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Opinion: Workplace wellness tips from Facebook friends

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In my last column, I explored ways that we could create better options for our office communities when it comes to food, lifestyle and environment. [See “Take these steps to healthier, happier workplaces” in the Feb. 5 edition of Springfield Business Journal.] I started a conversation on Facebook and lots of friends offered their ideas for expanding health and happiness.

So, in this column, I’m adding to the list. Most of the ideas focus on happiness and mental health, not just physical fitness. Very inspiring! See what you can glean for your office (with some of my responses in parentheses):

Tammy: We have really been working on becoming more like a family. We remind staff members that we are committed to a drama-free workplace. Also, at Christmas, for our party, we had a meal together and shared some life experiences during our meal.

Remy: Remember mental health. When an employee comes to me with a complaint or frustration, I always find a silver lining and mention that first, no matter what comes next in problem solving. Start out the discussion on a positive note, even if it’s just the employee needing to vent. Brain and body are so connected; it’s always important to teach skills for both for the best long-term results. (Truth!)

Bob: We hired a personal trainer who came in and did a nutrition class and led a workout, once a week for six weeks – open to the whole family. Our team lost 80 pounds in total, and people started going back to the gym.

Erin: At holiday time, we launched a project, kind of a secret Santa concept. But you get a secret target and a couple of months to get to know and do something nice/thoughtful for them. It’s not about money. You can spend money or not. It is about doing something they would appreciate and make them feel good and cared for. We did this with our virtual team, as we were all feeling the day-to-day grind. It worked wonderfully in pulling us together, as we surprised each other with gifts of thoughtfulness. (Love this!)

Carl: Read great books, like “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and the “The 4 Disciplines of Execution.” (Audiobooks and podcasts are much better mental health choices than talk radio.)

Jennifer: I did chair massage at offices for years; 15 minutes a week resolved lots of chronic problems for people and kept stress at bay. Wish more people were offering chair massage everywhere – it’s so awesome! (I could use one right now!)

Matt: We bought everyone who wanted a Fitbit, if they would agree to wear it for three months and join the company Fitbit group.

M.J.: Hand sanitizers at each workstation are a must when you can’t wash your hands. Use often! (The basics work.)

Anna: I was an employee wellness intern at the city of Springfield. My project was to implement a 12-week healthy behaviors program. People were excited about it, especially with having prizes and incentives tied to it.

Randy: We have done a “Biggest Loser” contest for several years. It’s based on the amount of percentage weight lost. First and second places get rewards. We start before Thanksgiving for six months.

William: I started a running group at work. We would run during lunch break and then eat lunch while working. We found some great running trails near the office. It was great! We also started a Tuesday morning prayer group. It was voluntary, and we invited anyone from any religion to attend.

Got an idea or a different opinion you’d like to share? Send it to sbj@sbj.net with “Ellen’s wellness project” in the subject line.

Ellen Rohr is an author and business consultant offering profit-building tips, trending business blogs and online workshops at EllenRohr.com. Her books include “Where Did the Money Go?” and “The Bare Bones Weekend Biz Plan.” She can be reached at ellen@ellenrohr.com.

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