Just like the homes we live in, our bodies require a little ‘upkeep’ to maintain healthy standards. We need water, sunshine, exercise, and the ability to work through stress. Sometimes we need to spend a lazy Saturday nursing ourselves back to health by re-watching Gilmore Girls in its entirety — that’s just how it works. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way — the better we take care of things now, the better we’ll be long term. Sometimes we just need a little motivation to get started.
Offerpad considers employees part of one big family; their personal health is a big deal to us. To help motivate our team members to take charge of their own health (and burn off some of those Memorial Day cheeseburgers), our HQ hosted ‘Health Week’; several days designed to energize team members and help them relieve stress. As an added incentive, participating Offerpad team members had a chance to win a $200 Nike gift card.
I was so happy to hear about, and to be invited to participate in, Health Week at Offerpad. It is refreshing to be involved with a company that recognizes, supports and promotes a healthy, happy and committed workforce. Good health IS good business, and incorporating wellness programs such as Yoga in the workplace is vital to our business success!” – Brenda Burns (our lucky gift card winner)
Why employers should prioritize health
Aside from having a little fun around the office, providing healthy activities serves to benefit the organization. According to the American Psychological Association, “… prolonged job-related stress can drastically affect your physical health. Constant preoccupation with job responsibilities often leads to erratic eating habits and not enough exercise, resulting in weight problems, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels.” Simply put, healthy employees who aren’t bogged down by job-related stress are generally happier and more productive.
Healthy breakfast
It’s easy to forego breakfast during the workweek, but the benefits make it worth prioritizing. A balanced breakfast is linked to providing increased energy and supporting the body’s metabolism to help control our weight. According to WebMD, “If you don’t eat [breakfast], you aren’t likely to get all the nutrients your body needs.”
Having a healthy breakfast just makes you feel better and sets the tone for the rest of the day. In the immortal words of one Ron Swanson, “There has never been a sadness that can’t be cured by breakfast food.”
Massage
As part of Health Week, Offerpad team members were treated to a short ‘in-home’ massage. Massage does far more than relaxing the body; Mayo Clinic notes studies have found massage benefits some of these conditions:
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Soft tissue strains or injuries
- Joint pain
Gym trial
We support our neighbors whenever and wherever possible! Offerpad teamed up with their HQ next-door neighbors from The Pitt to provide employees with a free gym trial. The Pitt provides personal group fitness classes and actively supports their community, including worthy causes like the Children’s Cancer Network. For many at Offerpad, this provided a great chance to squeeze in a workout before work.
It takes some discipline to build a gym habit, but many people swear by working out before work. After work, we’re generally worried about picking up the kids from daycare, preparing dinner, or doing some light housework — the gym isn’t always our top priority. For anyone interested in building a before-work routine, WikiHow suggests you join a class, reasoning, “Not only may trying something new sustain your interest, but your commitment to your classmates may also keep you from missing the workout.”
Healthy lunch
Offerpad had one of the best Health Week’s I’ve ever had an opportunity to be a part of. I was able to work with the owner of GrabbaGreen, Stacy, who catered lunch for all Offerpad HQ employees, it was not only healthy, but a good way to help support locally owned businesses. I enjoy being active and staying fit, while eating healthier definitely supports that type of lifestyle.” – Spencer Hesseltine
Yoga session
Health week is also a time to check-in with our mental health and yoga provides a great outlet. According to the American Osteopathic Association, “Yoga’s incorporation of meditation and breathing can help improve a person’s mental well-being.” It’s easy to get caught up with the flow of our work, but we like to remind our team members that it’s more than okay to take time for ourselves!
There are so many risks associated with sitting at a desk all day. The quick yoga session really allowed me to reconnect and reset.” – Ashley Chessin
Building a healthy foundation
It takes more than a week to foster a healthy lifestyle, but everyone needs to start somewhere. Health Week gives us a great chance to encourage employees to make simple, healthier everyday choices. No, you don’t need to run a marathon — maybe just have a salad for lunch. Treat your mind and body to something healthy and start building a great foundation!