Fresh Fall Group Programming for Your Employees
Hello and welcome to Fall! With the arrival of changing temps and leaves crunching under our feet comes the opportunity to freshen up your health and wellness programming for your employees, members or groups.
If you missed my earlier newsletter covering Group Challenges, I invite you to give it a read – you’ll see how my 12 Fixes to Healthy Group Challenge encourages and motivates participants to adopt 12 new healthy lifestyle behaviors – as a team. The Challenge incorporates the 12 Fixes to Healthy book, guidebook and app to track 12 Fix progress introduced in the Challenge. Participants are motivated and educated by a registered dietitian nutritionist throughout – helping them adopt healthful behaviors as a group.
And now is the perfect time to re-invigorate your employees to adopt healthier habits - everything from what, when and how to eat - to moving more and sleeping better. Help them put these behaviors in place this time of year that will help carry them through the season and beyond!
And if you and your team have been participating already in a 12 Fix Group Challenge, I applaud you! Perhaps you’re ready to mix up your programming and try new approaches with your team as you continue to practice the behaviors you have learned.
BEYOND THE 12 FIX GROUP CHALLENGE
Beyond the tried and true 12 Fix Challenge structure, there are a variety of approaches to encourage participation and support. Here are some fresh Fall ideas for consideration!
EARN POINTS - A possible 5,000 points are available in the 12-week 12 Fix Group Challenge. Make it a points game and encourage Challenge participants to earn as many points as possible throughout the Challenge. Points are displayed on the 12 Fix app, so it’s an easy way for your team to track their progress. Knowing plenty of points are available to earn may be a helpful focus so participants keep moving forward without striving for perfection.
LEVELS - Participating in the first month of the Group Challenge is equivalent to successfully finishing level one. Participants can feel good about achieving level one and be more motivated to finish another month of the Challenge, or level two. With two levels (or months) down, level three becomes a challenge worth doing while solidifying new habits and adopting more health-promoting changes. Finishing level one or two is a success, and finishing level 3 (or the last month of the Challenge) earns participants the grand prize winner status. Consider gifting prizes to participants when they complete level one, level two or level three. Suggestions include gifts such as a gift card for a favorite running store or to their local farmers market. Even better, all participants could potentially reach this status together, and a celebration is in order! Treat them all to a catered lunch at the office one day next week!
BONUS ROUND - Divide the typical 12-week Group Challenge into an 8-week Challenge followed by a 4-week “bonus round.” Those who complete the first eight weeks and the bonus round get special recognition. Participants who have completed two months of the Challenge can feel entirely successful while motivating many to continue conquering the 12 Fixes. Remember, establishing a program that runs for a full 12 weeks is essential for habit formation! One needs at least two months to form a habit; plus another to continue practicing to make it STICK. The 12 Fix Program adds the Fixes over the course of the 12-week Challenge (to avoid too much at one time).
Which one of these variations to the 12 Fix Group Challenge will you try?
Contact me and tell me!
And - there’s more! Join me for my LinkedIn LIVE event on Tuesday, Sept. 19th at 3:00 - 3:30 pm ET where I’ll cover the 6 Mistakes Most Wellness Programs Make...And What To Do Instead
Learn the most common mistakes that wellness programs make and how these can be addressed in turn to ensure your employees not only LOVE the program but are progressing and making healthy changes that they will feel great about.
Are you a dietitian interested in leading 12 Fixes to Healthy Challenge programs? Contact me
