With so many hours spent at work, finding time for wellness can be tricky—especially with schedules that could be all over the place, from 9 to 5, midnight to 8:00 AM, 12-hour shifts, or split shifts. No matter the schedule, one challenge persists: helping more employees take advantage of fitness benefits. Since “lack of time” is the top reason employees skip exercise, discover how to make wellness feel achievable, even on the busiest schedules.
When Time is the Biggest Hurdle to Wellness
Only 28% of adults get the recommended amount of exercise, combining moderate aerobic exercise and strength training — and this number drops even further with age. This sedentary lifestyle can lead to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues. For employers, it can also mean decreased productivity and higher healthcare costs.
A recent Aaptiv survey of 200 HR leaders found that time constraints are the most significant barrier to employees participating in wellness programs. Other studies confirm that lack of time is a major obstacle to regular exercise, including a UnitedHealthcare survey that found 63% of employees aren’t willing to dedicate even an hour a day to their health and wellness.
The good news? HR leaders can help tackle this roadblock. By addressing the time challenge, HR can help create a culture of well-being and help build a workplace where health fits into every schedule.
Time Crunch: Making Fitness Work for Shift Workers
Workers on 12-hour or split shifts face unique challenges when it comes to fitting in exercise. Long shifts, common in healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation, can leave employees feeling physically and mentally drained. Irregular sleep patterns and limited time to rest and recharge between workdays make it hard to prioritize fitness. On top of that, traditional gym hours often don’t align with their schedules, adding another hurdle to staying active.
Split shifts, common in food service, hospitality, and customer service industries, can throw daily routines and energy levels out of balance. The fragmented workday makes it hard to stick to a consistent workout routine or carve out time for exercise. And while the long breaks between shifts might seem like an opportunity for physical activity, they’re often not ideal, especially when employees need to return to their next shift quickly.
For both groups, offering accessible and flexible fitness options can help overcome these time and energy constraints.
On-Demand Fitness for All Shifts
On-demand fitness solutions like Aaptiv offer unparalleled flexibility to meet the needs of today’s diverse work schedules. With AI-powered workouts tailored to individual preferences, employees can fit exercise into their day —anytime, anywhere. This accessibility is especially valuable for shift workers, who may not have the time or energy for traditional gym visits.
Overcoming the time barrier isn’t about adding more to employees’ plates but about offering flexible solutions that fit even the busiest schedules. With tools like on-demand fitness apps and customizable workouts, HR can help make wellness a natural part of every employee’s routine, no matter when or where they work.
Aaptiv: A Fitness and Wellness Solution for Every Employee
Aaptiv’s all-in-one, affordable solution offers seamless administration, tracks employee engagement, and delivers personalized programs tailored to every fitness level. With an extensive selection of over 10,000 on-demand classes spanning 16 fitness and wellness categories, plus access to a network of over 20,000 national and local gyms, employees get exactly what they want and need to improve their health and well-being.
Learn more about Aaptiv employee fitness and wellness solutions.
