A Fresh Take on Wellness Goals at Work
Strategies for Empowering Staff to Establish and Conquer Personal Health Ambitions
In the spirit of the New Year, Michael Held, CEO of LifeSpeak Inc. (TSX: LSPK), guides employers on fostering a supportive environment for employees striving to meet their well-being resolutions.
January brings a wave of self-improvement as about 30% of U.S. adults set their sights on enhancing various aspects of their lives, including health. A 2024 Forbes Health/OnePoll survey reveals that a whopping 49% of resolution makers plan to improve their fitness, while 34% aim to shed some pounds. Surprisingly, this represent a shift from 2023's focus on mental health improvement. The link between physical activity and improved mood explains the lasting interest in mental health resolutions.
The path to success can prove arduous, with 45% of surveyed individuals aiming to achieve three or more resolutions. Setting unrealistic goals and the drive for perfection often lead to the average resolution's lifespan of just under four months. As the dust settles on the initial burst of motivation, many of us are faced with forgotten resolutions.
That's where employer support comes into play. As more companies recognize the business benefits of investing in their workforce's health, employees' personal growth blossoms into qualities like increased productivity, better performance, and improved engagement.
Here's how employers can walk hand-in-hand with their workforce on their personal fitness journeys:
- Offer Guidance and Expertise: Arm employees with essential resources like SMART goal-setting strategies and easy access to credible information on various health topics, including fitness, nutrition, substance abuse, and mental health. Connecting employees with fitness professionals is equally beneficial. Online solutions offering expert-led classes or resources, gym membership subsidies, or onsite classes are effective strategies.
- Recognize and Reward Progress: Encouraging employees to divide large goals into manageable steps enables them to celebrate their achievements along the way. Align these personal goals with your company's wellness incentives to keep the drive alive. Campaigns such as monthly or seasonal wellness activities, rewards, and employee recognition can help employees stay motivated.
- Remove Potential Barriers: Ensure the workplace doesn't unintentionally hinder employee well-being. Introduce healthy alternatives to office habits, encourage stress breaks, and offer flexible high-quality wellness resources to accommodate hectic schedules.
- Model Desired Behaviors: Leaders' commitment to their goals serves as an inspiration to employees. Voice your challenges and the strategies you employ to regain focus when things get tough, and make health improvement part of your company culture.
By acknowledging the relationship between organizational goals and employees' personal aspirations, we can cultivate a resilient workforce that contributes to significant corporate performance. And who knows, the path to better business may just lead to better personal well-being.
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- Michael Held, as CEO of LifeSpeak Inc., encourages employers to support their employees in maintaining their wellness resolutions, particularly those related to fitness.
- Michael held the belief that employers should provide guidance and expertise to employees, such as SMART goal-setting strategies and access to credible health information, to help them achieve their fitness goals.
- Especially in the face of potential barriers like unrealistic goals or hectic schedules, it's important for employers to recognize and reward employees' progress and remove any unintentional obstacles in the workplace that might hinder employee well-being.
