Wellness at work

Wellness in the workplace is the new norm. The wave of Millennials and Gen Zs entering the job market brings a new focus on mental health. Today’s employees expect work environments that correlate with their flexible, wellness-focused lifestyles.

Read on to learn more about workplace wellness culture and how to integrate a focus on mental health into your work life.

What Does Wellness at Work Mean?

While it’s subjective to where you work, in general, workplace wellness is a work environment that’s conducive to the mental health and overall well-being of all workers and others within the environment. To promote wellness in the workplace, organizations may implement programs, policies, or benefits to support and encourage the health and safety of employees.

There’s also the idea that employees themselves can create a better, healthier working environment without the help of higher-ups. This is more individual, though. For example, some people may find doing things like mid-day meditation or eating a healthy diet can help bring more peace and harmony into their personal experiences at work.

Who Does Wellness at Work Benefit?

In short, everyone. Executives and C-levels can benefit just as much from workplace wellness as a brand new employee fresh off the job hunt.

The average employee spends around 50 hours a week working. For a lot of people, work is like a second home. So wouldn’t it make sense that a good working environment should be a space where everyone feels safe, valued, and comfortable? Over-stressed and unhappy people don’t produce great work. The happier and healthier team leaders and employees are, the better they can perform for the organizations they work for.

In 2022, more companies will implement various ways to include wellness and mental health in the workplace. Here are some ways to incorporate wellness in a workplace culture that is focused on health and well-being.

What Does Workplace Wellness Look Like?

The workforce is evolving. Baby boomers are retiring, and their ideology that work should take center stage in their lives is departing with them. Millennials and Gen Zs are much more likely to quit a job if they feel like it doesn’t satisfy them emotionally. As an employer, you have to meet the younger generation’s demands. For example, many modern offices feature an open layout, breakrooms packed with healthy snacks, and plenty of comfortable spaces where employees can relax.

Today, corporate welfare practices look a lot different than they did 50 years ago. Here are some ways you can increase wellness at the workplace.

Activities to Try

The following activities can be done in-person at the office or at home on a team Zoom call. Don’t forget that remote teams are just as susceptible (if not more) to feeling underappreciated and stressed.

Meditation Breaks – You’d be surprised what can happen when you clear your mind for a few minutes. Meditation breaks can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as 30 minutes.

Corporate Yoga – A midday break for some light yoga practice or easy exercise classes can help recharge the body and mind to conquer the rest of the workday.

Healthy Cooking Classes – What we eat significantly impacts how we feel. Healthy cooking classes can help give your team members tools and resources to make better food choices.

Fitness Challenges – You can host a friendly contest to see who walks the most in a month. Throw in a small prize to help get your team more excited.

Take a Walk – If it’s a nice day out, encourage your employees to take a short walk. The fresh air and time away from staring at a computer can help a lot!

Where is Workplace Wellness Headed?

We’re living in exceedingly challenging times, and toxic work environments are becoming a thing of the past. Ultimately, wellness at work should improve the health and well-being of everyone, from the lowest level employees to the CEO.

We’ll see more about how cultivating a wellness-focused environment is critical for long-term success in the coming years.