Humans Operate Differently In Summer, But Does Your Workplace? 5 Summer Employee Wellbeing Initiatives That Harness The Natural Benefits Of Summer

Is your workplace ignoring the most powerful employee wellbeing tool available right now?

While summer transforms everything outside your office windows, most businesses continue operating on the same rigid schedules, disregarding our natural rhythms as human beings.

You may be missing a key opportunity to harness the remarkable energy boosters that summer naturally provides—the very elements expensive employee wellbeing programs try to replicate artificially.

Nothing in nature maintains the same pace, rhythm and schedule throughout the year.

Just as nature awakens from winter dormancy into vibrant summer abundance, your team's potential for creativity, collaboration and productivity follows similar seasonal rhythms. Just look how once lifeless twigs turn into beautiful vibrant blooms.

As part of nature, we too can come to life this time of year.

Smart businesses are now strategically harnessing these natural cycles, yielding measurable productivity gains and wellness benefits.

In this blog, we share how you can gain these benefits too with 5 creative wellbeing ideas.

And the best thing is that all these employee wellbeing activities for summer are low cost and will deliver productivity boosts in ways your rivals haven't even considered.

So how can we boost employees’ wellbeing this summer?

Below I have outlined 5 fun, low-cost but often overlooked ways you can boost the energy and productivity of your staff this summer with new corporate wellness initiatives.

5 summer employee wellbeing initiatives for healthy, high energy teams

#1. Make Space For the New

At the beginning of summer, many people feel an urge for a seasonal refresh at home, similar to a Spring clean. This clear-out symbolises the transition from the dormant winter period to the vibrant growth of summer.

It is thought that by purging our spaces of accumulated debris and organising contents, individuals create a sense of mental clarity and freshness, making space for what’s to come.

Just as the trees shed their leaves ready for new shoots to grow, so too must we shed what we no longer need, in order to meaningfully progress.

Why not use these principles to create space in your office? Use this time of year to sort through all those piles of paper, boxes, or hardware that may have been mounting up.

Creating an uncluttered workspace makes room for clearer thinking and new ideas.

Ways to Refresh Your Organisation:

• Operation: Office Refresh Make it into a collaborative effort and allocate an afternoon for an office-wide clear-out. Encourage team members to muck in and use their renewed energy to create a tidier, clearer workspace. You could even hire a skip and provide some healthy but enticing workplace treats to get everyone motivated and working together.

  
  

• Digital Tidy-up This refresh can also extend beyond your physical surroundings. Why not take a moment to breathe new life into your digital environment too? Imagine opening your laptop to find an inbox where every message has its proper place. Picture navigating through shared folders where documents aren't hiding—they're showcased in an intuitive system that makes finding information efficient and maybe even a little bit enjoyable!

  
  

• Cull the Calendar Clutter Since it’s all about making space and clarity for the months ahead, you could also look at reviewing and ‘tidying up’ diaries.

  For example, re-look at recurring meetings with fresh eyes and take an outsider’s approach as to whether they are still necessary in terms of frequency, attendees, and format. It might be time to move that weekly cross-team meeting to fortnightly or politely decline attendance at a meeting where you feel you aren't adding much value.

  
  

• Shedding Old Processes Are there any processes that are no longer working or ways of doing things that can be streamlined, made more efficient, or scrapped altogether?

  By taking the time now to do this, you should find you have created more space and lightness to welcome fresh projects and ways of working this summer.

  
  

• A Fresh Start For Summer Why not reward your team with a new desk plant to welcome in the new season?

  This could also work well for employees working from home – giving them an afternoon to have a home office tidy and sending an easy-care, air-purifying plant bundle to show your appreciation & bring summer indoors.

Ready to transform your workplace into a summer-optimised environment where teams naturally thrive? Understanding how to truly harness this seasonal energy shift is key.

If you're looking for expert support to maximise your team's vitality, our popular 'Unstoppable You: Boost Employees' Energy Webinar' offers practical tools and insights.

#2. The Sunshine Advantage: Encourage Employees to Get Outside & Elevate Their Workday Wellness

I feel the sun acts as our natural battery charger with studies supporting this, showing sunlight stimulates parts of the brain associated with alertness and cognitive function.

So, let’s make the most of the beautiful sunshine we have all been waiting for.

Sun exposure offers an abundance of benefits to our teams and business including:

• Increased vitamin D (which so many of us are deficient in after Winter) – meaning more energy and potentially reduced susceptibility to colds = fewer sick days.

• Happier mood thanks to the release of serotonin = increase team collaboration & positive work culture

• Anti-inflammatory effects – potentially beneficial for many modern conditions, from low mood to IBS = decreased presenteeism

• Release of endorphins which act as natural pain relievers and mood enhancers, helping to reduce stress and anxiety = reduced risk of burnout

  
  

For your business goals, this can result in fewer sick days, a more attractive culture, as well as increased motivation and vitality whilst employees are at work.

