An Idea for Winter Wellness Team Building Fun

Winter has a way of changing how people show up at work. Shorter days, less daylight, and fewer natural pauses can affect energy, focus, and connection, whether people are working remotely, in a hybrid arrangement, or fully on-site.

As finance professionals, we’re used to paying attention to leading indicators. And just like in business, small signals matter. Over time, reduced engagement and disconnection can impact collaboration, decision-making, and overall performance.

A few years ago, our Health & Safety team tried a simple idea to help offset some of those seasonal challenges: a Winter Wellness Bingo Challenge. It wasn’t designed as a formal program or a culture initiative; just a practical way to encourage movement, connection, and shared experiences during the winter months. 

Why We Revisited It

When we first ran the winter bingo challenge, what stood out wasn’t how many squares people completed; it was what happened around them.

People met up (virtually and in person) to work on puzzles and other activities. Families got outside together for winter fun. Photos and stories were shared internally, sparking conversations, laughter, and a real sense of connection. We saw teammates scheduling lunchtime “netwalking” chats between London, Ontario, and Cobourg, Ontario, catching up while walking outdoors.

Those interactions weren’t planned outcomes; they emerged naturally once people had a reason to engage. And they made winter feel a little less isolating and a little more human.

That experience stayed with us, which is why revisiting the idea felt worthwhile.

What the Winter Wellness Bingo Is (and Isn’t)

The bingo challenge is intentionally simple. The activities range from physical to social to reflective:

• Getting outside for a walk or winter activity with a co-worker (virtually or in person)
• Sharing a photo from your day or favourite outdoor spot
• Connecting with a colleague over coffee, virtually or in person
• Practicing gratitude or a small act of kindness
• Taking time to properly recharge

There are points and a few small prizes, but that’s not the focus. The real value is in participation, sharing, and the conversations that happen along the way.

It’s optional, flexible, and designed to fit alongside real work—not compete with it.

A Few Practical Tips If You’re Considering Something Similar

If a winter wellness initiative like this sounds useful for your organization, a few things we’ve learned along the way:

Keep it simple and accessible
Avoid over-structuring it. The easier it is to understand and join, the more likely people are to participate.

Offer a mix of activities
People engage differently. A variety of options, active, social, and low-key, helps make it inclusive across roles and work environments.

Create a place to share
An internal channel for photos, stories, or updates is where much of the connection happens. It reinforces participation without pressure.

Let it evolve naturally
Some of the best moments, like long-distance walking chats or family winter outings, weren’t planned. They happened once people had permission to participate in their own way.

Why This Matters from a Business Perspective

Wellness initiatives don’t need to be elaborate or expensive to be effective. When people feel connected and supported, teams tend to:

• Communicate more clearly
• Collaborate with less friction
• Manage busy periods more sustainably
• Stay engaged over the long term

In professional environments, particularly those that rely on judgment, trust, and consistency, those outcomes matter. Supporting employee wellness in practical, human-scale ways helps build resilient teams and stronger results.

Sharing What We’re Learning

We’re not sharing this as a playbook or a prescription. It’s simply something we’ve tried, enjoyed, and found valuable enough to repeat.

We’re also curious about what other organizations are doing to support their teams through the winter months. Sometimes the best ideas come from sharing what’s working, comparing notes, and adapting concepts to fit different environments.

For us, this small initiative has helped keep people moving, connected, and sharing moments that help make winter feel a little warmer.

Interested in trying something similar?
If you’d like a copy of our Winter Wellness Bingo card to adapt for your own team, feel free to reach out. We are happy to share what we use.