How to Plan an EPIC Wellbeing Day!
What if a single wellbeing day could be the key to igniting meaningful change in your workplace?
Studies show that over a third of adults experience extreme levels of pressure and stress, and this can cost companies millions yearly.
But what if there were wellbeing days you could implement to reduce statistics like this?
Since 2017, we’ve helped a range companies design wellbeing days that create a lasting and positive impact.
Over the years, we’ve seen companies waste thousands on poorly planned events – yoga mats gathering dust, workshops with empty chairs, and leaders scratching their heads wondering, “What went wrong?”
But we’ve also seen magic happen.
Teams connecting in wellbeing workshops, colleagues laughing over fun sessions, and offices buzzing with energy long after the event ended.
In this blog we’ll look at how companies can avoid common pitfalls of planning a wellbeing day and look at what truly makes an impact.
Contents
How to Plan an EPIC Wellbeing Day (Video)
3 Mistakes That Ruin a Wellbeing Day (And How to Avoid Them)
3 Steps to Plan a Wellbeing Day Employees Will Rave About
The Benefits of a Wellbeing Day for Employees and Companies
- Benefits For Employees (It’s More Than Just a “Day Off”)
- Benefits For Companies: The ROI You Can’t Ignore
What is a Wellbeing Day
A wellbeing day is a dedicated event (or series of activities) designed to prioritise employees’ physical, mental, and emotional health.
It’s not a “day off” or a box-ticking exercise, it’s a proactive way for companies to support the wellbeing of their employees by:
- Reducing stress with relaxing or rejuvenating activities.
- Educating employees on tools to improve their daily wellbeing.
- Strengthening relationships through team-building experiences.
- Showing employees, they’re valued by investing in their health and wellbeing.
It can be seen as a reset button for your workplace.
A chance to step back from deadlines, recharge, and reconnect with what matters.
Wellbeing days often include a mix of wellbeing workshops, wellness activities, and creative sessions, all tailored to your company’s unique needs.

How to Plan an EPIC Wellbeing Day (Video)
3 Mistakes That Ruin a Wellbeing Day (And How to Avoid Them)
We’ve seen companies make many mistakes when planning their wellbeing day so here are three mistakes you must avoid to ensure a successful day.
Mistake 1: The “Copy-Paste” Approach
Every workplace has its own challenges and culture and your wellbeing day should too.
Copying another company’s exact plan risks alienating your team, because what works for a tech startup might feel irrelevant to a high-pressure law firm.
Imagine a corporate law firm plans a wellbeing day filled with sunrise hikes and CrossFit-style workouts, inspired by a trendy tech company’s event.
But their team, already stretched thin by 12-hour workdays, sees these activities as another obligation rather than a break.
Instead of feeling recharged, they leave exhausted.
Employees disengage when activities clash with their reality.
Leaders then dismiss wellbeing initiatives as “ineffective,” even though the problem was poor tailoring.
Make sure to design a wellbeing day for your team’s needs.
Ask them what drains them?
What would help them recharge?
Use surveys to uncover pain points and build a day around their answers.
Mistake 2: Poor Promotion
A wellbeing day only works if people show up!
And they won’t if they don’t know it’s happening.
Poor promotion is one of the biggest factors in the day not going as well as hoped.
Imagine a company spends weeks planning a wellbeing day with workplace massages, workshops, and catered lunches.
But they only announce it in a single email titled “Upcoming Events” (buried between meeting reminders and policy updates).
On the day of, employees trickle in confused.
“Wait, was that today?”
Low participation wastes time, effort and money.
Employees will assume leadership doesn’t care, and staff morale will dip further.
To promote the day, ensure the company is shouting about it from the rooftops.
Use bold subject lines (“Free Massages This Friday—Save Your Spot!”), colourful posters in break rooms, and reminders from managers.
Highlight benefits like “Create Life-Changing Habits with this Workshop” to build interest.
There is no point in planning an amazing wellbeing day if it is not promoted properly.
Mistake 3: Do Not Ignore the Voices That Matter Most
Your employees know their needs better than anyone and assuming otherwise breeds disconnect.
Skipping their input risks creating a day that feels tone-deaf or irrelevant.
Imagine a company plans a wellbeing day with mandatory team sports and group karaoke, assuming “everyone loves fun activities!”
But their introverted developers, who’d rather recharge alone or learn mindfulness techniques, spend the day dodging events and scrolling on their phones.
When employees are not asked for their input they can feel ignored. (“Why didn’t they ask us?”).
This can lead to resentment and distrust contributing to poor participation and scepticism about events.
Let employees add input to the wellbeing day.
Use anonymous surveys to ask: “What would help YOU thrive?”
Offer a mix of activities to cater to all personalities.
To help you with this, we’ve created a free survey template to send to your team to gather their input, just download it below.
3 Steps to Plan a Wellbeing Day Employees Will Rave About
We’ve also seen companies create successful wellbeing days so here are three things you must consider when planning yours.
Step 1: Start with a “Why”
A successful wellbeing day starts with purpose, not just activities.
Without clear goals, your day risks feeling scattered or irrelevant.
Think about what outcomes you hope to achieve.
Do you want to reduce stress, boost connection, or teach practical wellness skills?
Imagine a company plans a wellbeing day with yoga, smoothies, and a motivational speaker.
But employees thought the day was about relaxing and are left confused.
Without a defined goal, the day can feel like a checklist, rather than a meaningful experience.
Ensure your day has 1-2 clear objectives.
For example: The goal might be to boost connections and strengthen relationships.
This leads you to arrange a workshop on gratitude.
Or the goal is to reduce stress in a high-pressure sales team.
So, you opt for guided meditation, stress-management workshops, relaxation massage, and quiet “recharge zones.”
Having a clear purpose allows you to bring focus to the day and an opportunity to measure the impact.
Step 2: Turn Leaders into Wellbeing Champions
Leadership buy-in isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential.
When leaders actively support the day, employees see it as a priority, not a perk.
Having leaders that champion the wellbeing day can contribute massively to its success.
Imagine a company plans a wellbeing day but doesn’t involve managers.
On the day, leaders stay glued to their desks, sending emails during workshops.
Employees think: “If they’re not participating, why should I?”
Now imagine the CEO kicks off the day with a personal story about burnout, then joins a mindfulness session.
Managers block calendars to attend workshops.
Suddenly, employees feel “This matters to everyone.”
When planning your day get leaders on board early.
Frame it strategically and highlight the benefits of the day to the company.
Reduce burnout, improve loyalty, boost teamwork!
Additionally, ask for their input.
Ask them what wellness topic would resonate with their team.
When leaders feel a part of the planning, they’re more likely to actively support the day.

