47 ways to help employees improve their health and wellness

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There is a big chance that your employees are struggling. Between meetings, deadlines, and the constant pressure to perform, their health and happiness might be taking a hit.

If you’ve noticed more sick days or lower energy levels and motivation among your teams, it could be because you haven’t implemented office wellness strategies.

Luckily, small changes can make a difference. The SFM study on workplace wellness ROI shows that companies implementing wellness programs for employees see 72% reduced healthcare costs. Pretty impressive, right ?

In this guide, we’re sharing 47 practical wellness tips for employees for your teams to follow.

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47 Daily health and wellness tips for employees

We have broken these tips down to various wellness categories, from physical and mental wellness tips to intellectual and work/life balance tips. These strategies are easy to implement without requiring big budgets. Many companies also discover that offering thoughtful wellness gifts for employees alongside these daily practices creates an even more supportive work environment.

Physical wellbeing

1. Stay hydrated

Drinking enough water seems simple, but it’s one of the most overlooked work health tips. Dehydration causes fatigue, headaches, and poor concentration. Encourage your employees to keep a water bottle at their desks and aim for 8 glasses daily.

2. Use your breaks

Encourage your employees to step away from their desks during breaks. Even a 5-minute walk around the office or some light stretching can reset their energy levels.

3. Cut down on caffeine

While morning coffee helps kickstart the day, too much caffeine later affects sleep quality. Suggest switching to tea or water in the afternoon. Better sleep means more alert, happier employees the next morning.

4. Make time to move

Encourage employees to set reminders to stand and move for two to three minutes every hour. This simple habit improves circulation, reduces back pain, and keeps energy levels steady throughout the day. It’s one of the easiest workplace health and wellness tips to implement immediately.

5. Get outside

Fresh air and natural light work wonders for mood and energy. Even 15 minutes outside can help reset stress levels and improve afternoon focus. Encourage your teams to step outside when the weather permits.

6. Skip electronics before bed

The blue light from phones and laptops disrupts sleep patterns. Suggest putting devices away at least an hour before bedtime for better sleep.

7. Eat the rainbow

Fruits and vegetables provide different nutrients your body needs. Encourage your teams to eat balanced meals.

8. Wash your hands

Simple hand hygiene prevents the spread of illness in your workplace. Make it easy by ensuring hand sanitizer and soap are readily available.

9. Take stretch and posture breaks

Poor posture from desk work causes long-term pain and discomfort. Encourage simple neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and back stretches throughout the day. These quick health tips at the workplace prevent bigger problems later.

10. Create a healthy meeting culture

Try walking meetings for one-on-one discussions or provide healthy snacks during longer sessions. This keeps energy levels stable.

11. Protect your skin

Remind employees about UV protection. Even indoor workers can benefit from sunscreen during lunch breaks or commutes.

12. Follow the 20-20-20 rule

Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This reduces eye strain from computer screens and prevents headaches.

13. Use artificial tears for dry eyes

Office air conditioning and screen time can cause dry, irritated eyes. Suggest keeping preservative-free eye drops at desks.

14. Take the stairs instead of the elevators

This is a classic way to add movement to the workday without requiring extra time. Start with one flight and gradually increase.

Mental wellbeing

15. Take deep breaths

Simple breathing exercises can instantly reduce stress and anxiety. Teach your teams the 4-7-8 technique: breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale for 8. This can be helpful during overwhelming moments.

16. Ask for help

Create a culture where asking for support is seen as a strength. When your teams know they can reach out without judgment, stress levels decrease and productivity improves. This builds stronger, more resilient teams.

17. Try sleep challenges or use sleep trackers

Good sleep is the foundation of mental health. Consider team challenges around better sleep habits or suggest apps that track sleep patterns. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), companies investing in sleep health see a 2.3% improvement in employee performance.

18. Create a “worry window”

Encourage employees to designate 15 minutes daily for worrying about problems, then move on. This technique helps contain anxiety and prevents constant stress throughout the day. Your teams can address concerns thoughtfully without letting worry take over.

19. Schedule digital detox moments

Encourage short breaks from screens and notifications. Even 10 minutes away from devices can reduce mental fatigue and improve focus. These health and wellness tips for the workplace are especially important in our always-connected world.

20. Conduct mental health check-ins

Regular, informal conversations between managers and team members can help identify stress before it becomes overwhelming. These don’t need to be formal meetings; just genuine care about how people are doing.

21. Provide access to wellbeing apps

Consider offering subscriptions to meditation, mindfulness, or sleep apps as part of your corporate wellness program. These tools give your teams resources they can use anytime, anywhere to manage stress and improve mental health.

22. Practice saying “no” to overcommitment

Help your teams understand that saying no to additional tasks when they’re already at capacity protects their well-being and work quality.

23. Keep a gratitude journal

Writing down three good things each day, no matter how small, improves mood and perspective. This simple practice helps your teams focus on positive aspects of work and life, even during challenging times.

24. Use positive self-talk and affirmations

Encourage your teams to replace negative inner dialogue with supportive, realistic thoughts. Instead of “I can’t handle this,” try “This is challenging, but I can break it into manageable steps.”

Social wellbeing

25. Start conversations to combat loneliness

Simple check-ins with colleagues build connections and reduce workplace isolation. Encourage your teams to reach out to each other, especially remote workers who might feel disconnected from the team.

