The third Monday of January marked Blue Monday, considered to be the most depressing day of the year when seasonal affective disorder and winter blues hit their peak. This is the time of year when many employees will feel their lowest thanks to colder weather, staying indoors and increasing isolation due to WFH.
Over half of Canadian workers report experiencing the winter blues and the personal struggles your employees face can quickly overflow to their professional lives. This makes developing a workplace wellness solution a critical need to ensure the health of both your workforce and your business.
One of the easiest ways to combat the winter blahs is through daily exercise. Working out, especially when combined with natural sunlight, is a mood booster with enviable side effects: reducing the risk of heart disease and some cancers; improved sleep and a healthier weight.
But how do we find our drive when our energy and motivation are gone?
Our data shows us that those using the Sprout platform, take, on average 27% more steps per day than the general North American population. Why? Our users have a motivation tool. The platform connects them to others, allows them to set and track goals and participate in challenges
Staying motivated is easier when our commitment is linked to someone or something outside of ourselves. That’s why we are less likely to skip our run when we know our running partner is waiting for us, and why we are more successful making time for our workout when we have it booked into our calendar in advance.
Try harnessing the energy of your colleagues to stay motivated. Shared experiences don’t necessarily need to be based on being physically together - for example - suggest a walking meeting for your next 1:1 with a colleague or set up a virtual step challenge with your team.
Most people have already abandoned their New Year’s resolutions by now. At Sprout, we recommend switching the focus to micro habits and goals. Creating micro habits is often a better way to accomplish and achieve goals. Keeping your new habit small and actionable means your goal is more realistic, leading to better outcomes.
What’s an example of a micro habit? It could be something as simple as performing 10 squats while you wait for your coffee to brew; choosing to stand rather than sit during one of your daily meetings; or even taking a walk outside before you check your morning emails. It’s about shifting your behaviour so you can achieve those small wins, and the small wins really matter in this moment.
Ready to try moving more each day? Connect with others; add your new commitments to your calendar and start building your micro habits today. Your winter blues may just fade even before spring this year.
Interested in bringing a wellness solution to your team? Book a demo and learn more today.
