Staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be challenging, but having the right motivation makes all the difference. That’s where the Power of Vitality program comes in—a workplace benefit designed to encourage employees to prioritize their health through exercise, nutrition, and wellness education.
While the financial incentives are modest (about 100 points per dollar, with the potential to earn $500–$600 per year that can be used for fitness gear or gift cards), what really keeps me engaged is having a structured system that rewards my efforts. Just like I need a race and a training plan to stay motivated in my fitness journey, this program provides a similar ‘carrot on a stick’ that helps me keep pushing forward.
How The Power of Vitality Works
The Power of Vitality platform is highly interactive, offering goal-setting tools, check-ins, and rewards for healthy behaviors. Activities such as:
Exercising (running, strength training, walking) Reading about nutrition and heart health Getting routine health screenings
…all contribute to earning points based on integration with various fitness trackers such as Fitbit, Garmin, MapMyFitness and more. Over time, participants progress through different levels—starting at Bronze, then Silver, Gold, and ultimately Platinum. The ability to carry over some points from the previous year adds an extra boost to keep going.
Overcoming Challenges—And Finding Unexpected Benefits
One of the most surprising ways the program has helped me is by encouraging preventative healthcare. I’ve had a fear of needles since childhood, so getting blood work done was never something I looked forward to. But knowing that I could earn an extra $125 per year for basic health screenings—such as cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure—gave me the nudge I needed.
Another great perk? Spouses and partners can participate, too. My wife and I have turned it into a shared activity—going for our fasting blood tests together and then treating ourselves to coffee and a breakfast sandwich at Starbucks afterward. It’s become a fun tradition, and we even enjoy a little healthy competition over who’s racking up more points.
The Fun of Step Challenges
One of my favorite parts of the program is the Step Challenge, where employees (and their spouses/partners) form teams and compete to log the most steps over a 15-day period. At my company, teams of 10 go head-to-head, and my finance group, fittingly named ‘The Number Crunchers,’ always brings strong competitors.
Here’s how the rewards work:
Hitting the max step goal (225,000 steps over 15 days) = 500 points
Being the top stepper on your team = another 500 points
Winning the overall challenge as a team = another 500 points
While the rewards aren’t huge, the competition and camaraderie are what make it exciting. Back in 2018, I went a little overboard, averaging 56,000 steps per day—essentially walking a marathon every single day for two weeks! That level of intensity isn’t necessary, but it goes to show how much a structured challenge can drive motivation.
This Year’s Challenge
The next Step Challenge kicks off on February 14th—Valentine’s Day! My wife and I have signed up again, and while we’ll make time for a romantic dinner, we’re also planning our steps strategically since we’ll be traveling to help family move across the country.
We know some days will be lighter on steps, so our plan is to start strong and make up for travel days. It’s all in good fun, but more importantly, it reinforces healthy habits.
The Bigger Picture: Health & Well-Being
Beyond the step challenges and incentives, what I love most about the Power of Vitality program is how it encourages a holistic approach to health. It’s not just about physical fitness but also mental well-being.
I’ve noticed that when I’m exercising regularly, stress doesn’t affect me as much. I sleep better, feel more energized, and my overall mood and resilience improve. On the flip side, when I let my workouts slip, small stressors feel more overwhelming.
Having this program as a consistent motivator has helped me stay on track, even when life gets busy.
Final Thoughts on The Power of Vitality
I’m grateful that my company offers the Power of Vitality program—it’s been an effective motivational tool to stay active and engaged in my health. If your company has a similar program, I highly encourage you to give it a try. Sometimes, all we need is that extra nudge—a structured incentive, a friendly competition, or a small financial reward—to stay consistent with healthy habits.
After all, the real reward isn’t the points or dollars—it’s the long-term benefits of a healthier, happier life.
**Until next time, keep moving forward!**
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