Organizations are always looking for new ways to engage their people in employee wellness programs. Last month we launched Mindful Mindset, tracking mindfulness and mood. This month, Peace & Quiet is in store for you!
People are busier than ever in today’s world. We work more and relax less. We feel the strain on our health and wellness as we struggle to slow down.
Although it feels that way, that’s not entirely accurate.
The truth is, the average number of working hours hasn’t increased over the past few decades. What has increased is our availability. We’re no longer constrained by limits in communication, daylight, or even access to knowledge. We are finite people trying to handle an infinite amount of to-dos. We have constant access to work tasks, emails, podcasts, audiobooks, and anything else you can name. There’s always another task on the checklist, both at work and at home.
What else is true? A constant state of being busy has a direct impact on our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Staying focused on moving forward prevents us from enjoying the present. Our bodies experience chronic stress. Fatigue. Trouble focusing.
We’d like to change that.
It’s Time For Some Peace and Quiet
Sometimes the choice to slow down needs a little encouragement. Taking breaks is an important part of employee wellness. The goal of Walker Tracker is to support members in building healthy habits that they can sustain, and the new Peace and Quiet Challenge does just that. By asking participants to log several metrics that work together to support overall wellness, the challenge is designed to help individuals experience better sleep, increased mindfulness, more self-reflection, and daily physical activity.
While a total of 1,278 points is available- if you include reflections and questions- earning 983 points completes the challenge. To meet the 983-point goal, members need to enter metrics 35 of the 42 challenge days. Ambitious but not at all impossible.
What IS Mindfulness?
An article from Harvard University describes mindfulness as the ability to be fully present in the current moment. You are aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, observing it all with an impartial and nonjudgemental mindset.
While the bulk of literature about mindfulness focuses on meditation, the list of ways you can practice mindfulness is extensive. A few of our favorite suggestions are below.
- Take a walk
- Spend time in nature
- Perform breath work
- Practice yoga
- Practice meditation
- Close your eyes and observe all your other senses
- Practice mindful eating
- Gaze out a window and note what you see
- Write
- Practice gratitude
Providing members with possible mindfulness activities is an important way to encourage participation during the Peace and Quiet challenge. Employee wellness programs excel when education and communication are included.
Let’s Get Started
If you’ve already partnered with Walker Tracker, reach out to your Customer Success Manager to set up your Peace and Quiet challenge this Spring.
Read about Walker Tracker's corporate wellness solutions or contact sales@walkertracker.com to learn more.