From Challenge to Change: 15 Ways to Build on Successful Walking Challenges

6-minute read

During employee walking challenges, the energy is electric as people get outside, walk together, and experience noticeable mental/physical benefits. But what happens when the program concludes? When the structure and daily support are suddenly gone, new habits sometimes fade. Keep reading for specific strategies to keep employees walking year-round.

Why Employees Love Walking Programs

Walking is simple, free, and fun. For most people, it’s a natural, accessible activity they can do anywhere: at work, home, on vacation, around town. No special gear is needed; comfortable shoes, clothing, and a safe place are the only requirements. 

At HES, we create walking challenges enjoyed by thousands of participants every year. Their feedback tells us what they enjoyed most:

• Fun. Walking challenges with clear goals, immersive themes, and multiple ways to connect create a shared experience. A friendly team  competition elevates the excitement. Features like trivia questions, recipes, Friends, message boards, and daily tips spark an upbeat buzz.
• Motivation. Seeing others’ progress inspires action. Knowing teammates are counting on you gets you up — even when you’re not feeling it. As daily steps add up and fun features unlock, the challenge creates tangible evidence of personal progress that drives participants to stay on track. Following the individual or team leaderboards is inspiring and motivating.
• Connection. Company-wide challenges bring people together. Walking with coworkers – especially those in other departments – fosters friendliness and camaraderie. Employees love getting to know each other and making new friends across the organization. And they rave about the support from other participants, saying it’s essential in making walks a daily habit.
• Feeling great. Many people try on their own to be more physically active, but don’t stick with it long enough to experience the payoffs. With wraparound support from a walking challenge they can establish a new habit and realize rewards – like more energy, an enhanced sense of calm, increased alertness; these in turn motivate repeat walking to strengthen the habit.

15 Tips for Lasting Walking Challenge Success

Wellness leaders can do a lot to promote year-round, lifelong walking and all its benefits. Get started with a simple framework and adapt it to your population’s needs. 

To help employees strengthen and maintain walking habits, offer support that:

• Is fun and motivating 
• Promotes social connection 
• Fosters positive walking experiences in every season.

These elements naturally spark interest and draw people in; they’re also self-reinforcing. Walking with coworkers, for example, combines fun social time with exercise: a net positive most will want to experience again. Walking together in nature amplifies this effect. 

Check out our ideas below. What resonates with your workplace?

Plan, Promote, Celebrate

1. Feedback. Review end-of-program reports and surveys for insights to improve your next walking challenge as well as weekly/monthly/quarterly ideas to support walking between programs. Use periodic polling to pull in season-specific data. 
2. Walkforce. Recruit volunteers to be ambassadors, wearing highly visible T-shirts. Ask them to organize regular groups for everyone, personally invite people to join, and generate future ideas for walking promotions.
3. Story time. Feature walking testimonials in a central location to inspire and motivate. Solicit examples in every wellness communication. Ask which benefits employees are happiest about, how they created a walking habit, and what they do to stay on track. Share these stories wherever people gather onsite and online.
4. Hoopla. Celebrate walking challenge wins with recognition for all, plus team and individual shout-outs. Random drawings for walking-related swag are always a hit.

Feature Recurring Events

1. Let’s Walk day. Inspire with a fun monthly companywide event to get everyone out and active. Recruit organization leaders to rotate in heading it. Make the celebration complete with a group photo posted on your website and a few door prizes.
2. Walk Wednesday. Pair up employees to complete a predefined route, before work or during breaks. Greet them at the halfway point with door prize tickets they can deposit at the end for a chance to win some wellness swag or gift cards.
3. Charity walk. Host or participate in a walk to raise money; include goals for participation, mileage, and amount. Knowing you’re helping others makes walking even more meaningful and gives a dual sense of accomplishment.
4. Buddy challenge. Encourage 10 or more partner walks a month by awarding random prizes. Walking together increases the connectedness vital for mental well-being and a positive workplace culture.
5. Dog day. Designate a day for everyone to post selfies with their dogs during or after a walk. Trading stories about beloved pets brings people together.

Highlight Anytime Activities

10. Nature perks. Underscore walking together in green spaces, on forest trails, and near water for added enjoyment as well as mental health benefits. Time in natural environments is especially soothing and rejuvenating.
11. Mini-treks. Print small cards for recording strolls of 10 minutes or more to deposit in drop boxes around work areas. For many less-active people, carving even 30 minutes out of their day is too much at first. Hold weekly drawings for a random prize that supports continued walking.
12. Contemplative strides. Encourage walking meditation— a technique taught in mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) programs as a way to combine the restorative benefits of physical activity, mindful awareness, and time in nature. 
13. Map walks. Post paths (1-5 miles) or share Google Maps routes to drive more walking. These can offer immediate support when someone is ready to step out but isn’t sure where to go.
14. Happy feet. Kick off new walking initiatives with a shoe expert seminar. Share a blog post on foot health and highlight the value of podiatry care for foot pain. 
15. Trail time. Point to national, state, and local parks resources for recreational walks and hikes for all ages and levels. These activities are ideal for sharing new experiences and making memories with family and friends while exploring nature.

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Year-Round Walking Habits

Wellness leaders help new walking habits last by weaving walking into the workplace culture throughout the year. Come up with fresh, fun ways to link walking with social connection and motivate employees to enjoy moving outdoors – even when the walking challenge is over. You’ll help them stick with the habit long enough to realize the many well-being rewards.