diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ae03b1b..7e4f452 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -10,3 +10,6 @@ test-watch:
 
 fmt:
 	go fmt ./...
+
+run:
+	go run ./cmd/birthdaybot -config example-config.yml
diff --git a/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go b/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go
index 6860f40..9bbebe6 100644
--- a/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go
+++ b/cmd/birthdaybot/main.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"flag"
 	"os"
+	"time"
 
 	"git.ctrlz.es/mgdelacroix/birthdaybot/model"
 	"git.ctrlz.es/mgdelacroix/birthdaybot/server"
@@ -19,9 +20,15 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	_, err = server.New(config)
+	srv, err := server.New(config)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Error("error creating server", "error", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
+
+	srv.Start()
+
+	time.Sleep(5 * time.Second)
+
+	srv.Stop()
 }
diff --git a/server/server.go b/server/server.go
index f27846a..9da5414 100644
--- a/server/server.go
+++ b/server/server.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 type Server struct {
 	logger    *log.Logger
 	config    *model.Config
+	workers   []*Worker
 	birthdays []*model.Birthday
 }
 
@@ -32,7 +33,24 @@ func New(config *model.Config) (*Server, error) {
 		logger:    logger,
 		config:    config,
 		birthdays: birthdays,
+		workers:   []*Worker{NewWorker(logger)},
 	}
 
 	return server, nil
 }
+
+func (s *Server) Start() {
+	s.logger.Info("starting server")
+	for _, worker := range s.workers {
+		worker.Start()
+	}
+	s.logger.Info("server started", "workers", len(s.workers))
+}
+
+func (s *Server) Stop() {
+	s.logger.Info("stopping server")
+	for _, worker := range s.workers {
+		worker.Stop()
+	}
+	s.logger.Info("server stopped", "workers", len(s.workers))
+}
diff --git a/server/worker.go b/server/worker.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..805f86c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/worker.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package server
+
+import (
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/charmbracelet/log"
+)
+
+type Worker struct {
+	logger  *log.Logger
+	stop    chan bool
+	stopped chan bool
+}
+
+func NewWorker(logger *log.Logger) *Worker {
+	return &Worker{
+		logger:  logger,
+		stop:    make(chan bool, 1),
+		stopped: make(chan bool, 1),
+	}
+}
+
+func (w *Worker) Start() {
+	w.logger.Info("starting worker")
+	go w.run()
+	w.logger.Info("worker started")
+}
+
+func (w *Worker) Stop() {
+	w.logger.Info("stopping worker")
+	w.stop <- true
+	<-w.stopped
+	w.logger.Info("worker stopped")
+}
+
+func (w *Worker) run() {
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(1 * time.Second)
+	for {
+		select {
+		case t := <-ticker.C:
+			w.logger.Info("ticker ticked for worker", "tick", t)
+		case <-w.stop:
+			w.logger.Info("received stop signal")
+			w.stopped <- true
+			return
+		}
+	}
+}