Working day in and day out at the office can get old - quickly. We've all experienced those long Wednesdays when it seems like the work week will never end and motivation to do our jobs wanes low. If you're a supervisor, you can help give yourself and your employees a much-needed boost with - wait for it - chocolate gifts.
There are a number of super sweet reasons why this move can do wonders for employee morale. Several studies have found that workers are more productive if they take regular breaks throughout the day. But in this digital age of multitasking, many professionals work during their lunch hour and frequently check their business email account after leaving the office. In order to establish a structured reprieve from the daily grind, consider starting "Chocolate Wednesdays." Pop culture has dubbed chocolate as the go-to sweet treat for women who are nursing broken hearts - the number of movies that feature a scene with a teary-eyed lonely soul on the couch with a tub of chocolate ice cream is seemingly endless. But, once you take away the couch, the broken heart and the tears, our favorite flavor can benefit the harried staff member as well.
Chocolate has a group of chemicals that helps stimulate the brain to release endorphins – the feel-good hormone. But just because you can't enjoy cocktail hour in the middle of the work day doesn't mean that your team can't enjoy the buzz of a fresh release of endorphins in their systems.
To keep things fresh, consider exploring a different theme every week. One Wednesday, you can focus on white chocolate, while the next could feature a pot of milk chocolate fondue. Sticking with a generally liked food item is a safe way to approach corporate gifts – it increases the chances that the majority of the team will want to participate, which can help the event serve as a community building activity as well.
If you want to provide one of the healthier varieties of the delicacy, consider serving up dark chocolate. This treat is packed full of antioxidants that can lower the number of free radicals in our bodies, which in turn decreases the likelihood of developing heart disease and other conditions. Keep in mind that even if you're providing dark chocolate, it's always best to stick to small quantities. Since one of the main objectives of instituting this tradition is to boost morale and productivity, modest portions can also help workers avoid a sugar crash a few hours after consuming a large amount of candy.
The next time the clock seems to be creeping along at snail's pace, don't reach for that fourth cup of coffee. A small dose of chocolate could do the trick!