Many companies interested in improving profitability and employee retention are focusing on workplace wellness. Why? Because improved health and wellness leads to increased productivity, better employee focus, and company health care savings. Regardless of whether or not your company has an official wellness program, you can still take steps toward healthier habits during your workday. And for today’s mobile culture, apps are a natural tool for getting there.
But with more than 318,000 mobile health apps on the market, how do you choose which wellness apps to use? Which apps are going to increase employee wellness and wellness program participation?
We’ve asked ourselves the same questions and have come up with 7 wellness apps we believe are the ticket to encouraging employee wellness throughout the workday.
Welltok is a health management platform for enterprises that enables employees to set custom wellness goals and objectives, track their activity and fitness levels, and improve mental sharpness by playing mind-stimulating games and taking quizzes. It keeps employees socializing about their health and wellness efforts in and out of the office, letting them share photos, exercise tips, healthy recipes, and more.
In 2019, the typical employee sat for 15 hours a day on average. That included time in front of the computer at work as well as time on the couch watching TV at home. Most of us know we should be more active and avoid a sedentary lifestyle, but haven’t found the right way to stay motivated. Strava is meant to help motivate by tracking your workout performance, and showing how to reach your goals. It also helps you connect with the community, for additional motivation, sharing pictures, routines, trails, and routes. And for an extra layer of security, you can also share your location with others.
Research has shown that meditation can help reduce anxiety and improve concentration, among other benefits. In the aftermath of COVID-19, it’s never been more important to address anxiety and stressors. According to their website, Headspace users reduce stress by 32% after a month and experience 14% less burnout in just two weeks. This wellness app offers hundreds of guided meditations on everything from anxiety to focus, whether you’re in the office or working from home. It’s a great way to benefit the mental well-being of your hybrid team.
This one’s an oldie but still a goodie. MyFitnessPal continues to be ranked one of the best fitness apps. It features a free and easy-to-use calorie counter that lets users quickly track their meals, snacks, and coffee (or other drinks) intake throughout the day using a database that holds more than 5 million different types of foods. Being able to easily track what you eat throughout the day can help you better balance calorie intake and reach your weight loss goals.
Wellness doesn’t just mean going to the gym and watching what you eat. The brain needs exercise, too. And although we certainly hope you’re using your brain during the workday, there are probably still certain skillsets you’d like to improve. Elevate is a “cognitive training app” offering 35-plus activities to help improve pronunciation, name recall, comprehension, precision, focus, and more. This personalized brain training happens in a game-like format to make exercising your brain fun.
Even before the pandemic, most of us weren’t getting the 7-8 hours of sleep we’re supposed to have each night. In the wake of the coronavirus, insomnia may be on the rise. Since your employees are working from their home offices, it’s never been a better time for them to catch up on sleep during a work break. Encourage employees to take power naps, and you’ll likely see a boost in energy, productivity, and creativity. The Power Nap App lets users set a timer for up to 30 minutes, provides relaxing sounds to fall asleep to (rain, beach, etc.) and has various alarm sounds that are actually pleasant to wake up to (piano, birds, etc.). Support the power of the power nap with the use of this user-friendly app to give employees mental rejuvenation so they feel fresh and alert throughout their workday.
What will we do with offices after the threat of COVID-19 remains to be seen. The most likely outcome of the widespread digital transformation is a hybrid workforce. And the biggest challenge of a hybrid workforce is coming together — getting ample opportunity to help each other learn and grow, coordinate on projects, get creative with solutions, and build a true sense of community with their peers.
Teem’s mobile app helps you unleash the full potential of your workforce with a human-centered approach. Cater to people’s needs when they return to the office — including making it easier to find information, locate spaces, check their meeting schedule, and create or update their reservations. Watch as your workplace becomes more efficient, employees become more engaged, and the business becomes more successful.
Every one of us makes health and wellness choices everywhere we go, and the workplace is no exception. By pairing work wellness programs with the right wellness apps, you can increase participation in your program while leading your workforce to better health. And healthier employees lead to a healthier bottom line.
See how Teem’s solutions can help your employees feel confident once they return to the office.
