7 workplace wellness apps to improve employee wellbeing
Many companies interested in improving profitability and employee retention are focusing on workplace wellness. Why? Because improved health and wellness leads to increased productivity, better employee focus, and company health care savings.
Regardless of whether your company has an official wellness program, you can still encourage healthier habits during the workday. And for today’s mobile culture, apps – from fitness to meditation and sleep tracking – are a natural tool for getting there.
But with more than 350,000 mobile health apps on the market, how do you know which apps are the best fit to increase employee wellbeing and wellness program participation?
7 apps for better workplace wellness
We’ve identified seven wellness apps that can help encourage employee wellness throughout the workday.
1. Burnalong
Whether your workforce is centralized or distributed, in-office or remote, it’s important to provide a holistic approach to supporting team members. Working with multiple credentialed providers, Burnalong combines several aspects of wellness into one app, offering digital classes and local programs on physical fitness, emotional support, mental health, financial literacy, and medical wellbeing. From team building fitness challenges to support for those with chronic conditions, Burnalong provides both social structure and individual resources.
2. Strava
Studies have shown the typical employee sits for 15 hours a day on average. That includes time in front of the computer at work as well as time on the couch watching TV at home. Most of us know we should be more active and avoid a sedentary lifestyle, but haven’t found the right way to stay motivated. Strava is meant to help motivate by tracking your workout performance, and showing how to reach your goals. It also helps you connect with the community, for additional motivation, sharing pictures, routines, trails, and routes. And for an extra layer of security, you can also share your location with others.
3. Headspace
Research shows that meditation can help reduce anxiety and improve concentration, among other benefits. It’s never been more important to address anxiety and stressors. According to their website, Headspace users reduce stress by 32% after a month and experience 14% less burnout in just two weeks. This wellness app offers hundreds of guided meditations on everything from anxiety to focus, whether you’re in the office or working from home. It’s a great way to benefit the mental well-being of your hybrid team.
4. MyFitnessPal
This one’s an oldie but still a goodie. MyFitnessPal continues to be ranked one of the best fitness apps. It features a free and easy-to-use calorie counter that lets users quickly track their meals, snacks, and coffee (or other drinks) intake throughout the day using a database that holds more than 5 million different types of foods. Being able to easily track what you eat throughout the day can help you better balance calorie intake and reach your weight loss goals.
5. Elevate
Wellness doesn’t just mean going to the gym and watching what you eat. The brain needs exercise, too. And although we certainly hope you’re using your brain during the workday, there are probably still certain skillsets you’d like to improve. Elevate is a “cognitive training app” offering 35-plus activities to help improve pronunciation, name recall, comprehension, precision, focus, and more. This personalized brain training happens in a game-like format to make exercising your brain fun.
6. Power Nap App
Most of us don’t get the 7-8 hours of sleep we’re supposed to each night, and insomnia rates are on the rise. Since your employees are working from their home offices, it’s never been a better time for them to catch up on sleep during a work break. Encourage employees to take power naps, and you’ll likely see a boost in energy, productivity, and creativity. The Power Nap App lets users set a timer for up to 30 minutes, provides relaxing sounds to fall asleep to (rain, beach, etc.) and has various alarm sounds that are actually pleasant to wake up to (piano, birds, etc.). Support the power of the power nap with the use of this user-friendly app to give employees mental rejuvenation so they feel fresh and alert throughout their workday.
7. Eptura Employee Experience App
The most likely outcome of widespread digital transformation is a hybrid workforce. And the biggest challenge of a hybrid workforce is coming together — getting ample opportunity to help each other learn and grow, coordinate on projects, get creative with solutions, and build a true sense of community with their peers.
Eptura’s employee experience mobile app helps you unleash the full potential of your workforce with a human-centered approach. Cater to people’s needs when they return to the office — including making it easier to find information, locate spaces, check their meeting schedule, and create or update reservations, welcome visitors, and request service or catering. Watch as your workplace becomes more efficient, employees become more engaged, and the business becomes more successful.
Why should businesses prioritize employee health and wellness initiatives?
Holistic employee wellness programs are a key factor in attracting, retaining, and motivating staff. When the workforce has the tools they need to manage stress and stay healthy, they are more likely to be engaged and maintain higher levels of productivity. This can also lead to decreased absenteeism and lower company healthcare premiums.
Better workplace wellness is just an app away
Every one of us makes health and wellness choices everywhere we go, and the workplace is no exception. By pairing work wellness programs with the right wellness apps, you can increase participation in your program while leading your workforce to better health. And healthier employees lead to a healthier bottom line.
By Jonathan Davis
Jonathan writes about asset management, maintenance software, and SaaS solutions in his role as a digital content creator at Eptura. He covers trends across industries, including fleet, manufacturing, healthcare, and hospitality, with a focus on delivering thought leadership with actionable insights. Earlier in his career, he wrote textbooks, edited NPC dialogue for video games, and taught English as a foreign language. He hold a master's degree in journalism.
