66 days to implement habits for a summer of wellness

66 days to implement habits for a summer of wellness

Last updated: 2 May 2025

As Spring breathes new life into the world, it presents the prefect moment to support your employees to prepare their bodies and minds for a healthy summer. With longer days, brighter skies and warmer weather on the horizon, summer offers the perfect backdrop to focus on their wellness journey’s. But, they don’t need wait until July to begin. By starting in May they have the chance to leverage the scientifically backed 66-day timeframe for building new habits to prepare for their healthiest (and happiest) summer yet!

Why 66 days?

Behavioural psychology points to the idea that it takes 66 days to truly form and cement a new habit in your routine. During this time, our brains rewire themselves adapting to new routines and making them feel natural. Unlike quick fixes, like crash diets, this approach promotes gradual, sustainable change. Habits don’t just become easier to maintain, they start to feel like second nature leading to greater chances of maintaining them and achieving success.

The foundations of wellness

True wellness requires a holistic approach to improving body, mind and spirit. From boosting energy levels and cultivating mental clarity to improving emotional imbalance, wellness is about creating harmony. Here we explore the five pillars of wellness for your employees to consider as they plan their transformation:

Fitness

Build strength, endurance and flexibility through physical activities that they enjoy. They could also consider outdoor activities to make the most of the spring and summer months, like walking, cycling or outdoor swimming.

Nutrition

The foods your employees eat can fuel their bodies or leave them drained. Encourage them to focus on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods and explore the richness, colour and flavours of seasonal produce during the summer months.

Sleep

Good quality sleep, and adequate rest are an essential part of wellness. Keeping to a consistent sleep schedule aiming for 6-8 hours a night and create a calming nighttime routine that focuses on recharging the body may improve their sleep quality.

Mindfulness

Managing our stress is crucial to our wellness. Mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling, can provide much needed reflection and peace to our busy lifestyles.

Community

Building and fostering connections with others through shared interactions, activities or conversations can really enhance our emotional health and social connection.

Your 66-day wellness plan

To increase your employees chances of success it is important to plan their journey and divide the 66-days into three distinct phases. Here we explore the positive steps they can take to hit wellness goals in time for summer.

Days 1-22 – the foundations for success

During this phase start by implementing small, manageable changes – its like planting seeds that will grow into sustainable habits! Considering the five wellness pillars, your employees should start with:

  • Aim for 10,000 steps a day or commit to a 15-minute walk daily.
  • Increasing daily water intake by 750ml.
  • Add extra fruit to their routine, and vegetables with every meal.
  • Improving their bedtime routine – avoid using phones and read a chapter of a book instead.
  • Making time for their mind – set aside 5-10 minutes for mindful breathing.

Days 23-44 – grow, grow, grow

This phase builds on the foundation, gently expanding the goals and deepening their commitment to achieving them. Employees can commit to the growth phase by:

  • Committing to eating nutritious meals throughout the week – even if they are busy or out and about – don’t get stuck with a sandwich for lunch!
  • Incorporate strength training or yoga into a workout routine. Consider increasing the number of days of exercise.
  • Experiment with a new creative outlet that nurtures the mind, like gardening or painting/sketching, or start a new hobby.
  • Remove all processed foods and snacks from their diet and replace with healthy alternatives.
  • Ensure they are drinking 2.5+ litres of water each day.
  • Plan quality time with family, prioritise catching up with friends they do not see often, have a regular evening out, doing something different with a partner or spouse.

Days 45-66 – expand your potential, whilst reflecting on your success

By now, your employees’ habits are really formed and starting to feel like second nature. In this phase reflecting progress and finding ways to keep habits exciting by pushing the boundaries and celebrating success is important:

  • Challenging themselves with fitness goals – take on a sponsored challenge, increase the intensity of their workouts, like increasing weights, or try something new that they haven’t done before.
  • Evaluate and reward – evaluate how the changes have positively impacted their overall health and wellbeing, identify areas for continued growth and rewards for achieving milestones – no matter how small.
  • Build in more time for reflection, mindfulness and self-care – consider journalling to share thoughts and feelings.
  • Consider starting a group to foster social connection, like a reading group with friends or a wellness activity like cold water swimming. Embrace the outdoors during the sunnier climes.

Top tips for success

Its important that your employees journey to summer wellness is enjoyable, as this will increase their chances of sustaining new habits. Other tips for success include:

  • Being patient – stay kind to themselves, habits take a bit of time to stick.
  • Stay adaptable – life can throw curve balls, that may take them off track. Adjusting their goals and routines where necessary is key, and remembering flexibility is imperative to sustainability.
  • Find support – encourage your employees to share their journey with family, friends and colleagues to keep motivated to achieve their wellness goals.
  • Celebrate success – celebrate the process of leaning, growing and thriving each day!

A summer of wellness awaits your workforce - you can do it!

With 66 days of effort and focus, you can step into summer feeling confident and energised. Let this season be the celebration of health and wellbeing. Bluecrest is here to empower your employees every step of the way. Read our article about the benefits of habit tracking and stacking!

