Health & Wellness
Challenge Update
A.S. Health & Wellness
Happy Spring 2021 semester!
The CARE Committee hopes everyone had a great holiday break, spending lots of quality time with your families! Now that we have entered the new semester, it is a great time to join in the A.S. Health & Wellness Challenge if you haven’t already.
As a reminder, all full- and part-time employees are invited to participate. This “challenge” is intended to encourage fitness and wellness activities of all levels, as well as continue to promote healthy opportunities.
Keep an eye out for the February Health & Wellness Calendar in this newsletter that includes daily events to help you earn more points! As always, employees are also encouraged to participate in their own health & wellness activities that fit their interests and hobbies, too!
Be sure to track your activities in the super simple Google Form at as.sdsu.edu/challenge. If you are new to the challenge, or need a refresher on how to add the form directly to your phone, check out these quick tutorial videos!
Staying Connected!
Join the A.S. Health & Wellness Challenge Facebook Group Page to upload your own photos, look for bonus challenges, suggested activities and share accomplishments and words of encouragement with your colleagues!
There is no sign up. Just get active and record your participation in the as.sdsu.edu/challenge. Stay tuned for more challenges, updates and fun times.
DIY with Antonio
Home Theater
Hi everyone! I’m Antonio Faustino Jr, Operations Supervisor in the Aztec Student Union. In past newsletters, we have given you awesome recommendations for TV shows and movies to watch while we are in quarantine. If you’re like me, I miss the movie theater and my TV at home is not big enough to resemble a theater screen.
I’ll be teaching you how to do a simple DIY (do it yourself) of a mini movie theater at home. Here is what you need:
- Projector
- HDMI Cable
- Laptop
- Laptop Charger
- Power Strip or Extension Cord (if needed)
- White Wall or White Blanket
Here’s the steps you need to take to make your own mini movie theater:
- Locate a wall or blanket you would like to project on. The wall or blanket needs to be as flat as possible with no texture to get the highest quality.
- Plug in your projector’s power cable into the projector’s input and plug the other end into a wall outlet or a power strip. Then turn on the projector.
- Plug in your laptop’s charger into your laptop and plug the other end into a wall outlet or the power strip.
- Plug in the HDMI cable into the laptop and the other end into the projector.
- Take off the lens cap (if provided), locate the projector stand to adjust the height.
- Locate your “keystone” button or “quick corner” to adjust the image and shape of your screen.
- Locate your “focus” button to adjust the image sharpness.
- Once all of that is done, choose your movie or show and enjoy!
OTHER TIPS: Use books or other items to adjust the height and placement of your projector. Turn off the lights in your room to get the best viewing experience!
A.S. Valentine’s Day Shoutouts
Although we’re unable to be together in person, it is still important to find new ways to show our appreciation for one another. In hopes to continue sharing the love in our virtual setting, we are excited to announce the A.S. Valentine’s Day Shoutout Board!
With this Padlet Shoutout Board, take a moment or two to post a quick word of positivity or affirmation for a specific individual, department or even a motivational message to all our A.S. employees!
Use the link above for easy, direct access to the A.S. Valentine’s Day Shoutout Board, where you can see and share your messages with the organization! There’s no sign-up required. Simply click the pink plus“+” sign in the bottom right corner to add your message!
A.S. Book Club
Update & February Book Selection
The February Book Club selection is: So Long, See You Tomorrow, by William Maxwell, which was submitted by Annette Scheid, Accounts Receivable Technician.
In this magically evocative novel, William Maxwell explores the enigmatic gravity of the past, which compels us to keep explaining it even as it makes liars out of us every time we try. On a winter morning in the 1920s, a shot rings out on a farm in rural Illinois. A man named Lloyd Wilson has been killed. And the tenuous friendship between two lonely teenagers — one privileged yet neglected, the other a troubled farm boy — has been shattered. Fifty years later, one of those boys — now a grown man — tries to reconstruct the events that led up to the murder. In doing so, he is inevitably drawn back to his lost friend Cletus, who has the misfortune of being the son of Wilson's killer and who in the months before witnessed things that Maxwell's narrator can only guess at. Out of memory and imagination, the surmises of children and the destructive passions of their parents, Maxwell creates a luminous American classic of youth and loss.
