15 Ways to Celebrate Heart Month in the Workplace

February marks American Heart Month, a nationwide initiative to promote cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of heart disease. As the leading cause of death in the US—accounting for one in five deaths annually—heart disease deserves attention and action. This month provides an opportunity for organizations to build awareness and inspire meaningful steps toward better heart health.

15 Ways to Celebrate Heart Month in the Workplace

While heart disease is a serious topic, improving cardiovascular health doesn’t have to feel daunting. By implementing fun activities for heart health awareness, organizations can encourage their teams to adopt positive habits that have a lasting impact on well-being.

1. Host a heart-healthy lunch-and-learn

Host an educational session on heart-healthy food swaps, such as flavoring foods with herbs and spices instead of table salt and replacing creamy, high-fat salad dressings with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Complement the session with a catered lunch featuring dishes like herb-seasoned lean proteins, whole-grain sides, and salads tossed with light dressings.

2. Organize a workplace step challenge

Motivate employees to boost their physical activity—which strengthens cardiovascular health—by kicking off a month-long step challenge. Use fitness apps or wearable devices to track progress and reward teams or individuals who achieve their step goals.

3. Wear red for heart disease awareness

Encourage employees to wear red on the first Friday of February for National Wear Red Day. Take group photos, create a “red carpet” area for fun snapshots, and post pictures on your company’s social media to spread awareness about heart disease.

4. Provide heart-healthy office snacks

Stock the office kitchen with healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, yogurt, and veggies with hummus. Providing easy access to heart-friendly options can help employees make more nutritious food choices throughout the day.

5. Organize a heart-healthy potluck

Plan a potluck where employees bring dishes that align with heart-healthy guidelines, such as low-sodium soups, whole-grain salads, or fruit-based desserts. Place recipe cards or small signs by each dish with nutritional facts or heart health tips (e.g., “Rich in omega-3s for heart health”). Consider voting on a favorite dish and awarding a prize to the winning recipe.

6. Share daily heart health tips

Send out quick, actionable tips about heart health through email or your internal communication platform. Topics can include stress reduction, sleep management, or the benefits of daily movement.

7. Start a hydration challenge

Launch a hydration challenge to encourage employees to drink more water for healthier blood pressure and circulation. Provide reusable bottles and upgrade hydration stations with fruit-infused water (e.g., cucumber, berries, lemon). Have participants track their daily water consumption and reward those who meet their hydration goals.

8. Promote stress reduction activities

Host workshops on stress management techniques, such as mindfulness practices (e.g., deep breathing, guided meditation), effective time management, and work-life boundaries. Enhance these efforts by providing access to meditation apps and scheduling regular check-ins to address workloads and employee well-being.

9. Create a wellness room

Dedicate a quiet space in the office as a wellness room where employees can recharge. Include comfy seating, calming décor, and stress relief tools like puzzles or stress balls. Encourage employees to take regular breaks in this space to promote relaxation and stress reduction for cardiovascular health.

10. Host a virtual heart health quiz

Test employees’ knowledge about heart health with an interactive quiz. Include interesting facts and actionable tips about heart disease prevention, such as the benefits of regular exercise or how to recognize early warning signs. Offer prizes for top scorers to boost engagement.

11. Launch a “Heart Hero” recognition program

Celebrate employees who actively prioritize their heart health by creating a “Heart Hero” recognition program. Highlight individuals who achieve wellness milestones, such as increasing daily steps, improving their diets, or practicing consistent self-care. Reward Heart Heroes with company-wide shoutouts or tokens of appreciation (e.g., certificates, gift cards, company-branded fitness gear).

12. Host a charity fitness class

Partner with a local gym or exercise studio to host a group fitness class, such as yoga, dance, or spin. Consider making it a donation-based event, with all proceeds going to heart health charities. This activity promotes fitness and fosters a sense of community and purpose by supporting a meaningful cause.

13. Offer free smoking cessation resources

Provide access to smoking or tobacco cessation programs to help users quit. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, making Heart Month the perfect opportunity to empower employees to take control of their health. Providing ongoing resources and support (e.g., personalized quit plan, live chat coaching) can help users end unhealthy behaviors for good.

14. Promote time off

Encourage employees to regularly take time off from work to rest and prioritize their well-being. Chronic overwork can lead to burnout, stress, and increased risk of heart-related issues down the line. Managers can encourage a healthy work-life balance by supporting and celebrating time off and modeling this behavior themselves.

15. Promote existing health benefits

Host a health fair to spotlight the benefits your company provides. Employees may be unaware of certain offerings or unsure how to take full advantage of them, leading to underutilization. Use this opportunity to educate employees, answer questions, and provide materials to ensure they fully understand and utilize benefits to support their health.

Resources for Heart Health Awareness

The following tools, guides, and programs offer insights to support heart health at work. 

• American Heart Month Calendar | NHLBI: A calendar featuring ways to incorporate heart-healthy actions into each day of the month.
• The Heart Truth | NHLBI: A national health education program designed to raise awareness about heart disease as the leading cause of death in women.
• Our Hearts are Healthier Together | NHLBI: A video to encourage employees to work together for a healthier heart.
• Deliciously Healthy Eating Recipes | NHLBI : A collection of easy, heart-healthy recipes scientifically proven to lower blood pressure. 
• Heart Smart Basics: What to Know to Keep Yours Healthy | NHLBI: A fact sheet providing practical tips and information on heart health.
• ABCS of Heart Health | Million Hearts: A simple mnemonic to remember the key steps to maintaining heart health.
• Warning Signs of Heart Attack | AHA: A fact sheet on recognizing heart attack symptoms early and taking preventive measures.