Winter Wellness in the Workplace: How to Keep Health & Happiness Thriving During the Cold Months

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As winter sweeps in with its chilly air and shorter days, the workplace tends to feel the chill too. Flu season peaks, energy dips, and even the most vibrant teams can feel a little sluggish. The winter months present a unique challenge for maintaining both physical health and mental well-being. But with a few creative strategies, leaders can turn this challenging season into an opportunity to nurture a workplace culture of health, resilience, and maybe even a little seasonal cheer.

Here’s a guide to creating a wellness-focused winter that keeps spirits high and sniffles low!

1. Embrace the Power of Vitamin D – Let the Light In!

The days may be shorter, but maximizing the amount of natural light in your workplace can work wonders for employees’ well-being. Low levels of Vitamin D due to limited sun exposure are linked to mood dips and a general sense of tiredness, so make it a priority to let in as much daylight as possible.

How to Make it Happen:

Open Up the Blinds: This one’s easy! Keep blinds up during daylight hours to let the sun shine through, especially in communal areas where people gather.
Portable Light Therapy Lamps: These lamps mimic sunlight and are shown to reduce winter-related mood dips. Consider providing these to employees, particularly if they work in windowless offices.
Vitamin D Supplements: For a fun twist, include Vitamin D-rich snacks in your break rooms, like yogurts or fortified cereals. Or consider providing Vitamin D supplements after consulting with a healthcare professional.

Quick Win: Hold team meetings or brainstorming sessions in well-lit areas where people can enjoy natural light. Bonus: sunlight can boost creativity too!

2. Keep Germs at Bay with a Winter-Ready Wellness Kit

Winter and cold season go hand in hand, but arming your team with germ-busting essentials can make a big difference. By creating wellness kits, you’re not only helping prevent illness but also showing employees you care about their health.

What to Include in Wellness Kits:

Hand Sanitizers and Disinfecting Wipes: These are essential to prevent the spread of germs around commonly touched areas like doorknobs, keyboards, and break room appliances.
Antibacterial Hand Soap: High-quality soap is often more effective than hand sanitizers, so ensure your restrooms are well-stocked with antibacterial hand wash.
Cold & Flu Supplies: Think tissues, cough drops, and even tea bags to soothe sore throats.
Healthy Snacks: Include immune-boosting goodies like oranges, apples, and almonds, which are full of vitamins to keep energy levels high.

Quick Win: Hold a winter wellness drive where team members create custom wellness kits for one another. This adds a fun, personal touch and builds camaraderie.

3. Warm Up with Wellness Breaks

Sitting for long periods is especially unappealing in winter, when our bodies crave warmth and movement. To combat sluggishness, encourage movement breaks to get blood flowing and help ward off seasonal slumps.

Ideas for Active Breaks:

Stretch Sessions: Start the day with a five-minute stretch routine or do a group stretch every hour. Bonus if you can play some energizing music!
Walking Meetings: For smaller group meetings, take them on the go. Walking outside (even in chilly weather) can spark fresh ideas and increase energy.
Workplace Fitness Challenges: Create a friendly competition around steps or other fitness goals to encourage movement.

Quick Win: Try a midday “energy boost” session with guided stretches or bring in a local yoga instructor for weekly classes in the winter months.

4. Add a Dash of Hygge – Cozy Comforts for a Happy Workplace

The Danish concept of “hygge” (pronounced hoo-gah) centers on creating warmth, coziness, and comfort. Bringing a bit of hygge to your workplace can add a sense of relaxation and positivity even in the darkest months.

Hygge-Inspired Ideas:

Comfy Seating Areas: Add soft seating with throw blankets in common areas to create a “living room” vibe where employees can relax.
Warm Beverages: Provide seasonal hot drinks like apple cider, spiced tea, and hot chocolate to keep team members warm and uplifted.
Soft Lighting: Replace harsh overhead lights with warm, ambient lamps in break rooms to create a calm and inviting atmosphere.

