Although we all know the holiday season is a time for family, friends and fun, we also need to consider our health in the mix! It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle-and-bustle of things, but looking after yourself should never go overlooked.

According to Statistics Canada, individuals between the ages of 25-44 spend on average 57% of their day participating in ‘paid work and related activities’. With over half of our days spent at work, it’s clear to see how important it is to maintain healthy choices even outside our homes.

Let’s take a look at some tips and tricks to encourage a healthy workplace for you and your colleagues this season.

7 Ways to a Healthier Workplace

1. Wash your hands often.

• Prevent the spread of germs, it’s flu season!
• Wash hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds.
• If you are on the road a lot, keep a travel sized hand sanitizer with you.

2. Manage stress.

• Give yourself a break if you’re overwhelmed; block out some ‘me time‘.
• Find support for things you can delegate to others in your team.
• After work, connect socially and get plenty of sleep – your holidays may not be as enjoyable if you are struggling with stress levels, so make a conscious effort to improve.

3. Host healthy holiday parties.

• Cater your event with healthy food as opposed to trays of sweets and processed foods.
• Have a Healthy Pot Luck Challenge, where staff come in with their favourite healthy holiday dishes to share. Tip: make sure each person brings the recipe for their dish so that you can exchange and expand your list of healthy dish ideas!

4. Healthy holiday snack challenge.

• Everyone loves a challenge…and everyone loves snacks!
• Choose a Friday where colleagues bring in their chosen holiday snack – the catch is, it must be healthy! Choose a judge and let the healthy snacking begin!

5. Get your vaccinations.

• Vaccinations help prevent the spread of diseases and can save lives. It’s not too late for you and your organization. Find out more about how your team can get vaccinated – Apex Flu Clinics.

6. Organize holiday stretch breaks.

• Motivate your colleagues to get up and move!
• Try incorporating group activities like a department stretch break or a team yoga class. Tip: play holiday music to get people in the mood during exercise events.

7. Vending machine or cafeteria overhaul (long term goal).

• If your organization is looking to make a big impact on health in the workplace, inquire with your vending machine company to see if healthier options are available.
• Adding a salad bar to your cafeteria or promoting a healthy entree option 1-2 times per week might be a good start to improving the options available in your cafeteria.

From all of us at Apex, we wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season both at work and at home!

SOURCES

Statistics Canada

Centre for Disease and Control

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