Revitalise Your Workplace This Summer: Encourage Healthy Habits

A practical guide for employers on building workplace health and wellbeing initiatives this summer — from physical activity and digital GP access to healthy snacks, hydration and social connection.

Summer has arrived, the days are longer, the sun is shining, and it’s the perfect opportunity to support your employees in embracing healthier habits. Encouraging changes in diet, exercise routines, and access to healthcare not only enhances workplace wellbeing but also boosts workplace productivity and reduces sick days.

Here’s how simple steps, combined with convenient access to GP appointments, can improve your employees’ health, happiness, and output:

Promote physical activity

Did you know that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 men in England are classified as inactive? Many employees spend long hours at their desks, but you can help change this and cultivate healthier routines.

  • Encourage active commutes: Promote walk-to-work or cycle schemes, giving employees an energetic start to their day.
  • Introduce movement breaks: Suggest employees visit colleagues to ask questions instead of sending emails. Simple adjustments like moving the printer to the furthest corner of the office can also promote activity through ongoing, small changes.
  • Lunchtime fitness clubs: Start staff-led activities like walking, yoga, or running groups. Building these habits during the summer can increase the likelihood of them continuing into the colder months through consistent habit formation.

Make GP appointments accessible

Timely healthcare is crucial for maintaining productivity, supporting occupational wellness, and ensuring minor issues don’t become major problems. Offering easy access to evidence-based digital GP appointments can make a huge difference:

  • 24/7 access: Employees can book an appointment any time, reducing time spent waiting for traditional GP slots.
  • Convenience: Virtual consultations mean employees can speak to a GP from home, the office, or even on the go.
  • Prescriptions delivered: Help your team avoid unnecessary trips to the pharmacy with prescriptions sent directly to their door or their local pharmacy.

By ensuring quick, accessible healthcare, you can reduce employee absences and foster a healthier workforce and workplace environment.

Stock up on healthy snacks

Hunger can lead to low productivity—but often, it's boredom or habit that triggers cravings. Providing healthy snack options can curb the afternoon slump while keeping energy levels high, empowering employees to stay productive.

Offer nutritious, low-calorie, high-fibre options such as:

    • Popcorn
    • Rice cakes
    • Dried or fresh fruit and vegetables

Healthy snacks will help your workforce stay energised and productive throughout the day.

Encourage hydration

When employees feel sluggish, their first instinct might be to grab a caffeinated drink. While coffee and tea are fine in moderation, excessive caffeine can lead to insomnia, restlessness, and an increased heart rate.

Promote water as the go-to drink with these practical steps:

  • Provide reusable water bottles to help employees track their intake.
  • Set up water stations to make hydration easy and accessible.

Staying hydrated keeps employees focused, alert, and healthier overall, unlocking real health benefits.

Organise social activities

Strong social connections at work can improve mental health and reduce stress. Whether it’s virtual coffee mornings for remote workers or Friday night drinks for in-office staff, fostering inclusive team camaraderie pays off.

Consider planning team-building activities, to boost team participation, like:

  • Lunchtime fitness sessions.
  • Friendly competitions such as step challenges.
  • Larger team events, such as charity runs or team sports.

Healthy relationships at work lead to a collaborative and motivated workforce that engages everyone.

Healthy habits that stick

By promoting healthier choices, through workplace health and wellbeing initiatives and programmes, you can help employees develop sustainable, achievable habits that support both their personal wellbeing and your organisation's success.

Top Tips to Remember

  • Break up the day: Encourage employees to step away from their desks regularly to reinforce healthy routines.
  • Move more: Walking, running, cycling, or even delivering messages in person all count.
  • Provide healthy snacks: Swap sugary options for nutritious alternatives.
  • Prioritise hydration: Advocate for water as the drink of choice, aiming for 2 litres daily.
  • Socialise and connect: Create opportunities for teamwork and interaction.
  • Make healthcare accessible: Promote digital GP appointments for timely and convenient care.

Doctor Care Anywhere: Here to Help

If an employee could benefit from extra support, our clinicians are available 24/7 to provide guidance, advice, and tailored healthcare, helping establish long-term healthy habits,. With access to digital GP appointments, prescriptions, and wellbeing tools, we’re here to help your workforce embrace healthier, more productive lifestyles this summer, supporting employee wellbeing.

Frequently asked questions

Here are direct answers to the most frequently asked questions about supporting workplace health and wellbeing initiatives this summer.

 

Woman with curly hair smiling with hands clasped over her heart, feeling grateful and at peace

Small, consistent steps make the biggest difference — encouraging active commutes, offering healthy snacks, promoting hydration and organising social activities all support broader workplace wellbeing initiatives without requiring a big budget.

Digital GP appointments give employees 24/7 access to a doctor by video or phone, cutting out travel and waiting room time. This kind of health promotion helps catch minor issues early, before they affect attendance or performance.

Better diet, movement and sleep all support concentration and energy levels, while reducing sick days. Building these habits also strengthens employee engagement and a more positive workplace culture over time.

 

Habits started in the summer are more likely to stick if they're built into everyday routines rather than treated as a one-off push. Consistency, manager support and sustained change — not just a single wellness week — are what make healthy habits last beyond the summer.

It provides structured clinical plans, clearer recovery timelines, stronger HR policies, and workforce health reporting. This reduces uncertainty and improves absence management consistency.

Speak to our team

Discover how DCA can help improve whole-of-workforce access to healthcare and support employee wellbeing.