Staff & Faculty Movement Break Challenge

Brought to you by UBC Okanagan Human Resources and Move UBC:

The Move UBC Movement Break Challenge is a fun and inclusive way to break up our sedentary time during our days for Staff and Faculty! Small changes can have a big impact when it comes to reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity. This challenge invites you to plan for, implement and engage with movement during your day to increase your faculty, department or unit’s total movement breaks. The best part? It’s free, simple and you’ll have a chance to win great prizes! Let’s get our campus and the communities we impact moving! Congratulations for last year’s winner, Faculty of Management with a total of 2387 reported movement breaks!

Submit your Movement Breaks 

Leaderboard 2022 Final Count

Faculty/Unit/Department

Total Movement Breaks
Academic and Career Advising 2280
School of Health and Exercise Sciences 1332
Faculty of Management 1027
IKBSAS Biology 710
Health and Wellness 665
Athletics and Recreation 296
Library 85
Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies 76
Creative and Critical Studies- Deans Office 15
Creative Studies 13
Student Experience Office 28
Security 7
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal Office 4
Facilities Management 4
Faculty of Applied Science 3
Campus Planning and Development 3
Office of Provost and VP Academic 2
Faculty of Health- Deans Office 1
Faculty of Medicine/Department of Physical Therapy 1

How it works 

Open to all UBCO Staff and Faculty, participate as an individual and/or as a team starting February 1st. Count the number of people (including yourself) that are impacted by the movement breaks that you initiate. 

  • Step away from your desk to go for a walk = 1 entry.
  • Take a walking meeting instead of zoom with one other person = 2 entries.
  • Implement a movement break in a lecture of 150 students = 150 entries.

Enter entries daily, weekly or at the end of the month. Choose the option that works for you. Fillable Movement Tracker is available. All entries must be submitted by February 28th 11:59pm PST. 

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded to

  • Random Starbucks prize draws for participation
  • Top 3 individuals who impact the most people with movement breaks will receive one $50 iTunes gift card.
  • Movement Break Champion Certificate and prize pack for the faculty/unit/department that implements the most movement breaks

Movement Break Ideas

Selected references and measures

Active Living Research. (2013). Research brief: Building evidence to prevent childhood obesity and support active communities. Retrieved from https://activelivingresearch.org/sites/activelivingresearch.sdsc.edu/files/ALR_Brief_ActivityBreaks_Feb2013.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). The association between school-based physical activity, including physical education, and academic performance. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/pa-pe_paper.pdf

Felez-Nobrega, M., Hillman, C. H., Dowd, K. P., Cirera, E., & Puig-Ribera. A. (2018). ActivPALTM determined sedentary behaviour, physical activity and academic achievement in college students. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(20), 2311-2316, DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2018.1451212 .

Powell, K. E., Paluch, A. E., and Blair, S. N. (2011). Physical activity for health: What kind? How much? How intense? On top of what?. Public Health, 32(1), 349.

Taylor, W. C., King, K. E., Shegog, R., Paxton, R. J., Evans-Hudnall, G. L., Rempel, D. M., … & Yancey, A. K. (2013). Booster Breaks in the workplace: participants’ perspectives on health-promoting work breaks. Health Education Research, 28(3), 414-425.

 

For further information and questions please contact crystal.westgate@ubc.ca