Step 3: Offer a Variety of Activities
Wellbeing isn’t one size fits all and your event shouldn’t be either.
Offer diverse activities so everyone finds something that resonates.
What is enjoyable to one person might not resonate with another.
Imagine a company hosting a wellbeing day with back to back yoga sessions.
The same yoga class over and over again with no alternative.
There’s only so many times someone will take part.
But imagine the same company offers yoga, plus a range of wellbeing workshops, art therapy, on-site massage and a “quiet room” with books and herbal tea.
Employees flit between sessions, trying new things and leaving refreshed.
There’s something for everyone!
Aim to offer a variety of activities, this will leave staff feeling appreciated, valued, and like this day truly matters.
The Benefits of a Wellbeing Day for Employees and Companies
Wellbeing days provide a range of benefits and not just for employees.
They can have a positive impact on both employees and employers.
Benefits For Employees (It’s More Than Just a “Day Off”)
Reduces Stress (Without the Guilt)
Imagine a team that doesn’t measure their day by how many times they mutter, “I can’t do this anymore.”
Wellbeing days give structured time to decompress, whether through meditation, massages, or just not staring at a screen all day long.
Less stress = happier humans.
Boosts “I Actually Matter Here” Feelings
When companies prioritise wellbeing, employees feel valued.
It’s like saying, “We see you as a person, not just a worker.”
That emotional boost builds loyalty faster than any free snacks ever could.
Teaches Real-Life Wellness Skills
Think workshops on habit hacks, health tips, or stress management.
These aren’t fluffy extras, they’re tools employees can use daily to stay healthier.
Healthier employees lead to a happier working environment for everyone.

Strengthens Team Bonds
Ever bonded with colleagues over a terrible yoga attempt or a team building workshop?
Shared laughter and experiences in low-pressure settings build trust and teamwork.
Benefits For Companies: The ROI You Can’t Ignore
Reduces Employee Burnout
Stressed, exhausted teams make more mistakes and miss deadlines.
Wellbeing days help employees recharge, leading to sharper focus, better decisions, and fewer errors.
Prevents Top Talent from Walking Out the Door
Want employees to stay?
Show them you care.
Companies with strong wellbeing programs see lower turnover.
It’s cheaper to keep great people than to replace them.
Turns Employees into Company Ambassadors
Happy teams talk.
When employees rave about their epic wellbeing day on LinkedIn or to friends, your company becomes that awesome place that actually cares.
It’s free company promotion!
Fuels Creativity and Innovation
Stressed brains don’t brainstorm breakthroughs.
A wellbeing day gives minds space to wander, leading to “Aha!” moments that stale routines rarely spark.
Cuts Costs
Healthier employees = fewer sick days, lower healthcare claims, and less “presenteeism” (where people show up but zone out).
It’s estimated that for every £1 spent on wellness programs brings a return on investment of £3.24
Prioritising employee health and wellbeing is a no brainer for forward thinking companies who care about supporting their employees and creating a culture that people want to be a part of.
At Loving Life, we’ve helped support numerous companies with their wellbeing days through our wellbeing workshops and on-site massage.
If you’d like our support organising your day, get in touch and let’s create a day that is meaningful to everyone!
Author
Tyler Lowe – Wellbeing Speaker
