How to motivate your employees to walk outside in rainy autumn 🍂

Rainy-day challenge: double the fun, double the motivation 🌧️

A rainy afternoon can make even the most motivated employee hesitate before heading outside. As an HR manager, you might hear the collective sighs when rain taps against the office windows. Why not embrace this natural reluctance and turn it into a playful challenge? Organize a weekly walking initiative where employees earn double points for every step they take outdoors in the rain. A visible leaderboard keeps the excitement alive, creating some friendly competition.

Rewards can make a difference. Think about offering cozy items as incentives, like branded umbrellas, waterproof jackets, or thermal flasks filled with hot drinks. This small gesture not only encourages participation but also reinforces a sense of community spirit. Employees who see others heading out, rain or shine, will feel motivated to join in.

Quick wins for your rainy-day challenge: Send out a weekly email updating everyone on the leaderboard status, sprinkle in a lighthearted anecdote from someone’s rainy walk, and remind employees that participation can be more fun together.

Snap the rain: make every drop count 📸

Ever noticed how employees with creative hobbies bring new energy to the team? Harness that by making rainy walks an opportunity for a photo contest. Employees can share their most scenic, funny, or out-of-the-box rainy day photos on the company’s internal platform. The spirit of competition will spark enthusiasm, even among those who usually avoid the rain.

Categorize the photos with fun themes, such as ‘Most Creative Shot’ or ‘Best Rainy-Day Selfie,’ and announce the winners during team meetings or via email updates. The small moments of laughter and camaraderie these contests create can turn rainy walks into memorable vitality initiatives that people look forward to.

Encourage participation by: Showcasing past winning photos in the company newsletter, creating a ‘photo wall of fame’ in the breakroom, and sharing stories behind the best shots.

Team up and brave the rain together 👥

There’s something about doing things together that makes any task, even walking in the rain, much more appealing. As an HR manager, you probably know how employees can feed off each other’s energy. Organize scheduled group walks during breaks or lunch periods. These collective strolls aren’t just a fun break from work but an opportunity to foster connection and team spirit.

Announce these walks in advance and add a bit of anticipation by hinting at warm treats waiting at the finish line. Whether it’s warm drinks, a quick team photo in the rain, or a chat that strays away from work, these group activities can become cherished rituals and part of the company’s culture of well-being.

Make it easy for employees to join by: Keeping a calendar of walk times in shared spaces, appointing a “walk leader” who reminds others about the outing, and offering a dry space to gather afterward with warm drinks ready.

Rain-ready and feeling good ☔

It’s common for employees to avoid rainy walks simply because they don’t have the right gear. As an HR manager, you can step in here. Providing simple, branded rain gear like umbrellas, raincoats, or ponchos removes an obstacle and adds a thoughtful touch that employees appreciate. There’s a certain motivation that comes from feeling prepared for any situation.

Consider creating a small collection of gear that employees can borrow when needed. It’s not only practical but signals that the company cares about supporting healthy habits in a comfortable way.

Get employees excited by: Sending an email introducing the ‘gear library,’ placing rain gear racks by the door, and including a ‘fun fact’ about the benefits of walking in the rain.

The benefits of rain: it’s not just a walk 🥾

Walking in the rain might sound dreary, but it comes with a host of unexpected benefits. Sharing these insights with your employees can make a world of difference. Walking in cooler weather can boost energy levels, clear the mind, and surprisingly reduce stress. Framing these walks as an uplifting vitality initiative helps employees see the value beyond just the exercise.

You can add these reminders to your internal communication or morning check-ins, turning them into a mini-lesson about resilience and well-being. Stories from employees who felt refreshed after a rainy walk can be powerful motivators.

Keep the motivation alive by: Including fun ‘did you know?’ messages about rain’s mental health benefits in your updates, sharing employee testimonials, and adding rainy-day walk stories to your newsletter.