Employee wellness challenges are a proven way to increase motivation, support healthier habits, and strengthen workplace culture. However, simply launching a step challenge or fitness tracker isn’t always enough. To truly boost participation and excitement, creativity is key. Fresh formats, flexible goals, and real-world relevance can turn a standard challenge into a company-wide movement.
Here are some top tips to make your next wellness challenge stand out and keep employees engaged from start to finish.
Mix Up Challenge Themes
Rotate through a variety of wellness themes throughout the year—physical fitness, mental health, nutrition, and community engagement. For example:
- A “Move for Your Mood” week that connects movement with stress relief.
- A “Stretch Snack” series encouraging quick breaks between meetings.
- A “Mindful Minutes” challenge promoting daily pauses for reflection or breathing exercises.
By switching up focus areas, employees discover new ways to participate and feel seen for more than just physical performance.
Make It Collaborative, Not Competitive
While friendly competition motivates some, others prefer teamwork. Introduce team-based formats where colleagues, departments or locations aim for a shared milestone—like collectively walking across the virtual map of national parks or achieving a group meditation streak. Collaboration builds connection and makes wellness more inclusive.
Personalize Participation Options
Offer multiple ways for employees to join each challenge so everyone can find success. For example, a “Move More” Sworkit challenge—whether based on active minutes or active days—can include walking, stretching, dancing, or even household activities. This flexibility allows participants to choose what fits their lifestyle and physical needs, making the experience feel inclusive and achievable. In addition, Sworkit Step Challenges are a great way for employees of all fitness levels to stay active, track their steps, and boost both physical and mental wellbeing throughout the day.
Offer Meaningful and Motivating Rewards
Rewards don’t have to be expensive—they just need to feel authentic. Consider wellness-oriented prizes such as recovery kits, local experiences, or extra personal time, alongside access to vast global rewards catalogs, gift cards, and experiences, which these platforms make possible. You can also recognize top team efforts or “most encouraging teammate” awards to highlight community spirit, while automating milestone celebrations and making rewards highly customizable to fit what matters most to your employees. Partnering with rewards and recognition platforms like Achievers, Motivosity, and Awardco—as Sworkit does—can take your wellness challenge rewards to the next level.
Infuse Storytelling and Social Sharing
Encourage employees to share photos, quick videos, or success stories on your internal platform or social channels to inspire others and build momentum. Authentic storytelling makes wellness relatable. Use our Sworkit Spotlight for easy nominations and community recognition, fueling engagement and a supportive wellness culture.
Celebrate Milestones Along the Way
Don’t wait until the end of the challenge to celebrate. Midpoint check-ins, mini-surprises, or progress shoutouts keep energy high. Share updated leaderboards, highlight participants’ creative approaches, and remind everyone why their efforts matter.
Use Technology to Simplify Tracking
Make it easy to track progress across devices with integrated platforms like Sworkit Health. Automated logging, reminder nudges, and synced stats reduce friction and help participants stay accountable. When tracking is smooth, participation naturally grows.
Wellness challenges work best when they feel fun, flexible, and meaningful. By getting creative with formats and focusing on connection over competition, you can transform participation into long-term engagement—making wellbeing a true part of workplace culture.
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