Wellness Challenges at Conferences and Trade Shows

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1. Raise awareness.

• Introduce the concept of wellness via social media and targeted communications several months in advance of the conference to peak interest, intrigue and excitement.
• Ask attendees to start thinking about personal wellness challenges they experience at conferences and what changes they’d like to make.  
• Make the topic of wellness relevant by integrating fitness/wellness talks and activities as a theme in the conference or trade show schedule.
• Create an online dialogue to identify challenges and brainstorm solutions that could become the focus of your conference wellness challenge.

2. Take a bite-size approach to wellness.

Wellness is not all or nothing. Readiness to make wellness changes is part of a continuum ranging from precontemplation (no interest in making any changes) to maintenance (those who have adopted a healthy lifestyle). The goal is to move people along the continuum by changing the way they think about wellness – by making it easy for people to "fit" healthy choices into their busy conference day and everyday lives – one byte at a time. 

3. Recognize that wellness is holistic.

Wellness challenges extend beyond "counting your steps" competitions using pedometers. Wellness includes physical, emotional, intellectual, social/community, environment (physical, cultural, political) and spiritual well-being. Examples of wellness topics include:

4. Create a SMART and personalized attendee wellness challenge experience.

Have attendees think of three conference wellness activities and associated goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). Wellness activities can be integrated before, during and after the conference day. For example, an activity goal could be kick-starting the day with whole grains and a protein breakfast, learning a new concept at a conference session, and ending the day with stretching and relaxing in the hotel room before bedtime.

5. Make the challenge interesting.

• Pick a theme.

• Find sponsorship partners (e.g., pedometers, promotional products, fitness apparel and food companies).

• Integrate the wellness challenge into the conference app.

• Schedule walk and talk sessions and in-session fitness energy breaks. 

• Offer contests and friendly competitions.

• Recognize accomplishments and give out prizes.

6. Sustain momentum after the conference. 

Keep attendees engaged in personal and workplace wellness through a post-conference newsletter, online discussion communities (e.g., LinkedIn discussion group, Facebook, etc.), meet-ups, regular articles and wellness tips. Sustaining the wellness "buzz" builds healthy communities and repeat conference attendance.