Daily Wellbeing Challenge Encourages Students to Engage in Health-Focused Activities

As students at Emory University navigate the rigors of academic life, they often find themselves overwhelmed by numerous commitments, from coursework to extracurricular activities. Recognizing the importance of personal well-being, many students are beginning to seek solutions that prioritize their mental and physical health. Among these initiatives is the innovative Wellbeing Challenge, spearheaded by the Center for Student Wellbeing.

Brynna Garden, a graduate student at the Rollins School of Public Health, exemplifies the struggle faced by many of her peers. Balancing a demanding course load alongside her responsibilities as a research assistant and co-president of the Emory Reproductive Health Association, Garden found herself neglecting key aspects of self-care. “I was ignoring my self-care completely—from insufficient sleep to poor eating habits,” she admits. Aware that these challenges could adversely affect her health, she resolved to take action by enrolling in the Wellbeing Challenge.

The Wellbeing Challenge offers both undergraduate and graduate students a structured approach to improve their well-being through daily prompts and reminders focused on various aspects of health. This pilot program was launched in February 2025, aiming to create awareness around essential self-care practices that foster a supportive environment for academic and personal success. Participants can receive daily messages via their preferred method of communication—be it push notifications, text messages, or email—ensuring that they remain engaged and motivated.

Each week of the Wellbeing Challenge focuses on a specific dimension of well-being, including emotional, environmental, financial, intellectual, physical, professional, relational, and spiritual health. For instance, recent prompts have emphasized relational well-being, encouraging students to establish and maintain strong interpersonal connections. The theme for the current week urges participants to “boost relational well-being” by completing five actions over five days. One such prompt invites students to express gratitude to someone in their lives, enhancing both their emotional health and their relationships.

Garden, who has now completed the first week focused on physical well-being, noted that the program helped her reconsider her daily habits. “The challenge reminded me that taking a short walk can be an effective way to care for my physical health,” she said, reflecting on the positive changes she is beginning to implement in her life.

Brandi Benton, the director of health education at the Center for Student Wellbeing, emphasizes the broader benefits of the Wellbeing Challenge. “It provides a framework for students to cultivate holistic well-being practices,” she stated. “This initiative is just one of many services Emory offers to promote health as a foundation for personal growth and academic success.”

With three weeks remaining in the pilot program, students still have the opportunity to enhance their self-care practices by enrolling in the Wellbeing Challenge. Interested participants can easily sign up online and take the first steps toward a balanced lifestyle. For more information on additional resources, students are encouraged to explore the offerings of the Center for Student Wellbeing, a vital component of Emory’s commitment to fostering student health and well-being.

By actively participating in programs like the Wellbeing Challenge, Emory students can take significant strides toward building a supportive academic environment that prioritizes self-care and personal growth as essential elements of their educational journey.