Written by Dana Wisniewski, MS, Health Promotion Manager at AdvantageHealth Corporation
Employee wellness is crucial for maintaining a productive, engaged, and healthy workforce. One often overlooked yet essential aspect of health is hydration. Encouraging employees to stay hydrated throughout the workday can boost energy levels, improve concentration, and support overall wellbeing. Here are creative ideas for wellness managers to design effective hydration-focused programs at work.
1. Hydration Challenges and Competitions
Create friendly competitions to motivate employees to stay hydrated. For example:
Team Hydration Goals: Set daily or weekly team targets and track water intake collectively.
Leaderboards: Recognize individuals who consistently meet their hydration goals.
Prizes: Offer incentives such as reusable water bottles, wellness kits, or gift cards for participants.
2. Provide High-Quality Hydration Stations
Invest in accessible, appealing water stations throughout the workplace:
Infusion Stations: Offer infused water options with combinations like citrus-mint or cucumber-strawberry.
Filtered Water Dispensers: Ensure easy access to clean, fresh water.
Sparkling Water Taps: Include sparkling water options for employees who prefer fizzy drinks.
3. Educational Workshops and Campaigns
Help employees understand the importance of hydration through educational sessions:
Invite nutritionists or wellness experts to host talks about the health benefits of staying hydrated.
Share tips via email newsletters, posters, or intranet announcements.
Debunk common hydration myths to encourage better habits.
4. Gamify Hydration Tracking
Incorporate digital tools to track water intake in a fun, engaging way:
Use hydration tracking apps that employees can link to a company wellness platform.
Organize "Hydration Streak" challenges where employees earn points for consecutive days of meeting hydration targets.
5. Provide Reusable Water Bottles
Offer branded, high-quality reusable water bottles to employees:
Include bottles with motivational time markers to encourage regular sipping.
Consider options with built-in infusers or temperature control.
6. Healthy Hydration Snack Stations
Set up hydration-friendly snack areas stocked with water-rich foods such as:
Fresh fruits like watermelon, oranges, and cucumbers
Pre-cut vegetable packs
Coconut water and herbal teas
7. Incorporate Hydration Breaks
Encourage short hydration breaks as part of the work routine:
Schedule hydration reminders during long meetings.
Promote "water walk" breaks where employees stretch their legs and hydrate simultaneously.
8. Create a Hydration Ambassador Program
Identify wellness ambassadors within each department to promote hydration habits:
Ambassadors can share tips, host mini-challenges, and maintain enthusiasm for the program.
Recognize ambassadors for their contributions to employee wellbeing.
9. Highlight Success Stories
Share testimonials and success stories from employees who have seen positive changes due to improved hydration habits. Celebrate milestones and encourage others to join the initiative.
10. Blend Hydration with Other Wellness Activities
Pair hydration initiatives with other health-focused programs:
Combine with fitness challenges to emphasize hydration as part of recovery.
Offer yoga or mindfulness sessions with a focus on staying hydrated before and after exercises.
Email Kristine at kkeykal@advantagehealth.com to get started or call 612.823.4470 (select option “1”).
Let Kristine Keykal, M.P.H, co-founder of AdvantageHealth with over 25 years of experience, consult with you on your employee wellness program.
Since 2001, Minnesota-based AdvantageHealth has been delivering award-winning employee wellbeing programs and fitness center design & management throughout the U.S.