The 2026 Wellness Challenge Calendar: 12 Monthly Themes for Every Team

If you’ve ever tried to run wellness programming across a full year, you’ve probably noticed a pattern: it’s not hard to launch one great challenge. It’s hard to keep the momentum going without turning the program into a monthly reinvention project.

So this calendar is built around two principles:

• Each month has a catchy, season-appropriate theme that matches what people are naturally up for (January motivation, May outdoor energy, September reset mode, December maintenance reality).

• Each month has one clear challenge type (Steps, Minutes, Sessions, Check-ins, Points) so participants immediately understand what to do—and admins can launch in YuMuuv quickly.

You can run all 12 months, or you can treat this as a “menu” and pick the 4–6 that fit your culture best. Either way, the goal is the same: less admin effort, more participation, and a wellness rhythm that actually holds up past week two.

How to use this calendar in YuMuuv (without making it complicated)

Before the month-by-month plan, make three one-time decisions. You’ll reuse these all year:

1) Choose your default scoring approach

If you’re running team challenges, average-based team scoring stays fair for different team sizes and fitness levels (and keeps beginners from feeling like they’re “dragging the team down”).

2) Pick one primary metric per month

A single metric makes your challenge easy to explain and easy to join. (You can always add optional tips or side quests, but the leaderboard should be simple.)

3) Adopt a “4-message” comms rhythm

Launch → Week 2 nudge → Week 3 boost → Wrap-up.

That’s enough to keep engagement steady without turning it into a content job.

YuMuuv makes this easier because you can keep everything in one place: tracking, leaderboards, teams, and scheduled posts/reminders—so the program feels consistent month-to-month.

The 2026 Calendar

Each month below includes:

• Theme + title

• Challenge type

• What to track

• What counts

• What to prep (so it’s easy to launch)

January — Build the Base

Challenge type: Strength Sessions

January is when motivation is naturally high and people want a “serious start.” Strength fits perfectly because it’s beginner-friendly (you can start with 15 minutes), it supports long-term health, and it gives people a win that isn’t dependent on weather.

Track: number of strength sessions per week (e.g., 2–3/week)

What counts: gym strength, bodyweight training, resistance bands, kettlebells, Pilates strength—anything where strength is the focus.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Define what a “session” means in one sentence (e.g., “15+ minutes counts”).

• Provide 2–3 beginner options so people don’t feel intimidated.

• Use a participation-friendly target (for most teams, “2 sessions/week” is a strong goal).

Why this works: It gives people structure in the month when they crave it, without requiring high fitness or perfect conditions.

February — Better Together

Challenge type: Connection Points

February is a great month to focus on social wellbeing because winter can feel isolating, especially for remote and hybrid teams. A connection challenge also pulls in participants who don’t love fitness-based tracking.

Track: points for completed connection actions

What counts: a walk-and-talk call, a gratitude message, a coffee chat, a team stretch break, welcoming a new teammate, a “no agenda” check-in.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Create a menu of 12–20 actions and assign simple point values.

• Make sure at least half the actions work for remote teammates.

• Keep the tone light: this is about connection, not forced socializing.

Tip: Pair people across departments for one week to encourage new connections—optional, but it boosts participation.

March — Step Into Spring

Challenge type: Steps

Steps are the most universal metric you can use. March is ideal because people are ready to move more as the season shifts, but not everyone wants structured workouts yet.

Track: steps

What counts: all steps—commuting, errands, treadmill walks, lunch breaks, walking meetings.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Set team scoring to average (recommended).

• Communicate that “small walks count” so beginners don’t self-exclude.

• Add two simple “micro-walk” prompts per week (5–10 minutes).

Optional seasonal tie-in: March is also National Nutrition Month, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and celebrated in March.  You don’t need to track food to use that tie-in—you can simply add weekly nutrition tips while steps remain the challenge metric.

April — Stress Less, Doable More

Challenge type: Mindfulness Minutes

April is widely recognized as Stress Awareness Month (observed in April, with the goal of raising awareness and improving stress management).  That makes it a natural month for a short daily mindfulness challenge—especially if you keep the bar low and practical.

Track: mindfulness minutes

What counts: meditation, breathwork, journaling, guided audio, mindful walking, short “reset” routines.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Set a tiny daily target (5–10 minutes).

• Provide “choose your style” examples so people don’t feel they have to meditate perfectly.

• Schedule 2–3 short prompts per week (consistency matters more than volume).

Why this works: It’s accessible to everyone, it’s a strong counterbalance to Q1 intensity, and it connects to an established awareness month.

