Armor UP, Knights! Well-being Initiative

Belonging means feeling seen, valued, and connected. It’s more than just fitting in—it’s knowing you can be yourself and still be accepted. This month's challenge: do one small thing to help someone feel like they belong—invite them to join you, say hi, or just listen.

Belonging Practices for Faculty/Staff:

• Introduce yourself to a co-worker you’ve never met before and ask them 3 questions about themselves
• Sit next to a co-worker you normally wouldn't at a meeting and strike up a conversation (not work related)
• Ask a co-worker for advice on a work matter (someone you normally do not seek counsel from)

Belonging practices for Students:

• Introduce yourself to a student you never met before and ask them 3 questions about themselves
• Sit next to a classmate you normally wouldn't sit next to in class and strike up a conversation 
• Invite a student to a school event
• Seek out someone on campus or in your residence hall who normally does not socialize and ask if they would like to eat at the dining hall with you.

Caring for your body is essential for maintaining health both now and in the future. It involves recognizing the importance of regular physical activity, nourishing your body with healthy foods, getting sufficient sleep, and taking steps to prevent illness or injury. Additionally, effectively managing chronic conditions plays a key role in overall well-being. Physical well-being is a balance between responsibility consumption, activity and rest.

Physical Practices for Faculty/Staff:

• If able, take a walk around campus and say hello to people as you pass by.
• Attend an in-person meeting instead of zoom if given a hybrid option. 
• Stand up and stretch of walk around your office for 5 minutes every hour. 
• Drink only water for a day.
• Cook yourself your favorite meal. 

Physical Practices for Students:

• If able, take a walk around campus and say hello to people as you pass by.
• Take an online excercise class - pilates, yoga, HIIT, etc. 
• Drink only water for a day. 
• Cook yourself your favorite meal. 
• Visit the Kuch Recreation and Atheltic Center. 
• Check out TimelyCare's resources on fitness and healthy eating. 

The Mental Well-Being dimension focuses on cultivating a healthy mind through emotional awareness, psychological resilience, and cognitive balance. It involves developing skills to manage stress effectively, adapting to change, and maintaining a positive outlook, even in challenging situations. It encourages self-awareness, critical thinking, and emotional regulation—skills that empower individuals to make thoughtful decisions, engage meaningfully in their academics, and sustain a healthy sense of self.

Mental Wellness Practices for Faculty/Staff:

• Try a box-breathing exercise
• Take a true break from your desk - stand up, walk around for 10 minutes, grab a drink, connect with a coworker
• Make a gratitude list - write down 5 things in your life that you feel grateful 
• Attend a wellness week activity
• If possible, have a phone-free evening or weekend

Mental Wellness Practices for Students:

• Try a box-breathing exercise
• Take a true break from your desk - stand up, walk around for 10 minutes, grab a drink, connect with a coworker
• Make a gratitude list - write down 5 things in your life that you feel grateful 
• Check out TimelyCare's resources on mental health
• Attend a wellness week activity 
• If possible, have a phone-free evening or weekend