At the heart of every thriving organization or company are its employees. Balancing the demands of the workday can be challenging and time-consuming, often leaving little room for self-care and wellness. Recognizing this, the USF Health College of Nursing established its Office of Wellbeing. This office promotes and provides opportunities for healthy behaviors among all faculty, staff, and students. The Office of Wellbeing team has organized events such as virtual chair yoga, meditation challenges, and, most recently, a Summer Sweat Challenge to support and enhance the wellness of the college community.
John Luksas shares the view from his hike
The inaugural Summer Sweat Challenge saw 50 employees enthusiastically opt-in to participate. Each participant committed to a physical activity, set SMART goals, and tracked their progress over the 14-day challenge. Activities ranged from serene yoga sessions and lively dance routines to strolls with furry friends, offering a unique experience for each participant. One employee, John Luksas, even completed his activity while on PTO in another country.
“Just under five miles of hiking yesterday in Whistler, BC, home of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics,” Luksas shared, along with photos, in a group chat created for participants to share their progress and motivate one another.
After the event, 96% of participants who completed the post-survey agreed that this challenge motivated them to participate in physical activity. In total, over 539 miles were completed, and 1,907,875 steps were taken by participants. This is the equivalent of walking from Tampa, Florida, to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Dr. Amelia Phillips, Dr. Cheryl Zombraski, and Gillian Torr complete the movement challenge.
“We know that nurses, both current and future, tend to prioritize the needs of others above their own,” says Gillian Torr, health promotion specialist. “Part of our impact in the Office of Wellbeing is to ensure that we are doing our part in promoting a variety of programs and services that encourage self-care.”
Dr. Amelia Phillips, director of wellbeing adds, “Prioritizing our own wellbeing allows us to better serve others, whether that’s students, patients, colleagues, or even family members and friends.”
In the coming months, they will host a gratitude challenge, a meditation challenge, and continue their beginner-friendly chair yoga sessions.