May — Move Outside May

Challenge type: Outdoor Minutes

May is when people want to be outside. Don’t fight that—use it. Outdoor minutes are simple, seasonal, and naturally motivating because they feel like a reward after winter.

Track: outdoor activity minutes

What counts: outdoor walking, hiking, running, cycling, outdoor sports, commute walks—any movement outside.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Define “outdoor minutes” clearly (movement outside, not just sitting on a bench).

• Include a weather-friendly fallback (“If weather is unsafe, indoor minutes count”).

• Encourage short daily doses (10 minutes counts).

Optional tie-in: May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month by organizations like SAMHSA.  You can reinforce that by framing outdoor minutes as “mood-supporting movement.”

June — Move More June

Challenge type: Activity Minutes (Team Challenge)

June is your flagship month. Longer days and higher energy make this the perfect time for a classic minutes challenge.

Track: activity minutes

What counts: walking, cycling, gym sessions, sports, swimming, yoga—anything active.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Turn on teams and use average scoring.

• Decide whether you want a daily cap (optional) to keep competition balanced.

• Add weekly mini-awards (best consistency, most improved team).

Why this works: It’s inclusive, it’s easy to explain, and it creates social momentum.

July — Hydrate in July

Challenge type: Hydration Check-ins

July is ideal for hydration because it’s seasonal, accessible, and brings in people who may not participate in movement challenges.

Track: daily hydration check-in (or glasses/ml if you prefer)

What counts: meeting your hydration target for the day.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Choose the simplest tracking method (check-in is usually easiest).

• Set a realistic target and keep messaging supportive (hydration needs vary).

• Add one weekly tip (“one glass before coffee,” “water with lunch,” etc.).

Bonus: Hydration challenges are great for sustaining engagement during summer vacations because they’re low-friction.

August — Summer Mix-Up

Challenge type: Variety Points

August schedules are messy. A variety challenge works because it stays flexible and fun—without relying on perfect routines.

Track: points for different activity types

What counts: a menu of activities (walk, swim, hike, bike, yoga, sports, dance, etc.). Add a “variety bonus” if someone tries 5+ different types.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Create a list of 10–15 activities with simple point values.

• Add a bonus for variety (this is the “hook” that makes it different).

• Keep logging easy—this month should feel forgiving.

September — Back on Track

Challenge type: Choose Your Track (Steps OR Sessions)

September is the most natural “reset month” of the year. People are back from summer, routines return, and motivation tends to spike.

Track:

• Track A: steps

• Track B: activity sessions (e.g., 3/week)

What counts:

• Steps track: all steps

• Sessions track: any activity session (15+ minutes)

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Keep leaderboards separate by track (cleaner and fair).

• Use a mid-month reset message (“If the first two weeks were chaos, start today”).

• Encourage teams even if individuals choose different tracks.

Why this works: People are more likely to join when the challenge fits their style.

October — Posture & Mobility Month

Challenge type: Mobility Minutes (or Daily Check-in)

October is a great time to focus on ergonomics and mobility because workloads ramp up and people spend more time at desks. October is also commonly recognized as National Ergonomics Month, a time to raise awareness about fitting work to people to reduce injury risk.  

Track: mobility minutes (or “mobility done” check-in)

What counts: stretching, mobility flows, posture resets, yoga, walk breaks, desk routines.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Set a tiny minimum (5 minutes).

• Share one simple routine (3 moves).

• Schedule reminders at predictable times (mid-morning, mid-afternoon).

Why this works: It’s low barrier, high participation, and very relevant to modern desk/hybrid work.  

November — Sleep & Restore

Challenge type: Sleep-Support Habits (Check-ins)

Sleep challenges work best when you track behaviors rather than hours, because habits are controllable and privacy-friendly. Sleep education is also heavily promoted during awareness initiatives like Sleep Awareness Week (National Sleep Foundation).  

Track: daily habit check-ins (participants choose 2–3 habits)

What counts: screens off, consistent bedtime routine, caffeine cutoff, wind-down routine, morning light exposure.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Offer 5–7 habits and let participants pick their focus.

• Keep the tone supportive (“progress over perfection”).

• Add weekly “one lever” content: one habit + one reason it helps.

December — Holiday Hold-Steady

Challenge type: Maintenance Minimum (Weekly Goal)

December is not a “crush it” month. It’s a “don’t disappear” month. The most successful December challenges are explicitly about maintenance, not performance.

Track: weekly completions (e.g., 3 days/week)

What counts: any movement session, any minutes, mobility, walks—keep it broad.

What to prep in YuMuuv:

• Communicate the intent clearly: “maintenance is success.”

• Use participation-based incentives (raffles work well).

• Optional: run a short “12 Days of Wellbeing” mini-burst inside the month for a fun push.