by Works of Wellness
About The Author

Works of Wellness is Canada's workplace wellness business directory and collaborative information portal. We showcase workplace wellness providers across Canada and share the latest in programming information, ideas, services and expertise.

Leap Day... an extra 24 hours to promote health and wellness in the workplace!

"Oh, if only I had one more hour in my day... I'd workout, I'd make healthy meals, I'd take time to relax." When it comes to our own personal wellness, our health is often the first thing that gets pushed aside on a busy day.

But there is a day filled with 24 one-more-hours just around the corner. Those extra 24 hours we all get every 4 years... Leap Day. And for organizations that promote employee health and wellness, Leap Day offers a great opportunity to jump start some healthy habits at your workplace.

This February 29th, try some of these easy-to-implement ideas to encourage your employees to "take the leap" and take some time during those 24 extra hours to spend a little attention on their health and wellbeing.

Hold a Leap Day office relay race and get your employees moving.
Set up a Leap Day box somewhere prominent and include a clipboard with pen and two relay batons (it can be as simple as two sticks, or something fun like stuffed leaping frogs, or silly hats). Make a map of an easy walking route, either outdoors or through office hallways and staircases. Ask the CEO to show their support by starting the relay with their colleague. The two colleagues put their names on the clipboard then follow the map, holding (or wearing if it's a hat!) the batons. At the end of the route, they are to find two more colleagues to pass the batons to. The goal of the race is to get a continuous relay of teams of colleagues up and walking throughout the entire day. As an incentive, you can offer a prize through a random draw of all participants.

Promote a Leap Day Luncheon and make healthy eating a treat for the day.
Encourage your employees to eat healthy by promoting a nutritious lunch. If you have a cafeteria, work with the cooks to create and promote a Leap Day healthy meal. Be sure it includes lots of vegetables, lean protein and whole grains, and is low in fat. Include a side of fruit for dessert! If your employees brown-bag it, offer some suggested healthy lunch recipes to bring to work, or set up a build-your-own healthy sandwich bar. You can continue the incentive idea by offering everyone who eats a healthy lunch (a.k.a. no fatty desserts and sugary drinks!) a ballot for a random draw prize.

Offer Leap Day de-stressing activities.
It's easy for employees to get caught up in the day and forget to take a few moments to de-stress and re-energize. Yet that is so important not only for the health of the individual, but also for the productivity of the workplace. Encourage your employees to take a 'me-moment' at work. Here are some ideas you can easily offer at the workplace that will help ease the pace of the day and bring some energy back.

- Hold stretch breaks during meetings - see this link on stretching at the workstation for ideas. Or point your employees to these short videos on Stretching @ Your Desk from the Alberta Centre for Active Living.

- Put out sheets of paper, crayons and markers and offer a fun and creative drawing area. Encourage employees to take a short break during their workday and draw a masterpiece or a scribble. For more incentive, suggest a theme to draw and offer a prize for the best representation of that theme. Just keep it fun!

- Set up a quiet meeting room with calm music and provide a selection of herbal teas, with cups, water and kettle. Encourage your employees to take a moment to relax and unwind.

In an age when an extra hour in the day means an extra hour at work, Leap Day offers organizations a wonderful opportunity to show your employees that you support their health. Offer activities and outlets for employees to take a short break at work, get up and move, nourish their bodies and de-stress. It's good for them, and good for your workplace!