This blog post is AI-Assisted Content: Written by humans with a helping hand.

Every year, InterWorks’ Employee Experience (EE) team puts together a month full of activities, challenges, and events centered around wellness. I sat down with Employee Experience Coordinator Sara Lovelace to talk about what went into this year’s Wellness Month, what stood out and what’s keeping the momentum going year-round.

Wellness Month Q&A

Q: Let’s start with some background. How has Wellness Month evolved over the years?

Sara: “It really got strong starting last year, when we decided to make it available for folks outside of Oklahoma to join in. Remote employees and people from our other offices could participate in everything we were doing here for Wellness Month, and the engagement was pretty awesome. We saw a lot of people from outside of Oklahoma, and we really enjoyed having that time to connect.

It just goes back to the principles we have for the EE team. We want to make sure we’re taking care of our in-person employees across all of our different offices while also being intentional with our remote employees. That’s something we’re always trying to be creative about. And honestly, this company is very active in general, so when we put things like this out there, people respond really nicely to it.

Every year is just different in a good way. Even with Oklahoma weather being crazy and having a little bit of rain this year, just seeing people work with that and be excited to be together and try something new, it always feels really nice. It keeps us motivated to keep planning things like this.”

Q: Let’s talk about the Step Challenge. Was that something you carried over from last year, and what felt different about this year’s version?

Sara: “We actually switched to a new platform this year. We used YuMuuv instead of the Reaction app, which is what we’d used for the past two years, and we got a lot of good feedback on the change.

One of the things that was really nice about YuMuuv is that you can get into teams. So, you could go in, put all your information, and say you’re from the Oklahoma City office, for example. That meant we could celebrate not just individuals but offices as a whole. Portland ended up being the team with the most steps through May, and they’re going to go get pizza as a reward. After all that sweating and running, they’ve definitely earned those carbs.

But beyond the team competition, it was just funny to see the engagement through YuMuuv and hear from people we probably don’t hear a lot from otherwise. Activity and movement means a lot to people, and it’s a great way to get folks involved who might be a little more shy or don’t usually jump into other things. It’s just another door to get people engaged.”

Q: The competition got pretty heated, especially toward the end. What was it like watching that play out?

Sara: Tulsa was doing really well for a while, but then Portland started pulling ahead once more people got on the app. Australia and Germany started getting more active too, so it was cool to watch it evolve and really fun to watch. That was one of the things we loved about YuMuuv over the previous app. Any physical activity you were doing, you could enter it and it would convert it into steps. The old app didn’t do that.

In past years we had a separate form where people could log other activities, and then we had to track everything separately. This year, if you were cycling, running, doing yoga, whatever, it all counted. That’s actually how Portland caught up with Tulsa. Someone realized they weren’t entering all their activities, and once they did, things flipped pretty quickly.”

Q: Beyond the Step Challenge, what else was going on for Wellness Month?

Sara: “Specifically in Oklahoma, we had a wellness event in Stillwater. We started the day with a yoga class, and originally we had planned for a cycling group led by Cody Ehlers, a walking group led by Pam Teel and a running group led by Charlie Hudgins.

But, because of the rain, we had to switch things up. We added a sound bath class after yoga, which was something we’d never done before. A lot of people who stayed for it had never experienced one. Some were a little hesitant at first and maybe a little worried about falling asleep and snoring, but we got a lot of really good feedback on it. Doing yoga and then a sound bath outside while it was raining actually ended up being kind of relaxing in the best way. When else do you get to do yoga to the sound of rain?

After that, we had a taco truck waiting outside, which was delicious. Good food is absolutely part of wellness. Then we walked over to Stonecloud Brewing, which has become a bit of a tradition. We were only a block away, and they have options for non-alcoholic drinks too, so it works for everyone. And Stillwater has that new area, Block 34, which we were able to use this year. It’s a great space.”

Q: What about EMEA and APAC teams? How do you approach wellness for employees who aren’t in Oklahoma?

Sara: “These teams are growing, and we now that have EE representatives in those regions who can connect with those teams to see what moves them. We try to stay plugged in and pay attention to what people in those markets are wanting and asking for. Much of this already happens organically in those offices, and we try to support that, but the step challenge this year was a nice breakthrough with more international involvement.”

