What is a company or an organization but a group of people getting together to get things done?
Any workplace would not be the same without its employees. Think for a moment: productivity would shift, group dynamic would change, work would be different if employees were unwell or absent.
This is why the second week of National Safety Month is devoted to employee wellness. The health and wellness of employees is imperative to the success of a company, but unfortunately, health and wellness are not seen as important by many employers. Sedentary lifestyle, a lack of sleep, and unhealthy eating habits plague American workers now more than ever.
Employees can begin improving their well-being by sleeping. That’s right–sleeping. With the influx of smartphones and busy social lives, many workers are unable to sleep the suggested 7-8 hours a night, which leads to fatigue at work. When a worker is fatigued, he or she is more likely to make mistakes that could waste time or cause injury.
Many workplaces are now offering napping rooms for employees to use on their break time, with the hopes that it will increase productivity and decrease safety-related issues. Chances are your workplace does not offer these. Some workplaces do not have the funds to create one, while others feel a nap room is unprofessional.
Regardless of where your workplace stands, there are a few ways you can get more sleep on your own time. One is to keep your phone away from you while you sleep. By doing so, you minimize distractions and assure yourself uninterrupted sleep. Another way to get more sleep on your own time is to give yourself a curfew. Set a time of night where, no matter where you are or what you are doing, you will go straight to bed and get to sleep. And, if neither of these options sound appealing, ask your supervisor about creating a nap room at your workplace!
As sleep becomes increasingly difficult to fit into your schedule, so may exercise. It’s hard to get outside and actively exert energy after being cooped up at a desk all day, especially when there’s dinner to be cooked and television to be watched. In all reality, there are plenty of ways you can squeeze a half hour of exercise into five of seven days each week.
For example, try walking or biking to work. If you live somewhere with nice weather (where it doesn’t breach 90 degrees in the summer), take advantage of that! If you work too far from your home, then try walking to lunch once or twice a week. If you’d rather exercise with a group of friends or family, look into joining a city sports league (Phoenix’s are available here). For a low fee, you can participate in 6-8 weeks of team building exercise with others in your city who share a passion for sports and activity.
Of course, exercise is not the only way to stay well. Actively choosing to eat healthier foods is the most simple way to increase wellness among a community. With the USDA’s launch of My Plate 2 years ago, the food pyramid was decidedly passé, and a new image of a plate divided by colors took its place. MyPlate encourages eaters to fill their plate with mainly vegetables and whole grains, with a side of protein and a side of fruit (good as desert) and a side of dairy.
Of course, these guidelines can vary. Many people have specific food preferences or medical issues that make following this exact guideline difficult, but these people are still able to get their nutritional needs elsewhere. As a substitute for dairy, someone could eat extra kale, arugula or broccoli–three veggies high in calcium. A vegetarian could consume protein through beans and nuts. Someone who is gluten intolerant can fulfill their daily grain requirement from sources other than wheat–quinoa, rice and oats, to name a few.
Regardless of who you are or where you work, we can assure you that your wellness is a vital aspect to your company’s success. We encourage you to take the remainder of your week as well as the beginning of next week to consider why wellness should be important to you, and what ways you can improve your wellness.
Don’t be afraid to drop by our facebook page and let us know what you’re doing to stay well! Next week, we’ll provide you with a post about Emergency Preparedness.
