Staying Safe on Rocky Top

As campus begins to welcome back students, faculty, and staff to kick off the 20-21 academic year, we would like to remind employees of the campus guidelines and resources available to help everyone have a safe experience on Rocky Top.

Complete the return-to-work training module in canvas.
Faculty and staff should complete the employee daily health self-screening form before coming to campus. View the form online or on the Tennessee app.
The campus community will be required to wear a face mask or face covering to slow the spread of COVID-19. View specific guidelines here.
Stay home if you are sick and know when to self-isolate.
The university will work with the Knox County Health Department to perform contact tracing. Please respond promptly to communications (text, call, or email) from local health authorities and the university's contact tracing team.
Monitor temporary space closures on campus to track areas that are closed for enhanced cleaning and disinfecting after being visited by an individual who is now self-isolated or diagnosed with COVID-19.

Stay updated on COVID-specific messaging throughout the semester by visiting the COVID-19 Information and Support webpage.

Upcoming Events

August 4 - Building Resilience Webinar / 11:30am-12:30pm (Email HRevents@utk.edu)
August 18 - Active Health Virtual Lunch & Learn [Work, Life, & You] / 12pm-1pm
August 25 - Healthy Lifestyles General Session / 12pm-1pm
August 25 - Virtual Employee Fitness Class (Bootcamp) / 5:30pm-6:30pm

Wellness Calendar

Download Be Well's August calendar for a little wellness motivation every day!

Photo's from July's Wellness Gardening Class: Terrariums

Healthy Lifestyles

Be Well's Healthy Lifestyles is a 6 week evidence-based program adapted from the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention Program. This program aims to help UT personnel create healthier lifestyles through physical activity, proper nutrition, and healthy habits. In the lunch and learn style sessions, participants will learn about the current recommendations for areas of health and wellness. Participants will set and work to achieve individual goals based on their current levels of engagement. Over the course of the program, participants will learn skill sets that will help them meet their goals and adopt a healthy lifestyle as part of their daily routines.

During Fall 2020, we will be offering two virtual programs open to all UTK employees, in addition to department specific programs upon request.

General Session #1: [Tuesdays] August 25th - September 29th / 12pm-1pm
General Session #2: [Wednesdays] October 7th - November 11th/ 12pm-1pm

Individuals who participate in the entirety of the program will be eligible to receive a $10 grubhub gift card and $20 amazon gift card.

Move More

According to the American Chiropractic Association, "one-half of all working American's admit to having back pain symptoms each year." It's no surprise that sitting or standing for extended periods of time have an effect on muscles and bones.

We have probably all been in this similar situation; you sit down at your computer to start chipping away at your to-do list and as time goes on, your shoulders begin to creep up towards your ears, your back begins to slightly hollow out as your body inches closer to the screen. You only come to realize how unnatural this position is when you begin to feel a dull ache in your neck and back, so you readjust and as time goes on you slowly fall back into the same position.

We can counteract this discomfort by incorporating regular stretching exercises into our work day. Desk stretches are a great way to prevent unwanted pain and stiffness. Click on the video below for quick and easy stretches when you need a little relief.

https://www.foodsafety.gov/keep-food-safe/foodkeeper-app

Eat Well

It is estimated that in the United States, about 30-40% of the food supply is wasted. While food is wasted at various points throughout the supply chain, it is estimated that 31% is wasted at the retail and consumer level (USDA, 2010).

So how long should you hold onto those items in your fridge? With proper storage, probably a little longer than you would think. Foodsafety.gov has put together an app that helps consumers maximize the quality and freshness of the items in their kitchen. Click here to give it a try.

Recipe of the Month

Chinese Sesame Noodles with Veggies

Be Mindful

Humans have become very good at multi-tasking and while sometimes being able to do many things at once can be beneficial, meal time may not be one of them. It's not too frequent that people sit down to eat a meal these days. Perhaps you eat while you work on the computer, grab a bite to eat in the car on your way to a destination, scroll through social media while you eat dinner; the list goes on and on.

Taking time to sit down and focus on the food sitting in front of you can actually be an enjoyable experience. In the mindfulness world, we call it mindful eating. Mindful eating can be described as using the 5 senses (sight, touch, smell, hear, taste) when eating. Research suggests that individuals who engage in mindful eating experience improved emotional eating and reduced external eating (cues) (International Food Information Council Foundation, 2019).

Mindful eating does not have to be a lengthy process and can continue on for as long as the individual likes. Try out the video below next time you sit down for a snack or meal.

Wellness Warrior

The Wellness Warrior Award is given to individuals across campus who are nominated by their peers for leading by example and inspiring through action as they work to create a healthier lifestyle.

The Wellness Warrior award for the month of August is awarded to Linda Arms. Linda works for the Center for Industrial Services within IPS. Linda has been a part of the UT family for 6 years and her favorite hobbies include tennis, biking, hiking, and reading.

We asked Linda what inspires her to live a healthy lifestyle and she told us "I try to eat healthy and make healthy choices so that I can live an active and healthy lifestyle and continue to do the things I enjoy doing long into my reitrement years." She is also inspired by a co-worker who consistently eats healthy and always has the best-looking healthy lunches. Linda loves being outdoors and spending time with her children and new grandchild.

Congratulations Linda, and thank you for being a model of health and wellness on UT's Campus.

Do you know someone who you feel is deserving of the Wellness Warrior award? Please fill out a nomination form to have their story told.

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