Overview
Use these ideas to engage your participants when you are not running an active challenge.
Keep your users engaged in between challenges by sharing seasonal wellness information and hosting 1-day events throughout the year using announcements! You can share messages and prompts, with the option to include a call to action, which allows you to link out to online articles and videos. You can even schedule announcements in advance for easy set up.
How often should I engage my users?
We recommend reaching out to your participants about once a month when you don't have an active challenge running. Create a balanced engagement strategy if you're using any other engagement resources (such as our Announcement Templates for General Wellness Engagement or our Announcement Templates for User Stat Shoutouts).
This article offers templates for 1-day events and ideas for content to share based on various world or US-based health initiative dates. We offer two ideas for each month, but we do not recommend sharing both ideas in the same month. Sharing an announcement about once a month when you're not hosting a challenge is ideal. Pick and choose the ideas that are most relevant to your user base or your wellness program goals.
Ideas by month of the year
Check out the suggestions we compiled for each month of the year. Feel free to use our templates, or come up with your own. You can check out our Workplace Health and Wellness Calendar 2022 for a complete list of wellness initiative and health observance dates throughout the year.
January
New Year's Resolutions
Title: Happy New Year!
Description:
Welcome to 2022! With the clean slate of a new year, you're probably hearing a lot about resolutions.
If you feel like resolutions aren't your thing, you're not alone. Many people struggle to stick to their New Year's goals.
This might be because we set the wrong resolutions. Check out the video below for research-backed tips for setting and sticking to effective resolutions this year💥
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/gKFFAcY_sdQ
January 24 - National Compliment Day
Title: The power of compliments
Description:
Nearly 90% of people when asked believe we should compliment each other more often.
But in reality, we tend to avoid giving compliments. In one experiment, only 50% of people who wrote down a compliment for a friend ended up actually delivering it.
Why the gap? We tend to underestimate the power of our words to brighten others' days. You can learn more in the article below.
It's National Compliment Day, so take the time to compliment a coworker, a loved one, or even a stranger today! ☀️
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://hbr.org/2021/02/a-simple-compliment-can-make-a-big-difference
February
February is American Heart Health Month
Title: Take care of your ❤️
Description:
February is American Heart Health month! This month is usually associated with heart-shaped valentines, and there's no better time to make your most hard-working organ a priority.
Resolve to keep your heart healthy this month by focusing in on a few key things:
- Eat healthy: limit unhealthy fats and eat plenty of fruits and veggies
- Stay active: 150 minutes of moderate activity a week is advised
- Manage stress: try meditation, find time to relax, and get enough sleep
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://health.gov/myhealthfinder/topics/health-conditions/heart-health/keep-your-heart-healthy
February 17 - Random Acts of Kindness Day
Title: Kindness is cool!
Description:
It's Random Acts of Kindness Day! While kindness anytime of the year is important, challenge yourself to extend some kindness to someone without expecting anything in return today. You'll benefit by flooding your brain with oxytocin, which can make you feel calmer and happier.
Here are a few ideas to try:
Offer to pay for someone's lunch or coffee
Leave a positive note for a coworker
Pick up some litter in your neighborhood
Let's help the world become a kinder place today. 😊
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/the-art-of-kindness
March
March is National Nutrition Month
Title: March is Nutrition Month
Description:
March is National Nutrition Month in the U.S. 🥦
According to the CDC, people who maintain a healthy diet live longer and have a reduced risk for health problems like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Here are a few ideas to try out:
- Log your food and drink intake for a week 🍽
- Try a new healthy recipe
- Swap out water for sugary drinks 🥤
- Eat 2 cups of fruit & 3 cups of veggies each day
- Test your nutrition knowledge with the link below
Call to action button text: Test your knowledge
Call to action button link: https://www.myplate.gov/resources/tools/quizzes
March 20 - International Day of Happiness
Title: Celebrating Happiness 😊
Description:
According to Harvard Health, practicing gratitude helps you feel more positive, improves your health and your relationships, and increases your resiliency.
To celebrate International Day of Happiness, we challenge you to think of someone who has had a positive impact in your life. Write down how that person has helped or encouraged you, and notice how you feel afterward.
Want to go the extra mile? Call or text them to express your gratitude.
April
April 6 - National Walking Day 1-day event
Title: Lace up your shoes 👟
Description:
We've got a 1-day challenge TODAY ONLY, April 6th, for National Walking Day!
A roundtrip journey from the American East Coast to West Coast and back again is about 7,000 miles (if you're taking the long way home). Today, we challenge you to walk at least 7,000 steps total!