Q: Wellness Month is over, but what keeps going year-round?

Sara: “One of our greatest resources is Ascendant Wellbeing. They’re a third-party partner we’ve brought on to do monthly sessions for all employees, and we have a Slack channel called InterWorks Wellness where that all lives. Every month we do something, and we try to align it with whatever else is going on across the company. This month is Pride Month, so we’ll have some Pride-themed wellness activities. But since EMEA and APAC celebrate Pride in July, we want to be intentional about that, too, and provide additional opportunities when it makes sense for them.

What I really like about Ascendant Wellbeing is that it’s not just about movement. We also take mental health into account. Yes, movement is really important, but how you’re doing mentally, how you handle stress, how you deal with everything else going on in your life, that’s just as important. Sessions are available every month for EMEA and US right now.

And there’s also the ongoing wellness benefit that everyone gets, which can be used for gym memberships, Strava, Peloton and things like that. It’s honestly such a good benefit, and it means cost isn’t a barrier when someone wants to stay active.”

Q: Any final thoughts on Wellness Month this year?

Sara: “I just love seeing the engagement and how excited people get to be around each other. I always leave those events feeling really happy and proud. It is genuinely like putting on an event, and it takes work, but it’s so worth it. And everyone here is just so kind, which makes it easy to stay motivated. It’s easy to lose motivation on anything, but when you hear that the hard work is being seen and enjoyed, it just feels nice. I’m already excited to see what we do next year.”

Above: Me at the Mid South Half Marathon, covered by InterWorks’ Annual Wellness Benefit.

Thoughts on the 2026 Step Challenge

In addition to the conversation with Sara, I reached out to the step count leaders of each region from last month’s step competition to hear their thoughts. Hearing what motivated each person, as well as what they got out of the experience, was fascinating and pretty multi-faceted.

Theo Legowo, Platforms Engineer (Sydney, AU): “It was the end of fall where I live, so it was often easier to sit down and stay home. I really appreciate the Wellness Month initiative. It was a great motivation to just get out and move. Nothing to lose, lots to gain. And, my wife and kids would usually tag along so everybody wins. I sometimes forget that simply walking outside helps clear my head and forces my body to breathe. When I am super stressed, I noticed that I tend to forget my breathing.”

Alex Gelmers, Designer Manager (Tulsa, OK):”Wellness Month was a great motivator for me. Coming off a half marathon in late April, I would normally dial things back a bit. Instead, I used the month as an opportunity to maintain my momentum. I stayed active with local running clubs, signed up for a century ride and spent May training for it. Every day I was running or cycling, sometimes both and I made a point to walk a lot to get some extra steps whenever I could. Overall, Wellness Month was a valuable push to sustain my fitness heading into summer, when the Oklahoma heat tends to slow me down.”

Wendy Orpwood, Salesforce Business Analyst (Christchurch, UK): “I think the latest wellness challenge came off the back of the wellness challenges we’ve been setting ourselves as a family each month. Back in April, we challenged ourselves to complete at least 250,000 steps during the month, and I’m pleased to say we all managed it!

When this challenge came along, I saw it as another great way to give myself that extra bit of motivation to keep going. I usually aim for 10,000 steps a day, but it was really interesting tracking my daily totals more closely. You can definitely spot the days when I don’t get out for a dog walk or when work is particularly busy and I miss my lunchtime walk. I think it’s easier this time of year too — the lighter evenings and better weather make it much more appealing to get outside and stay active.

The challenge also helped reinforce my commitment to going to the gym three times a week. I’m currently managing rheumatoid arthritis in my knees, so keeping active through walking and strength training is really important for helping me stay mobile and keep things under control.

One thing that really amazed me was seeing how many steps some people managed to fit into a single day! I often found it a challenge to squeeze everything in around work and family life, but a bit of extra motivation is always welcome.

I’m a big fan of all the wellness initiatives because they remind us to take care of ourselves. Something as simple as a quick walk outside can do wonders for clearing your head, resetting your focus, and improving your mood.”

