Connecting Wellness and Work
IBI Data of Brownsdale, MN creating conditions in the work space to make healthy choices easier!
The environment we work in is a factor that significantly impacts our overall health. Regardless of where you work or the type of work you do, we can each have a direct influence on the environments we spend time in. We don’t have to wait for a wellness program at work to be developed or be offered a “carrot”; we can begin in our own little space to create an environment that makes well-being the cultural norm.
Since work occupies many hours of our week it’s important to be honest about the environments we spend significant time in and how it impacts our health both physically and mentally. Intentionally choosing to positively influence your environment goes far beyond New Year’s wellness challenge which we’ve likely abandoned now that it’s July. Resolutions or goals are too difficult to reach or maintain when we don’t adapt the environments/conditions we exist in daily, creating spaces that make healthier choices easier and more accessible.
Environments that foster well-being and perseverance start with:
-creating an environment in your workspace that speaks to wellness (this includes our attitudes; focusing on gratitude is a great place to start)
-determining what snacks you might have in your desk or car when you need a quick bite to eat
-investing time and energy in relationships to foster healthy communication
-choosing to be the positive influence at work, home or school
Taking charge of adapting your daily environments, being intentional about small ways you can improve your work space is significant step to increasing the likelihood creating a work culture where wellness is second nature. This bigger picture focus makes worksite wellness programs a bonus but doesn’t look for them to necessarily drive health improvement, the culture of wellness drives those improvements in a much more sustainable manner.
Does your work environment foster conditions that speak wellness in meetings, break room or communications such as email? How are you being the change agent to create environments at work to be more wellness-focused and encourage perseverance in embedding wellness to all aspects of work? Shifting the work culture can begin with you!
-Sandy Anderson, Mower Refreshed Coordinator
