Study finds healthy lifestyles prevent employee burnout

According to Business Wire, Harris Poll found that 93 percent of executives say employees with healthy lifestyles have less chance of burnout. Whether you’re supervising several hundred people, just a handful or even yourself, burnout is an issue that many workers face. To avoid this happening to your company, consider promoting these healthy choices at your business:

Eating well-balanced meals
When people eat healthy meals, they feel better physically and are more mentally focused and able to concentrate. Consider keeping a snack stash at your office that consists of nutrient-rich foods. Try these ideas:

• Granola bars are full of fiber and protein, which helps to sustain energy throughout the day. Look for ones with a low sugar count, as sugar can make a person experience an energy crash shortly after eating them.
• Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins that are good for the body. They also prevent diseases and cancer, making your workforce happy and healthy.
• Tea is a good alternative to coffee. It has less caffeine but is full of antioxidants that boost the immune system and can lessen the existence and effect of the office flu season.

Exercise
People who exercise are said to be happier because working out makes the brain send out dopamine and serotonin, which are linked with improved moods. Exercise can also help lessen the effects of depression and anxiety. Consider running a race with your employees or team to get everyone exercising, or hold a competition to see who can do the most pushups or log the most hours at the gym. If you have the means, consider adding extra perks to your employees’ salaries such as bonuses for non-smokers, placing a treadmill in the break room or allowing longer breaks so people can get outside and do some exercise. Happier employees are much less likely to be burned out and want to leave their job, according to the study.

Volunteer together
Individuals who volunteer experience a heightened sense of self-worth. According to Idealist, not only are they helping others, they are developing helpful skills, growing as people and even just socializing and gaining an interesting network of friends. Giving to others is also a way to de-stress and focus on someone else’s life and problems, which may instill gratitude and appreciation. Consider taking your staff to volunteer at a local soup kitchen, women’s shelter or even animal shelter to help those in need. You’ll get to know one another and be doing some helpful work for those who need it.

Encourage appreciation
When people don’t feel appreciated on the job, they will not be likely to want to do it. It’s important for superiors to acknowledge success and hard work with employee recognition. It’s also helpful for colleagues to do the same for one another. This promotes a healthy atmosphere in the office or business place, which can lead to better productivity and improved customer relationships. Saying thank you can be as simple as a verbal statement or a greeting card that the recipient can cherish.