Fresh Air Friday: How A Monthly Wellness Break Powers Peak Performance
Victoria Myers
August 1, 2025
In today's always-on work culture, where notifications ping constantly and the pressure to stay connected never stops, taking time to step away from the screen might seem counterintuitive. But at Vivun, we've discovered that our most productive teams are also our most well-rested ones. That's why we have Fresh Air Friday, a monthly wellness initiative that's become one of our most valued employee benefits.
Fresh Air Friday is simple in concept but powerful in impact. On the first Friday of every month, starting at 1 PM local time, every Vivun employee is encouraged to log off their laptops and do something that genuinely makes them happy. Whether that's hiking, biking, boating, woodworking, or simply spending quality time with family and friends, the goal is the same: step away from the screen and recharge.
The program comes with one clear directive: take the second half of your workday to get up, get out, get moving, and do what inspires you. Employees have a quarterly wellness stipend to support these activities, because investing in our people's wellbeing isn't just the right thing to do; it's smart business.
Research shows that comprehensive wellness programs can deliver an ROI as high as six to one (Harvard Business Review, 2010), with companies seeing a six-to-one return on investment on average through lowered absenteeism and reduced healthcare costs (People Element, 2024). Even more striking, companies with highly effective health and wellness plans are 40% more likely to report better financial performance than low-effectiveness companies (Sun Life, 2012).
But wellness isn't just about cold, hard ROI; it's about creating an environment where people can do their best work. 56% of employees had fewer sick days because of wellness programs (Zippia, 2023), and employees enjoy their jobs more when they have access to wellness programs (Aflac, 2024-25).
The reality is that we dedicate so much of our lives to work, that work needs to fit around life. Fresh Air Friday is our way of turning that understanding into action.
Last month, our team took full advantage of their Fresh Air Friday in wonderfully diverse ways that perfectly capture the spirit of the program:
Kevin Abrahamson, Named Account Executive, turned his Fresh Air Friday into an extended adventure, spending six days exploring Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. His itinerary included exploring sake breweries, bamboo forests, and historic temples.
Liv Leonard, Director of Technical Account Management, hosted a 4th of July barbecue, where her husky, Ford, dressed for the occasion. Nothing says stress relief like good food, time with friends, and a dog wearing a bandana.
Russell Witham, Director of Product Management, and Chen Liang, Senior Machine Learning Engineer, chose to share their experience together, watching Wimbledon at The Hill in New York–one of the rare occasions the pair could be found spectating instead of on the court themselves.
Danielle Heffernan, Customer Experience Lead, hit the golf course for a round that undoubtedly helped clear her mind and reset for the week ahead.
Claire Bruce, COO, spent time at the barn with her friend Ike, a horse she affectionately deems an "affable nitwit." Sometimes the best therapy comes with four legs and a personality.
These activities are diverse, but they are all personally meaningful, screen-free, and focused on joy rather than productivity. This isn't about creating another work obligation. It's about giving people permission, and the financial support, to prioritize what matters to them.
As Danielle Heffernan puts it: "Fresh Air Friday is one of my favorite perks at Vivun; it encourages us to unplug, get outside, and recharge. This summer I've spent a few of them on the golf course, soaking up sunshine and sharpening a new skill."
According to research by MetLife, healthy employees are 74% more likely to be satisfied with the job they have now, 74% more likely to be resilient, 59% more likely to feel engaged, 53% more likely to be productive, and 51% more likely to say they intend to be at their organization in 12 months' time.
The correlation between employee wellbeing and business performance isn't coincidental; it's causal. When people feel valued and supported, they bring their best selves to work. When they have regular opportunities to recharge, they're more creative, more collaborative, and more committed to excellence.
Fresh Air Friday works because it's embedded in our company culture rather than treated as an add-on benefit. Leadership participates enthusiastically, and there's no mandates about how to use the time. When wellness is integrated into the rhythm of work rather than segregated from it, it becomes part of what makes a company distinctive and attractive to top talent.
For companies considering similar programs, here are the key elements that make Fresh Air Friday successful:
As we evolve as a company, Fresh Air Friday remains a cornerstone of our approach to sustainable performance. 83% of employees would leave their workplace if it didn't focus enough on wellbeing (Wellhub's 2025 State of Work-Life Wellness Report), making programs like this not just nice-to-have benefits but essential retention tools.
In tech especially, where the pace of innovation is relentless and the pressure to perform is constant, taking regular breaks isn't a luxury; it's a strategic necessity. Fresh Air Friday acknowledges that our people are our greatest asset and that protecting their wellbeing is essential to our collective success.
Whether you're watching tennis in Brooklyn, exploring ancient temples in Japan, or just enjoying a walk around the neighborhood, the message is the same: taking care of yourself isn't separate from doing great work; it's what makes great work possible.
At Vivun, we believe that the best teams are supported by the best technology and the best workplace culture. Our AI sales agent helps revenue teams work smarter, and programs like Fresh Air Friday help our team live better. To learn more about our approach to employee wellbeing, visit https://www.vivun.com/guiding-principles.
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