Are you having trouble motivating yourself to exercise after a long day of work? One great way to start exercising is to create a walking club at work. Organizing a walking club at your workplace is an easy, fun and inexpensive way to exercise. Not only is exercise good for your body, but it can improve concentration, decrease stress, and help make the workday go by faster too! Walking with a group makes exercise fun, which increases the chances you’ll stick with it.
Follow these easy steps to get your walking club started:
- First, ask for management support. A walking club benefits your employer too, by keeping employees healthy and boosting productivity. Ask management to show their support by joining the club, or by purchasing an occasional incentive for club members, like pedometers.
- Next, get the word out. Post flyers, send out emails and ask your friends to join you on a walk everyday (even if it’s only for a short time!). News travels fast, and the more people that join, the more motivated your co-workers will be to join in too. Make sure to pick a time that works for the majority of members.
- Mix it up. Walking clubs are meant to be fun and low-key, but it may be fun to hold a contest or challenge between departments or groups within your company. Try challenging each department to see who can get the most walkers to participate in the walking club everyday for a week. Ask management if they would give the winning group a prize.
For more information on how to get a walking club started in your workplace, check out this Guide from the Network for a Healthy California, or watch the video below.
Nicole Geurin, MPH, RD 