1. Talk about performance, not health
Being healthy is a noble aim but not one that always leads men to immediate, positive lifestyle choices. Some guys might like to be considered healthy but many more would revel in the reputation of being successful, dynamic, energetic high achievers. So instead of talking about health, talk about performance and results.
Here’s an example. Grabbing a snack of fruit and nuts rather than a coffee or energy drink is definitely the healthier option, but what difference will it make right now? Probably not much in terms of health if you’re talking about a single drink or snack. In terms of performance, however, coffee and energy drinks can provide a quick burst of enthusiasm, but may be followed by a drop in mood and compromised performance. Reaching for the caffeine / sugary drinks may also disrupt choices made for the rest of the day, meaning that choosing the ‘easy option’ can compromise quality of performance over many hours. Opting for fruit and nuts will provide sustained energy, better mood, consistent focus and enhanced performance and results.
For more healthy eating at work suggestions, see:
http://the-tonic.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/healthy-eating-to-boost-mood-and...
2. Go big or go home
The high performance strategy of marginal gains designed by Sir Dave Brailsford and Team Sky Pro Cycling, captured the imagination of many, but a lot of men don’t want to have to worry about tweaking every tiny element of their routine. Most guys seek a more straightforward approach to health, something along the lines of ‘do this and you will get this’ strategy – but even then it can be hard to motivate them to take action, as the reward often isn’t substantial enough. Sure, they might get a bit fitter, stronger, faster and feel better but if they’re already getting by without making changes, where’s the incentive to change?
Making lasting changes demands big results, so don’t sweat the small details, focus on the bigger picture – what can they do in relation to their health to dramatically change their life, today and forever? A little bit of small group or individual attention with male employees can make a world of difference. It moves them away from thinking of healthy choices as a nice idea, and towards viewing them as a daily priority. Aim for big results with your wellbeing initiatives to get people fully engaged. As one recent participant in a group session we organised said: ‘This workshop was seriously mind changing.’
3. Make it competitive
Suggest that a man walk 10,000 steps a day and he’ll tell you he once did 50,000 in one day which means that he’s smashed your goal and it’s old news. Tell him about a friend who’s currently clocking up five miles walking a day, every day, and he’ll be keen to go one better to prove who does the walking around here!
It’s in the genes and we’ve seen men get competitive about drinking water, eating fruit, running, cycling and sleeping – who can get the most and who can survive on the least. When it comes to ideal wellbeing, more (or less) is not always better, but there are plenty of ways to tap into the competitive spirit to get men thinking and behaving differently.
4. Role modeling
It can be tough to motivate men to make lifestyle choices for their own benefit but if you set them up as a role model, leader, influencer and inspiration for their colleagues, family and friends, they’ll be throwing themselves into new habits quicker than you can say ‘Roger Federer’.
5. Remember, lunch is for wimps
Actually it’s not. Lunch is for people who want to feel focused all day, and manage their energy levels and weight effectively, but that doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. If you want to change the way men behave in relation to their health, you have to reframe some of the myths that have popped up and become part of the healthy living landscape over recent years. Encourage men to pause and consider whether thoughts like: ‘I’ll get all the sleep I need when I’m dead’ actually help them rest, recover and get the best out of their daily routine.
6. No pain, no gain
Another narrow view of men’s health is the type of activity that is seen as ‘manly’. Go harder, go faster, lift heavier. All will bring good health. But balance is key. Not everyone enjoys or benefits from the same approach to activity and sometimes, the best results lie in the most surprising of directions. Don’t be afraid to approach men with some new ideas. Initiatives such as mindfulness and meditation are poles apart from the old ‘no pain no gain’ heavy training approach but, if pitched correctly, can have an amazing impact on staff at all levels, just as we’ve proven with some of our mindfulness workshops: ‘It’s gratifying that a topic that can be derided as “touchy-feely” by some has been welcomed enthusiastically by these senior executives.’
7. Bring on the numbers
Men love stats, facts, trends and trivia so underpin your initiatives with statistical evidence so that they can a) measure their progress, and b) tell others all about it (see points 3 & 4 above). It’s imperative to provide men with some healthy KPIs they can track – weight, body composition, blood pressure, resting heart rate and lung function are popular examples – and the businesses we work with always appreciate this part of our approach: ‘The data-driven approach of The Tonic also gave it (the wellbeing programme) a very credible, scientific hard edge which prepared the group well to experience the benefits of healthy living.’
