We all know an office can be a place of stress and anxiety. It’s easy to let our minds wander to the worst-case scenarios, but there are ways to combat that stress in the office with simple changes.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to improve employee wellbeing in your workplace, here are some simple steps you can take today:
1. Ergonomic office chairs that encourage movement
Having regular ergonomic chairs in the office is sufficient, but it is advisable to also be looking for ergonomic chairs that are designed to keep employees moving. Office Direct, an expert who supplies ergonomic chairs in East Brisbane, suggested the following tips.
- The height of the chair is a key consideration. A properly fitted seat should allow your feet to rest flat on the floor, with your legs at a 90-degree angle from knees to hips.
- Consider seat depth and width, as well as armrests that don’t interfere with your arms when you’re typing.
- A backrest angle of 135 degrees allows for good posture by keeping your spine straight rather than curved over time.
- If you need support for tilt control, this option will give users some degree of flexibility in adjusting their seating position based on comfort needs or activity level throughout the day.
2. Provide active seating options, like stability balls
Active seating options, like stability balls, are a great way to improve employee wellbeing. Stability balls are excellent for the core. They can help with posture and balance and they also improve core strength.
3. Add greenery to your office with indoor plants
Plants can help improve your mood, increase productivity, and reduce stress. They also make your office look more inviting and homey.
The benefits of having plants in the office are numerous: They improve air quality; they provide a living thing for employees to care for; they offer shade from the sun—or even heaters on cold days—and when people feel good about their work environment, it makes them happy to be there, which improves productivity and creativity. Plants also give you something green (aka nature) in an otherwise concrete space!
Plants need light and water to grow properly, so choose ones that are appropriate for your office’s needs.
4. Have a stocked refrigerator with healthy snacks and water bottles
You can help employees stay healthy by having a stocked refrigerator with healthy snacks and water bottles. Healthy snacks are foods that are high in fiber, protein and vitamins. Some examples of healthy snacks include fruits like apples or bananas; vegetables such as carrots or celery; nuts like almonds, cashews, walnuts or hazelnuts; yogurt; low-fat cottage cheese.
5. Encourage active breaks
To encourage your employees to take breaks, you can consider doing two things:
- Provide an option for regular breaks. If you have a break room or work area that’s open and available throughout the day, it will be easier for your team members to take a break when they need one. Encourage them by making sure everyone knows that there are snacks available and encouraging them to sit down in a comfortable chair if they want to eat lunch at their desk (or on a nearby bench).
- Offer incentives or rewards for taking breaks. If the most productive people in your office tend to skip out on their lunch break, try offering them something special if they do actually leave their desks during normal business hours. This could be as simple as offering a small gift card as an incentive for taking time away from work—or even just giving them more responsibility later down the line!
6. Help with tobacco cessation efforts
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans every year. It’s also a major contributor to heart disease and stroke, as well as lung cancer and other cancers.
The good news is that tobacco cessation can be achieved—and there are many effective ways to quit smoking, chewing tobacco or snuffing. The most important thing you can do is to reach out for help if you feel like you need it—you don’t have to go through this alone.
7. Have a meditation room available
A meditation room can be a beautiful place to practice mindfulness and connect with nature. If you’re wondering how to create this type of space, check out our tips on creating a meditation room from scratch. In addition, consider adding plants or natural elements that are soothing for the mind and body.
There are many ways to create a healthier office environment and improve employee wellness. Perhaps the easiest way to start is by incorporating some of the ideas above into your current work space. You might also want to consider having an annual wellness day where employees are encouraged to attend classes about stress management, healthy eating habits, or other topics related to health and well-being.