Be Well Sleep Well

Be Well is excited to launch a new initiative this month that is focused on promoting healthy sleep hygiene practices. Sleep awareness week, which is being held March 8th-14th, encourages individuals to make beneficial changes to their sleep routines as the clocks spring forward one hour.

More than a quarter of adults in the US feel tired five to 7 days per week and poor sleep is associated with many negative side effects. The current recommendation from the National Sleep Foundation is that adults need on average, 7-9 hours of sleep per night.

The goal of Be Well Sleep Well is to educate employees on good sleep hygiene, sleep mechanisms, and how sleep changes over the lifespan. To achieve this, we are launching a new webpage full of sleep resources, a 50 minute sleep hygiene presentation available upon request, and a mini sleep series to hear from experts in the field. Employees can visit the webpage to learn more about sleep and register for upcoming sleep events.

Sleep Well Resources

Upcoming Events

March 10 - Healthy Lifestyle (Start of Second Session)
March 12 - Be Well Sleep Well [Part I]
March 18 - Healthy Cooking Class
March 19 - Be Well Sleep Well ft. Dr.Theresa Lee [Part II]
March 26 - Be Well Sleep Well Panel Discussion ft. Dr. Theresa Lee, Dr. Ralph Lydic, & Dr. Helen Baghydoyan [Part III]
March 27 - Healthy Gardening Class
March 30 - Employee Fitness Class (Yoga w/ Rigazzi Wellness)
March 30 - HR Work-Life Sounding Board Meeting
April 1 - Grow with Be Well Employee Gardening Interest Meeting

HR Work-Life Sounding Board

Join us for the next Work-Life Sounding Board meeting on March 30 at 2:00 p.m. This group, facilitated by Thomas Cruise (Veterans Success Center) and Lori Smith (Student Disability Services), aims to connect, engage, and support staff in discussions about issues affecting work and life. The meeting will be a time to meet and talk with one another about the challenges we've experienced, and strategies we've devised, when it comes to balancing the demands of work and life. This will be a virtual meeting, and you may attend using this Zoom link. You may also email Thomas (tcruise@utk.edu) or Lori (lorismith@utk.edu) if you have any questions.

The Work-Life Sounding Board is also creating a podcast, which will be shared with employees in the coming weeks. Be Well Employee Wellness Coordinator, Danielle Bohn served as a special guest for the inaugural episode.

Move More

Over the past few weeks, Be Well has received so much positive feedback from employees talking about how the "Tennessee Trek" fall 2020 step challenge motivated them to move more throughout the day. While wellness challenges have start and end dates, our hope is that the habits employees develop by participating, continue.
This month we are highlighting the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and their efforts to foster a culture of wellness through their spring "Route 66 Step Challenge". All faculty, staff, and students were invited to participate and currently, there are 46 teams registered -230 participants! The goal of the challenge is to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of all members of the CVM community. We spoke with Luca Giori, Associate Professor and Assistant Director of Diagnostic Endocrinology Laboratory about the creation of this challenge.

What inspired you to start the "Route 66 Step Challenge"?

"In fall 2020 I participated to the TN Trek Step challenge organized by Be Well. It definitely pushed me and helped me in being more consistent with my physical activity and I had a lot of fun being part of a group. I felt I could not let my group down in the challenge and that pushed me in doing some activity that I would have never done otherwise for laziness. So based on that I decided to stimulate faculty, staff and all students at the UT CVM with a similar challenge but longer: 16 weeks instead of 4, practically the whole spring semester."
What feedback have you heard thus far?

"I received a lot of positive feedback and thanks for organizing the challenge. Several people mentioned that it stimulates them to be more mindful of their activities during and after their working days. If they see they are a little behind in their daily goal, they go out for a walk or push themselves in some activities. Students shared that even if they are under stress for exams they are now feeling the need to go out and do just even a short walk or play with their animals because it helps them in focusing more on what they are studying. And finally, I received positive comments from those who were used to live a sedentary life and now they are seeing the positive effects of taking a walk or have a light run or even go for a hike during weekends. It seems that the more they do, the easier it gets, and they feel better mentally and physically."

Spring Distance Challenge

Join the Knoxville Track & Field Club for a Virtual Spring Distance Challenge that will highlight the neighborhoods in the City of Knoxville and Knox County!

Start Date: March 20, 2020

End Date: June 20, 2020

We have created a Virtual Tour throughout Knoxville and Knox County that will highlight many of the historic neighborhoods within the City of Knoxville and Knox County. Finish our tour once to complete 225 miles or twice for the ultimate goal of 450 miles!

Simply run, walk, or hike your mileage over the course of the spring (March 20 - June 20) and log your miles online as you go. You do not need to exercise in Knoxville, Knox County or on our highlighted tour; you are welcome to log miles anywhere you desire! Registered participants can submit virtual results daily through their Runsignup.com account. Distance is required, time is optional. Virtual results will be accepted starting on March 20.

Each registrant will receive an official "Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Spring Distance Challenge" shirt, finisher's buff, and finisher's medal! Swag can be picked up locally at Eddie's Health Shoppe or shipped to you for an additional $5. We will notify registrants when swag is ready for pickup or shipment.

For more information or to register today, go here:
https://runsignup.com/Race/Info/TN/Knoxville/CovenantHealthKnoxvilleMarathonSummerMileageChallenge

Eat Well

Recipe of the Month

Easy Loaded Baked Omelet Muffins

Big Orange Pantry

The Big Orange Pantry provides food assistance for students, faculty, and staff attending or employed by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. To learn more, visit tiny.utk.edu/bigorangepantry.

Be Mindful

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 March is awarded to Virginia Fowler. Virginia works in the College of Nursing and has been a part of the UT family for 5.5 years. Some of her favorite hobbies include running and being outside with the family.

We asked Virginia what inspires her to make healthy choices and live a healthy lifestyle and she shared that her family is her biggest inspiration. "They are my biggest supporters in my health journey." Virginia has always enjoyed running but gave it up in her early adult life. Roughly 9 years ago she got back into it and is a much healthier person because of it. "I'm proud of the mileage I've accomplished (2 relay races, 2 marathons, multiple half-marathons, and 5ks). She shared that she may not be as fast, but she enjoys the journey.

Congratulations Virginia, 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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