How are you Nudging your wellbeing ideas?

Much like Freakonomics and The Tipping Point, every now and again a book is published that gets tongues wagging and people thinking differently. For a short while at least.

Now in paperback, the book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness written by Chicago University academics Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein is still the subject of much hot debate. Considering it's a book all about behavioural economics, it's really got those in positions of power thinking about new ways they can get their messages and wishes across.

But how does this relate to health and wellbeing? Quite effortlessly actually.


When it comes to talking to people about their health and wellbeing, there are fewer tricky subject areas than this. What people eat is very personal and can get them behaving very defensively if you were to make healthier suggestions. People can also spend a lot of time in denial about the amount of exercise they do and the amount of free time they have to do it - so again, broaching this subject with new ideas is a sensitive one.

But, it is a fact, that healthy eating and regular exercise will help everyone feel more energised, focused, healthier and perform better in all areas of their lives. So how do you do the right thing without offending anyone? Why not try nudging your ideas?

According to a new article in HR Magazine,

"Many employers will already have schemes in place that fit well with the nudge agenda. Bike-to-work schemes, childcare vouchers and automatic opt-in, work-based pensions, for example, are all in line with this theory; but much more could be done to harness the potential of employer-based incentives. "

You may have one of the schemes currently running but there are plenty more out there to get thinking about. Take a look at your employees and think about their mindset and lifestyles. What would they respond well to - are they competitive, are they time poor, are they young and eager with no real family ties yet or are they shift workers with little free time at normal times of day. Whatever make up your employees are, they could all benefit from wellbeing schemes tailored to compliment their lives. Not useless schemes that are irrelevant. (e.g. obligatory bonding sessions on an orienteering course that no one wants to go to versus creating a mini sports tournament in the summer encouraging teams to get together and have fun whilst getting competitive and fit and bonding.)

Think about your teams and think what would suit them - not just what would suit you.


Photograph by dominiccampbell (flickr)