National Walking Month at work

National Walking Month takes place every May and is a popular time for workplaces to focus on movement and wellbeing. With longer days and improving weather, many employees are more open to getting outside and being active.

For organisations, the key question is not whether walking is beneficial, but how to run a workplace walking challenge that feels inclusive, motivating and easy for employees to take part over the course of a month.

Why National Walking Month is a good opportunity for workplaces

National Walking Month provides a clear and recognisable hook in the wellbeing calendar. It gives teams a reason to focus on movement throughout May, rather than limiting activity to a single week.

Walking is already part of many people’s daily routines, whether that is commuting, walking during breaks or getting outside after work. A month-long workplace wellbeing challenge helps turn this everyday activity into something shared and purposeful.

For many organisations, National Walking Month also aligns well with other May initiatives focused on mental health and wellbeing, creating a joined-up approach rather than isolated activities.

Start with a goal that works for everyone

One of the most important parts of a successful workplace walking challenge is setting the right goal.

Goals should feel achievable and inclusive. A collective target, such as a shared distance or virtual route, works particularly well over a month, as it allows people to contribute in their own way and at their own pace.

The focus should always be on participation, not keeping up.

Make participation easy and flexible

A month-long walking challenge works best when employees can take part flexibly.

Some people may prefer short walks throughout the day, while others may log longer walks a few times a week. Allowing different approaches helps remove barriers and keeps motivation steady over the course of the month.

Simple progress tracking is also important. Employees should be able to see how their activity contributes to the wider goal without it feeling complicated or time-consuming.

Encourage participation without pressure

Communication plays a big role in keeping people engaged during a month-long challenge.

Positive, encouraging messages work better than competitive or performance-driven language. Reminding employees that every step counts helps maintain momentum without creating pressure.

Optional team elements, such as shared updates or friendly leaderboards, can add motivation while keeping the focus on inclusion rather than competition.

Support connection across teams and locations

Walking challenges are particularly effective for organisations with remote or hybrid teams.

Because walking can be done anywhere, employees can take part regardless of location. Shared goals and collective progress help maintain a sense of connection over the course of the month.

This can be especially valuable during National Walking Month, when the aim is to bring people together around a simple, positive activity.

Keep it simple for the best results

The most successful month-long walking challenges are often the simplest.

Clear goals, easy tracking and positive communication help sustain engagement without overwhelming participants. Overcomplicating the challenge can make it feel like extra work rather than a wellbeing initiative.

When employees feel supported rather than monitored, participation tends to stay high throughout the month.

Experience that helps workplaces get it right

Race At Your Pace has supported more than 750,000 people to be more active and have delivered workplace challenges designed to improve employee wellbeing through movement.

We have worked with organisations across a wide range of sectors, including Bunzl, National Grid, BMW, Rolls-Royce, CGI and the NHS.

What we consistently see is that simple, inclusive walking challenges lead to higher engagement and a more positive experience for employees.

Making National Walking Month part of a bigger picture

While National Walking Month is a natural focus point in May, walking challenges do not need to be limited to a single campaign.

Many organisations use May as a launch point for longer challenges or return to walking initiatives throughout the year. This helps embed movement into everyday working life rather than treating wellbeing as a one-off event.

Planning National Walking Month for your workplace?

If you are thinking about National Walking Month and want to run a walking challenge that is inclusive, engaging and easy to manage, we would love to have a chat.

Book a demo with us today – we are always happy to talk through what we have done for other organisations and help you explore how a workplace walking challenge could work for your team.