To find out more about our packages, reach out to the corporate team on 0808 168 9219.

Share this article
FacebookTwitterLinkedIn
Other Articles

    Start your Summer of Wellness transformation – it only takes 66 days!

    As Spring breathes new life into the world, it presents the prefect moment to prepare for our bodies and minds for a healthy summer.

    How ageing and inflammation are connected – all you need to know

    In this guide, we explore the effects of chronic inflammation on the body as we age and share ways to reduce your risk.

    Building sustainable habits – the power of habit tracking and stacking

    Creating lasting change in your daily routine may feel dauting. However, there are two powerful techniques – habit tracking and habit stacking – that can make the process both manageable and enjoyable. By integrating these into your life, you can build sustainable habits that support your overall health and wellbeing and increase your productivity.

    Building sustainable habits – the power of habit tracking and stacking

    Supporting your workforce to create lasting change in their daily routine may feel dauting. However, there are two powerful techniques – habit tracking and habit stacking – that can make the process both manageable and enjoyable.

    Bluecrest News

    Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures

    Bluecrest Senior Account Manager Will Beer shares what keeping healthy means to him this World Health Day.

    Jeannette's Story

    When Jeannette, 46, from Bradford, was looking to renew her workplace benefits for the year, she spotted a new option for a Bluecrest Wellness health assessment that included a Cancer Risk check. It was one of a range of benefits and perks offered by her employer from a pick-and-choose benefits platform, alongside things like Private Medical Insurance, extra holiday-days, and sliding pension contributions.

    Age smarter, age stronger – helping employees to manage stress for a healthier brain

    Discover how managing stress, and other factors can help your employee’s keep their brain healthy as they age.

    Age smarter, age stronger – managing stress for a healthier brain

    Discover how managing stress, and other factors can help keep your brain healthy as you age.

    Female Health

    International Women’s Day: Empowering Health and Wellbeing through Health Assessments

    How Health Assessments help women to stay ahead of potential health risks, make informed decisions and live healthier lives.

    Age Smarter, Age Stronger – Supporting Your Workforce with Health Intelligence

    Discover how to support your aging workforce with practical health and wellbeing strategies. Learn how to help employees understand their health status and take proactive steps towards a healthier, more productive, and resilient workplace.

    Private Health Assessments

    Age smarter, age stronger – embrace your health intelligence

    Over the next two months we will be focusing on the positive aspects of ageing and living a healthy life. As we age, maintaining our health and wellbeing becomes increasingly important, enabling us to life healthier for longer. We are awash with health information, but how do we know where we really stand as we get older?

    Customer Reviews

    Peter Howell's Experience

    When Peter Howells, 73, booked a full health MOT with Bluecrest, he thought it would be a standard check-up. Living an active life as an artist in Cornwall, Peter believed he was in good health. What he didn’t know was that the decision to book that test would save his life.

    Customer Reviews

    Lorraine's Story

    When Lorraine, 66, decided to book a health MOT with Bluecrest, she expected nothing more than peace of mind. An active grandmother and full-time project manager, Lorraine led what she believed was a healthy lifestyle. But what began as a simple check-up turned into a life-saving intervention

    Heart Health

    How to tell if you have a healthy heart?

    Whilst there are telltale signs that your heart may not be working as it should, not everyone experiences the same symptoms associated with certain heart conditions. Undergoing a heart health test can put your mind at rest or kick start healthy lifestyle changes.

    Heart Health

    How to Support Employees in Maintaining Heart Health

    If the heart isn’t functioning properly, it can lead to fatigue, breathlessness, or more serious conditions such as heart disease. Keeping the heart healthy is essential for overall well-being and performance, both at work and in life.

    Private Health Assessments

    How can a health assessment help your employees to keep their health and fitness goals on track this New Year?

    The New Year is a time when many of the employees in your workforce may be thinking of setting fresh new year resolutions. While these goals can vary widely, a significant number focus on improving health—whether it’s losing weight, getting fitter, or enhancing overall wellbeing.

    Bluecrest News

    How can a health assessment help with keeping your health and fitness goals on track this New Year?

    The New Year is a time when many of the employees in your workforce may be thinking of setting fresh new year resolutions. While these goals can vary widely, a significant number focus on improving health—whether it’s losing weight, getting fitter, or enhancing overall wellbeing.

    Bluecrest News

    Bluecrest introduces two new menopause hormone tests

    Female health tests launch for women suspecting menopause

    Press Releases

    Luxury care group pioneers health checks for care home employees

    In a UK-first for the care home sector, luxury care group Connaught Care Collection is offering free ‘full-body health checks’ to all of its 184 staff members. The group has opened four state-of-the-art homes in the past 12 months with plans to open four more in 2024/25.

    Bluecrest News

    Prevention: a new frontier for wellbeing

    A whitepaper prepared by Bluecrest Wellness 2024