There’s no better time to focus on workplace wellness than during Global Employee Health and Fitness Month.
The international observance begins May 1 and is an ideal time for employers to continue promoting healthy lifestyle benefits.
Whether focusing on health is the norm in your workplace or your company is just starting out with wellness perks, companies of all sizes are encouraged to participate.
If you want to highlight your wellness programs, kick off a health campaign, or simply just have fun at work with health and fitness, this post is for you!
Why Participate in This Global Workplace Wellness Event?
If you already have a workplace wellness program, Global Employee Health and Fitness Month (GEHFM) will complement what you have in place.
You already know wellness programs boost self-esteem, improve blood pressure, and increase stamina. Why not have an already-developed program do some of the heavy lifting for you?
The GEHFM website offers a ton of resources for you to use throughout the month. From interactive seminars to bi-weekly newsletters, you’ll have plenty of options to use throughout the month to encourage employee well-being. We also have easy ideas to try below, too.
Related: 27 Inspirational Health Quotes to Motivate Employees
Simple and Fun Ideas and Activities for GEHFM
Below are a variety of ideas and activities worth exploring throughout the month. Keep it simple and organized and your workers will no doubt have fun!
- Host a Family Picnic & Field Day - Invite employees and their families to have a classic field day and picnic. Bring out all the fun physical activities like hula hooping, flag football, freeze tag, bounce houses, and more. Cater a healthy meal or make it a potluck!
- Bring in a Chef for a Food Demo - Ask a local chef to come in and create a lunch with local produce. Afterward, enjoy a meal together and learn more about local agriculture and local food from the chef.
- Take the Team to a Dance Studio - Exercise should be fun. Sign your team up for a private dance class at a local studio. Anything from ballroom dancing to salsa can burn a ton of calories!
- Head to a Local Ropes Challenge Course - Want to mix team-building with exercise? Find a local zipline and ropes challenge course to tackle with your employees.
- Do Health Giveaways - Everyone loves free, useful goodies. Raffle off fitness trackers, water bottles, gym memberships, spa days, and cooking classes.
- Put a Juicer in the Breakroom - Encourage healthy eating by putting a juicer or even a blender in the break area. Consider leaving packets of protein powder and fresh fruit out to encourage its use.
- Start Training for a 5K - See if there is interest from your team in running or walking a local 5K event. Not only is it great PR for your company (consider offering sponsorship or having fun company shirts made), but it’s also a great opportunity for colleagues to train together to ensure they’re ready for race day.
- Have Nutrition-Centered Lunch and Learns - A healthy diet can improve overall health, reduce disease risk, and improve productivity. Host lunch and learns throughout the month of May with nutritionists, dieticians, and doctors to discuss diet and its correlation to health.
No matter which activities you choose, keeping it lighthearted and fun will be the way to get the most excitement from participants. Health and fitness don’t have to be a boring topic or area of life!
Workplace Wellness Resources to Share This Month
The resources below vary and offer a wide range of information that can fit almost any time frame you have. Share them with your colleagues, network, and employees throughout the month.
How to Make Your Office Active
Learn about the theory of active design and find out how to implement it in your workplace. Download here.
6 Easy Fitness and Wellness Challenges For Any Workplace
Your employees can work on teamwork and health at the same time with these six fitness and wellness challenges.
Cut the Sweets Sugar Challenge Tool Kit
It’s a simple fact that most of us eat way more sugar than we should. Help your employees break their sugar habits with this four-week wellness challenge.
Seminars from Diane Hart, Owner of Hart to Heart Fitness
Get all the inside scoop on health and fitness from this 30-year health veteran who is also a National Association for Health and Fitness board member. She’ll offer a variety of workshops and lunch-and-learn events throughout the month. Sign up here.
5 Tips to Help You Stay Motivated to Exercise
Share this simple infographic from the National Institute on Aging to encourage your employees to exercise no matter their age.
Real Food Challenge Campaign Tool Kit
This fun, simple challenge helps employees understand the importance of choosing real food.
The Handy Toolkit for a Healthier Company Picnic
Make your company picnic or summer event healthier and more fun with this toolkit.
Water Challenge Campaign Tool Kit
We created the Water You Waiting For? Challenge to make staying hydrated a bit easier for your employees. Download here.
USDA Nutrition.Gov
Learn about the health benefits of physical activity throughout this site. You’ll also find resources like exercise logs and planners to help keep you on track for your fitness goals.
Workplace Wellness Goes Beyond This Month
Use this month’s observance to remind your employees of the importance of staying physically active to maintain their health. It’s one of the easiest ways to prevent chronic health issues like diabetes, high blood pressure, and other health concerns.
To keep your workplace wellness program participation high, continue to solicit feedback from your team about what matters to them. Your audience will only be engaged if the content and resources you provide are essential to them.
All year, consider ways to bring health and fitness programs, resources, and campaigns into the workplace in a refreshing way.
Looking to improve employee health? Meet Beata, an all-in-one employee wellness program for small and medium-sized businesses.
