National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day is May 6

National Get Fit Don’t Sit Day is May 6

National Get Fit Don't Sit Day™ was originally created by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) as an opportunity to increase awareness of the dangers of prolonged sitting and the importance of getting up and moving throughout the day—especially at work.

Research shows that sitting for long periods of time increases the risk of health complications. The ADA recommends breaking up sitting time with three or more minutes of light physical activity—such as walking, leg extensions, or overhead arm stretches—every 30 minutes.

Here at Kent State University, we value the health of our faculty, staff and students and seek to empower you by providing opportunities and the resources you need to get moving.

Get Fit Don’t Sit Day occurs annually on the first Wednesday in May. This year, we are going to encourage and celebrate movement all week long. Join us as we get up and move during the week of May 4 with a variety of great activities designed especially for you!

For the past two years, the Employee Wellness Team and Recreational Services have partnered on a Get Fit Don’t Sit Day event, typically hosted at the blue track behind the DeWeese Health Center, featuring an open walk, Poker Walks and more. This year, due to COVID-19 and related social distancing protocols, we will be offering a live virtual workout, your own Socially Distant Poker Walk and Get Fit Don’t Sit BINGO!

  • Join us for a Get Fit Don’t Sit Virtual Workout at 12 noon, May 6 – Please register, as space is limited so please be sure to cancel if you cannot attend.
  • Download your Get Fit Don’t Sit BINGO board. Be sure to check the checkbox of each activity you complete. Please maintain safe social distancing if any activities include additional participants. Achieve BINGO by checking off 5 squares in a row in any direction. Employees who achieve BINGO two or more times on their board during the week of May 4 are eligible for a “Make Yourself and Your Health a Priority” T-SHIRT! Email your completed board to wellness@kent.edu. Boards are due by Mon., May 11, at 5 p.m. Arrangements for t-shirt pickup will be made once employees can safely return to work
  • Hold your own Socially Distant Poker Walk with your quarantine crew. Click here for instructions on how to complete a Poker Walk
  • Snap some photos of you and your family or friends (furry, included) on the move and send them to wellness@kent.edu

Whether you choose to walk around the neighborhood, participate in a virtual workout or weed the garden, let’s get on the move together for National Get Fit Don’t Sit Week!

For questions related to health and wellness offerings for Kent State University faculty and staff, please contact Kim Hauge, director, Employee Wellness, at 330-672-7505, or wellness@kent.edu.

UPDATED: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 08:01 AM