We will join us to discuss this book.
If you would like to purchase the March book early, we will be reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon.
If you have any suggestions or care to share your favorite book to read, submit it via the A.S. Book Club Suggestion Box.
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The "A.S. Employee Relations" calendar is updated throughout the year. To help you keep up-to-date, the 2020 A.S. Employee Relations Calendar can be synced to your Google Calendar. To do this, please follow the steps below:
1. Highlight and copy this URL (Do not click link to open):
https://www.google.com/ calendar/ical/mail.sdsu.edu_ u0jrusdofjm5lcfbtd4k2sj3co% 40group.calendar.google.com/ public/basic.ics
2. Open up your Google Calendar
3. Find "Other Calendars" on the left side of the page and click on the drop down arrow (Mac users, click on +) located directly to the right of it.
4. There should be 5 options from there. Out of these select "Add by URL" (Mac users, select "From URL")
5. A box should open up in the middle of the screen. In the empty text box, paste the copied URL from step 1.
6. Hit '"Add Calendar" and then it should be added to your "My Calendars" list.
Health & Wellness
February Calendar
Thank you to everyone who has participated in the A.S. Health & Wellness Challenge so far! If you haven’t joined in on the fun yet, it isn’t too late. Simply begin tracking your activities on the Google Forms Tracking Sheet here: as.sdsu.edu/challenge.
If you have any suggestions or recommended events that you would like to include on the March Calendar, please email the details to qbelcher@sdsu.edu.
= Hike - Health & Wellness Challenge
= Physical - Health & Wellness Challenge
= Mental - Health & Wellness Challenge
= General - Health & Wellness Challenge
= Family Oriented Activity
- National Get Up Day
This day is dedicated to perseverance! Keep moving forward and look to the month ahead as a new and fresh start to reach your goals. - Relax, Breathe & Let It Go!
Take two 15-minute breaks — one in the morning and one in the afternoon — to meditate and take just a few moments to decompress your mind! - Wellness Wednesday
Complete two different challenge tasks, and double your earned points for the day! - National Homemade Soup Day
There’s nothing like something homemade! Find a healthy broth or bisque recipe to warm you up on this cozy day. - 28 Days of Museum Moments
The annual San Diego Museum Month program may be different this year, but the free events and activities still provide some great family fun! - Get Active with Aztec Rec
Did you know there are nearly 100 instructional videos on Aztec Rec’s YouTube channel? From yoga to circuit training and more, find what suits your style and get moving. - A.S. Well-Being Challenge
Join the A.S. Well-Being Challenge this week by following @as_sdsu on Instagram. This student-led challenge will highlight dimensions from the "8 Dimensions of Well-Being" each day and demonstrate activities for each dimension. - National Kite Flying Day
Find a light breeze and go fly a kite! This high-flying holiday encourages kite flying and kite making. Get ready to soar! - Cardio Dance ARC Group Fitness - 6:00pm
Challenge a coworker to join you in the virtual Cardio Dance ARC Group Fitness Class. This fun, choreography-based class includes multiple music genres and incorporates toning with aerobic work using easy to follow moves. From the beginner to the highly experienced exerciser: the emphasis is on providing a fun and effective workout for all fitness levels. You’re sure to break a sweat with a smile! - Wellness Wednesday
Complete two different challenge tasks, and double your earned points for the day! - Write Someone a Thank You Note
An attitude of gratitude can go a long way for your mental health — and make someone else’s day too! Pass the positivity along by writing someone a thank you note today. - Go to Bed Early
Instead of a late Friday night, why not recharge from the week by getting more rest? Try and hit the hay a little earlier tonight and enjoy the weekend ahead. - