In today’s fast-paced professional environments, fostering employee wellbeing has become more than a trendy initiative—it’s essential for organizational vitality and personal health. As holistic wellness continues to evolve, so too do the tools we use to engage and inspire. One surprisingly powerful yet often overlooked medium is the vertical video format. Often associated with social media and casual content, vertical video has quietly gained ground in workplace wellbeing programs, offering a fresh lens through which to connect, educate, and uplift.

Why Vertical Video Resonates Emotionally

At its core, vertical video aligns seamlessly with the natural way many people hold their smartphones—portrait orientation—making it intuitive and accessible. But the appeal runs deeper than convenience. Vertical framing invites intimacy and focus, creating a subtle yet impactful sense of one-on-one connection. When employees watch wellbeing content through vertical video, it feels more personal, as if the message is crafted uniquely for them rather than a broadcast to a faceless crowd.

This intimacy nurtures engagement, an essential ingredient in behavioral change. Seeing a compassionate coach or a wellness peer speaking directly to the viewer in vertical format can dissolve barriers, encouraging openness to new ideas about mental health, nutrition, movement, or mindfulness.

Bringing Wellness to the Flow of a Workday

Wellbeing interventions often struggle to find space in busy schedules. Vertical videos, brief and easily consumed on a smartphone during micro-breaks, fit perfectly into the rhythms of office life. Whether it’s a 2-minute breathing exercise, a quick posture check, or a mindful reflection prompt, vertical videos deliver content in manageable doses that employees can access anytime and anywhere—even between meetings or during a quiet moment at their desk or commute.

This flexibility addresses a real challenge: wellbeing isn’t just a seminar or workshop; it’s a continuous, approachable practice. Vertical video brings wellness out of the conference room and into the individual’s hands at the moment they need it most.

Visual Storytelling Meets Science-Backed Content

Wellbeing content is most effective when it combines credible science with relatable storytelling. Vertical videos are ideal for this fusion, blending crisp visuals with succinct messages that stick. The format encourages creative use of text overlays, animations, and real-time demonstrations that reinforce learning and retention.

For example, a series of vertical videos can guide employees through practical nutrition tips using colorful infographics or visually guided mindful breathing exercises, making complex concepts approachable. Anchoring these narratives with empathy and authority fosters trust in the information, reinforcing healthy habits.

Building a Sense of Community and Shared Purpose

Beyond individual benefits, vertical video fosters community connection—a critical pillar for workplace wellbeing. Sharing personalized video content from wellness ambassadors or team leaders can inspire collective participation and normalize conversations about mental health and self-care.

“The power of seeing a colleague share their own wellbeing journey in a quick vertical video is transformative—it humanizes the experience and invites others to join in, feeling less isolated in their challenges.”

Encouraging employees to create and share their own vertical videos reinforces this sense of inclusion and agency, turning wellbeing into a shared, evolving dialogue rather than a one-sided directive.

Practical Tips for Integrating Vertical Video into Your Wellbeing Strategy

To harness the full potential of vertical video in workplace wellbeing, thoughtful design and delivery matter. Here are a few approaches grounded in compassionate expertise:

• Keep it brief and focused: Aim for 1–3 minute videos that target a single wellbeing theme or micro-skill.
• Maintain authenticity: Use real voices and faces from within the organization when possible, fostering genuine connection.
• Incorporate interactive elements: Challenge viewers with simple actions or reflections to deepen engagement.
• Leverage variety: Mix formats like yoga poses, nutrition tips, quick meditations, and motivational messages to keep content fresh.
• Ensure accessibility: Add captions and simple language to make videos inclusive for all employees.

A Gentle Invitation to Evolve Workplace Culture

Embracing vertical video as part of workplace wellbeing initiatives represents a gentle yet profound shift toward meeting employees where they are—both physically and emotionally. It exemplifies a blend of modern communication with timeless principles of care, empathy, and human connection.

The journey toward total wellbeing in the workplace is ongoing and beautifully complex. Vertical video offers a versatile, compassionate tool to support this evolving path, helping employees feel seen, heard, and nourished in ways that resonate deeply and sustainably.

Rachel Bloom