Introduction:
Welcome to the Wellness Day Your Way Toolkit! This comprehensive guide is intended to serve as a resource and inspiration if you are looking to host a full day wellness retreat, or just incorporate pieces of wellness into your upcoming staff retreat or meeting. Some of the activities can be implemented on your own. Others, such as presentations, may require scheduling with the GatorCare Wellness Team. Please contact Morgan Papworth at papwom@shands.ufl.edu if you would like to set up an activity.
Overview of the Wellness Program:
The UF and UF Health Wellness Committee, along with GatorCare, is dedicated to bringing wellness opportunities to all UF and UF Health employees. The wellness program takes a holistic approach to wellness, with initiatives, programs, and resources revolving around eight different dimensions of wellness: emotional, social, spiritual, physical, environmental, occupational, financial, and intellectual. The GatorCare website serves as a hub for all wellness resources. If you are interested in learning more about the resources and programs we have to offer, please visit gatorcare.org/wellness. The complete toolkit document will be located at gatorcare.org/wellnessdayyourway where you can view an electronic copy with clickable links.
Table of contents
This toolkit provides suggestions in three areas.
1. Activities- an outline of fun wellness activities to bring to your next staff retreat
2. Food and Nutrition- healthy and creative ways to eat better even at work
3. What's Next- continue to get involved in our wellness programs to continue your wellness journey with us
Read on to learn more about each section!
Activities
There are many activities available to bring to your next wellness day retreat, or even to a weekly staff meeting. They range in a variety of different exercises, from presentations on wellness topics, to making mindful glitter jars. Each one has a different purpose and are great for teambuilding, personal and professional growth, and overall wellness. So, these are great tools to incorporate into your next staff retreat to keep your team strong! By introducing your employees to wellness, it can inspire them to continue on their own wellness journey inside and outside of work.
Activities We Recommend:
GROUP ACTIVITIES
1. Teambuilders
2. Presentations
3. "Getting to Know You" PowerPoint Parties
4. Sharing Professional and Personal Goals
5. Recess Games
INDIVIDUAL ACTIVITIES
1. Coloring Stations
2. Deskercise
3. Body Compositions and Blood Pressure Screenings
4. Word Puzzles or Sudoku
5. Mindful Breathing Exercises
6. Creating a Mindful Glitter Jar
7. Service Stations
8. Assessment Tests
Lunch and Snacks
Offering a healthy lunch or snacks for staff keeps the momentum going with all things wellness. Cater a healthy boxed lunch from one of the places listed in the toolkit, or opt to have staff bring in healthy food in a potluck fashion. This can be a gateway tool in having a discussion on what is healthy and employees have the options to share healthy recipes that they have been liking. This helps create a sharing environment as well as motivating others to stay on track. Providing healthy food options can make a huge difference.
What's Next?
For wellness to have its full effect on your employees, it is imperative to keep the momentum going and bringing it into your everyday work lives. Luckily, we have many things you and your employees can do to continue on this wellness journey. We hope you will get inspired after reading through the toolkit and are able to incorporate wellness into your retreat and weekly staff meetings. This is a great way to kick start wellness into your workplace! The additional information below provides a few ways to keep the momentum going.
Complete a Needs and Interest Survey
This survey can be used to get a better understanding of what wellness topics and activities your department might be interested in. If you would like to offer this survey to your department please contact Morgan Papworth at papwom@shands.ufl.edu
Become a Wellness Partner
Wellness partners are representatives from departments across UF and UF Health who play a vital role in supporting employee wellness. Partners disseminate information, set up presentations, and encourage participation in wellness initiatives. Partners also provide valuable feedback to help the UF and UF Health Wellness Committee build a culture of health. If you are interested in becoming a Wellness Partner, please visit our website to learn more and fill out an application.
Sign up for the Wellness Newsletter
The Wellness Newsletter, sent out every Monday, is one of the best ways to keep up to date with current wellness events, initiatives, and resources across UF and UF Health. To sign up for the newsletter please visit gatorcare.org
Access the completed toolkit at
Credits:
Created with images by truthseeker08 - "hands teamwork team-spirit" • David Marcu - "untitled image"