Welcome Buddies!
To your UBC Science Active challenge!
Your challenge starts on April 3rd!
What is BuddyBoost?
BuddyBoost helps you to kickstart healthy habits in a fun, month long challenge with the support of your work buddies.
Why buddies?
Doing the challenge with buddies makes it more fun, and it gives you the support and encouragement to keep you going. People who do our challenges with buddies do an average of 40% more days than those who try to go it alone.
What boost?
Exercise is proven to make you feel good. It helps reduce anxiety and depression, boosts confidence and helps you bond with others. And this happens every time you do it, so just think how great you'll feel after 26 days!
Your Challenge.
The mission, should you choose to accept it (and we definitely think you should), is to do just 26 minutes of exercise for 26 days in the month.
Why 26?
Doing 26 minutes each day means you’ll be meeting the guidelines for the right amount of exercise each week. And because it’s less that half an hour, it’s easy enough to fit into your day.
What activity?
It can be any exercise - walking, cycling, dancing, swimming, dancing or even underwater hockey (yes, we've seen it all!). And it doesn’t matter how far or how fast you go, just that you do your 26 minutes and support your buddies to do theirs. And don't worry if you miss a couple of days - the challenge will run until the 30th April so you can still get your 26 days in.
Many of our BuddyBoost activities will take place on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
This initiative is funded by the Faculty of Science Strategic Innovation Fund.
What are the benefits of joining?
FITNESS
"I'd put off exercising for years and now I've done 14 days in a row. I'm wheezing less and already have more energy to play with my daughter."
FRIENDS
"It's been great motivation to get me moving every day and I've loved the community feed and seeing what everyone is up to."
FUN
"I've loved being a part of this challenge and doing different activities depending on my mood and energy levels!"
What to do next
This challenge is open to all UBC Science faculty, staff and students. We look forward to seeing you in the community!
Download the BuddyBoost app from the app store, register and create a profile.
Find some buddies! Groups of 3-4 work best. Support each other to do your daily activity and then encourage your buddies with celebratory boosts (or gentle nudges if they need more stick than carrot!)
Join the UBC community by entering the code SCIENCES on the Community screen of the app. Then you’ll be able to post photos, messages and cheer on your colleagues.
Your aim is to do 26 days of activity throughout the month. You don't need to physically exercise with your buddies, (although that's never a bad thing for a bit of team-building). Log your activity everyday and track how it makes you feel (hint: awesome!).
When you've downloaded the app, go to the Community screen and enter
SCIENCES
to see how your UBC colleagues and buddies are staying active!
(And to be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes!)
If you'd like some help joining the community feed, or using any elements of the app, see below for some instructions:
