Getting Ready to Walk at Work

In today’s world, many of us spend big chunks of our work hours sitting at a desk or behind a computer. Over time, a lack of regular movement can cause a series of physical ailments from back and neck pain, to obesity and hypertension. Perhaps an even greater threat to productivity results from changed brain function. Efficient circulation and endorphins increase one’s sense of well-being and clarity. Even our grandparents knew that the best way to solve a problem when they were “stuck” was to take a long walk.

Many large companies have workplace wellness plans that offer fitness incentives because they know that healthy workers are productive workers. Unfortunately, these benefits are seldom affordable or available to small companies or self-employed workers – a group that makes up almost 80% of the urban workforce.

Fortunately, walking is affordable and accessible for almost everyone. So with a little encouragement from your employers, your entire staff can look and feel fitter in no time.

Getting the Boss On Board

Healthy Together wants to make your CEO and your HR Director a Hero!! Surveys show over and over that employees feel they have permission to make their health important when their leaders make it important. Here’s a way your company’s leaders can receive credit for supporting workplace wellness.

Ask them to come out and “WALK THE WALK” for Workplace Wellness (See our attached flyer.) CEO’s all over Tampa and Hillsborough County are invited to take the lead in six group walks through downtown Tampa every other week from January until May, 2009. These walks are publicized to the local media to show those companies that stand in solidarity with healthy workplace policies. Ask your CEO, HR Director or other key company executive to come take part, and then get your staff to support his or her participation. Then let the staff at Healthy Together know, and we’ll make sure their commitment is recognized. To help you recruit your leaders, show them a copy of the Workplace Wellness schedule and ask them to pick a date that works into their schedule. Then contact Healthy Together and we’ll help you from there.

Getting Your Co-Workers Motivated To Join You

Here are some ideas on how to recruit you colleagues into the “Do The LOCAL Motion” fitness program, but don’t think you have to do this all yourself. Talk to your human resources manager or a benefits director at your workplace who already knows that a healthy workforce is a more productive workforce. Studies show that a daily fitness regime results in less healthcare spending and boost attendance. Here’s some ideas you might explore:

Put up Posters with Dates & Times. Be the team captain. Get word out. You can download the promotional poster from this website that details the upcoming events. Put it up wherever employees gather, or email it to your colleagues. Encourage others to register so they can log their miles, receive their free pedometer, and win incentives and prizes. Make plans to come to our wellness workshops to get motivated and take control of your own health.

Create Competition.

There’s no doubt that creating departmental teams and recording mileage can really get people involved. But if you do this, be sure it’s encouraging everyone, not just the company athletes. Base team-total competitions not on miles walked but on points (see our point system for an example.) What’s even more fun is if you can find another downtown company you can challenge. Healthy Together will work with you to track average miles logged per person, and to create a “Winner’s Jackpot” that makes everyone get into the game.

Build it into your workday. In settings where a rigid schedule in the workplace is necessary, walking breaks can be easily scheduled. Bonus breaks specifically for walking can even be offered. The schedule may require so many minutes for lunch as well as morning and afternoon breaks, but you can also allow an additional 10 or 15 minutes for people who will specifically walk during that time. The lost minutes far outweigh the increased satisfaction, effectiveness, and health of the employees who choose to walk.

Give away some vacation time. How’d you like to earn a day of paid vacation for every 100 miles or 30 hours of walking you logged? At some enlightened workplaces you already can. They’ve realized that active employees are so much healthier and happier and they get lots more done – even with some extra time off. Time for you to sign up for the wellness committee at your office.

Encourage walking, mass transit and carpools. Work with management to create incentives to reduce the number of cars in downtown parking lots. See if your company will give employees a break on their health care premium if they walk to work, use public transportation, or carpool. Set up a system of connecting co-workers to other workers in their neighborhood so they can carpool together. Then encourage them to alternate days walking to one another’s house for a ride, rather than getting picked up. You can contact the Tampa Downtown Partnership to learn more about the incentives and “Ride to Work” programs that are available.

Offer parking cash-outs. Hard, cold cash in someone’s pocket can be a powerful motivator. Suggest to your employer that they give employees a cash incentive if they refrain from driving to work. In downtown Tampa, a parking space can cost $75+ a month. Even a small stipend can sweeten the pot.

What to Wear for Downtown Walking

Before we talk about shoes, let’s mention the rest of your clothing. Not everyone has the luxury of changing, or wants to change twice a day while at work. Fortunately, during the cooler half of the year, Florida has ideal walking weather, and you may find that you don’t get hot and sticky by simply walking. There are ways to dress for men and women that are particularly conducive to walking. Layered clothing and breathable fabrics are a big help. For the warmer parts of the year, when Florida’s humid weather can make you feel sticky, you may want to bring a change of clothing to work. In urban areas all across America, men and women regularly change shoes and even clothing for longer hikes to their cars or public transportation. The stroll to and from work can be a wonderful warm-up or decompression from a busy day. To make things easier for those “really sticky” days, all three downtown YMCA locations are kindly allowing participants in the Do The LOCAL Motion Program to use their showers without charge. While you’re at it, check out the Y – their friendly folks will help you with health assessments and are full of great fitness advice. For YMCA addresses and locations, click here.

Check out our information on “The Right Shoes”

Here’s 5 easy “steps” to fitting more walking into your week:

1. Make walking a family affair. Walk to dinner, a park or movie one night each week. You can even experiment with taking public transportation together.
2. Park at the far end of the parking lot or a couple blocks from your destination 
3. Quit waiting for elevators and take the stairs 
4. Find a walking buddy – join or start a walking group. 
5. Get a dog, or borrow a neighbor’s.

Of course, nothing substitutes for taking walks you plan, either at work or at home. You’ll find some great suggestions in “Making Time for Me!”

Walking Do’s & Don’t’s

Check out the information on “Walking Do’s & Don’t’s”

Tampa’s working on creating more bike-friendly roadways and paths. Check out the website: www.TampaBayCycle.com

The following information about Tampa’s downtown is provided to you by the Tampa Downtown Partnership. Click here

Check out the information on “Healthy Urban Environments”