Workplace Wellness Whisperer – (Dec 17)

Hello Workplace Wellness Seeker,

Did you know that the aging process itself is related to inflammation? This is now
being referred to as Inflammaging- chronic, low-grade inflammation that characterizes what we refer to as aging. Check out my post on the Top 10 Causes of
Inflammation in my Instagram or Facebook.

Sharing gratitude can improve social bonds. People have reported feeling more
loved and more connected to others in their lives when they routinely practice
gratitude or those around them practice gratitude.

🙏Gratitude Practice🙏

Send a quick gratitude message to another colleague at work that you’re grateful for, and let them know why you’re grateful?

🌸===🌸

Do you know why Wellness Programs fail?

A significant challenge while designing a wellness program is the mixed messages that companies send employees. Organizations communicate that they’re investing in workplace wellness programs as an investment in employee health, yet their actions can undermine the program’s intent. Examples include the boss who brings in donuts for employees to enjoy with their morning beverage, and the usual range of unhealthy foods provided at every office celebration, such as birthdays, anniversaries and quarterly meetings. An enticing array of “comfort” foods fill the cafeteria for lunch options. Ten minutes on the treadmill can’t mitigate the unhealthy outcomes of chronic inflammatory consumption.

My Workplace Wellness Calendar can guide you with some ideas for implementing your wellness strategy. 

Another roadblock to behaviour change is the fact that wellness programs are designed to tell people what they should do, instead of helping them understand why they have not done these things in the first place. Nobody grows up aspiring to weigh 400 pounds. People do not want or even expect to someday suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure or diabetes. Yet through certain lifestyle choices, many people increase their probability of suffering from these medical conditions. The real problem is motivation and ability to change. Without understanding this dynamic, wellness programs have little hope of influencing major change. They will continue to respond to symptoms as opposed to dealing with root causes.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel for amazing practical workplace wellness tips that can help in your wellness program.

Here’s a summary of this week’s 5 tips that can help you personally and professionally.

Read, Listen and Share!

Pitfall #1. Lacks Leadership Support

Wellness programs don’t happen without the support of key leaders. Identify your resources and key people, and engender their ongoing backing. If you introduce wellness programs but have senior leaders and managers who don’t foster well-being employees may end up seeing your wellness communications as just lip service. But when wellness is at the heart of everything you do, it’s easier to share it with employees and watch them follow your lead. Basically, I’m asking the leaders to walk-the-talk! Consider creating a wellness committee so that your employees have a say in co-creating their wellness program.

Listen to my solo podcast ‘9 Morning Routine Tips To Optimize YOUR Health & Longevity’ on episode #37 of the Self-Care Goddess Podcast.

Pitfall #2. Lacks Integration

Avoid creating something quickly that doesn’t tap into long-term behavioral change. Instead, establish a comprehensive strategic plan that builds employee engagement over time. Make sure the wellness program is customized to your organizations needs and aligned with the company’s mission and goals. And just as important that it’s integrated with other cultural and wellbeing initiatives and programs. And remember to be measuring progress and results so it can be improved and successes can be celebrated. Why not include a wellness goal in your staff ’s yearly performance objectives? So instead of thinking about wellness as just a program, make sure it’s part of your corporate culture.

Pitfall #3. Lacks engagement

As you can imagine, a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work well for well-being and health concerns. In a workplace where there’s usually a mix of Gen X, Baby Boomers, and Millennials, it may feel challenging to address everyone’s issues. So I recommend Surveying individual generations and their needs can help leadership better understand what type of programs would work best for each group. This is to support employee choice without making it overwhelming, consider providing a wellness credit so employees can choose the activity that works best for them. Make wellness programs accessible by sharing information through team meetings, corporate emails and your corporate intranet.

Download my FREE morning routine here and learn how to: Increase Energy, Improve Sleep and Decrease Mood Swings.

Pitfall #4. Lacks Consistency

Avoid trying for quick fix wellness initiatives such as often “flavor of the month,” challenges, contests, biometric screening, and lunch-and-learn events, that are often forgotten or worst not integrated with other initiatives or not followed up on. Consistency can carve mountains. Having a well thought out integrated wellness plan demonstrates to your employees that you’re serious and dedicated to their wellbeing. This will increase their participation because they will come to expect it and even look forward to it. Provided that you’ve created the program with their feedback and needs in mind.

Check out my amazing ‘Creamy Sweet Potato Gravy’ recipe.

Pitfall #5. Lacks a Holistic Approach

Some wellness programs lack a Holistic Approach to Physical & Mental Health. While customizing the program to your workforce is important, make sure you don’t end up with a fragmented initiative focusing just on physical wellness like exercise and eating well. Since body and mind are connected, giving your employees physical wellness tools without any tools to combat stress such as breathwork will yield only partial results.

If you’re ready to leverage your workplace wellness strategy and explore how to optimize individual, team and your company’s performance, book your complimentary Workplace Wellness call here.

References:

https://www.corporatewellnessmagazine.com/article/why-workplace-wellness-programs-fail