Did you know you can use your PHS funding to incentivize wellness challenges? Incentives significantly boost motivation in competitions, with studies showing performance increases of 22% to 44% for well-designed programs, depending on duration and structure (Incentives, Motivation and Workplace Performance: Research and Best Practices – Incentive Research Foundation). One of PHS’s first year schools, North Dickinson County School, has maximized this and planned multiple healthy challenges throughout the year for students and staff. Recently, they held a December wellness challenge. In this challenge, students and staff were instructed to create a SMART goal. It must follow the SMART goal guidelines in being Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.

Contestants were instructed to outline what they plan to achieve and how they would achieve it. They then turned it into their designated wellness champion, Rachel Gustafson, who entered their names into a raffle to win Apple Air Pods! Students and staff were eligible for a bonus entry if they made a SMART goal for their entire family to work together and achieve. There were 60 kids and staff who participated in this challenge, and the winner was student, Sam R., whose goal was to start gaining more muscle in the next few months. Great job Sam, you’ve got this! A special shout out to North Dickinson County Schools! We can’t wait to see what other challenges you have planned for the rest of the school year!