Withoutgoing to extremes, you can provide your employees with a way tofiguratively get a healthy jump on 2020. (Photo:Shutterstock)

The new year is officially upon us. That means many employeeswill be setting and working toward their new year's goals! If youhave a corporate well-being program, chances are you're encouragingand working with employees to do this—so it makes complete sensethat you would also brainstorm and implement creative tactics tohelp them get a head start on their well-being goals in 2020.

Over the past couple years, I've seen our clients take a numberof unique approaches. So I thought I'd share a few of myfavorites—ideas I hope will inspire you to take action with yourown employees in the new year.

Related: How employers can promote employeewellness

Ready, set, jump! Some people jump into frigidwater to celebrate the new year. Without going to extremes, you toocan provide your employees with a way to figuratively get a healthyjump on 2020. Consider a four-week "Jump Start" program. Haveemployees set a few short-term goals that will enable them to makeheadway towards bigger 2020 goals (perhaps variations on their NewYear's resolutions).

Run a race in stiletto heels—or snow shoes! Canyou picture your CEO running a 5K in stiletto heels? That's exactlywhat one financial services company did when their CEO helped raiseawareness for its 5K charity race by jogging in heels! Employeesraised money and participated in the race just for the chance tosee their CEO (who happens to be male) strut his stuff in sparklystiletto heels. A little too snowy to run a 5K this winter? Make ita snow shoe race instead!

Building—and donating—bikes. HR staff at onelarge biotech company work with employees to lead fun team-buildingactivities—including an obstacle course where employees assemblenew bicycles, race around the corporate campus, and then donate thefully-built and safety-checked bikes to a children's charity. Thisone hits the physical, emotional and social dimensions of wellbeingand has a charitable tie-in which appeals to many employees!

Crash the gates! It can be tough to reachemployees who work "on the line" at manufacturing firms. So, onelarge chemical manufacturing company decided to get creative byhaving HR staff meet workers where they're at—via "gate crashing."The HR team greets employees at the plant's gate during shiftchanges. During this face-to-face time, HR team members distributeinformational flyers, fruit and other incentives to promote currentand upcoming well-being programs.

Get Freaky on Fridays. At one insurancecompany, leaders took center stage in a popular class called"spontaneous dance" on Fridays. It's 15 minutes of movement,similar to a flash mob, and just what employees need on a Fridayafternoon to stay motivated and active. Imagine employees gettingtheir groove on to J-Lo, Maroon 5 or Taylor Swift!

Well-being bingo. Consider a new year's-themedbingo-style program to create awareness about your well-beingprogram and increase participation in activities around well-being,stress, fitness, and volunteerism. Have participants complete taskson their bingo cards designed to help them boost theirwell-being—such as limiting screen time, taking stretch breaks andwalking more. When they finish the activity squares, participantscan shout an invigorating "Bingo!!!" and have a strong start to thenew year!

The start of any new year can be challenging for employees asthey attempt to start working toward their healthy eating andfitness goals. But, with your help, they can make it to the finishline! I hope the creative tactics I shared above help you thinkdifferently about how you can motivate and inspire your employeesto stay true to their health and fitness goals as they start theNew Year!

Ann Wyatt is vice president, programmanagement & engagement at HealthFitnesswhere she oversees a national account management team. Her roleincludes strategy development and driving engagement for new andexisting health management and corporate fitness programs, employeerecruiting and training, program quality assurance and operationsmanagement.

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