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. Participants can engage with movement breaks with their work colleagues, students, family and friends. 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!
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.
- Get your family to make a snowman = 4 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
- Top 3 individuals who impact the most people with movement breaks
- Random draws for participation
- Movement Break Champion Certificate for the faculty/unit/department that implements the most movement break
Leaderboard
Faculty/Unit/Department |
Total Movement Breaks (as of February 1, 2021) |
Movement Break Ideas
- Random Acts of Exercise
- Movement Breaks
- Ergo Your Posture – pre-recorded – 15 minutes
- Ergo Your Posture – Wednesdays at 10am
- Blog on adding movement to your day
- Fitting movement into your day
- UBC Okanagan HES’s Take a Stand policy
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation Script
- Other Movement Ideas:
- Go for a walk outside
- Sit on a ball chair
- Commute to work at home – go for a walk/bike ride prior to and after work
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
