The Benefits of Wellness Challenges

When your employees are healthy, they are happier and more productive. That’s why it should be your goal as a business owner to promote employee health, and one way to do that is to introduce wellness challenges. From cooking classes to physical fitness challenges to running for charity, there are plenty of different activities to choose, and each have great benefits. 

Improved Interpersonal Relationships
One of the key benefits of a wellness challenge is that it compels individuals to work together as part of a team. Therefore, everyone is required to engage with their colleagues and do whatever it takes to make sure that everyone succeeds. In some cases, it means that people have to step outside of their comfort zones. 

Since most workplace team challenges are designed to be fun and only somewhat competitive, everyone can focus on being encouraging and bringing the best out in their teammates. That makes it easier for everyone to allow their best selves to shine through, which makes it possible to develop solid professional relationships.
 
Building Healthy Habits
Wellness challenges facilitate building healthy habits, but they are more likely to be successful if employees work in teams and are provided additional motivation for participation. What individuals learn during the team challenges can be transferred to their lives outside of work. For instance, some people may find that walking is a great way to snap out of an after-lunch funk or a way to wake up first thing in the morning. 

Those who take part in the challenge may also discover that they enjoy running, biking or some other activity that was part of the company challenge. That could lead to training for a marathon or some other event that requires you to be in good physical condition. When workers improve their physical condition, it can lead to improvements in their mental health as well. That is a win for both an employee and the company. 

A Higher Quality of Life
There are several reasons why being in good physical condition can lead to improved mental health. For some, the act of running helps to relieve stress or simply burn off extra energy that wasn't released while sitting in an office all day. For others, meeting weight or endurance goals can give them a confidence boost that leads to better performance in other areas of their personal or professional lives. 
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Improved mental health can result in lower medical costs, which can lead to even less stress in their lives. Reducing stress can put an end to teeth grinding, headaches and other conditions that can be expensive to treat. It can also result in taking fewer medications and seeking care less often, which can reduce hospital admittance and other fees paid out of pocket. Overall, healthier and happier employees lead to a happier and more productive workplace. 
Your employees’ health and wellbeing is our primary concern, which is why we work to provide the best insurance. Talk to us today about our insurance plans for your employees!