5 Springtime Wellness Challenge Ideas for Your Workforce in 2024

"Spring is far more than just a changing of seasons; it's a rebirth of the spirit."?—Toni Sorenson, Author?

Ah, spring! That magical time of year when Mother Nature shakes off her winter coat and dresses up in her finest greens, pinks, and yellows. The air is filled with the sweet scent of blossoms, and the birds are singing their cheerful melodies once again.??

It's hard not to feel a little giddy and energized as the world around us comes back to life.?

And you know what that means, don't you? It's the perfect opportunity to give your employees’ spirit a little spring cleaning and freshen things up with some fun, engaging challenges! After all, what better way to celebrate the season of renewal than by renewing your commitment to employee wellness??

Below are 5 amazing wellness challenge ideas for you to host this spring season: ?

1. Spring Step Challenge?

We often overlook the power of a simple walk. While trendy workouts may grab the spotlight, lacing up one’s shoes offers a treasure trove of under-appreciated benefits. In fact, a study conducted by The American Cancer Society has shown that walking can help reduce the risks of breast cancer, heart risks, colon cancer, and diabetes!?

Moreover, winter depletes our vitamin D levels, making us susceptible to conditions like depression. But stepping outside and bathing in some sunshine during the spring season can really benefit us in combating mental disorders. (Source ) ?

Given below are steps to organize a spring step challenge for your employees: ?

• Determine the challenge period first. (for e.g. 4-6 weeks in spring)?
• Next, set a daily or weekly step goal for employees.?
• Provide step trackers/pedometers?or create a tracking system on your wellness platform for employees to log steps.?You can also use our in-house challenge-based wellness platform Vantage Fit and use its stellar step tracking feature . ?
• Offer prizes or wellness incentives for consistent participation and reaching step goals.?

Going for a walk at an average to brisk pace can provide people with a tremendous health benefit. It’s free, easy, and can be done anywhere?- Alpa Patel , The American Cancer Society

Tip:?Keep the daily/weekly step minimal or average so that it’s achievable. Impossible targets can be discouraging. ?

Ideally, fewer than 5000 steps are recommended by experts! Source: BBC ?

Below are two of my favourite playlists to go for long dreamy walks:?

• Taylor Swift but make it Spring ?
• Happy Spring Vibes ?

Resource: You can also read our blog on Step Challenge for a detailed understanding.?

2. Count-Your-Blessings Challenge

In life, it is easy to be discouraged and swept away by failures. But holding onto those tiny bits of sunshine within oneself “when stakes are high and water’s rough” is the real deal. In such situations, if one resorts to journaling and learns to keep track of life’s little blessings, trust me, so much can change within and around oneself! ?

There are reasons as to why counting one’s blessings helps a person?shift his/her?mindset towards appreciating the positive aspects of their lives. Scientifically speaking, focusing on the good things in one’s?life, big or small, triggers the release of positive neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. This leads to increased feelings of happiness and contentment. (Source )?

That’s so cool, right??

Here’s what you, as employers, can do to make your employees reap the benefits: ?

For the next 30 days, have employees keep a gratitude journal and write down at least 3 things they are grateful for each day. These can be simple pleasures like noticing a flower bloom on the way to work, little everyday milestones, or just a daily dose of thankfulness. ?

Things to keep in mind while gratitude journaling: ?

• Be specific: Instead of simply writing "good health," delve deeper. "I'm grateful for the energy to go for a walk this morning" personalizes your appreciation.?
• Reflect on challenges: Even difficult situations can offer opportunities for growth. Acknowledge the lessons learned and express gratitude for the strength to overcome obstacles.?

Resource: You can read our blog on practicing Self-Care at Work. ?

3. Trash-to-Treasure Challenge?

The ever-growing tide of pollution is a stark reminder that we must be smarter about waste management.?Our environment's condition directly reflects the state of our health. ?

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , approximately 66 million tons of pollutants were released into the air across the United States in 2022.?

As educated, responsible citizens, it should be our duty to think of the planet’s future and take sustainable actions. Here’s a challenge that you can organize on the weekends of Spring Season:?

• Divide your workforce into groups and designate specific areas for a collective clean-up effort.?
• Instruct them to collect various types of waste materials – plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, old newspapers, anything with potential!?
• Encourage them to segregate the trash. Then, provide them with separate bins for storing trash as per?its types. Read this to know more about types of trash and ways to dispose them. ?
• The team with the most collected waste wins a prize!?

Later, donate those scrap materials to a manufacturing unit or encourage your employees to repurpose those materials and build something out of them. You may read this .?

Celebrate the day by clicking group photos and put those pictures?up on a community board creating a lasting memory of your commitment to a cleaner planet.?

Tip: Host seminars/workshops on environmental awareness. Educate employees about the consequences of pollution and empower them to make informed choices in their daily lives.?

4. Sprout-your-Savings?Challenge?

The constant worry about money creates a ripple effect, negatively impacting both physical and mental health. According to studies , 44% of employees experiencing financial stress acknowledge that concerns about their money have greatly impacted their performance and productivity at work. ?

To counteract that, we have designed?a simple 4-week spring financial wellness challenge for your company’s biggest asset, your employees:?

• Week 1: Encourage employees to track their spending for a week. Provide budgeting apps, templates, or simply guide them to use notepads or spreadsheets.?
• Week 2: Organize workshops on setting SMART financial goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound). Help them define clear objectives, be it saving for a vacation, building an emergency fund, or paying down debt.?
• Week 3: Introduce the 60-30-10 Rule : Guide employees on allocating their income strategically. Recommend saving or investing 60% of the income, spending 30% on essentials (such as rent, groceries, transportation) and the remaining 10% on wants (such as entertainment, hobbies, etc) ?
• Week 4: Offer access to information on high-yield savings accounts and automatic transfer options for building emergency funds or goal-specific savings.?

After the successful completion of the challenge, organize a forum where employees can share their progress, challenges, and tips with colleagues. You can also acknowledge and reward employees who demonstrate consistent commitment to their financial goals.?

Recommended Resources:?

Book: The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham ?

Podcasts: The 20 Best Investing Podcasts in 2024 ?

Guide: Implementing Financial Wellness with Vantage Fit ?

5. Mindful Spring Challenge?

It wouldn’t be fair to leave?out on one of the most important aspects of human existence: the mind and its health. This spring season let’s make it a point to help employees reap benefits by incorporating simple mindfulness practices into their daily routine. ?

Here’s how you can host: ?

Encourage employees to embark on a "Mindful Spring Challenge" by incorporating mindfulness practices into their daily lives. Provide resources such as mindfulness apps, guided meditation resources, or access to mindfulness coaches.?

Challenge employees to dedicate a specific amount of time each day (e.g., 15-20 minutes) to practicing mindfulness techniques, such as body scans, or mindful movement (e.g., yoga or tai chi). Offer incentives or recognition to those who actively participate and consistently integrate mindfulness practices into their daily routines.?

Tips:?

• During breaks, encourage your employees to put their?phones away and engage in a mindful activity like deep breathing or stretching. Reading or listening to podcasts can also help too.?
• Foster a culture of mental well-being by sharing personal experiences and success stories from employees who have embraced mindfulness.?

Remember, a mindful approach to life fosters increased emotional resilience, improved focus, and a happier, healthier version of a person.?

Resource: You can read our blog on Mindfulness Exercises at Work. ?

Don’t forget to check our Corporate Wellness Platform, Vantage Fit. Here’s the link: https://www.vantagefit.io/ . ?

Have a fruitful spring season, everyone. Until next time. ?

Article by Bijaya Lakshmi Sarma