Wellness challenges are great way to remedy some of what might be ailing the workplace. Beyond measuring steps or the number of donations for the needy, they facilitate social interaction, team-building and healthy competition (in every sense) among employees.

But perhaps most importantly, wellness challenges are a great way to show your commitment to helping employees achieve and stay in good health physically, mentally, emotionally and financially. Because that goes a long way these day, as evidenced by JLL’s Workforce Preferences Barometer, which reveals that employees today prioritize working for a company that values their heath and wellbeing over securing a comfortable salary.

Relatively inexpensive and simple to plan, challenges come in all shapes and sizes. They can be as basic as keeping tabs on the number of hours employees spend sleeping or require significantly more time and commitment, like training for a big race.

Still wondering if it’s worth the time and effort to implement a fitness challenge? Well, consider the effect worker health has on your company’s bottom line. As we’ve noted in the past, employee absenteeism in the U.S. results in productivity losses of more than $225 billion annually. Think of the savings involved when a fun fitness challenge – say, getting 30 minutes of exercise daily for the same number of days – leads to real and permanent change in participants’ lives. That then translates to lower health care costs, fewer worker absences and greater productivity. Talk about a win-win for both employees and business operations.

Tips on Formulating an Ideal Workplace Challenge

The options are endless when it comes to creating wellness challenges for an office environment – and we elaborate on that below. But first, let’s go over some ground rules for building a successful workplace competition.

1. Give employees some control. Whether you have a committee or individual heading up the effort, it’s important to let employees choose the challenge. This creates greater buy-in and confirms that you’re aligned with their interests and goals. You might even consider polling employees in advance to better predict what kinds of challenges, activities and goals appeal to them most.
2. Allow employees to opt out. No one likes forced “fun,” nor do employees appreciate work obligations infringing on personal time. Or maybe the activity at hand just isn’t of interest – or import – to the entire office population. Regardless of the reason, make sure everyone who’s invited to participate in your challenge also has the option to pass. And no guilt trips for those who sit it out!
3. Limit the life of your challenge. The most successful wellness challenges last one week to one month, max. Beyond that, people tend to lose interest and stamina. Plus, the shorter the duration, the more time you have to work other challenges into the rotation.
4. Share the standings. Track participants’ progress and make it viewable using either a basic whiteboard in a high-traffic space or something more sophisticated like an online portal for a leaderboard. An easily seen or accessible visual is a great tool for keeping participants motivated, maintaining a competitive edge and creating some serious office buzz around the event.
5. Offer rewards – and lots of them. Incentivize your employees to not only participate but also succeed with some kind of prize. Consider partnering with a local business – ideally one whose industry aligns with the challenge at hand (e.g., a local sporting goods store for the aforementioned 30 days fitness) – that could offer discounts, gift cards or a free service to those who reach the finish line. But keep in mind that, when it comes to wellness challenges, it’s important to have as many “winners” (and rewards) as possible because the more people who succeed, the better the outcome overall.

Choosing a Challenge

Need help coming up with ideas for effective challenges for your own workplace?

For starters, stay abreast of news in the health, wellness and fitness arenas. Recently, for example, a survey by Aflac revealed that half of adults have avoided at least one common health screening like blood tests, colonoscopies, mammograms, pap smears and skin cancer checks. One in four adults forgo regular checkups altogether because they feel healthy. In light of these findings, it might be time to initiate a challenge aimed at your getting employees to schedule doctor’s appointments they consistently dodge. Participants could earn a points for scheduling a visit and additional points for actually completing the task.

Another strategy is to consider how your physical office space could be used to facilitate fun and healthy competition. If you’re in a multilevel building, for instance, challenge employees to take the stairs instead of the elevator for a week. Or use an outdoor space to host a meditation class, then see how many employees can keep up the practice on a regular basis.

A third approach is to promote a healthy swap. Which team can drink the most water in two weeks’ time? How many lunches can we bring from home instead of buying from a nearby restaurant? Who’s willing to put down the phone and pick up a book instead for a 30-minute-a-day reading challenge?

Dole out prizes for the aforementioned challenges however you see fit. Water bottles, discounts to area retailers, free lunches in the conference room … the options are endless. But they probably won’t hold a candle to the physical, mental, social and/or emotional benefits achieved from participating in the challenge!

Need more ideas and inspiration for challenges to present to your own workplace? Check out this extensive list, which breaks down the options in various categories like physical health; exercise; nutrition; and personal growth.

For additional insights and information on wellness programs – challenges included – that would work in your own corporate environment, contact Aquila. Our wellbeing and lifestyle programs work holistically to promote the benefits of healthy living within your entire organization.