Wellness Strategies to Incorporate in the Workplace
Let’s face it, when it comes to employee productivity, overall well-being isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore. It’s essential. The pandemic brought this into sharp focus, prompting many organizations to rethink how they support their teams. Flexible hours, remote work options, and expanded health benefits have become more common, but there's still work to do.
Many employees are still asking: Am I actually living in balance? And with good reason. Sedentary lifestyles, fluctuating weight, stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout are all on the rise. That’s why integrating small, sustainable wellness habits into the workday isn’t just beneficial - it’s necessary.
In this article, we’ll explore practical strategies that anyone, from team leaders to new hires, can implement to cultivate a healthier, more supportive workplace.
1. Encourage Movement During the Workday
Movement is one of the most powerful tools we have to manage stress, boost mood, and increase focus. And the good news is you don’t need an on-site gym to make movement more accessible.
Here are a few ways to create a more movement-friendly workplace:
Host Fitness Challenges: Spark some friendly competition with step counts or team fitness goals.
Offer Wellness Incentives: Reward staff with gift cards to yoga classes, fitness studios, or massage therapists.
Create a Walking Group: Mid day walks are a great way to reset and reconnect with coworkers.
Move-and-Meet: Try walking meetings or take your 1-on-1s on a coffee stroll.
Bring Movement to the Office: Invite yoga, Pilates, or bootcamp instructors for virtual or in-person sessions.
Make Wellness Visible: Keep magazines, posters, or pamphlets on health topics in common areas like kitchens or lobbies.
Partner with Professionals: Organize e-learning courses, workshops, or wellness committees led by health experts.
Designate a Movement Space: Even a small room with mats, blocks, and resistance bands can become a go-to spot for a mid-day stretch.
Support Employee Initiatives: Sponsor staff participating in fitness challenges or charity runs. It shows you care about their well-being, inside and outside of work.
These simple steps can add up to a huge shift in energy, morale, and productivity while building a culture that truly values wellness.
2. Foster a Healthy Relationship with Food
Let’s talk about food, because we all eat, and we all have a relationship with food. Unfortunately, diet culture has made that relationship a tricky one for many people. That’s why it's so important to approach food at work with compassion and inclusivity.
Here’s how to promote healthier food habits, without the shame or pressure:
Minimize “Diet Talk”: Skip the convos about calories, macros, portion sizes, or weigh-ins. They’re more triggering than you might think.
Embrace Positive Food Talk: Shift the narrative to how food nourishes, energizes, comforts, and connects us.
Make Mealtime Meaningful: Encourage people to step away from their desks and connect over food.
Start a Recipe Corner: Use a whiteboard or bulletin in the break room to share favorite dishes and snacks.
Bring in the Experts: Host nutrition-focused lunch & learns or Q&As with dietitians or holistic nutritionists.
Create a Healthy Suggestion Box: Give employees a voice in what health initiatives they would like to see more of in the workplace!
By cultivating a workplace culture that supports intuitive, joyful eating, you not only improve physical health, you also foster psychological safety and stronger team dynamics.
3. Prioritize Mental Health at Work
Workplace culture often emphasizes productivity, deadlines, and results, but what about emotional well-being? If we want engaged, creative, and collaborative teams, mental health support can’t be an afterthought. It must be baked into how we do business.
Here are some approachable ways to help with that:
Encourage Professional Development in Wellness: Offer opportunities for employees to learn about stress management, mindfulness, or burnout prevention.
Create a Quiet Space: A calm, tech-free zone where people can decompress, meditate, or simply breathe.
Run Regular Wellness Check-ins: Even short surveys or anonymous feedback forms can offer insight into how your team is really doing.
Develop a Custom Wellness Plan: Partner with a health or wellness coach to co-create a plan tailored to your organization’s needs.
Open the Circle: Start talking circles or safe spaces for open conversation and peer support.
Invite Mental Health Speakers: Host monthly or quarterly events with therapists or counselors to discuss tools for emotional well-being.
Offer a Support Line: Whether internal or external, having someone to call during times of stress can make a world of difference.
Prioritizing mental health shows your team that you see them as whole humans, not just employees. And when people feel supported, they thrive.
Final Thoughts
Workplace wellness doesn’t have to be complicated or costly, it just has to be intentional.
Small, thoughtful shifts can dramatically improve the way people feel, function and connect at work. Whether you're a business owner, team lead, or passionate employee, you have the power to plant the seeds for a healthier workplace culture - one habit at a time.
If you're curious about creating a more mindful and resilient work environment, I’d love to support you. Book a free discovery call with me and let’s chat about how we can bring wellness into your workplace in a way that feels meaningful, achievable, and human.
Kelissa Ouellet
B.Sc Nutrition | Personal Training Specialist | Certified Life & Wellness Coach
New Brunswick, Canada
