Many studies have shown that healthy employees are more likely to be happier and more productive, as well as more engaged and motivated with their jobs. But how can business owners promote healthy habits in the workplace?

If the company can afford it, it is good to offer gym memberships or other wellness programs to employees as perks. Many gyms offer corporate packages at reasonable prices. Another alternative is bringing an instructor twice a week for a group class in the company premises. It is also a good option to bring in a nutrition and health coach to teach employees how to add healthy habits to their life.

But often small companies cannot afford these kind of perks and supplemental benefits. Anyway, there are other more affordable things companies can do to promote healthy habits and improve health in the workplace.

For instance, in terms of healthy eating habits, companies could become members of a wholesale club and get fresh fruit weekly so employees can have healthy treats available. Or they could even make group lunch once or twice a month, where someone in the office cooks a healthy dish for everybody.

In terms of healthy activity habits companies should organize weekly after work group exercising activities such as running or soccer matches. Companies could also bring in a yoga instructor (or maybe someone inside the company could do it) to teach employees the basics of yoga and meditation so they can practice it home. This kind of exercise helps reduce stress and improves sleep quality.

Another innovative thing companies can do are walking meetings. Instead of meeting inside a meeting room, teams could meet walking outdoors. It is scientifically shown that walking at a fast pace daily for 45 minutes improves health and life expectancy.

Another way of improving health is allowing employees to have breaks from sitting. Companies can invest in stability balls so employees can do core-strength exercises during breaks or even invest in standing desks so they can work standing up for whiles. It is also important to allow employees to have mental breaks. These breaks allow employees to unwind for a while and to be able to concentrate on their next task more efficiently and for a longer time.

It is also interesting to promote preventive care among your employees so they can prevent possible future illnesses. Therefore, among other things, companies could encourage their employees to get flu shots and other kind of vaccines and, if the company can afford it, offering them in the office.