With this sluggish economy, many businesses find it difficult to employ someone to coordinate worksite wellness programs. Many times, employees who may not have any experience in holding wellness events may be called upon by management to plan an event to coincide with special days, including National Employee Health and Fitness Day.
Although it may seem difficult to do, coordinating these exercise events can be fun and rewarding. Listed below you will find several easy ideas to get a group of people at work to exercise.
1. 10,000 Steps Challenge
This event revolves around teaching people that walking 10,000 steps per day (approximately five miles), does wonders for the body. Possibilities include providing step counters, called pedometers, to participants so that they can monitor how far they walk on an average day. Depending on a person’s specific job, they might walk as little as 1,000 steps per day, while others may already be walking close to the 10,000 steps. You could have each person record the number of steps walked during the challenge then provide them with written information on ways to increase the number of steps they take each day, with the ultimate goal of reaching the 10,000.
2. Bike to Work Day
As the title implies, you can designate one day when employees can ride their bikes to work. Of course, the feasibility of this project depends on the location of your business, and the number of employees who can bike to work safely. When I have held this event in the past, several commuters brought their bikes to work on car carriers then they took a ride during lunch. This type of event works wonders for promoting bike safety, as well as green initiatives.
3. Exercise Class Sampling
A fun event calls for introducing employees to different exercise class options. Designate an hour or so to bring in local fitness instructors who represent different agencies/businesses. Think Jazzercise, Zumba, and yoga. The key is to present employees with a menu of options for them to choose from. Because many businesses now require employees to record what types of exercise they perform for insurance purposes, your bosses may be willing to let classes be held on-site as well. (I taught a weightlifting class to fellow employees).
4. Workout Room Dedication
One of my favorite projects surrounds the dedication of a workout room for employees. The room can include exercise mats, weights, a treadmill, exercise balls, and workout DVD’s – all donated by interested employees. This room could provide workers who can’t afford to join a gym a place to exercise for free. Not every employee will take advantage of the space, yet many will find it useful.
These ideas work well for encouraging groups of employees to exercise. The good thing is that a quick search of the Internet will provide you with dozens of ideas for other exercise events. Two things to remember:
1. Check with management for approval before moving forward with a project.
2. Consult your legal team to assess what releases need to be signed by participants.
Tweet This Post