Did you know that back in the 1800s, watching people walk was America’s favorite spectator sport? Watch the video below to learn more about the sport of pedestrianism, and get inspired to get your steps in this holiday!
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/e1Rk8szsTvM
April 22 - Earth Day
Title: Happy Earth Day 🌎
Description:
Fun Fact 💡 According to earthday.org, 1 billion people in over 190 countries are mobilized each year to take action on Earth Day, volunteering in their communities to make the world a cleaner and safer place.
We challenge you to join in and volunteer this Earth Day, whether that is finding an organization you can give time to or making simple changes around your home.
Want some Earth Day inspiration? Check out this video of a Japanese town committed to living waste-free! ♻️
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/OS9uhASKyjA
May
May is Mental Health Month
Title: Tune into mental health 📻
Description:
Mental health is just as crucial to your wellbeing as your physical health. Stress, genetics, & environment are all examples of factors that can contribute to mental wellness.
According to the CDC, one thing that can help to reduce stress, anxiety, and even feelings of depression or pain is mindfulness.
When you focus on bringing your attention to the present moment without judgement, it can help you to better manage your feelings.
Try it yourself using this mindful breathing exercise! 😮💨
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfDTp2GogaQ
May is National Blood Pressure Education Month
Title: Manage blood pressure ✔️
Description:
May is National Blood Pressure Education Month!
- Did you know that according to the Heart Association, nearly half of the US population struggles with hypertension? In addition, only 1 in 4 affected adults are actually managing it.
- Whether you actively struggle with hypertension or are hoping to prevent it, there are many lifestyle changes you can make to help manage your blood pressure.
- Check out this guide for managing high blood pressure and make your heart health a priority this month!
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure
June
June 17 - National Eat your Vegetables Day
Title: Eat enough veggies? 🥦
Description:
Today is National Eat your Vegetables Day! According to the CDC, less than 1 in 10 adults eat the recommended daily amount of veggies.
How many veggies are recommended each day? It varies, but in general, you should be eating between 2-3 cups each day.
What counts as 1 cup?
- 1 cup of raw or cooked vegetables
- 1 cup of vegetable juice
- 1 cup of cooked beans, peas, or lentils
- 2 cups of raw leafy salad greens
Learn more at MyPlate.gov, linked below. ⬇️
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/vegetables
June 21 - International Day of Yoga
Title: International Day of Yoga
Description:
Today is International Day of Yoga! Founded by the United Nations in 2014, the goal of International Day of Yoga is to raise awareness of the benefits of practicing yoga.
According to Harvard Health, yoga can:
- improve your body image
- help you eat mindfully
- help with weight maintenance
- improve fitness, including strength and flexibility
- lower blood pressure
Celebrate today with this 14-minute office break yoga workout on YouTube.
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/M-8FvC3GD8c
July
July 18 - World Listening Day
Title: Shhhhh...🤫
Description:
Listen up! It's World Listening Day today. This date celebrates acoustic ecology, which studies the relationship between humans and the world through sound 🎧
Check out the video below to see one man's extreme mission to save a patch of silence from noise pollution.
How can you celebrate?
- Listen to someone more than you talk in a conversation today
- Head outside to hear nature and listen for sounds you might not normally notice
- Simply close your eyes for a moment and sit in silence
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/jAgCeyW8iTA
July 30 - International Day of Friendship
Title: Celebrate Friendship ✨
Description:
Happy International Day of Friendship!
Today, take a moment to reach out to friends you love and let them know what they mean to you. Call or text someone you haven't spoken to in a while, make a date to hang out with a buddy soon, and make sure to let your friends know you're grateful for them.
Watch the video below to see best friends around the world describe what friendship means to them.
Cheers to friends who make the world a brighter place ☀️
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/8ZqBtPGdBho
August
August is National Wellness Month
Title: Wellness is self-care 🥰
Description:
For National Wellness Month, we'll be focusing on holistic wellness.
This means finding balance between all aspects of your wellness. In fact, there are 8 key domains that make up your overall wellness. 🔑 Tap the link below to learn about each of them.
Identify one domain you'd like to improve on and a habit change you can try out this month. It can be anything from eating more veggies to spending more time with family.
Let's take a step forward on our road to wellness!
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/8-dimensions-of-wellness-where-do-you-fit-in-0527164
August 15 - National Relaxation Day
Title: Find time to relax!
