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Team-building events<\/span><\/a> allow employees to work together outside of a regular office setting. These events provide a chance to collaborate on tasks that lead toward a goal. During the event, they learn about each other’s strengths and weaknesses and figure out how to communicate and solve problems as a group. Ideally, the team will be able to take this newly developed teamwork into the workplace.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are benefits to taking team-building outside of the workplace. Not only does an outdoor setting allow for more activity options, but it can also help reduce stress and give the team a break from the usual daily environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n These events can be challenging, but they can also have a relaxed atmosphere, with food, decor, and gifts. <\/span>Branded balloons<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>yard signs<\/span><\/a> can mark the event area and double as promotional materials for your company. You could reward participation with <\/span>drink coolers<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>branded sunglasses<\/span><\/a>, or other <\/span>outdoor promotional items<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Here is a closer at why the effort needed to create an outdoor team-building event is worthwhile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The space and setting increase the number of available activities. You are not limited to tabletop games or digital activities as you would be inside an office.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For instance, your teams could engage in a scavenger hunt or geocaching challenges. You could also include activities that benefit the wider community, like cleaning up natural areas, planting trees, or building installations that people in a neighborhood could use after the event.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Outdoor spaces give you the option to have multiple activities, allowing team members to use different skills and strengths during the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) <\/span>highlights the importance<\/span><\/a> of health-focused activities in the workplace. They can increase morale, lower the number of sick days, and attract and retain employees who value employers focused on wellness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Examples of these physician activities could include a sport or a ropes course that the team must navigate together. Even low-impact physical activities like walking or canoeing can help build a wellness-focused workplace culture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n You can take the wellness focus a step further by offering healthy foods during the event instead of the alcohol, donuts, pizzas, and other stereotypical office foods that often find their way into workplace events.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Employees may appreciate the chance to spend time outside of their usual office setting. They will have a chance to enjoy the outdoor ambiance, fresh air, and sunlight during the time of day when they are typically indoors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are also mental benefits to spending time outside. <\/span>Natural environments can improve mood<\/span><\/a> and increase the ability to focus. <\/span>One study in Norway<\/span><\/a> even found that regular contact with nature at work lowered the number of sick days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While employees may appreciate a break from the office, the benefits of outdoor activities at work go beyond enjoying a pleasant natural setting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A Behavioral Sciences article<\/span><\/a> points out that a \u201cgrowing number of studies have shown that visiting green spaces and being exposed to natural environments can reduce psychological stress.\u201d One such study, <\/span>published in Public Health Reports<\/span><\/a>, found that increased exposure to nature decreased perceived stress levels at work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Not only do outdoor team-building activities give employees a chance to work together in a different setting, but it allows them to do so in an inherently less stressful environment. Consider asking for employee feedback to see if regular outdoor team-building exercises lower stress for your team on a more permanent basis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nMore Options for Activities<\/span><\/h2>\n
Opportunity for More Health-Focused Activities<\/span><\/h2>\n
Possible Improved Ambiance<\/span><\/h2>\n
Potential Stress Reduction<\/span><\/h2>\n
Development of Connections in a Different Environment<\/span><\/h2>\n