Week 3 Activities

Week Three – Being Positive About Life/Work Harmony

All work and no play makes for an unhealthy life, so get geared up for fun this week! The activities list is limited only by your imagination. Choose from group activities that can be managed at an organizational-level and those that can be enjoyed individually or with a few others. Whatever activity you partake in, remember to focus on the concepts of a healthy mind, healthy body, and healthy work.

When choosing from Activities, see Related Resources for helpful information.

GROUP ACTIVITIES

HEALTHY MIND:

Clearly define roles and boundaries – You can decide how to strategically apply your resources by knowing the demands and boundaries of important roles in your life. This will increase your ability to be more effective at monitoring when one area of your life may need more or less of your attention.
Related Resources:
Having it all: Work-Family Harmony

Prioritize how you spend your resources – Your priorities are always changing. Sometimes you may need to prioritize personal and family needs. Other times, work may take a front seat.

Eldercare Initiatives – This may range from referral programs, eldercare assessment, case management, a list of local organizations or businesses that can help with information or products, or seminars and support groups.

"No Work At Home" Week – For those who often take work home at night, make this the week you don’t. Use the time to hang out with family or friends instead.
Related Resources:
Balancing work and home

On-site Seminars and Workshops – Provide on-site seminars and workshops to employees on such topics as stress, nutrition, smoking, communication etc.

No PDAs Allowed – One night, turn all PDAs and cell phones off from 6pm until the next morning. Feel the stress release!

HEALTHY BODY:

Russ Kisby Walk/Activity – Russ Kisby had a simple message: Be Active. As the founding President of ParticipACTION, he led by example in urging Canadians to get active. Be it with friends, family or co-workers, a combination of all or solo; take a brisk walk or a long hike, a walk around the block or a stroll in the park.
Learn more about the Russ Kisby Fitwalk.
Related Resources:
Active living at work
Stairway to health

Friendly Challenge with Family Members and Co-workers – Round up a few teams that consist of family members and co-workers and try any of the following games/tournaments for a friendly challenge!

Golf Tournament – Use a Texas Scramble format in which each member of a 4-person team can participate. Give out prizes afterwards to all the teams. For non-golfers, try mini-putt games. Did we mention this should be INDOORS? Set up the course around the office/warehouse/workplace.

Touch/Flag Football Game – For the energetic crowd, a game is always great exercise, good competition and definitely fun.

Doubles Tennis Round Robin Event – Make the teams even with rankings (Google "NTRP Playing Levels") and then let the Company Amateur Open begin at the local community tennis club!

Table Tennis Tournament – Community centres often have a table or two you can use for an afternoon or during a few lunch hours. Check with your local Parks and Recreation department to find where.

Ultimate Frisbee Games – This increasingly popular sport can be fun for everyone. Download the rules from the Internet or find a local expert. It’s a great physical activity, and especially great at lunchtime or right after work.

Curling – Hurry! Hurry Hard! Find your local club and play a few ends. Throwing rocks grown up style is sweeping the nation!

Broomball – This game can sweep you off your feet. It's a team sport that can be done on ice or in a gym. Protective equipment is a must in order to stay safe and on the ball in this game.

Bowling – Hit the lanes en masse or on your own. Strike up a conversation with your clients or colleagues, while pinning the focus on fun.

Billiards Challenge – Sharpen those hand-eye coordination skills and find out who the pool sharks are. Compete in duos, teams or individually, and shoot for an afternoon of fun and socializing.

Get regular with your activity – Commit to an activity that has you active weekly. Join a league and enjoy!

Improve Sleeping Habits – Offer a program or provide information on the importance of getting enough sleep every night, and what they can do to improve their sleep habits.
Related Resources:
Fatigue

HEALTHY WORK:

Offer a Work/Life Balance Support Program – Where can your workplace efforts be the most effective? From childcare to bike racks to flexible work arrangements, there are many ways in which you can offer support to your employees. Ask them what efforts would be the most used and effective.
Related Resources:
Work/life balance

Flex Hours Week – Let employees try out a schedule that works better for them this week.
Related Resources:
Extended workday: health and safety issues

Hold a Time Management Course – Bring in an expert or have your departments share their own successful strategies at a brainstorming session.

Family Leave Policies - Implement a leave policies where the employee is provided paid or unpaid time off work to care for a child or make arrangements for the child's welfare. Often, the term parental leave includes maternity, paternity, family and adoption leave

On-site Seminars and Workshops - Provide on-site seminars and workshops to employees on such topics as stress, nutrition, smoking, communication etc.

No PDAs Allowed - One night, turn all PDAs and cell phones off from 6pm until the next morning. Feel the stress release!

Allotted Vacation Time - Taking all of your allotted vacation time allows you to come back to work refreshed and more productive

Provide On-Site Childcare - Juggling a family and job is made easier when a business provides on-site childcare. It gives parents the opportunity to visit their children during breaks and lunch hours.

Arrange Emergency Childcare Assistance - This could be made available if the employees' normal childcare arrangements fail without warning. (Example: Babysitter/nanny becomes ill, or their child is too sick to attend daycare/nursery or school.

Seasonal Childcare Programs - (such as summer break or Christmas) - Breaks during the year often have working parents scrambling for seasonal childcare. Providing seasonal childcare programs can help employees stay positive throughout the year by reducing their childcare stress.

Eldercare Initiatives - This may range from referral programs, eldercare assessment, case management, a list of local organizations or businesses that can help with information or products, or seminars and support groups.

Develop a "Healthy Workplace" Policy - A policy that promotes the well-being of employees ensures that Healthy Workplace Month lasts all year! See www.nqi.ca for details on Healthy Workplace.

INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES

HEALTHY MIND:

Buffer between Work and Home – To help transition your mind, once you are finished work, take a brief walk, do a crossword puzzle, or listen to some music before beginning the evening’s routine.

Learn to Shut Off the Inner Voice – Unhappiness is learned, therefore, you can unlearn it! Focusing on the positive things in life will make you feel better. Write a list of things/moments that make you happy and review those things when you feel unhappy.

5 Minute Assessments of Accomplishments – Ask yourself “what felt meaningful” to you today? Counting on opportunities that add meaning to your life will make you feel happier.

Change your Approach – Try starting an activity that you despise doing (Example: photocopying) with a positive attitude instead of a negative one. You might just stop dreading the activity in the future.

Embrace Challenges – Take on new challenges, even tough ones! You will see how great you feel once you overcome them…and remember – resilience grows when you have gone through tough times.

HEALTHY BODY:

Russ Kisby Walk/Activity – Russ Kisby had a simple message: Be Active. As the founding President of ParticipACTION, he led by example in urging Canadians to get active. Be it with friends, family or co-workers, a combination of all or solo; take a brisk walk or a long hike, a walk around the block or a stroll in the park. Learn more about the Russ Kisby Fitwalk.
Related Resources:
Active living at work
Stairway to health

Try Something New! – Get out and try a new activity that you don’t normally do. It’s easy to try some of these as the opportunities abound!

Golf – Since a lot of people really enjoy a walk around a course, you’ll find lots of company for this activity! For non-golfers, try mini-putt games.