10 Tips to Engage Your Team for Annual Walk
Since the first Healthiest State Annual Walk in 2011, the goal of the event has always been to encourage Iowans to work (and walk!) together to make our state healthier. We are so excited for Iowans to gather with their colleagues, classmates, friends and neighbors every year for our annual walk!
WALK RESOURCES: Communication templates, flyers, social media posts + more!
Social connections not only impact your mental health, but your physical health as well – and walking is the perfect activity to re-connect. Register your walk here and join thousands of other Iowans statewide to walk for 30 minutes this October.
After you register your team to walk, here are 10 tips boost engagement:
1. Track walkers
Want to know how many of your colleagues or classmates are walking with you? Consider tracking your team with a simple sign-up sheet or use a virtual tool like Google Forms.
2. Reward your team
Motivate your team to walk with a reward. It could be an extra hour of PTO, a healthy lunch, refillable water bottle or something specific to your organization. Organize a social gathering before or after the walk to give participants and opportunity to connect with each other.
3. Cheer on your team
Every team needs a good cheering section! Set up signs along the route to motivate your team to walk. Your signs could also feature fun facts about walking and its health benefits.
4. Set a goal
Set a goal for your team and crush it together! Maybe its number of walkers who participate, distance walked or minutes logged. You could also generate friendly competition between classrooms, workplace departments or neighborhoods using your goals.
5. Order merchandise
We have new T-shirts, stickers and water bottles to help you celebrate the Healthiest State Annual Walk every year! Order here!
6. Check-in with your team
Let your team know that they have your support and encouragement! Check in with them in the days leading up to the walk and follow-up with them on October 5 to make sure they logged 30 minutes.
7. Inspire and motivate
Give your team a reason to walk. Walking has many benefits including supporting our physical, mental, social and emotional health. Share our Top 10 Reasons to Walk with them.
8. Keep walking...
Don't just walk in October – walk with us all month long. Share our "Walk Together " calendar with your team and track your progress together.
9. Post walking routes
Walking the same route can get boring. Determine the best walking routes in your neighborhood or around your office or school. Indicate the length of each route in time and mileage. You can post them to the bulletin board or send them virtually via the organization intranet or by creating a custom Google Map.
10. Keep the momentum going
The 12th Annual Walk serves as a kick-off to Healthiest State Month, happening throughout October, encouraging Iowans to practice the 5-2-1-0 healthy habits and reminding them that “Healthy Choices Count!” Learn more about the program and plan activities for each week using our 5-2-1-0 toolkits, available for schools, workplaces and communities here.
Annual Walk Resources
Looking for more ways to engage and communicate with your team? Check out the Annual Walk Resources page for virtual toolkits including social media messages, communication templates, customizable posters and more!
