The Step Count Challenge will return next month, despite Scotland being in lockdown
Staying home doesn’t have to mean staying still.
That’s the message from walking charity Paths for All who have launched a new month-long opportunity for Scotland’s workers to get moving, motivated and connected.
The 2020 spring Step Count Challenge starts on Monday (4 May) and invites five workmates to get together as a virtual team to encourage and support each other to move more in any way they can.
Home-based activities like gardening, yoga, dancing, chores and workouts with the kids can all be tracked and recorded on a new and improved Step Count Challenge website as can once-a-day outdoor exercise like walking, running and cycling.
Work colleagues can sync their activity trackers to the platform and will be motivated throughout the four weeks by Paths for All with blogs and tips and a calendar of 28 daily mini challenges.
The challenge is free to all, including homeworkers, furloughed staff and key workers, and everyone taking part will be automatically entered into prize draws worth hundreds of pounds each week.
Ian Findlay, chief officer of Paths for All, said: “It really is more important than ever to look after our health and wellbeing in any way we can.
“Social distancing is tough, but staying home doesn’t have to mean staying still and being apart doesn’t mean we can’t keep connected with each other.
“Our Step Count Challenge has been running twice a year for a long time and has always been a fun way for work colleagues to motivate each other to walk more. But, in these exceptional times, we’re shifting the focus from high step counts to motivating everyone to move more either at home or during outdoor exercise once a day.
“In the past few weeks, more of us have been keeping in touch with friends and colleagues on things like WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams or even just texts and phone calls. So, although we are not face-to-face with challenge teammates, there’s lots of ways to connect with each other and keep each other going.
“We think this is a great opportunity for workplaces to keep moving, stay motivated, keep connected and help each other be happier and healthier.”
To register your team for free, visit the Stepcount website.
