There’s plenty of research that shows that mental health is closely tied to physical wellness. Indeed, according to a report by the U.S. Surgeon General, physical wellness and mental health are “inseparable.”
There’s also extensive evidence that a good mental attitude translates into greater productivity at work.
It’s just common sense—if people are healthy and fit, they will have a better mental outlook. And if people are mentally healthy, they will be more focused, motivated, and energetic.
Therefore it logically follows that businesses have a financial incentive to encourage their employees to achieve and maintain good physical health. Healthy bodies support healthy, productive minds—and that means a more successful business.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Companies can take all types of measures to encourage employees to exercise and live healthier lifestyles—breaks on their health insurance, financial rewards, and help with health club costs. You can get creative. You might hold a company-wide weight loss contest. Or you could start a basketball team or sponsor cycling outings.
But the most consistent way you can promote physical wellness among employees is to make exercise a part of the work day itself.
Sitting all day isn’t good for mental health. People get restless, their minds wander, and their productivity suffers. Providing a means for desk-bound workers to stretch their bodies and elevate their heart rates allows them to recharge themselves and work out any stress. And that’s only the short-term benefit. In the long run, daily at-work exercising will help you achieve your goal of improving physical wellness among employees (particularly seniors), so that they are more likely to consistently be in the right mental state to excel at work.
You don’t have to have an indoor gym to give your employees a way to exercise at work. You can install outdoor exercise equipment that not only provides exercise but also gets your employees outside—which is also good for mental health. Of course, in bad weather, this equipment won’t get used much, but on the majority of days, you’ll find that employees will greatly appreciate the opportunity to work out during their breaks.
WHAT EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE?
Outdoor equipment can be as good for muscular and cardiovascular health as anything you’ll find in an indoor gym. You can easily and affordably buy equipment such as:
- elliptical machines
- core training
- stretching stations
- arm presses
- leg presses
- pull-up stations
- step-and-balance machines.
You can even buy equipment that employees can use when they’re not on break. Stability balls can be given to employees to sit on rather than chairs. These balls force people to constantly adjust their body to keep balanced. This works muscles, helps blood circulation, and encourages good posture. Treadmill desks can be set up, allowing employees to set their stuff on a desktop attached to a treadmill. They can be on the phone, type, write, and read while slowly jogging along. Working this way for just a short time each day can result in a significant improvement in physical wellness.
SUMMARY
The mental health of any person determines how effective they will be at anything, including work. You can easily improve the mental health of your employees by actively encouraging them to improve their physical wellness. Providing equipment for exercise while at work will not only pay off in increased short-term employee focus but in greater long-term efficiency.
Photo Credit: lululemon athletica via Flickr
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