EKU Employee Wellness Program

Our May step challenge proved, once again, that the sky is the limit for EKU Employees. Although it was a small increase, we hit an average of 6759 per day as a group. We have continued to climb with each month that goes by. Current reports show that we are already ahead of the game for June...just have to keep it up! 🚶🏽🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏾‍♂️🚶🏻‍♂️🚶🏾‍♀️🚶🏻

With June being Alzheimer and Brain Awareness Month, let's take a look at how walking is good for brain health:💡

-Slows Protein Buildup: Regular walking is associated with slower rates of cognitive decline because it physically helps slow the buildup of tau proteins in the brain.

- Boosts "Brain Fertilizer": Being physically active prompts the brain to produce BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor). This substance promotes the growth and survival of brain cells, particularly in the hippocampus, which is the brain's memory center.

- Strengthens Neural Networks: Walking has been shown to strengthen the connections in and between brain networks, actively improving memory recall and combating the onset of mild cognitive impairment.

Keep up the GREAT work, EKU!

No shortage of goods at today’s Madison County Farmer Market! 🍯

Located at EKU Carter Building Parking lot from 9am-1pm.

EKU Employee Wellness will keep you hydrated while out in the beautiful sunshine. ☀️

See you soon!

If you're looking for a challenge that works your brain, this one is it! In honor of Alzheimers & Brain Awareness Month, the June challenge is geared towards giving your mind a workout! 💡

Trying to learn phrases in another language acts like a rigorous workout for your mind. It challenges your brain to build new neural pathways, forces you to adapt to alternate frameworks of expression, and directly exercises memory retrieval.

Studies have shown that practicing a second language can help preserve your brain's white matter and delay the onset of cognitive decline or dementia as you age.

For the June challenge, your goal is to learn 10 phrases that you'd like to learn in a different language. Select basic phrases for simple conversation. Once you get these down pat, you may discover that you'd like to dig deeper and master a second or third language.

To earn the 10 wellness points in WellRight, be sure to log in WellRight upon completion. 📝

Tomorrow is Global Running Day! What does this mean? It means, it's time to get a group together and plan a run!!! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃🏼🏃🏾‍♂️🏃‍♀️

Our EKU Faculty/Staff Run Group will meet in front of the Crabbe library at 6:30am, tomorrow, to kick off the day. Please join and wear your maroon. Let's paint the campus maroon!!! 🤩

Running is a highly accessible, cost-effective workout that significantly boosts physical fitness. Just 5 to 10 minutes a day can lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, while longer routines improve mental health, sleep, and longevity. 💪

For those on an EKU health plan, be sure to log your EKU Faculty/Staff Run Group run for 5 points, tomorrow! 💯

EKU Employees averaged 6605 steps per day for the month of April. Our steps have gone up each month of the year 2026! Congrats to our top steppers!

How can walking be good for our mental health? 🤔

💡Nervous System Reset: Gentle movement lowers cortisol and shifts your body back into a calm state.

💡Chemical Boost: Walking stimulates the release of endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine - your brain's natural mood lifters.

💡Prefrontal Cortex Activation: It increases blood flow to the area of the brain responsible for problem-solving, emotional control, and calming racing thoughts.

Keep up the AMAZING work! 💪

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 😎

1. Prioritize Self-Care & Wellness
2. Reduce Stigma Through Open Conversation
3. Manage Stress & Anxiety
4. Support Social Connections
5. Educate Yourself and Others
6. Utilize Professional Resources (email [email protected] for more info)

The EKU Walkabout crew made its round around campus today and stopped to support Tracy during the Treadmill Challenge. What a great day of giving that it has been, so far! Click the link below to support Giving Day 2026! 💰



https://www.alumni.eku.edu/s/1763/24/1col.aspx?sid=1763&gid=2&pgid=2913&sitebuilder=1&contentbuilder=1nkw to sup

What a beautiful day it was for our Spring Pack the Track! Employees logged over 72 miles on EKU's track. 🤩 Our top walker was Amelia Krebs who logged 4 miles! 🚶‍♀️

The sun was out, the wind was blowing, and the legs were moving. Some sunshine and exercise are key ingredients to a productive day and fuel for energy levels. 🕺

Thank you to EKU Campus Recreation and BluMine Health for being on site to cheer on our employees and share valuable information.

Join us this Thursday or Pack the Track! Get some steps in, spend time with your peers, enjoy the weather and grab some snacks and giveaways. We can't wait to see you there!