Could You Walk 10 Million Steps in One Year?
Nebraska doesn’t have anything over on Virginia. If they can do it, you can do it.
In an article featured on www.JournalStar.com an employee with the Nebraska prison system walked more than 10 million steps over a one-year period as part of the state’s wellness program. He was one of 4,300 state employees who exceeded their program’s walking goal of 600,000 steps in one year. The total number of steps logged by all participants in the Nebraska program equates to over 2 million miles, or roughly 82 times around the Earth’s circumference.
Walking is a great way for employees of any company to stay healthy and have fun doing it as well. Implementing an employee walking program is relatively easy. Most employees have daily breaks and lunchtime that they can walk. By creating an environment of health, employees are much likely to engage in healthy behavior. And, who doesn’t like a challenge? Simple rewards can be implemented to encourage employees to participate.
For many employees, sitting all day long at a desk can lead to health concerns. By incorporating daily working into your schedule will help get the heart pumping, lower cholesterol and build camaraderie. In the Nebraska case, the state’s chief medical examiner commented that “sitting is the new smoking” when it comes to personal health.
Every year the American Heart Association recognizes employers who go above and beyond when it comes to their employees’ health through implementing physical activity practices such as walking routes, programs, newsletters, tracking tools, and sneaker days. Sentara Healthcare, Optima Health’s parent company, received the American Heart Association’s 2012 Platinum Fit Friendly Company for creating a culture of physical activity in the workplace.
Want to learn how to start your own employee walking program? Check out the Walker Tracker.
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