So how can we increase the amount of sun exposure and outdoor time colleagues have?

Most office workers spend over 90% of their day under artificial lighting, missing out on vital vitamin D and natural light that regulates our sleep and mood.

Here are some practical ways to get your team outdoors this summer:

• Meetings on the Move: Swap Your Chair for Fresh Air  Ditch the meeting room and take discussions on the move. Walking meetings boost creativity and provide gentle exercise while solving problems.

  
  

  Try mapping a 15-minute route around your office building for one-to-one meetings, or head to a nearby park for team brainstorming sessions. Bonus tip: have a designated note-taker use voice memos so everyone can stay present during the walk.

  
  
  
  
  
  

• The Great Outdoors, Office Edition: Creating Natural Workspaces 

  Transform an unused corner of your property into a simple, enticing outdoor workspace with attractive outdoor furniture, good Wi-Fi, and natural elements.

  
  

  Even small touches like potted plants, a bird feeder, and wind chimes can create a calming atmosphere to work in during parts of the day.

  
  
  
  

• Picnics With Purpose: Meetings That Don't Feel Like Work 

  Why sit in a stuffy conference room when you could be outside? Grab some blankets, healthy snacks, and take that weekly status meeting to the grass.

Teams often stay more focused when combining business with pleasant surroundings – and those quarterly reviews can feel much less intense when everyone's sitting cross-legged!

• Freedom From the Desk: Making Outdoor Lunches the New Normal 

  Make "al fresco" lunches the norm, not the exception. Create a simple outdoor eating area and gently discourage desk lunches when weather permits.

  
  

  Even 20 minutes outside refreshes the mind for afternoon tasks and offers the best chance of absorbing those rays when the sun is at its peak. Try designating specific outdoor lunch days such as “Al Fresco Fridays” to build the habit across teams.

  
  
  
  

• Be the Change: Why Leaders Must Step Into the Sunshine First

  If you're grabbing lunch at your desk while sending emails about “Al Fresco Fridays”, your message won't stick.

  
  

  Take that break outside yourself, invite colleagues along, or simply share a quick photo of the ducks you spotted in the nearby park! Small, visible actions from managers normalise outdoor time for everyone else.

These simple changes can boost mood, energy, and productivity – no major policy overhauls required!

#3. Sync Your Employees’ Schedule with Summer's Energy

As the hours of sunlight increase in the summer, our internal circadian rhythms shift with this change. This can mean we may wake earlier or go to sleep a little later and studies have shown that our sleep need is actually less in summer.

Summer can see a boost in energy levels, particular early on in the day, perhaps due to higher cortisol levels in the summer months.

So, why not utilise this shift in energy with increased flexibility when it comes to when employees can work? This not only gives your team more opportunities to embrace what summer offers but also more choice to work at times when they feel most productive.

Strategic seasonal flexibility isn't just generous—it's a productivity investment with measurable returns.

Here are some summer work schedule ideas:

• Early Start Options 

  You could trial allowing team members to begin at 7 am and finish by 3 pm, for example, maximising exposure to morning light & potentially aligning with peak cortisol levels. Early finishes enable outdoor exercise during daylight hours, with research showing afternoon physical activity can improve sleep quality and duration.

• Extended Lunch Breaks 

  Why not extend everyone’s allocated lunch break by 30 minutes in the summer, allowing them extra time to soak up the sun or take part in some activity?

  
  

  Studies have shown that taking longer breaks away from your desk can lead to improved focus upon return and reduced afternoon slumps common in traditional schedules.

• Weather-Responsive Policies 

  Eliminate the FOMO and accompanying stress associated with being trapped indoors during those super hot sunny days with weather-flexible policies.

  
  

  An example could be creating a "sunshine alert" system allowing teams to leave work 1 hour early when the weather is exceptional (e.g. peaks above 30C)!

  
  

• Bank the Hours for Winter’s Hibernation 

  Acknowledge winter's lower energy and natural desire for rest by allowing employees to 'bank' extra hours worked during the vibrant, high-energy summer months.

  
  

  This banked time can then provide valuable flexibility for shorter days or adaptive schedules when staff need it most in winter, aligning work patterns with seasonal rhythms.

#4. Summer Nutrition at Work: Nourish Your Team To Success with Powerful Seasonal Food

Summer truly offers a feast that enlivens and nourishes our bodies It's the time of year when so many brightly coloured, vibrant foods are in abundance across the UK, each one bursting with a unique synergy of nutrients, phytochemicals, and wellbeing benefits.

Why not harness this seasonal goodness and share the delicious produce & medicine of summer with your team at work?

Here are some workplace nutrition ideas to nourish your employees this summer:

• Rainbow Breakfast Buffets 

  To kickstart the week, lay out a vibrant spread showcasing a beautiful array of British summer berries – think local blueberries, raspberries & strawberries. Include lesser-known gems when available too, such as loganberries and tayberries; these berries are packed full of polyphenols, known to give the brain a welcome boost.

