7 autumn team-building ideas to boost employee wellbeing and morale

Autumn can be tricky for teams.

Summer holidays are over, workloads can ramp up, and the countdown to Christmas has begun.

For employers, it's a useful moment to think about how you're supporting morale, connection and employee wellbeing before the end-of-year rush!

Sometimes, it's as simple as getting people outside, creating opportunities to connect and giving teams something enjoyable to look forward to.

Here are 7 practical autumn team-building ideas to help boost morale and wellbeing - whether your team works in the office, remotely or somewhere in between.

Want to know our secret to enjoying the outdoors? 

Wearing the best clothing to protect you from the elements! 

Be prepared for the outdoors this autumn by adding an outer layer of our best branded outdoor clothing to your next campaign. 

In short...

• Autumn is a great time to reconnect teams and boost morale.
• Simple outdoor, social and creative activities can support wellbeing.
• Make activities inclusive for office, hybrid and remote teams.
• Thoughtful, useful branded merchandise can make wellbeing initiatives more memorable.
• Wellbeing is about workplace culture, not just one-off perks.

Why Autumn is a good time to focus on employee wellbeing

Autumn runs from the end of September through to just before Christmas in the northern hemisphere. It marks the transition from summer to winter. As the temperatures become noticeably cooler and daylight disappears, it’s the perfect time to reflect and focus on your employees’ mental wellbeing.

1. You'll most likely have some new starters

With freshers arriving on campus for a new academic year or new starters joining your company, it’s the perfect time to focus on their mental wellbeing.

Read more: Here’s a quick and easy trick for onboarding new starters

2. It’s Mental Health Awareness Day

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, which falls right bang in the middle of autumn. 

World Mental Health Day aims to raise awareness and remove the stigma about discussing mental health issues because a staggering 1 in 4 of us will suffer a mental health problem of some kind each year in the UK, according to Mind.

Read more: How to support your staff with their mental health

3. It’s the start of SAD season

SAD, sometimes known as the ‘winter depression’, stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s a type of depression that affects sufferers during the autumn and winter seasons and is characterised by feelings of decreased energy and fatigue, difficulty concentrating, physical aches and pains, a persistent low mood, and changes in appetite. It’s quite a common condition, with about 3 people in every 100 suffering from it in the UK alone.

Read more: Top 10 products to help reduce anxiety

4. Pretty autumnal colours

Autumn is the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’, a.k.a the best time for a bit of self-reflection surrounded by the beauty of nature.

5.  Christmas isn't far away

For many, their mental health will deteriorate over the Christmas period due to stress. From getting frustrated over making their Christmas ‘perfect’ to money worries, for many, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of year. Because of this, autumn is a key time to focus on improving your team’s mental wellbeing and boosting their morale.

The psychological benefits of autumn outdoor experiences for employees

It’s not just that autumn is the best time of year for focusing on your team’s mental wellbeing and boosting their morale, but it’s also the perfect time to do it all outside.

Encouraging your team to try some natural R&R during fall will double up their wellbeing points for that ultimate mood-boosting benefit - all backed by wonderful science. 

Getting outside, especially in autumn, will:

1. Reduce stress

Studies have shown that even a brisk walk releases endorphins and serotonin (the ‘feel-good’ hormones), which help to reduce feelings of stress.

Read more: How to cope with feelings of anxiety

2. Combat burnout

Autumn is, unfortunately, also a common season for dealing with burnout in the workplace. Google searches for ‘fall fatigue’ have risen by 348% this year alone. Symptoms of burnout include feeling exhausted a lot of the time, feeling helpless or trapped, procrastinating and having difficulty concentrating.  

3. Boost overall mood

We all know that getting outside helps to improve our overall mood. Spending at least 2 hours a week outside can significantly boost your mood, improve your sleep by improving your circadian rhythm, and reduce your symptoms of depression by helping your body produce vitamin D. 

4. Improve self-esteem

You want your team to feel confident. You want them to feel high levels of work satisfaction. Getting outside in autumn is one of the best ways to help them feel great about themselves and their career.

Getting outside rewires your brain and makes you more receptive to conversations and more creative. It’s also been shown to improve memory and make us feel more energetic, both of which factor into improving our self-esteem.

7 Outdoor team-building ideas

Looking for some outdoor morale-boosting inspiration for your team this autumn? Here’s a list of 7 activities you could do with your team whilst enjoying the fall foliage.

1. Have an outdoor mindfulness session

This is a great activity for smaller groups. Find a quiet space out in nature and take part in some shinrin yoku, or forest bathing.

2. Enjoy some apple-picking

An apple a day also helps increase wellbeing and boost morale (that’s the saying, right?). Find your nearest orchard and see if they do group work outings for apple-picking sessions.

