By Stephanie Patek, Ease Account Manager and Fitness Coaching Supervisor
It is quite unlikely for an untrained, although somewhat active person, to step out on the pavement and complete a half-marathon (13.1 miles), especially without pain or injury. It is similarly unlikely for a sedentary individual to complete a shorter distance, such as a 5K (3.1 miles) without following a structured training program.
I’ve seen all too many individuals who intend to tackle a goal, and end up backing out of a race because they failed to follow a progression plan. Perhaps they became too insecure about crossing the finish line, or fell to injury because they detoured from their program and pushed themselves too hard at the beginning.
Like the progressive nature of successful running programs, the same philosophy can be applied to workplace wellness challenges.
Progression is key.
Behavior change usually requires a lengthy process of breaking a bad habit – 21 days according to most research. Change also requires the persistence to adopt or expand upon a healthy habit – yet another 21 days. It is critical when designing a wellness challenge that the challenge is designed to indicate a level of improvement over time.
A “progressive” set of goals can be the fulcrum of change, and capture an audience that needs some time to adjust to a “fit” lifestyle.
As an example of this process, during a recent challenge facilitated at the Center for Families and Children over the course of 8-weeks, participants were asked to increase their level of exercise from 90 minutes a week (for weeks one, two and three) to 120 minutes a week (for weeks four, five and six), ending with 150 minutes per week (for weeks seven and eight.) Twenty-percent of the employees who participated in the challenge successfully progressed through the full progression of increased activity. And, although the results appear to be low, in actuality those employees who met the challenge increased their minutes of exercise by 40%.
Tougher challenges yield greater- measurable – results.
Similar, tougher challenges – facilitated in a progressive nature – can offer immediate post-challenge insight on health improvement. Not simply that the employees completed a challenge and finished, but that they did make measurable improvement in their fitness over a course of time.
Tracking healthy outcomes through workplace wellness programs can be challenging. We often hear statements from both vendors and employers commenting that the success of wellness programs is “tough to measure.”
By implementing a progressive format in your workplace wellness challenge, your organization can immediately pinpoint those employees who have successfully “trained” to improve their health. In as little as eight weeks, a significant impact can be made to the physical capabilities of employees completing challenge.
I encourage those dedicated to wellness in the workplace to think past the minimum basic health standards set by health agencies; to encourage staff to go beyond the minimum amount of exercise needed, and present a training challenge that will actually make a significant healthful impact for each individual who participates.
Ease@Work improves workplace wellness as both a benefit to employees requiring individualized assistance with nutrition, fitness, smoking cessation, stress, etc., but also as a tool for management. We assist management with the establishment of wellness committees and the implementation of wellness programming and even challenges like the one outlined above. For more information visit our website or click contact us above. Your message won’t get lost in cyber-space, we promise.