Description:
How many of you sometimes feel like there isn't enough time in a day to relax? While making time isn't always easy, it's not impossible. ⏰
For National Relaxation Day, we're challenging you to find 20 minutes to do whatever helps you feel relaxed! Whether it's a hobby, taking a nap, or just sitting alone, make this time a priority. It'll help relax your muscles, lower your blood pressure, and give you a sense of calm.
Taking time to relax isn't selfish! It'll only make you more resilient.💪
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/relaxation/relaxation-tips/
September
September is Self-Care Awareness Month
Title: Take time for self-care
Description:
September is Self-Care Awareness Month.
When you think of self-care, visions of bubble baths and fuzzy slippers might come to mind. Those are great ways to relax and unwind, but that's not all there is to self-care.
Self-care also means practicing self-compassion, and accepting that you are enough. Remember to be kind to yourself this month and show yourself compassion. 😌
For some extra encouragement, try out this 6-minute meditation on kindness for self-compassion. 🎧
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/Y-z4HqdTQFw
September 22 - Car-Free Day
Title: Tomorrow is Car-Free Day
Description:
Have you heard of Car-Free Day? This event brings awareness to the over 1.6 billion tons of carbon dioxide emitted by highway vehicles each year, and encourages everyone to give up driving for a day.
Car-Free Day falls on Sept. 22. If you'd normally use your car to get around, think about how else you might commute. Bike, walk, or use public transportation. If you can't go completely car-free, try carpooling as a more environmentally-friendly option! 🚲 🏃
October
October 31 - Halloween
Title: Happy Halloween 🎃
Description:
Trick or treat! Move your feet! And have something good to eat.
Did you ever think about how many steps you need to move to burn off your Halloween candy haul?
It takes:
- 1,404 steps to burn off 1 small bag of Skittles
- 2,035 steps to burn off 1 Reese's Peanut Butter Cup
- 5,848 steps to burn off a regular-sized Snickers bar
Check out the calorie to step converter linked below to look up your favorite treat.
There's nothing scarier than missing your step count, so get moving today! 👻
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://movespring.com/resources/calorie-to-step-calculator
October is National Book Month
Title: Get lost in a good book
Description:
October is National Book month, and there's a lot to celebrate! 📚
According to Harvard Health, researchers in one study determined that people over the age of 50 who regularly read books had a 20% lower risk of dying over the next 12 years than those who did not read.
These findings were true regardless of variables such as race, economic wealth, and state of health.
So this month, we challenge you to read at least 15 minutes every day. Who knows? You might just be adding years to your life!
November
November is National Gratitude Month
Title: Show off your gratitude!
Description:
With the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, November is the perfect month to show off your gratitude. 🙏
Harvard studies suggest practicing gratitude has strong benefits for your wellbeing, including:
- stronger relationships
- improved psychological health
- enhanced feelings of self-esteem
- reduced stress levels
Try to think of one person at work that you're grateful for and why. Then, express your gratitude to them! The power of gratitude only increases when shared with those you care about.
Turkey Trot 1-day event
Title: Turkey trot time! 🦃
Description:
Before we step into some family time and delicious meals for Thanksgiving, let's get moving in a fun Turkey Trot!
This 1-day-only event happening on [tomorrow's date] will challenge you to reach at least 7,500 steps. Why? Our goal is to burn off 320 calories, or the equivalent of a delicious slice of pumpkin pie. 🥧
Good luck to everyone; let's do our best to reach our goal! If you're curious about more calorie-to-step conversions, check out this fun resource below. 💡
Call to action button text: Learn more here
Call to action button link: https://movespring.com/resources/calorie-to-step-calculator
December
DASH-cember 1-day event
Title: DASH-cember 🦌
Description:
Let's fight the winter blues with some good, old-fashioned exercise!
For TOMORROW ONLY, [tomorrow's date], we're challenging you to reach 10,000 steps for the day.
Too cold to go outside? Try grocery shopping, mall walking, vacuuming, mopping, dancing, or a step-based workout video like the one linked below.
Get ready to get DASH-ing. Let's watch those step counts rise! 📈
Call to action button text: Watch the video here
Call to action button link: https://youtu.be/59ZnUHNwI0c
Tips for a Healthy Holiday
Title: Have a healthy holiday
Description:
As we enter the holidays, here are a few tips to stay healthy:
🍽️ Eat mindfully. Take 10 minutes before grabbing seconds and sit away from the food table to avoid mindless grazing.
⛽ Don't run on empty. Enjoy a small, healthy snack before heading to a party to ensure you don't arrive famished.
🍸 Watch what you drink. Holiday drinks are fun and festive, but be mindful as you enjoy. Calories from eggnog, cider, and other sugary beverages can quickly add up.