  
  

  Be sure to include lots of quality protein options such as Greek yoghurt and walnuts or flax seeds for a steady release of energy throughout the morning.

  
  

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• Corporate Nutrition Workshops For Summer

  Treat your teams to an in-person, or online corporate nutrition workshop by a professional nutritionist so they can get inspired to know what to eat this summer for optimal health.

  
  

  Here at The Nutrition Advantage we offer highly engaging webinars and workshops with a strong action-orientated approach with the aim of helping employees embed new healthy habits that actually stick.

  

  
  

• Swap Biscuits for Fruit Platters

  For team meetings, consider swapping the usual biscuits or cake for refreshing colourful fruit platters.

  
  

  Nothing quite beats the taste of a perfectly ripe British strawberry in season, offering a Vitamin C hit which is essential for absorbing iron, helping with sustained energy throughout the workday.

  
  
  
  

• Give Your Office Fruit Bowl a Summer Glow-up

  Keep a well-stocked fruit bowl in prominent locations (kitchen, breakout areas). Crucially, focus on seasonal items – swap autumn apples and flown-in bananas for early British strawberries, then later local cherries, raspberries, plums, etc., as they come into season.

  
  

  This is a great chance to start building relationships with local producers.

  

  
  

• Introduce a 'Vegetable of the Week'

  Use your internal communications channels to share interesting health benefits and a couple of easy ways to prepare the vegetable of the week. For instance, did you know that tomatoes, a summer staple, contain lycopene, an antioxidant which research suggests may help protect the skin against sun damage? Maybe even offer small samples if feasible (e.g., Courgettes, Broad Beans, Tomatoes).

  
  
  
  

• Feature a 'Seasonal Special' in your canteen

  Encourage your workplace canteen to feature a ‘Seasonal Dish of the Week', showcasing fresh vegetables currently at their peak.

  
  

  Think vibrant salads, roasted summer vegetables and berry desserts. If you can, offer it at a significant subsidised discount to make these healthy choices more attractive.

  
  
  
  

• Create a 'Pick-n'-Mix' Water Bar

  Set up an enticing hydration station. Offer large dispensers of fresh filtered water with options to infuse it with natural flavours & nutrients. Display pots of fresh mint and rosemary alongside slices of lemon, orange, and cucumber.

  
  

  You could even add options like a dash of apple cider vinegar or a pinch of pink Himalayan salt for electrolytes.

  
  

  Staying properly hydrated is crucial, with studies showing that even mild dehydration can lead to decreased alertness and increased sleepiness and confusion.

  
  

  

  
  

Embracing summer's bounty is a delicious, tangible, and tasty way to support your team's wellbeing throughout the season.

#5. Harness Summer Motivation: Get Your Team Moving More at Work

Summer brings with it a natural boost in energy and motivation, so channelling that into movement at work can bring about a virtuous circle whereby individuals have more energy as a result.

This can manifest as improved focus and vigour at work with staff having more energy and momentum to achieve.

How to get employees more active at work this summer

• Step into Productivity With Walking Meetings

  Take Your Meetings OutsideSuggest swapping standard one-to-one meetings for walking meetings outdoors.

  
  

• Sweat the Small Stuff—Together!

  Studies show that we are 31 percent more social overall in the summer than in winter so why not try organising group activities such as running or walking groups during lunch breaks or before work to really make the most of this shift.

  
  

• Sun Salutations in the Sun

  Arrange outdoor 'alfresco' yoga sessions which offers employees both physical and mental wellness benefits, especially if you are adding fresh air and sunshine into the mix.

  
  
  
  
  

  

  

  

  

  
  
  
  
  

• Swap the Grill for Games

  Instead of your standard summer work BBQ, you could try organising a summer social based around a fun group sport such as rounders, frisbee, or even a mini sports day. Everyone secretly loves getting a little competitive.

  
  

• Encourage Movement with Summer Dress Options

  Consider relaxing the dress code slightly during warmer months to allow for more comfortable, informal attire suitable for activity like a lunchtime stroll.

Stepping away from the desk & upping our step count can refresh minds and bodies, making for a more positive and productive summer season for the whole team.

Unlock Your Team's Summer Potential Today

Implementing even a few of these seasonal adjustments can significantly shift your workplace energy, moving beyond generic wellness initiatives to strategies that work with natural rhythms, not against them.

These low-cost, high-impact approaches can boost productivity, enhance focus, improve morale, and give you a genuine competitive edge this summer.

Need a helping hand getting your team summer-ready and thriving? The Nutrition Advantage specialises in creating evidence-based, engaging corporate wellness programs that deliver measurable results.

For example, we can deliver highly engaging and fun webinars like "Unstoppable You: How to have abundant energy" to encourage your employees to embrace the season in the healthiest way possible.

Ready to give your team – and your business – the advantage this summer?

I’d love to hear from you and help make the most of this wonderful time of year we’ve been waiting all winter for!