Motivational Signs
The adage is true — old habits ARE hard to break. And for most people, riding the elevator is an old habit. Some people even forget that there are stairs! Posting motivational signs at the places where people have a choice between the stairs and elevator is an important aspect of encouraging people to use the stairs. However, messages and artwork that are motivating to one audience may be a turn-off to another, which is why it is important to test them with your audience first. Find out what motivates your audience and tailor your messages and artwork accordingly. This will help maximize the effectiveness of this intervention.
What We Did
Creating and Testing Signs
Below is a brief description of how CDC created and tested messages for its signs:
- A group of people with combined knowledge about physical activity as well health communication and social marketing brainstormed different kinds of messages to consider for the signs (inspirational, factual, and congratulatory). They focused on what they thought would be most motivational to employees.
- Two focus groups were conducted to see how well these messages
tested with the audience (employees working in the Rhodes Building). One
focus group was done with employees who frequently used the stairs. The
other focus group was done with employees who were not frequent stair
users.
- The moderator welcomed participants and refreshments were offered. The moderator reiterated that the purpose of the focus group was to obtain participants' candid responses regarding the messages that would be placed in various locations throughout the building promoting stairwell use. Participants were asked to speak openly and honestly about the messages.
- The moderator asked participants to introduce themselves, state on which floor their offices were located, and how their bodies reacted when they walked the stairs. These questions prepared participants for message testing.
- Next, participants were shown each pre-made sign highlighting a message, and were asked how they felt about the sign.
- The information gathered from the focus groups was then used to further tailor the messages to meet the needs and perceptions of the audience.
- After the signs were created, they were placed strategically at "points-of-decision" around the building. (e.g., sign at the elevator saying, "No waiting one door over.")
What You Can Do
- Develop some signs, or start with ours.
- Hold a focus group with some employees to get feedback about the signs. If possible, include employees who regularly use the stairs, and employees who don't.
- At the focus groups, explain the purpose of the project. Tell participants that their honest opinion is needed. Show examples of the signs and ask for their opinions. Do the signs make them feel motivated? Interested? Irritated? Use this feedback to develop signs that work for your employees.
If you don't have the time or money to invest in such thorough research, you can test your signs and artwork more informally. Ask colleagues around the office to tell you what they think of various signs, and artwork. Or send out a survey over email. Any input you get is going to help you make better decisions, increases awareness of the project, and makes people feel involved!
Message Ideas
Research indicates that signs are an effective motivator for behavior change
involving point-of-prompt decisions, like choosing between the stairs or the
elevator. Whether the messages are inspirational, factual, health-related, or
humorous, find out what works best with your audience. Below is a list of sample
messages. Feel free to use any of these on your signs, or create your own!
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- Do some reps….take the steps.
- Do you want to reduce stress and tension?
- Don't wait, activate!
- For a better today and a healthier tomorrow.
- Fight fat….Feel fit….Frequent these flights.
- Feeling stressed? Burn some steam.
- Free fitness program.
- Have you had your exercise today?
- Hey, thought about the stairs?
- Now that you have refueled….
- No waiting one door over.
- No time to exercise today? Your opportunity is now!
- Physical activity will add years to your life, and life to your years.
- Raise your fitness level, one step at a time.
- Sneak activity into your daily routine.
- Skip the elevator and take a flight for fitness.
- Step up to a healthier lifestyle.
- Small steps make a big difference.
- Step up to a new level of fitness!
- The cheapest gym anywhere….the stairs!
- The first wealth is health. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
- The victory is not always to the swift, but to those who keep moving.
- There are 1440 minutes in every day…schedule 30 of them for physical activity.
- Want to help control your weight?
- Walk stairs -Burn calories -Feel better -Weigh less -Simple, isn't it?
- Your heart needs exercise. Here's your chance.
- We are what we repeatedly do. (Aristotle)
- You don't wear out….you rust out. Stay active.
Download a complete set of ready-to-use
motivational signs
(PDF-814k) for your stairwells. However remember to
first test them with your audience!
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
Page last updated: March 12, 2008
Content Source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
