We’ve all been told that having a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, and daily exercise is good for us.
But what influence does physical wellbeing have in the workplace – and what can organisations do to improve physical wellbeing at work to help employee’s be happy and healthy?
In this article we explore, what is meant by physical health and wellbeing – it’s impact – and physical wellbeing example questions to include in your next staff survey.
Physical wellbeing is a broad term that refers to both your body’s vitality and strength, and its ability to function harmoniously with your mind.
Physical wellbeing in the workplace refers to creating an environment and implementing practices that support your employees’ overall health, comfort, and safety while they are at work.
It goes beyond just focusing on daily job tasks and extends to making sure that your employees are physically and mentally healthy – during and beyond – their work lives.
Physical wellness encompasses many factors including ergonomics, safety, hygiene, workplace culture, flexibility and much more.
For all of us, physical health forms the important foundation upon which our overall wellbeing is built.
Because of this, in essence, physical wellness is a cornerstone of a successful workplace wellbeing strategy.
In fact, a focus on physical wellness has been proven to reduce absenteeism, enhance engagement, increase energy and productivity, bolster creativity and improve overall organisational culture.
It’s really a no brainer – when employees are physically well, eating well, sleeping well and moving well – they will be better equipped to manage tasks and challenges, engage more actively, and positively impact their emotional health – in turn creating a healthier, more productive, and happier workforce.
Physical fitness focuses on your body’s physical abilities, while physical wellbeing (or wellness) takes into account your overall health, comfort, and happiness.
Physical fitness is a measure of your strength, endurance, flexibility, and overall physical capability.
Being physically fit means you have strength and stamina to engage in various activities, like running, lifting weights, or playing sports.
Whereas physical wellbeing encompasses a broader sense of health and happiness.
It’s not just about physical capability; it involves feeling good both physically and mentally.
This includes factors like having low stress levels, getting enough sleep, having a balanced diet, and managing emotions.
Healthier workforce = happier colleagues.
When it comes to physical wellness, it doesn’t have to take a huge amount of effort to support your colleagues.
Sometimes it’s just about reassuring them that their health is of the utmost importance, and giving them the flexibility and freedom to do the things that make them most happy and healthy.
Let’s discuss some ways to do just that.
It seems straightforward enough – but sometimes by simply letting your employees know it’s okay so take time during the day for physical activity is the boost they need to get outdoors, or get some fresh air.
Some people struggle with leaving their desk during the day with the worry they’ll miss something important. Let your team know their physical wellness is a priority and they’re more than welcome to take time during the day to take a gym class, a yoga session or a simple walking break.
Similarly to the last point, encourage your team to take regular breaks throughout their days to ensure they have adequate time to rest and recharge during the workday.
No one can be productive for hours and hours on end – and prolonged periods of screen time and continuous work can lead to physical strain and mental fatigue.
Regular breaks give us the chance to stretch muscles, change body posture, relax our eyes and come back to work feeling fresher and more motivated.
It’s important to recognise the connection between physical and mental wellbeing and offer resources like stress management workshops, counselling services and mindfulness education to support your team’s overall wellness.
By doing so, you’ll show your people work-life balance is a priority and so is their health.
By embracing flexible work arrangements, like remote work or adaptable hours, you will show commitment to acknowledging individual needs and modern work-life demands.
By reducing the strain of commuting and offering the freedom to tailor work schedules, your employees will be able to better manage their personal and professional responsibilities – leading to more control over their physical and mental wellbeing.
In addition to the avenues of improvement we’ve already discussed, there’s a whole sea of initiatives, programs, and apps on the market that promote physical wellbeing in the workplace.
From team wellness challenges to sleep cycle apps and in-house health assessments, we could list dozens.
But what’s going to be more valuable for your team is if you ask them for what they need most.
As always, we recommend pulse surveys to do the job.
Pulse surveys are perfect for capturing real-time feedback and gauging employee perceptions of their physical wellbeing, allowing you to tailor your wellness initiatives and strategy accordingly.
Remember, by first asking your team to contribute their wellbeing experiences and thoughts for improvement you’ll be in great position to build out your wellness strategy.
It’s about tapping into your organisation’s collective voice so you can best accommodate your team’s diverse needs.
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About the author
Starting out her early career as a journalist, Jade Madeley is an accomplished content writer with 8+ years’ experience across business, personal finance, SaaS, human resources and employee engagement. Working with Stribe, she crafts insightful content that brings complex HR topics to life and drives meaningful action.
