The Stay Active Challenge™
As part of our preparations for developing a new and innovative staff wellbeing scheme due to launch in 2012, from January a number of teams at the University have been taking part in The Stay Active Challenge ™ which is a fun and engaging way to encourage staff to become more active on a daily basis.
The Stay Active Challenge ™, which started on the 30th January 2012 and lasts for 3 months, combines cutting edge modern technology, and healthy competition to provide a fantastically innovative way for us to get healthier and have some fun along the way.
Most of us know we need to be more active, but how do we find the time, energy and motivation? The joy of The Stay Active Challenge™ is that it’s about movement and using more opportunities to be active, not about gyms or cycling around the Peak District – although if you do these, that’s great!
The Stay Active Challenge™ challenges people, in teams of 5, to be more active during daily life. While most activity programs focus on sports or a certain exercise regime, this emphasises incorporating small bursts of activity into your everyday life. It could be as simple as swapping the lift for the stairs, walking the kids to school once a week, or getting off the bus one stop earlier. And it’s likely that these new habits will easily become part of your daily routine once you’ve made the commitment to live a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Who is it for?
• Absolutely anyone can take part (no fitness required)
• It’s a completely level playing field; the monitor standardises all team members – it’s the increase in activity from the team’s initial baseline that matters.
How does it work?
• Participants are given an Activity Monitor (that you keep in your pocket or clip to a belt etc) that accurately tracks how much energy is burned during the day’s activities
• The monitor uses advanced 3D-accelerometer technology to accurately measure everything from walking to cycling or taking the stairs; all small bursts of activity count - even making tea.
• Participants are challenged to increase their daily activity levels and burn as many calories as possible over a 3 month period
Pilot:
• 6 teams from the Department of Human Resources
• 3 teams from the Department of Finance
• 4 teams from the Faculty of Engineering
Targets/success:
• 100% completion rate
• 15% average activity increase
• Overall health improvement
• Improved team working/camaraderie
If you, your department or your faculty are interested in taking part in future wellbeing initiatives please email m.j.ford@sheffield.ac.uk