Wellness Programmes an Increasing Priority

According to a survey in HR Magazine, 47% of multinationals plan to implement a global workforce health strategy over the next two years.

Read the full article here HR Magazine

This is great news and, combined with the fact that planning wellness programmes is becoming ever more strategic and long-term - something we've been working on with our clients for years - the quality of initiatives and the potential benefits for staff and returns for the business are set to go from strength to strength.

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Motivation, Accountability & Fantastic Wellness Results

This morning I delivered a presentation to a group I haven't seen for 8-weeks. Since we met last, every single one of them has made positive changes to either their exercise routine, their diet, or their approach to rest, recovery and work-life balance.

And they've had some amazing results including completing a marathon, losing up to 18 pounds, experiencing more energy and feeling calmer and more productive.

They all agreed that knowing we were meeting today focused their mind over the last few weeks and kept them on track with doing the right thing.

So, I'm thinking a lot about motivation and accountability and how to guarantee great results with wellness.

The simplest way to achieve this through your wellness programme is to follow 3 easy steps:

1. Organise a selection of initiatives to raise awareness of successful wellness strategies. These can be health awareness events, presentations, workshops or lunch & learn sessions.

2. Provide the resources necessary for people to act quickly and consistently on their chosen wellness priorities. This includes access to information, experts, healthy food and a supportive business environment

3. Provide time-frames and make it clear when everyone will have the opportunity to report back on the progress they have made. Those taking part will immediately begin thinking about the results they'd like to achieve and the appropriate action to achieve these results will soon follow.

Given a fixed time-frame, individuals will achieve some amazing wellness changes which will boost energy and productivity throughout the business and enhance the reputation of your wellness programme.

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5 tips for increasing staff results with wellness

Yesterday we highlighted the top 5 ways in which any organisation can instantly improve staff engagement with wellness programmes.

Today we list the top 5 behaviour changes that individuals taking part in wellness programmes can make for instant and lasting results with their health, wellbeing and energy. The idea being that, if you're in charge of a wellness programme, these are key strategies and decisions that your initiatives will lead staff towards. Simple, healthy solutions to help staff climb any mountain...

Individual wellness strategies: instant action, lasting results

1. Change your attitude

Your wellbeing success is dependent on how seriously you value yourself. From this moment onwards, your wellbeing needs to be a top priority. Living a healthy life should not be an added bonus in your routine, it should be the bedrock of success in all other areas.

2. Make sure the timing is right

If you sense some hesitation around putting your wellbeing first, ask yourself what's stopping you, and then systematically remove or reframe each of these obstacles. For example, if you think you're too busy to be healthy, consider the long term implications of continuing your current routines. This will provide the motivation for instant action.

3. Make a list of the biggest personal incentives for living a healthy life

If you don't have plenty of good reasons to do the right thing, you'll come up with hundreds of good reasons (i.e. excuses) to do the wrong thing, and then you'll rationalise these behaviours. Be clear on what good wellness will provide you with including energy, focus, personal effectiveness, positive mood, confidence and a sense of achievement. What else can you add to this list? A long list of benefits will overcome any excuses or procrastination.

4. Change your behaviour

Start with the simple things. Get hydrated, eat regularly, watch your portion sized, get active today and protect your down time. One simple step at a time will lead to dramatic results. Simple steps will generate progress which will in turn generate further motivation.

5. Set yourself up for success

Decide on some healthy living objectives and some deadlines to meet these targets. Enter some events, team up with some colleagues to eat healthily, set some parameters around your relaxation time and decide what you'll do with this time. Whatever resources you feel have been lacking for wellness success in the past - gather them around you now and use them to keep you on track.

Remember, whether you're designing programmes that help others with wellbeing, or you're thinking aobut your own health, energy and performance, take action today for great results tomorrow.

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5 tips for increasing staff engagement with wellness

The buzzwords for this year's World Health Day are 'no action today, no cure for tomorrow'.

These words couldn't be more relevant when it comes to the health and wellness of every single individual, within every single organisation around the world.

At The Tonic we're all about instant action to improve the health, performance and energy of everyone we work with. So today, here are the top 5 ways in which any organisation can instantly improve staff engagement with wellness programmes.

Tomorrow we'll post the top 5 individual wellbeing behaviour changes that create the greatest instant impact and provide the longest lasting results.

Make sure you and your business are taking action today to develop a healthy and engaged workforce for tomorrow.

1. Get people excited

Communicate the value to individuals within your business of your wellness initiatives, not the value to the organisation. Explain clearly the personal benefits they will experience if they take part.

2. Create something for everyone

A range of flexible initiative that are well subscribed is much more successful than a limited number of expensive, under-utilised interventions. Be creative with your wellbeing solutions.

3. Cultivate the desire to opt in rather than the desire to opt out

Start small and make your initiatives effective. Word will spread and everyone will want to take part. Before you know it you'll be managing a waiting list rather than spending time persuading people to come along to events

4. Keep it fresh, keep it simple.

Timing is a big part of staff adopting wellness change so make sure you send regular, consistent messages but keep the initiatives simple. Ongoing, straightforward initiatives will have a greater cummulative effect than fancy interventions that no-one understands. Think about awareness raising events and practical, useful workshops rather than complicated competitions or online surveys.

5. Appeal to groups and individuals

Think about the people and the teams within your business and target them accordingly. Some staff will prefer group initiatives, others will opt for interventions targeted at the individual. If you're not sure what people would respond to best, ask them.

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How to Help Staff Quit Smoking

It's No Smoking Day on March 9th and, whilst we don't run any initiatives specifically related to quitting smoking, we have worked with many smokers who have chosen to give up cigarettes during, or very soon after taking part in, our general wellness programmes.There's a large element of timing involved in when people choose to give up smoking and you certainly can't put pressure on them to quit - it simply doesn't help and chances are they're already putting a good deal of pressure on themselves to stop.

Here's how we achieve success in this area.

1) Focus on positives

There's little point repeating the negative consequences of smoking. Smokers are all too familiar with these. Instead send messages that focus on the positive elements of not smoking such as increased energy, better concentration, inner calm and a stronger immune system

2) Lay down a challenge

No one likes to feel they are operating below par in any area of life. Asking the general question of what would lead people to the greatest improvement with their health and wellbeing will usually steer smokers in the direction of giving up without you having to be too heavy handed with the message

3) Add accountability

People choose to stop smoking on our programmes because we provide a manageable time frame for them to work with. If they can stop for a couple of days, a week, a month or a couple of months over the duration of a modular programme, this can be enough to convince them they can become a non-smoker for the long-term.

March 9th is a good reminder to staff to be vigilant with their wellbeing habits Use No Smoking Day as part of your ongoing schedule of events and communications to ensure that healthy living is such a priority with employees that they'll always respond to opportunities to raise their game with their wellbeing.

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