26. Organize game events and fun activities

Regular team games, whether in-person or virtual, build relationships and provide stress relief. Even quick trivia sessions or online games can boost morale and create positive interactions.

27. Implement recognition and gratitude practices

Create systems for peer-to-peer appreciation. When your teams regularly acknowledge each other’s contributions, it builds a supportive culture where everyone feels valued. This positive environment reduces stress and increases job satisfaction.

28. Create buddy systems for new employees

Pairing new hires with experienced team members provides social support and reduces the anxiety of starting a new job.

29. Volunteer and participate in charity activities

Group volunteering gives your teams opportunities to make a difference together while building relationships outside normal work interactions.

30. Organize cross-departmental lunches

Breaking down silos between departments improves communication and creates new friendships. Organize informal interactions between departments for a more connected workplace culture.

31. Create birthday celebration traditions

Simple birthday acknowledgments make people feel remembered and valued. It could be a card, a small cake, or a team lunch.

Are you interested in contributing to employees’ daily wellbeing

Financial wellbeing

32. Use the 50/30/20 budgeting rule

Suggest allocating 50% of income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and debt repayment. This framework helps your teams manage money without complicated budgeting systems. Financial stress directly impacts work performance, so supporting financial literacy helps everyone.

33. Set up automatic transfers to savings accounts

Automating savings removes the temptation to spend money earmarked for emergencies or goals. When your teams have financial security, they’re less stressed and more focused at work. Even small amounts saved consistently make a difference.

34. Use budgeting apps for better money management

Recommend user-friendly apps that track spending and help with budget planning. These tools make financial management easier and less overwhelming for your teams.

35. Consider debt snowball or avalanche methods

Help your teams understand these two popular debt-reduction strategies. The snowball method pays the smallest debts first, while the avalanche method tackles the highest-interest debt for maximum savings. Both approaches reduce financial stress.

36. Organize financial literacy workshops

Bring in experts to teach practical money skills like retirement planning, investment basics, or tax strategies. Your employees can learn valuable life skills that reduce financial anxiety and help them build long-term security.

37. Review credit reports annually

Encourage your teams to check their credit reports regularly for errors or suspicious activity. Good credit health provides peace of mind and better financial opportunities.

Work-life balance & flexibility

38. Practice mindful commuting

Whether walking, cycling, or listening to podcasts during the commute, encourage your teams to use travel time positively. This period can reduce stress and help people arrive at work or home in better mental states.

39. Offer flexible work options

Offer hybrid schedules, flexible hours, or remote work options to help your teams manage personal responsibilities. This flexibility reduces stress and often increases productivity because people can work when they’re most effective.

40. Use separate accounts for work and personal activities

Help your teams create clear boundaries between work and personal time. This might mean separate email accounts, phone numbers, or even physical spaces. Clear boundaries prevent work from overwhelming personal life.

41. Use vacation time throughout the year

Encourage your teams to take regular time off rather than saving all vacation days for one big trip. Regular breaks prevent burnout and help maintain consistent energy levels throughout the year.

42. Turn off work notifications during personal time

Support your teams in disconnecting after work hours. Constant connectivity increases stress and prevents proper rest.

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Intellectual/cognitive wellbeing

43. Promote continuous learning and skill development

Provide opportunities for your teams to learn new skills or deepen existing ones. This might include online courses, conferences, or internal training programs. These opportunities keep people engaged and improve job satisfaction.

44. Provide access to educational resources

Consider offering subscriptions to learning platforms, books, or professional development resources. When your teams can continue growing, they feel more valuable and engaged in their work.

45. Support creative thinking and problem-solving

Create space for innovation and creative approaches to challenges. This might mean brainstorming sessions, innovation time, or simply encouraging new ways of approaching routine tasks. Mental stimulation keeps work interesting and engaging.

46. Organize knowledge and skill exchange programs

Let your team members teach each other skills they’ve developed. This creates a chance for everyone to benefit from the diverse expertise within your organization.

47. Encourage reading and learning habits

Whether it’s industry publications, personal development books, or skill-building materials, support your teams’ learning interests. Consider creating a company library or book club to make learning social and enjoyable.

Why is employee health and wellness important?

Research from Zippia shows that 52% of companies in the US offer an employee wellness program. Smart companies are taking office wellness seriously because several studies have shown how beneficial it can be for both organizations and employees.

For you as the employer, investing in health and wellness tips for employees offers major cost savings. Research from Jake Jorgovan shows that companies save $5.82 in lower absenteeism costs for every dollar spent on wellness programs. It also saves costs through lower healthcare costs because employees maintain healthier lifestyles.

Similarly, implementing health tips for workers translates to higher productivity, as healthier employees perform better. According to inFeedo.ai, over 90% of employers confirm that implementing healthy habits in the workplace boosts productivity and performance. It also reduces turnover and attracts top talent because people want to stay where they feel cared for.

For your teams, workplace healthy habits mean more energy for both work and personal activities. It reduces stress levels and improves physical health, which prevents chronic conditions. It also strengthens relationships with colleagues and increases job satisfaction, which makes work more enjoyable.

Are you interested in contributing to employees’ daily wellbeing?

written by

Teamupp

The employee wellness platform that drives engagement.

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