There are many opportunities to become more physically active at UCC. Daily exercise can be challenging, especially if the job you have at UCC is mostly sedentary. This is why we encourage a more active lifestyle on campus through the following resources available to staff at UCC.
Is sitting the new smoking? Animated explanation is available for information about this interesting talking point. Check out this video too!
UCC Staff Wellbeing & Development’s Tips for Physical Activity at Work:
- Take the stairs on your way to the office, whether it’s in the morning, at lunch, or on a break.
- Try a Walk & Talk meeting with another staff member; instead of meeting over coffee, try taking a 15-minute walk outside to discuss your business.
- Take advantage of the organised physical activities for staff on campus, such as events hosted by the UCC Staff Athletics Club or charity events that happen throughout the year. You can find these on Facebook, in the All-Staff emails, or on the Be Well calendar from UCC Health Matters.
The Mardyke Arena: visit their website or view membership discounts available to UCC Staff
A Guide to Active Travel in UCC: online booklet available here for more information on actively travelling to work.
UCC Staff Sports and Social Club: for information on what is actively happening within this organisation, visit their page here - be sure to view the upcoming club events!
- Join other UCC staff members for regular walks, runs, competitions, and more!
- Contact: sportsandsocialclub@ucc.ie
- UCC Staff Athletics Club: contact Ger Mannix g.mannix@ucc.ie
UCC Employee Bicycle Scheme: UCC has a plan to make it easier for employees to cycle to work. If you're interested, bicycle scheme information is available here.
Healthy eating is encouraged, and there are several resources to make healthier choices easier for you at UCC. KSG is the official caterer for the restaurants on campus, and UCC Green Campus ensures that there is an element of sustainability to food-related projects (such as Farm to Fork or Meatless Mondays).
In this section, you will find multiple resources for healthy eating and resources where you can find out more information.
UCC Green Campus: information on UCC's Farm to Fork, Meatless Mondays, Sustainabilty, and more! Visit http://greencampus.ucc.ie/food-health-well-being/
Where to Eat on Campus: including the Staff Restaurant - where to eat on campus - and the
KSG: visit the official website or check out their wellness toolkit
Food-based Dietary Guidelines in Ireland: information here
*Their messages are:
- Limit high fat, sugar and salt foods from the top shelf of the Pyramid to no more than once or twice a week
- Eat more fruit and vegetables, at least 5 to 7 servings a day
- Use the Pyramid as a guide for serving sizes and remember that portion size matters
Food Choice at Work: a unique public health approach to food in the workplace. More information on the project can be found here. Food Choice, a UCC spin-out business, have kindly shared with us their new Recipe Booklet which they have developed to celebrate their 5th anniversary.
Safefood is an excellent resource for nutrition, food safety, family eating, and tips for how to make healthier food choices.
Opportunity to contribute to Food/Nutrition/Sustainability at UCC:
Are you interested in contributing to Food, Nutrition, and Sustainability projects on campus? As a recognised health promoting university, UCC has several working groups that reflect various health topics and are made up of staff and students. If you’re interested in being a part of the Food/Nutrition/Sustainability working group, you can contact the health promotion project workers at UCC Health Matters: hppw@ucc.ie
Information Sessions delivered by Food Choice:
Nutrition for Optimal Heart Health
Supporting Women's Health through Nutrition
Nutrition for Better Men's Health
Additional Resources:
Find your balance booklet
Full portion size list
Intoxicants
For a comprehensive look into intoxicants, visit the UCC Health Matters webpage on Health Promotion where they dive in to various aspects/determinants of your health.
UCC, Alcohol, and the Student Experience (2013): document available here
UCC’s REACT (Responding to Excessive Alcohol Consumption in Third Level) Project: REACT explained
Resources for Help:
ePUB: UCC’s programme to help you understand your individual drinking pattern, your risk patterns, and your aspirations/goals - ePUB
Am I drinking too much? What is a standard drink? What are the low-risk drinking guidelines? If you’re asking yourself these questions, the HSE can help:
Alcohol and Your Health: http://www.askaboutalcohol.ie/
Need Help? Call HSE Alcohol Helpline 1800 459 459
Drugs and Alcohol Information & Support: available here 24/7
Understanding a standard drink of alcohol:
UCC encourages a reduction in smoking on campus through the enforcement of existing policies and by providing national support resources to help employees quit.
UCC’s No Smoking Policy: click here to view policy
UCC’s Smoking Restrictions Policy: click here to view policy
To get help with quitting for good, the HSE has a Workshop on Cessation available HERE or you can contact:
Freephone 1800 201 203 / Freetext QUIT to 50100
Not sure if you want to kick your smoking habits? Some of the most common reasons that people might want to quit smoking are listed below. How many apply to you and what you might want for a healthier lifestyle?
- To improve your health and reduce risk of life threatening diseases.
- To enjoy a better quality of life, to be fitter and healthier.
- To be a better role model for your family and friends.
- To have more money in your pocket.
- To regain control over your life – smoking won’t dictate your daily routine.
- To improve your image, have better skin, teeth, hair and nicer smelling clothes.
- To reduce the work you have to do to keep your home and car clean.
- To improve the quality of the air in your home for your family and friends.
- To improve your self-esteem and to be better able to deal with the daily stresses of life.
*Source (HSE)
