Health Trails

 

The University System of Georgia will be taking part in the 6-week long competition! This is an exciting new way to compete internally through teams and externally as a whole against other colleges and universities across Georgia. The program will be designed to allow you to track the following three activities: steps walked, gratitude, and participation in the financial IQ challenge. Simply set up your Fitbit or Jawbone device to the HealthTrails app and take on the virtual challenge for automatic tracking of your steps walked. The goal you set is up to you based on the minimum and maximum values listed below. Choose from exotic locations to traverse like Hawaii or Australia or more local areas here in the US.

How does it work?

Each time you record a HealthTrails activity you move along the trail. As you progress, you’ll see great images and vivid descriptions of that location as if you’re right there. It’s a fun, effective way to track health habits because you actually see your progress each time you record an activity.

What is the program goal?

Your goal is to travel 400+ virtual miles along the trails — you have many to choose from. The well-being challenge consists of the following:

Steps

• Goal: 6,000/day, 5 days/week
• Max: 25,000/day, 7 days/week
• Aim for at least 6,000 steps or more a day for the greatest health benefits, including lowering your risk for many chronic conditions. You may record as many steps as you’d like, but to encourage consistency a maximum of 25,000 steps a day will count toward your movement on the trail.

Gratitude

• Goal: 1/day, 4 days/week
• Max: 1/day, 7 days/week
• Cultivating gratitude increases happiness and life satisfaction; among other benefits, it also strengthens relationships, boosts the immune system, and helps you sleep better. Aim to express gratitude daily by writing a few things you’re thankful for in a journal, sending a note of thanks, or communicating appreciation to someone in person. You can record as many expressions of gratitude as you’d like, but to encourage consistency, a maximum of 1 a day will count toward your movement on the trail.

Financial IQ Challenge

• 1/week
• There are 15 quizzes in the challenge and a maximum of 1 quiz per week will count towards your movement on the trail. Play the Challenge every day to test your Financial IQ. Five winners will be chosen from each institution, at random, at the end of the challenge. You’re automatically entered for a chance to win TIAA promotional gear each time you play a session. Each day, 5 new questions will be added to the Challenge.

When does the program start?

Registration begins September 18, 2017.  You may begin recording activity on October 2, 2017.

Click here to Register.

How does the team competition work?

Can anyone start a team?

Yes. After you register, click the Team page to get started and invite others to join. The person who starts the team is the team leader. Remember, teams consist of 4 to 10 members (yourself and at least 3 others) — as soon as a fourth person registers and accepts your invitation, your team is official.

Must all teams have 4 to 10 members?

Yes. A team is not official unless there are 4 to 10 members. Anyone who isn’t on an official team can still participate in HealthTrails as an individual, but will not be part of the team competition.

Do team leaders have any special responsibilities?

Make sure 3 to 4 others register and accept your invitation to form an official team. Other than that, all team members are responsible for recording their own activity as well as encouraging and supporting each other in the HealthTrails journey. To have your activity count toward your team’s score, you must log by November 15.

Do all team members have to be in the same location?

No; since it’s an online program, your teammates can be across the hall or around the world. There are some advantages to having teammates close by, but the most important thing is to recruit players who are supportive and motivated to be healthy.

 

 

Fall 2016 HealthTrails Challenge Kick Off