Small Steps, Big Results

Happy National Employee Wellness Month! There’s no better time to boost your efforts to improve health and well-being in your workplace.

The best way to get people on board the fitness train? Make it easy.

Think about it: Between career, family, friends, recreation, maintaining a household, and a variety of other obligations, your employees have a lot on their plates. Adding a heaping helping of physical fitness might seem out of the question.

It’s important, therefore, to spread the message that exercise doesn’t have to be intimidating or even terribly inconvenient, and that small steps can make a big difference.

Small Step Adult and Teen, a government program devoted to improving the health and well-being of America, points out that getting fit doesn’t require daily sweat sessions at the gym, a common misconception that makes many people shy away from starting a fitness program.

Easy alternatives, such as short periods of brisk walking throughout the day, taking the stairs, or playing with your dog at the park, can fit nicely into even the most hectic schedule and make the idea of physical activity more palatable.

Aim to change your employees’ perception of exercise as just one more task to add to their overflowing to-do lists.

Offer tips and tricks for easing into a fitness routine without disrupting other aspects of daily life. For example, when it’s family time, play an active game with the kids instead of turning to video games, or take family walks after dinner instead of settling in to watch TV.

Remind your staff of the importance of setting realistic goals to keep them motivated and help them keep track of their progress. It won’t be long before they’ve redefined their concept of physical fitness and made it a priority it in their own life.