Self-care is everywhere. But for many employees, it still doesn’t feel accessible or effective. Told to take a walk, download a mindfulness app or set stronger boundaries, people often feel like self-care is just another task on an already overloaded to-do list.That’s where most workplace self-care strategies go wrong: they offer tools but fail to create engagement. A free meditation app is no use if no one uses it. A wellbeing fund sounds great, but it doesn’t help people build healthy habits if it goes untapped.As we mark International Self-Care Day, it’s time to rethink what good workplace self-care looks like. At YuLife, we believe the answer isn’t just about offering more perks. It’s about creating lasting, positive behaviour change, and that’s where gamification comes in.Why self-care at work matters more than everBurnout, stress and poor mental health continue to be leading causes of absenteeism and disengagement at work. Employers know they need to do more, but traditional wellness schemes rarely deliver meaningful ROI.YuLife members, by contrast, report a 53% reduction in stress and a 57% increase in productivity as a result of engaging daily with physical and mental health activities in the app. Companies using YuLife also see:A 2% average productivity boostA 2.75% average reduction in employee turnoverAn 11.5% reduction in absenteeismThese gains are not only good for individual wellbeing but also directly impact the bottom line.What doesn’t work: incentives aloneMany corporate wellness programmes hinge on simple incentivisation: offering a reward for completing a task. But research shows that incentives alone only affect extrinsic motivation and don’t create sustained change.As YuLife’s Chief Data Scientist, Dr. John Ronayne, explains: “If you want to change someone’s lifestyle long term, you need more than a short burst of motivation. You need to influence behaviour at a deeper level.”That’s why YuLife is built on the Behaviour Change Wheel, a scientifically validated model that identifies three core drivers of behaviour: capability, opportunity and motivation. Incentivisation touches just one of these. But gamification—the strategic use of game design elements like levels, quests and rewards—can positively impact all three.YuLife’s approach: self-care that sticksYuLife doesn’t just nudge people to take healthier actions. It makes those actions feel fun, inclusive and rewarding. That’s what drives long-term engagement. Here’s how:Accessible for everyoneNot everyone can run 10k, and not everyone wants to. YuLife makes self-care feel achievable by rewarding small, everyday actions like a 300-step walk or a 3-minute breathing exercise.“We want to reach everyone,” says John. “That means designing features that are inclusive, whether you're already a fitness fanatic or just starting your wellbeing journey.”Unlike other insurers, YuLife doesn’t penalise people for not meeting arbitrary thresholds. There are no activity minimums or disappearing rewards.Meaningful, flexible rewardsYuLife’s in-app currency, YuCoin, can be spent on what matters to each individual: a weekly coffee, discounts on groceries, or donations to charity. That flexibility boosts engagement because people can pick rewards that genuinely motivate them.And because there’s no earning ceiling, motivation stays high. This contrasts with other models where people stop engaging once they hit the maximum daily reward.More than just stepsYuLife encourages a holistic approach to wellbeing. The app includes meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and games like Yudoku. Members also get free access to content from health brands like The Body Coach, Meditopia, and Fiit.This range appeals to different personalities and preferences, which is a deliberate design choice. “We’re not just trying to appeal to gym-goers,” says John. “We want to engage everyone, including people who might never have used a wellbeing app before.”Social motivation that worksSocial features like team challenges, leaderboards and duels are powerful drivers of engagement. On average, users take 35% more steps on days they join a duel, and 25% more when they check the leaderboard.According to John, this taps into our natural tendencies. “Competitiveness and collaboration are powerful behavioural levers,” he says. “People engage more when they feel part of something shared.”Scientifically proven health impactWhat makes YuLife different is that its claims are backed by real-world research. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Essex, YuLife is conducting a randomised controlled trial—the gold standard of clinical research—to evaluate its impact on users' health.Early results show a clear causal sequence: members who engage in gamified meditation see improved resilience and self-awareness, followed by reduced stress and increased physical activity. In contrast, control group participants without gamification showed no such change.“It started with mental wellbeing,” says John. “Meditation helped reduce stress, which in turn led to more physical activity. Gamification was the catalyst that got people started and kept them going.”A smarter model for HRWhile YuLife’s self-care approach is good for individuals, on a broader level it also gives HR teams deeper insight into wellbeing trends without compromising privacy. YuLife’s Preventative AI model (also developed with the University of Essex) helps predict burnout risk, surface underutilised benefits, and recommend tailored interventions.This allows HR to focus support where it’s needed most, without invasive tracking or guesswork.Reframing self-care for your teamAs International Self-Care Day approaches, it’s time for HR leaders to ask: are we just offering self-care, or are we making it work?Here are three ways to start:Try a team challenge. Use the YuLife app to run a meditation, steps, or Yudoku challenge.Audit your benefits. Are they being used? If not, how could gamified delivery boost uptake?Celebrate everyday wins. Recognition doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful; even small daily acts can be rewarded.With the right tools, workplace self-care can be a source of joy, connection and better health for everyone.