If you aren’t already making health and fitness a priority, now is the perfect time to start since May is Employee Health and Fitness Month.

We know it’s hard to find time for this with a funeral director’s often hectic, unpredictable schedule. But we’ve said it many times before and we’ll say it again: you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself. Self-care should be a top priority.

But you don’t have to do it alone. Your funeral home’s staff can lean on each other for support, and funeral home owners should encourage their staff to exercise regularly and eat healthy food.

Below are a few ways your staff can embrace Employee Health and Fitness Month and work together to stay healthy and fit.

Join a Group Exercise Class

Whether it’s cycling or yoga, find a group exercise class for your staff to join. Not only are you staying healthy, but it’s also a great team bonding activity outside of your funeral home. If it’s too hard to find an exercise class time that works for everyone, organize your own exercise activity! For example, one idea is to go on a hike together. You can even pack some healthy snacks to have a picnic together.

If you want to take it a step further, offer your staff a gym membership at your community’s local gym. This way, everyone can find their own time for exercise in their busy schedules and find something that fits their workout preferences.

Host a Fitness Event

Encourage your community members to stay healthy, too! Your funeral home can organize a community fitness event to get everyone on their feet and moving around. One idea is to partner with a local yoga instructor to host an outdoor yoga class. You can hold the event by your funeral home’s beautiful memorial garden or at your local park.

Provide Healthy Snack Options

Healthy eating and exercising go hand in hand. By offering healthy snack options, you can discourage your staff from turning to junk food and feeling tired or sluggish later on. By resisting a bag of chips and eating an apple instead, your staff will be energized for a busy day in the life of a funeral director! It’s as simple as putting some apples and bananas in a bowl for your staff members to enjoy.

Acknowledge Their Hard Work

Who doesn’t appreciate being acknowledged for their hard work? It solidifies that what they’re doing is working and making a difference. Let your staff know that they’re doing a great job with their self-care and that you’re proud of them.

Or if you feel that they could be doing more, have them fill out this self-care checklist in our free self-care eBook. It can help them identify what they’re currently doing for self-care and areas that may need improvement. Then if they meet their goals, treat them to something nice such as a spa gift card or a bouquet of their favorite flowers.

How else can your staff get active for Employee Health and Fitness Month? Share your suggestions with us in the comments!