UCI Healthy Holidays

UCI HR Wellness is here to support and help keep you motivated for a healthier, happier holiday season. Join your UC Irvine and UCI Health colleagues in focusing on physical activity, nutrition, and happiness throughout the end of the year. Whether you join the challenge, attend a webinar, increase your physical activity, or explore the many resources available, check out the UCI Healthy Holidays opportunities below to help motivate and inspire you.

2025 UC Healthy Holidays Challenge

A SNOW WONDER CHALLENGE
NOVEMBER 17 – DECEMBER 14, 2025

Registration opens November 3. Spots limited.

Join your co-workers and represent UC Irvine or UCI Health in the 4-week 2025 UC Snow Wonder Challenge. Stay motivated through this holiday season by celebrating your physical and emotional accomplishments. Record 3 types of daily behaviors: Be Active, Eat Healthy, and Spread Happiness to reveal winter scenes from around the world.

View the countdown at uc.snowwonderchallenge.com/.
Activity logging begins November 17.
Registration will stay open until November 24. Spots limited.
More Info: View the 2025 Challenge Flyer


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UPCOMING EVENTS

Upcoming events NOV. 18, 12 – 1PM:
Healthy Holiday Webinar: Avoiding Burnout - Self-Assessment Methods and Strategies for Self-Care (Coming Soon)

NOV. 19, 11:30AM:
Wellness Walk

DEC. 2, 12 – 1PM:
Healthy Holiday Webinar: Deskercise! Taking Care of Your Body During the Work Day (Coming Soon)

DEC. 8, 4 – 4:30PM:
Mindful Mondays

DEC. 9, 12 – 1PM:
Healthy Holidays Webinar: Emotional Eating: The Connection Between Mood and Food (Coming Soon)

DEC. 11, 12 – 1PM:
Life Resources Program: The Confident You – Taking Charge of Your Life

BE ACTIVE

Fit Squad – Onsite and virtual fitness classes at no cost to all co-workers for 2025. Registration required.

Wednesday Wellness Walks - Onsite exploration of the UC Irvine Campus. Free and open to all in the UCI community. Meet the Center for Student Wellness & Health Promotion and Campus Recreation staff for a walk that will incorporate mindfulness, meditation, and ecological education.

Campus Recreation Group Fitness Classes – Onsite fitness classes at the Anteater Recreation Center. ARC membership and Fitness Pass required.

Campus Recreation Personal & Buddy Training – Onsite customized personal or small group training with a certified trainer. ARC membership and additional fees apply.

Wellness Adds Up – Free virtual library of on-demand educational and activity videos including strength, flexibility, stress management, and more.

Workplace Mobility Stretches - Printable poster to help promote movement during your workday.

UCI Interactive Map: Walking Paths – Walk the UCI Main Campus, North Campus, and UCI Health – Orange with paths less than, and more than 1 mile.

UCI Ecological Preserve Trails – Go on an adventure in a 60-acre open space on the UCI Main Campus with trails and natural wildlife.

KINETIC – Fueled by The Irvine Company, KINETIC is a private fitness center that offers group fitness class for employees who work in UCI Research Park.

UCI Research Park Walking Map – Pick the route that's right for you, with walks along Research Park that vary from 0.3 to 1.3 miles.

EAT HEALTHY

Culinary Health Webinar Series – Join the UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute for a monthly webinar based on the UCI School of Medicine Culinary Medicine curriculum. Free to all employees. Registration required. View past recorded sessions and download recipes on-demand.

UCI Health – Live Well Blog – Explore healthy tips, the latest research, healthy recipes and more.

UCI Health – Healthy Recipes – Download healthy recipes by dietary consideration or by food category.

UCI SSIHI Learning Library Recipes – Learn to cook delicious dishes that are nutritious and easy to prepare.

UCI Staff Cookbook – Explore recipes contributed by UCI staff from tried-and-true recipes to family favorites and unique culinary creations.

UCI Campus Water Bottle Filling Stations – Find location of all the Bottle Filling Stations located on the Main Campus in Irvine.

Feed Your Potential 365 - inspiring ideas from expert chefs and dietitians to make healthy food, nutrition and lifestyle choices from UCI Dining partner, Aramark.

SPREAD HAPPINESS

Clash of the Cans Food Drive - You can make a difference in our local community by donating to UCI's 16th annual food drive. 2025 event details will be announced soon. Get involved by dropping off your non-perishable goods at any donation bins on campus and UCI Health – Orange or making a monetary donation to support the Orange County Food Bank and the UCI Basic Needs Center. Both organizations lead remarkable initiatives that provide essential food and personal care supplies to those in need. Your generous contributions will go a long way in funding nourishing meals for impoverished Orange County families and ensuring UCI students have their basic needs secured.

Life Resources Program - A free, voluntary, completely confidential employee assistance program available 24/7 in multiple formats to support all UC Irvine and UCI Health employees, retirees, and their dependents provided by ComPsych GuidanceResources. Resources include emotional support, work-life solutions, legal guidance, financial resources, personal development and supervisor support webinars, and more.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) - A certification course that teaches participants the skills needed to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Free to all employees. Registration required.

Mindfulness Monday Meditations - Join the UCI Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion for a journey into mindfulness. Explore different practices such as meditation, mindful movement, and loving-kindness meditation.

Faculty and Staff Mental Health Check-ins - The UCI SSIHI Office of Wellbeing provides free, confidential, virtual one-on-one support sessions by appointment for all employees of UCI Health and UC Irvine.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction – Offered by the UCI SSIHI, the program includes intensive training in mindfulness, meditation and body awareness practices. UCI employees receive a discounted rate.

UCI SSIHI Learning Library - Wellness education accessible to you anytime and anywhere. Explore instructional audio and videos on Aromatherapy, biofeedback and relaxation techniques and mindful meditations, as well as healthy recipes.

UCI SSIHI Restore and Rebalance Resources – Virtual on-demand resources including Yoga Therapy, Meditation, Acupressure, Massage, and more.