Using Infographics to Promote Behavior Change and Long-Term Wellness for Military and Civilian Populations: Small Steps to a Healthier You

Every year, millions of people make resolutions to lose weight, eat healthier, or be happier. Unfortunately, the majority of resolutions fail. Behavior change is hard. But much of the science suggests that the key to setting resolutions that stick is to start small and can be built upon over time.

The Small Steps to a Healthier You Challenge (www.guardyourhealth.com/smallsteps) was designed as the anti-behavior change campaign. Rather than setting lofty goals (e.g., quit smoking, stop binge drinking), the Challenge focused on setting small, easily achievable daily goals to get Soldiers, their families, and civilian communities over the first, and biggest, hurdle to behavior change: getting started.

The Challenge was executed using an integrated digital strategy that spanned across social media channels, SMS, email, and a responsive website. To complement the Challenge, the team created 24 customized Small Steps graphics and four Small Steps infographics, including “10 Simple Steps To Look and Feel Better” to motivate audiences to complete the daily health challenges.

Through the 28-day Challenge, more than 1200 participated and the “10 Simple Steps” infographic was the top performing Small Steps material, with more than 1,000 views since 20 February. The mini-campaign also received positive feedback through social media and email. Such anecdotal evidence lends credibility to the idea of a small steps approach to behavior change. Future behavior change campaigns could benefit from taking a small steps approach, and structuring their campaigns as long-term programs that support individuals in achieving successive approximations of the larger, desired end behavior.