Wellness Guide for Faculty at UIC
Holistic Wellbeing Through Physical Activity Heading link
As faculty members at UIC, nurturing your wellbeing through physical activity not only enhances your health but also enriches your professional and personal life.
Holistic Wellbeing Through Physical Activity
Here’s how you can integrate physical activity into your routine and support student wellbeing:
1. Physical Wellbeing:
- Physical Activity Guidelines: Aim for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly, supplemented with muscle-strengthening exercises twice a week. Regular physical activity reduces stress, improves mood, and boosts energy levels.
- Campus Recreation Resources: Take advantage of UIC Recreation facilities and services. New faculty members receive a complimentary two-month membership with payroll deduction. Explore fitness classes, intramurals, and facilities like the Student Recreation Facility (737 S Halsted) or The Sport & Fitness Center (828 S Wolcott) for convenient access to exercise opportunities.
2. Emotional Wellbeing:
- Stress Relief: Engage in physical activities like yoga, Pilates, or group fitness classes to manage stress effectively. Combating stress using mindfulness practices have been known to help reduce long term health complications, read more about stress response and wellness here.
- Social Connection: Join fitness classes or create intramural teams with colleagues to build supportive relationships and foster a sense of community.
3. Cognitive Wellbeing:
- Enhanced Cognitive Function: Regular exercise stimulates brain function, improves memory, and enhances cognitive abilities, contributing to sharper focus and productivity in teaching and research.
4
4. Academic Success for Students:
- Promoting Physical Activity: Incorporate active learning techniques in your teaching, such as walking discussions or standing breaks. Encourage students to join fitness classes, explore the outdoors, check out our esports game room, join an intramural team, try F45 or just relax in the spa/sauna to improve their physical health, which correlates with improved academic performance.
5. Exercise is Medicine® On Campus (EIM-OC) calls upon universities and colleges to promote physical activity as a vital sign of health. EIM-OC encourages faculty, staff and students to work together toward improving the health and well-being of the campus community by:
- Making movement a part of the daily campus culture
- Assessing physical activity at every student health visit
- Providing faculty with the tools necessary to strengthen healthy physical activity habits that can last a lifetime
- Connecting university health care providers with university health fitness specialists to provide a referral system for exercise prescription.
- Faculty who obtain a referral from their primary care physician are eligible for a free general fitness assessment and consultation. Family Medicine is a supporter of EIMOC.
7
By prioritizing your physical wellbeing through Campus Recreation, you not only enhance your own health across multiple dimensions but also inspire and support your students in achieving academic excellence through physical activity!
8
For more details on Campus Recreation facilities, programs, and memberships, visit UIC Campus Recreation. Let’s promote a healthy and thriving academic community together. A digital copy of the Campus Recreation Magazine can be found on the front page of their website.