Quick Win: Host a “Hygge Day” where employees wear cozy clothes and enjoy hot drinks, sweet treats, and board games or group activities.

5. Prioritize Mental Health Resources

Winter’s shorter, darker days can often lead to lower mood or even seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Providing support and resources for mental health is essential to keeping morale and productivity up.

Mental Health Support Ideas:

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Remind employees of EAP services available, such as counseling or online mental health resources.
Mental Health Days: Allow employees a few additional mental health days to recharge, especially during the winter season.
Mindfulness Training: Offer workshops on stress management, meditation, and mindfulness techniques.

Quick Win: Add a “Wellness Wednesday” feature where employees can access virtual mental health resources, take part in a meditation session, or join a support group.

6. Lighten the Mood with Fun Winter Events

Events and social gatherings can break up the winter months and bring some much-needed joy to the workplace. A bit of fun goes a long way toward fostering a sense of community and well-being.

Winter Event Ideas:

Hot Cocoa Socials: Host a weekly hot cocoa or tea social where employees can relax and catch up with colleagues.
Winter Games: Hold fun competitions like snowflake-cutting contests, winter trivia, or even an indoor snowball fight using soft, plush snowballs.
Give Back to the Community: Organize a winter coat drive or partner with local charities to provide assistance to those in need, promoting a sense of purpose and connection.

Quick Win: Create a “Winter Wall of Kindness” where employees can post kind messages to lift each other’s spirits. It’s an easy way to spread positivity.

7. Stock Up on Nutrient-Dense Snacks

Winter brings cravings for comfort foods, but these choices often leave us feeling sluggish. Offering healthy snacks keeps energy levels up without the sugar crashes that traditional snacks bring.

Healthy Winter Snack Ideas:

Citrus Fruits: Oranges, grapefruits, and mandarins are loaded with immune-boosting Vitamin C.
Mixed Nuts: A great source of protein and healthy fats that keeps energy up and hunger at bay.
Vegetable Soups: Set up a soup bar or provide thermoses so employees can enjoy a warm, nutrient-rich soup on chilly days.

Quick Win: Offer a “healthy snack cart” that roams the office with options for everyone, including fruits, nuts, granola, and herbal teas.

8. Lead by Example – Show You’re Committed to Wellness

When leadership models wellness practices, employees are more likely to engage as well. Show your commitment to health and wellness by actively participating in the initiatives, setting an example, and normalizing self-care in the workplace.

Tips for Leaders:

Join Wellness Breaks: Show up for morning stretches, walking meetings, or group workouts.
Be Transparent About Health: Share tips or personal wellness goals to inspire the team.
Encourage PTO Use: Remind employees to take their PTO, even if it’s just a day off for themselves to recharge.

Quick Win: Share a personal winter wellness goal with the team, like drinking more water or taking a daily walk, and invite them to set goals too.

Building a Culture of Winter Wellness

Creating a winter wellness culture takes a bit of effort, but the rewards are well worth it. By prioritizing health and well-being in these colder months, you foster a resilient, motivated, and happier workplace.

From creating wellness kits to organizing social events, these small actions can add up, helping to keep spirits high and the winter blues at bay. And as a bonus, a healthy workforce means fewer sick days, higher productivity, and a stronger team overall.

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Tresha Moreland

Tresha Moreland is a 30-year organizational effectiveness and strategic workforce planning expert. She partners with business leaders to develop workplace strategies that achieve best-in-class results. She has held key organizational leadership roles in multiple industries such as manufacturing, distribution, retail, hospitality, and healthcare. Tresha is the founder and principal consultant of HR C-Suite, LLC (www.hrcsuite.com). HR C-Suite is a results-based HR strategy resource dedicated to connecting HR with business results. She has received a master’s degree in human resource management (MS) and a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). She has also earned a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Six Sigma Black Belt Professional (SSBBP) Certification. She is also recognized as a Fellow with the American College Healthcare Executives with a FACHE designation.