One of the most popular features of corporate wellness platforms like Woliba is the ability to create work fitness challenges. In addition to promoting a healthy workplace, these challenges foster a sense of comradery while building morale and improving employee retention. From softball teams to jogging groups to yoga classes, there were no shortage of wellness challenge ideas for the workplace.

And then, well, 2020 happened. With millions of Americans working from home, the very definition of the office has changed. One thing is clear: Even when the pandemic eventually subsides, some degree of remote working is here to stay. While employees might cheer the added flexibility, our collective wellness is suffering. Even before the pandemic, the CDC estimated that 80 percent of American adults were not getting the recommended amount of exercise per week. Now, without daily commutes, lunch breaks, watercooler chats, walk-and-talks, and other office traditions, we’re moving less than ever before. Over time, this may lead to higher incidences of lifestyle-related diseases and escalating health insurance claims.

In this brave new world of remote work, how do you keep your employees healthy while not at the office? The good news is that your corporate wellness software is every bit as effective no matter where your employees are located.

6 Favourite Workplace Fitness Challenge Ideas For Remote Teams in 2021

Walking Challenges

Before the pandemic, the average American walked some 5,800 steps per day. That wasn’t nearly enough, but at least it was something. For many folks, commuting and roaming office corridors represented a large chunk of their daily movement. Without that daily commute, our daily movement can drop off a cliff—which means bad things for our physical and psychological health.

The good news is that with a comprehensive wellness platform like Woliba, admins can easily organize workplace exercise challenges that encourage users to spend an hour or two each day walking around—which, these days, is probably their own neighborhood. Which team can average the most steps per day before the end of the month—accounting or sales? The software seamlessly integrates with all popular fitness devices and apps, including Garmin, Fitbit, Apple Watch, Strava, Google Fit, HealthKit, Run Keeper, and Withings, ensuring users’ daily step totals will automatically upload and count toward step challenges.

The benefits of walking are endless, including improved circulation, better bone health, improved mood, weight loss, strengthened muscles, improved sleep, improved joint health, and a better immune system. By encouraging all of your employees to compete for 5,000, 7,500, and even 10,000 steps per day, you are actively building a healthier, happier workforce.

Sleep Challenge

This one might seem a little strange at first. A wellness challenge for the workplace to see who sleeps the most? Except that sleep is perhaps the most neglected component of our health. As a study by Harvard University explains, “A lack of adequate sleep can affect judgment, mood, ability to learn and retain information, and may increase the risk of serious accidents and injury.” Simply put, employees who aren’t getting the recommended seven hours of sleep per night are putting themselves at risk of obesity, reduced concentration, mood swings, weakened immunity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic ailments.

Admis can easily organize and manage a sleep challenge using the Woliba software. Who can get the most Z’s each week? For participants who need help falling and staying asleep, Woliba even offers an extensive journey on this incredibly important component of wellness.

Meditation Challenge

At the office, it was hard enough unplugging from your day, and it can be even harder when working from home, especially for those with children. You have to be “on” from the moment you wake up until you fall asleep. And the endless Slack notifications and calendar invites certainly aren’t helping.

Studies routinely show that regular deep-breathing exercises, even for as little as a few minutes at a time, have a positive effect on our mental health. To help reduce stress levels, why not challenge your team to meditate for five minutes every day? You can even use Zoom or Webex to host company-wide meditation classes.

Nutrition Challenges

Eating healthfully is an essential component of overall wellness. However, it is also notoriously difficult to address, given the multitude of diet restrictions and food preferences out there. In an organization full of carnivores, vegans, and everyone in-between, a one-size-fits-all nutrition program simply isn’t going to cut it.

Woliba offers in-depth how-to journeys for each of the major diets, from vegetarian to paleo to Whole30, meaning no one ever feels left out based on their food choices. Then, using Woliba’s social tools, you can challenge your employees to earn wellness points as they learn new recipes and eat healthfully for the long haul.

Zoom Yoga

You don’t need to be in the classroom to reap the benefits of yoga. With just a living room, mat, and a computer screen, you can offer group yoga classes for all your employees. Make it a challenge: Who can take the most classes per month? Who can master the most poses?

Meanwhile, for those just starting out, the Woliba content library offers a wealth of information for beginners, including simple stretches you can perform in your bedroom or living room.

Also Read: How Technology Can Boost Workplace Wellbeing

Hydration Challenge

According to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the typical adult male needs to consume about 15 cups of water per day, while the average woman needs about 11.5 cups. It seems simple enough, but did you know that 75 percent of adults suffer from chronic dehydration? This results in everything from headaches to fatigue to dizziness to difficulty concentrating and diminished productivity.

To ensure your remote workers are drinking enough water, why not institute a hydration challenge? Invite your employees to keep track of how much water they drink, with the goal of meeting the official recommendation. The winners at the end of each month win—what else—a water bottle.

Also Read: 15 Awesome and Creative Employee Engagement Ideas to Keep Your Team Bonded and Inspired

These are our favourite wellness challenge ideas for the workplace, but don’t stop there. Never stop using your wellness software to brainstorm and organize new and exciting ways to bring your employees together to build morale, foster unity, and stay healthy in what will certainly be an uncertain year. Remember, we’re all in this together!

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