Some people choose to reset in the mornings while others need to unwind after work. Either way, the idea is the same: everyone experiences laps of energy and every individual has specific ways to boost their productivity and relax their mind and body. It is often thought that offering more fun features in the office like beer on tap and endless snacks is attractive to employees and teams, but organizations miss a vital component to employee health. At Sweat to Reset, we found that the key piece to employee wellbeing and overall productivity is movement. Movement releases chemical signals in the brain that have a direct impact on stress levels, how you think, how you behave, and more.
While having nice amenities in the workplace is a bonus, implementing team-building fitness programs can actually be a much healthier way to build your productivity and wellbeing. In this blog post, we will introduce five key reasons why movement and employee wellness is a smart investment for organizations.
What is employee wellness?
Employee wellness is a key ingredient to the success of a business or organization. It has a direct impact on how the team interacts, works, and ultimately, the bottom line. This encompasses the physical and mental aspects of an individual’s wellbeing.
Choosing to provide a time and resource for team members to focus on their health will reduce the chances of absenteeism, enhance personal effectiveness while also improving their quality of life.
How long does it take to see results?
It is a common misconception that you only reap the benefits of exercise if you can dedicate 60 minutes to the gym. However, STR has debunked that, in fact with one of their customized programs employees felt rejuvenated after a 20 min stretch reset. For extra busy groups, Sweat to Reset has customized, condensed movement programs to accommodate those who do not have time available in their day to move. There are also excellent ways to utilize your space so you do not need to go to a gym that saves travel time and having to deal with other inconveniences. Employee wellness is a smart investment for any organization as its benefits cover both the physical and mental wellbeing of the employees. We have listed some of the major benefits of employee wellness that will help you take your organization to the next level.
1. Fitness Lowers Stress Levels
Yes, we know that feeling after sitting at your work desk for five hours straight and staring at a computer screen without a two-minute break. After working for too long, your body tenses, you start feeling overwhelmed and bogged down. The stress of work starts weighing on your shoulders and you feel you do not have enough time to take a break for yourself. Movement, even small stretches throughout the day, have a major impact on your overall stress level. Stress level, in turn, directly affects you and your team’s productivity. If you are feeling stressed, you will never perform to the best of your ability.
Employee wellness programs also help in escaping the monotony of work and remove the tiredness and boredom associated with it. At Sweat to Reset, we tailor movement classes for all levels to be engaging and motivating which directly boosts morale and lowers stress levels of the employees. It is important to find a movement type that works for your workplace. Fitness programs are made with different goals in mind so it is always a good idea to consult a movement expert to find what the optimal movement class is for you and your team. If your goal is to provide a stress-reduction workout, let a Sweat to Reset team member know and they will pair you with a custom program that is focused on your goal in mind.
2. Exercise Stimulates the Brain
Exercise has a huge impact on how you think, focus, and feel. Many people believe that movement mainly has physical benefits, but it is proven that movement is food for the brain. When you are going through a midday slump, movement can be the fuel you need to refocus and reset your muscles and mind. This is important for organizations to remember when thinking about employee wellness and productivity. Allowing employees to have a simple 30-minute period of time to recenter could actually generate a greater output throughout the day.
Movement increases the production of brain chemicals, norepinephrine and dopamine, improving your overall mental health. According to Harvard Medical School, “exercise can be as effective as medication and psychotherapies” and for people with attention-deficit disorder (ADHD), “another study showed that a single 20-minute bout of moderate-intensity cycling briefly improved their symptoms”.
Having a habit of regular movements and exercise can help with concentration in the short-term and long term. Exercise is a natural stress reliever as it releases endorphins while boosting physical and mental energy.
3. Movement Improves Social Life
Now that most of us have worked from home for an extended period of time, we know how important it is to get to see others and socialize. Believe it or not, people want to work at a place where they have friends and connect with others beyond the day-to-day work life. Employee wellness can be impacted by how well they feel among others in the workplace.
It is becoming increasingly popular to do workout classes or other movement activities for group members to connect. If employees are happy, they are much more likely to perform better at work and want to stay with your organization long-term.
With many companies working fully remote, the only time employees get to chat is during a work meeting or via email. It can be difficult to find something that everyone can do together that will also be engaging and bring everyone together. STR tailors fitness programs so all levels can participate with confidence, cultivating fun energy shared among the team.
With the working world becoming more remote, it is key for companies to adapt to employees not being in one central location. Virtual fitness programs are a great way to bring teams together and promote healthy relationships with each other. Typical work meetings become repetitive and do not provide a way for employees to get to know each other better. This is extremely engaging and helps remote workers feel a greater sense of belonging with their colleagues. In fact, “productivity statistics further indicate that companies with engaged teams outperform companies with disengaged teams by 202%” (Dynamic Signal, Learning Hub). There is a direct correlation between engaged employees, their productivity levels, and ultimately the overall success of the organization.
4. Fitness Lowers Healthcare Costs
It is a well-known fact that healthy employees carry fewer costs to the organizations than unhealthy employees. While employers will need to spend on organizing wellness programs, the benefits arising from these will be worth it. According to a 2012 Gallup State of the American Workplace (How Employee Engagement Drives Growth (gallup.com)) study, employees with high overall “well-being” have 41% lower health-related costs compared with employees who are struggling and 62% lower costs compared with employees who are suffering.”
Organizing employee wellness programs centered on movement is a proven way for companies to eliminate productivity blocks throughout the day. An efficient employee wellness program goes a long way in improving employee retention for your organization. According to a study conducted by the Virgin HealthMiles/Workforce Magazine, 87% of the employees consider health and wellness incentives while choosing any employer. At Sweat to Reset, we believe in the power of movement and its positive effects on your employees’ health. These custom movement classes will help in rejuvenating your employees and improve attendance. If you don’t believe us, according to Connect Solutions, “companies operating with highly engaged employees report that an average employee takes 2.5 sick days a year while others report an average of more than six sick days”.
Final Thoughts
Finding the time to address the physical and mental well-being of your team is key to improving the overall success of your organization. It has a powerful effect on employee engagement, concentration, efficiency, and productivity. Employee wellness is an important aspect to invest in for any organization. Employee wellness programs help team members relax and stay motivated for work. It also lowers employee turnover rates as these wellness programs often improve employee morale. It is a smart investment for any employer as it encompasses both physical and mental benefits to your employees thus improving the overall productivity and quality of work of your organization. It is important to note that employee wellness includes many activities that can range from group exercise sessions to small breaks throughout the day. At Sweat to Reset, we boost employee productivity for companies and corporate groups by creating custom, open-to-all-level team-building fitness programs. To learn more about how Sweat to Reset can help reset your team through movement, contact our team here.