometimes an energy boost is necessary. Before you reach for a pop to give you the kick you need, though, consider the health risks the sugary drink poses.
How do you promote healthy hydration in your workplace?
