Make Your Meetings More Active

Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes.

Breathing Exercise

Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETING	STANDING BREAK	STRETCH BREAKS	BREATHING BREAKS	MOVEMENT BREAKS	WALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 min	x		x
2 - 4 hours	x	x	x	x
All Day	x	x	x	x	x

Did you know that National Health Education Week is celebrated in October?

October 17, 2024

National Health Education Week is celebrated October 21st to 25th.

Created in 1995, National Health Education Week has worked to raise awareness of the importance of health education specialists and educate the next generation of students. Each day of National Health Education Week focuses on a different health education topic. Monday, October 21 is focused on groups who are historically ignored and silenced. Some common factors are economic status, educational opportunities, environmental safety, and lack of health care access. Trauma, socio-economic status, and discrimination are all factors that can lead to the risk of developing a chronic disease. They are also reasons why people do not seek help for their possible mental health conditions along with the stigma.

(https://nationaltoday.com/national-health-education-week/)

At UC Davis Health, we offer a variety of health education courses including Nonviolent Crisis Intervention and Mental Health First Aid. Do you feel comfortable with verbal de-escalation? Are you able to keep a patient or person in distress from escalating? Learn how in our course we offer for both health and campus. (Activity Registration - SumTotal)

Have you ever dealt with a friend or family member who was experiencing emotional distress? Did you know how to help them? Learn how in our course we offer for both employees and students. (Activity Registration - SumTotal).

Feel free to register for any courses you need to make you more aware of topics surrounding your health and do things that are good for your mental wellbeing. Lastly, here is a list of resources for both Health and Campus.

UC Davis Resources:

ASAP: hr.ucdavis.edu/departments/asap

Counselor drop-ins: https://ucdavis.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_byI2jDrEAPyQzMa?Q_CHL=qr

Support U Peer Responder Program: clinicalwellbeing@ucdavis.edu

Our website: https://hr.ucdavis.edu/prevent-workplace-violence

Happy Health Education Week!

Workplace Violence Prevention Program

Contact the Workplace Violence Prevention Unit: