“Wellness” has been a buzz word in the corporate world for many years – close to two decades now. It is thrown around during the hiring process, company-wide meetings and posted on social media. Unfortunately, too many companies fall to properly implement a wellness program. Offsite meetings, conferences and other events are no exception.
The irony is significant. Carving out time to focus on their mental and physical health would go a long way in helping attendees get the most out of your events. Yet wellness is often pushed to the side in favor of keeping up the frenetic pace that pulling off a successful event requires. In fact, a recent study revealed that 64 percent of planners consider their meetings are only “somewhat healthy,” 24 percent of meeting planners feel their meetings are “mostly” healthy, and a mere 5 percent rated them as “very healthy.” (1)
Wellness is not just one-sided, either. True holistic wellness addresses your physical and mental well-being. When you are organizing your next event, think about what kind of activities and swag could help attendees recharge and refresh.
Keep reading to get ideas for effective and budget-friendly strategies that promote wellness at meetings.
Offer Educational Opportunities
One of the reasons people struggle to eat healthy is lack of knowledge. They may not know which foods pack a nutritional punch or have any healthy recipes to follow. You can remedy this situation in one of several ways.
A professional chef who specializes in healthy dishes can teach attendees how to cook simple dishes bursting with nutrition. The food expert can walk them through the steps, let them attempt to whip up some of the dishes themselves, and send them home with recipes that even those with the least amount of culinary talent can follow.
A nutritionist can instruct attendees on what kind of foods are best for different purposes including preserving heart health, reducing cancer risk, and losing weight. Many people have been misinformed about nutrition. For example, one widespread assumption is that calcium can only be obtained by eating dairy. However, leafy greens are rich in calcium. Much like the chef, the nutritionist can send attendees home with basic information for easy and accurate reference.
Make the Menu Healthy
Educating attendees on healthy eating is almost a moot point if the only food you serve at your event is of the fattening, nutrient-deficit variety. Offering healthy food options, on the other hand, demonstrates that you put your money where your mouth is and that your organization invests in wellness.
It is essential, in this day and age, to be mindful and sensitive to everyone’s dietary needs. This means offering vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, organic/GMO-free options along with a traditional menu. Attendees will remember and appreciate how accommodating your company was to their individual needs.
Doing so does not have to be time consuming or expensive. Something as simple as offering platters with hummus and chip, a cheese plate with crackers or a platter of roasted, seasoned veggies will go a long way.
Get Them Moving
The recent trend in standing desks and desks designed with a treadmill option is a reflection of studies in recent years that have revealed the harmful effects of sitting for long periods of time. According to the Mayo clinic, spending most of your time in a sedentary state can lead to serious health concerns that include elevated blood pressure, obesity and high blood sugar levels. (2)
While avoiding extended periods spent sitting at event is not always possible, you can counter its harmful effects by offering attendees the opportunity to get their blood pumping.
Breakout sessions and setups give attendees the opportunity to stand up and move around for a bit, while more intensive activities such as a brief yoga session or a morning walk/run are perfect for pumping more oxygen to their hearts and circulating fresh air through their lungs.
Give Them a Mental Massage
Mental health is one of the cornerstones of overall wellness. The mind-body connection is legitimate and very real.
Chair massages are fast and can be done just about anywhere. Why not set aside a room to offer tired attendees a foot, neck, or shoulder massage? The massage will make them feel relaxed and can also help soothe aches/pains or tension.
Meditation has grown exponentially in popularity in recent years. A meditation can be as short as two minutes or as long as two hours. Either way, a meditation session offers attendees the chance to “reset” their mental clocks and emerge feeling serene and ready to take on the remainder of their time at the event. Creating an environment for meditation is as simple as creating a quiet space with soothing or tranquil music, lush green plants and relaxing chairs.
Something as simple as giving attendees mini breaks in the schedule can make a world of difference in their continued enthusiasm for the event. Allow more than five or ten minutes. Extend a few of the breaks to 20 or 30 minutes so they do not feel rushed when moving from one event to another. You may even want to extend the official lunch period to give everyone a substantial midday break.
Technology-Free Zones
While it may be hard to disconnect from mobile devices and the outside world, it some cases it is beneficial for wellness. Offering attendees an opportunity to disconnect from technology – mobile devices, laptops, overhead projectors — and focus on the people and the moment can powerful.
If meetings are taking place offsite, allow attendees time to enjoy time outside of the meeting to unwind and escape the meeting and workplace. Take them to a show. Engage them in local culture. Show them nature.
By taking the measures above, you can seamlessly incorporate wellness into your company’s events without breaking the bank or losing precious time. The positive feelings attendees walk away with will pay off in huge dividends for your organization’s reputation and future events.
For more information about how Gavel International can help your organization through outsourced meeting planning, event and travel incentive programs, contact us.
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SOURCES:
1 https://convene.com/catalyst/survey-wellness-at-meetings/
2 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005
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