2027 employee wellness calendar

New-year motivation is high, so make it easy to turn into a habit. Federal guidelines recommend at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week for adults, and short walks add up. Source: Physical Activity Guidelines.

1. Week 1 Ask everyone to set one movement goal for the month, measured in minutes rather than miles or pounds. How to run it
2. Week 2 Launch a four-week team step challenge. How to run it
3. Week 3 Start a five-minute stretch break at the same time each day. How to run it
4. Week 4 Celebrate consistency: recognize everyone who moved on most days, not just the top scorers.

February is a national health observance month for heart health, and food is one of the easiest places to start a conversation about it. Source: ODPHP.

1. Week 1 Share a simple plate-building guide and ask people to try it at one meal a day.
2. Week 2 Run a recipe swap and share the collection by the end of the month. How to run it
3. Week 3 Swap the pastries at your regular team breakfast for lighter options. How to run it
4. Week 4 Run a no-cook lunch idea swap for busy days. How to run it

Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 14, 2027, and losing an hour is a natural opening to talk about sleep. Adults 18 to 60 are advised to get at least seven hours a night. Source: CDC.

1. Week 1 Share the seven-hour recommendation and invite people to notice how much they actually get.
2. Week 2 The week before the clocks change, suggest moving bedtime 15 minutes earlier for a few nights.
3. Week 3 Start a two-week consistent bedtime challenge. How to run it
4. Week 4 Agree on an after-hours log-off norm so people can protect their evenings. How to run it

With the federal tax deadline in mid-April, money is already on people’s minds. Focus on small habits rather than big financial plans.

1. Week 1 Invite everyone to list their recurring subscriptions and cancel one they no longer use. How to run it
2. Week 2 Host a retirement plan education session. How to run it
3. Week 3 Explain how to set up an automatic transfer to savings, however small.
4. Week 4 Remind people where to find financial help in your benefits, and check whether your employee assistance program offers financial counseling.

May’s national health observances include mental health and physical fitness, which makes it a good month to make support visible. Source: ODPHP.

1. Week 1 Remind everyone how to reach your employee assistance program and mental health benefits.
2. Week 2 Add an optional one-minute reset to the start of team meetings. How to run it
3. Week 3 Try a company-wide meeting-free focus block. How to run it
4. Week 4 Ask managers to check in with one question: what would make your week more manageable? How to run it

Summer schedules make it easier to try new routines with technology, and vacations are a chance to practice actually logging off.

1. Week 1 Invite people to check their phone’s built-in screen-time report for one week, privately.
2. Week 2 Hold a notification cleanup: turn off alerts from apps that don’t need them. How to run it
3. Week 3 Try a phone-free lunch day. How to run it
4. Week 4 Before summer vacations, encourage people to plan their time off and set a clear out-of-office. How to run it

Midsummer is when outdoor events, commutes and workouts meet the most heat, so it’s the right time for water and heat-safety habits.

1. Week 1 Launch a two-week hydration challenge. How to run it
2. Week 2 Share heat-illness warning signs from the CDC or OSHA with anyone who works, commutes or exercises outdoors. How to run it
3. Week 3 Put sunscreen and water out at any outdoor team event.
4. Week 4 Move the walking group to a cooler time of day or a shaded route. How to run it

Late summer is a quieter month for many teams, which leaves room to practice the skills that make work relationships easier.

1. Week 1 Open a team meeting by asking for one word that describes everyone’s week. How to run it
2. Week 2 Start coffee roulette so people meet colleagues outside their usual circle. How to run it
3. Week 3 Practice listening: in one meeting, summarize what someone said before responding.
4. Week 4 Open a shout-out channel for specific, public thanks. How to run it

Healthy aging is one of September’s national health observances, and staying mentally active is part of it at any age. Source: ODPHP.

1. Week 1 Host a colleague-led lunch and learn on a skill someone knows well. How to run it
2. Week 2 Post a daily word game or puzzle in a team chat channel. How to run it
3. Week 3 Swap one meeting a week for a walking meeting. How to run it
4. Week 4 Encourage people to spend 15 minutes learning something new and share it.

Fourth-quarter deadlines arrive in October. It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a timely reason to remind people about preventive care. Source: ODPHP.

1. Week 1 Invite people to track where their time goes for two days, privately, and spot one thing to change.
2. Week 2 Set up a quiet room for focused work. How to run it
3. Week 3 Try a single-tasking challenge: one tab, one task, 25 minutes. How to run it
4. Week 4 Share which preventive screenings your health plan covers. How to run it (HealthCare.gov)

As the holidays approach, schedules fill up. November is a good time to protect rest and remind people to use their time off before the year ends.

1. Week 1 Send managers their team’s remaining time-off balances. How to run it
2. Week 2 Run a gratitude channel for the week of Thanksgiving. How to run it
3. Week 3 Organize a team volunteer half-day. How to run it
4. Week 4 Plan holiday coverage so people can fully log off during their time away.

December’s national health observances include flu vaccination. It’s also the last chance to use some benefits before the plan year resets. Source: ODPHP.

1. Week 1 Share where employees can get a flu shot under your health plan. How to run it (HealthCare.gov)
2. Week 2 Restate your stay-home-when-sick norm and how coverage works when someone is out.
3. Week 3 Remind people of year-end benefit deadlines, such as flexible spending account balances.
4. Week 4 Close the year with wellness bingo and ask what people want more of next year. How to run it