How are your New Year’s resolutions going? If they’re already just distant memory, you’re not alone.
Each New Year, Kiwis up and down the country make vow that this will be the year they lose weight, get fit and/or save money. Some will even succeed. However, come February, large number of people – no matter how well-intentioned – will have let their resolutions fall by the wayside.
For many people, barrier to achieving health goals is the lack of realistic plan. Good planning is at the heart of every successful business project – and improving your own or your team’s health is no different.
With the warm weather (and waylaid resolutions) lingering, February is great month to get started on workplace health and wellness initiative. To get the best return from your investment, and real results for your team, consider the following ideas before you get started.
MARKET RESEARCH
• Find out what’s important to your employees, and what they need health-wise. Are they keen to get fit, lose weight, stop smoking or de-stress? Do they want help making provision for their day-to-day or elective healthcare needs? Some may simply be short on time or motivation. If so, supportive workplace can assist.
• Research other businesses that have health initiatives. Find out what has worked for them and if there were any challenges along the way.
PROJECT PLANNING
• The SMART mnemonic – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Timely – is really useful test to apply. Be clear about what you would like to achieve. Set out how you’ll go about reaching the goal, what the timeframe is, and what measurements you’ll use to track progress.
• For those starting out, don’t bite off more than you can chew. Start small and generate momentum by building upon successes.
RESOURCES
• An investment in improving employee health has been shown to pay for itself many times over through reduced absence, improved productivity, reduced turnover and more. But if your budget can’t be budged, it’s great to know that even small, inexpensive initiatives can help to reduce absenteeism and improve staff engagement. Low-cost or no-cost options could include flu vaccinations, offering more flexibility around working hours for exercise, starting lunchtime walking group, or hiring nutritionist to hold seminar on healthy eating.
EVALUATION
• Make sure you set aside time to evaluate what the impact has been, and if any adjustments need to be made. Be sure to ask your team for feedback and ideas.
Finally, make your own health non-negotiable for 2012. Management roles can place strain on the waistline. Without plan in place to manage the demands of long hours, networking, lunches and deadlines, healthy eating and exercise can easily get pushed to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list.
One planning solution is to lock exercise into your day, as you would meeting. Aim for first thing in the morning – that way the day’s activities can’t take over from your best intentions. Another tip is to stock up on healthy snacks to keep on hand in the car and at work for busy periods. M
Peter Tynan is chief executive of Southern Cross Health Society.