Scott Matlock, IT Lead and Training Coordinator (Stillwater, OK): “I always look forward to the May walking challenge. Not only does it throw gas on my competitive side, it really allows me to get outside and enjoy myself before the sun turns Oklahoma into a ‘indoor’ state. I plan my day around walking to and from work every day, laps around the InterWorks parking lot with Dalton and Mesa the mutt, and usually some running or cycling in the evenings before dinner. I averaged around 12.6k steps a day for the month of May and have tried to continue the pattern into June. Stillwater isn’t the most walk-friendly city (spread out, limited sidewalks, etc.), so it tends to force people into their cars. I hope challenges like this encourage the city to enhance pedestrian infrastructure so people feel more comfortable and safe walking around our awesome town!”

Bill Clarke, Strategy Director, Australia (Perth, AU): “For Wellness Month, I was simply continuing to do what I do each month. I take the dog on long walks at least once per day and on the weekend I walk the golf course: the one place where I can really switch off and reset my mind. 😊 During the month, there were probably one or two days that I made the extra effort, even when the weather was bad, to get my steps in due to the competition. Otherwise, it was business as usual. The more challenging days were the ones where I was flying across the country, finding myself either in an airport or on a plane for eight hours of those days. Harder part for me: Meal planning and healthy eating.”

Haleigh Schwartz, Analytics Consultant (Portland, OR): “I love the Wellness challenges. It’s always a fun time of year and a great way to connect/compete with people across the globe. I am pretty active already, so I just logged the activities I already do. However, the PDX office got pretty competitive about it during the last week of the competition when we realized we were in second place. Everyone made a big point to use the treadmills in the office, walk or bike to work, take breaks during work to go on walks, walk around with their kids after work, etc. I even saw a post Simon made on Strava for a 16.5mi run on May 31 entitled ‘Procrastination: Trying to cram some steps into the last few hours of May for a Wellness Month competition at work.’ 😂😂 It was super fun to see everyone come together and be so proactive in making sure we could secure the win!”

Alex Madrigal, Analytics Consultant (Berlin, DE): “First, let me start by saying that wellness, sport and physical activity are essential in my life. Not a week goes by in which I don’t go for a run and lift some weights since 2015, when I really incorporated them as a permanent part of my routine and life. I’m strongly convinced that physical movement is not only desirable but a fundamental biological need of our bodies, like eating, sleeping or breathing. And that is also a key element for longevity, which is something I personally aim for. Not only to live long, but also to live well. If one day I become a father, and later a grandfather, I want to be able and have the energy to play with my children and grandchildren. I want to be independent and reach places in the long run with my own legs, not with a vehicle. I want to have a heart and lungs that are strong. And a body that doesn’t get tired easily. All that if for me the most important. How I look in the mirror comes in a distant second place.

Second, I love good and friendly competitions. If they align with healthy habits even better. And I can get a little competitive as well, so I’ll try to win. Last May, I gave my best to try to win this: I ran more, I went more often for a walk and I walked a lot more often instead of taking public transportation. This also coincided with my first Hyrox training, so those trainings and the competition itself helped a lot. I would even go every weekend to dance to some electronic music, something that I really love doing. These were all things I was already doing. I just did them more. My step count visibly increased from a daily average of 16K steps in March and 17,3K steps in April, to almost 21K steps in May. And I went from 13,6 km by foot as daily average in March and 15 km in April, to 17,5 km in May.

But all this effort felt short to keep up with what Alex Gelmers did. Really impressive! There wasn’t one day last month in which I didn’t ask myself, ‘What the hell is Alex doing? It’s amazing!’ I still wonder. But I was still happy with my second place. That’s certainly not bad either. Barbara Hartmann and I partnered a lot on this experience and motivated each other often. She became also quite competitive herself. We would go for walks and even occasionally to a club together to increase our counts. I know she really put quite some effort in all this as well. We went from being people already physically active, to very active.

I think it’s great initiative from InterWorks, and hopefully it has the positive effect that it has on many of us on everyone taking part. And that next time more people join. It’s not only effective and healthy, it’s also a lot of fun.”