3. Host an autumn photography challenge

If you’re looking for a way to encourage a little friendly competition this autumn within your team, why not host an autumnal photography challenge? It’ll help encourage people to explore their creative side whilst getting outside.

4. Have a team-building campfire experience

Whether real-life or virtual, a campfire experience with marshmallows, cocoa, and bonding is the perfect activity for this time of year.

Read more:14 must-have festival camping essentials

5. Add some autumn to your conference season

With autumn being the height of conference season, add an autumnal twist to your conference schedule. How about taking your networking outside?

6. Enjoy a hike

An autumnal group hike will help boost your team’s morale and wellbeing whilst getting in those all-important steps.

7. Do some pumpkin carving

Take a trip to your local pumpkin field and take part in some pumpkin carving. See who can get the most creative with their design.

Supporting hybrid teams

Not everyone can join a woodland walk or pumpkin-carving afternoon, but we've got ways your remote employees can participate in the fun too:

• Autumn photography challenge
• Virtual coffee morning
• "Best autumn lunch" challenge
• Step/walking challenge
• Shared autumn playlist
• Online creative competition
• Home-delivered wellbeing packs
• Local volunteering allowance

Make wellbeing tangible with thoughtful team merchandise

Autumn is the best time of year to get outside with your team to boost morale and improve wellbeing; however, your team can only fully enjoy themselves if they’re wearing the right outdoor clothing for the season.

• Going for a team walk?  Branded waterproofs, fleeces or beanies can make outdoor activities more practical.

• Running an autumn wellbeing challenge?  Reusable bottles, travel mugs or activity trackers can become useful reminders of the campaign.

• Hosting a volunteering day?  Hard-wearing sustainable clothing can give the team a shared identity while they're out representing the organisation.

• Want to recognise participation?  A small, genuinely useful gift can turn a one-off wellbeing initiative into something employees remember.

Our top picks for branded autumn clothing

1. Sustainable outdoor clothing

Keep them warm and cosy through all their activities with our selection of branded sustainable outdoor clothing. 

Read more: Isn’t it time clothing was honest? Introducing Iqoniq

2. Stylish and cosy

From sweatshirts and joggers to coats and pullovers, we’re all about comfort when the weather starts to turn chilly. 

Read more: Here’s why we love Oxious

3. Wear with care

It’s all about being 100% comfortable in what you’re wearing, and trusting that what you’re sharing with others is 100% true, with no hidden surprises. 

Read more: You’re going to LOVE these cosy sustainable clothing brands

FAQs

1. How can I boost team morale in autumn?

Simple, inclusive activities can give employees something positive to look forward to and create opportunities for connection. Try organising a team walk, autumn photography challenge, volunteering day, seasonal social event or creative competition. The best activities are accessible, optional and suited to the interests of your team.

2. What are some low-cost autumn team-building activities?

You don't need a big budget to bring people together. Walking meetings, lunchtime nature walks, office bake-offs, autumn photography challenges, shared playlists, pumpkin carving and team volunteering can all be inexpensive ways to encourage connection and boost morale.

3. How can employers support employee wellbeing in autumn?

Employee wellbeing is about more than occasional activities or perks. Employers should consider the wider working environment, including workload, work-life balance, relationships, management, employee voice and mental and physical health. Autumn activities can complement these wider measures by giving teams opportunities to connect, get outside and take a break from their usual routines.

4. Why is autumn a good time to focus on employee wellbeing?

Autumn marks the transition from summer into the final, often busy, months of the year. It can be a useful point to check in with employees, rebuild connections after summer holidays and create positive experiences before workloads increase towards the end of the year. This is particularly relevant at a time when workplace change and increasing workloads are contributing to employee wellbeing concerns. Deloitte's 2026 UK research found that 76% of workers surveyed said their wellbeing had suffered from being tired by too much change at work.

5. How can you support hybrid and remote employees with wellbeing activities?

Make activities flexible enough for people to participate wherever they work. Virtual coffee mornings, photography challenges, walking challenges, shared playlists, home-based creative activities and local volunteering can help remote employees feel included alongside colleagues in the office.

6. Can branded merchandise help support employee wellbeing?

Yes, when it's useful and connected to the activity or campaign. Branded fleeces, waterproofs and beanies can make outdoor activities more practical, while reusable bottles, travel mugs and sustainable gifts can support longer-term wellbeing initiatives. The key is to choose merchandise that adds genuine value rather than simply adding another branded item to someone's desk.

Make your brand go further this autumn

Whether you're planning an autumn wellbeing campaign, an outdoor team day or a year-round employee engagement programme, the right merchandise can make the experience feel more considered.

From sustainable outerwear and reusable drinkware to practical gifts your team will actually use, we can help you create merchandise that supports your people - and your brand.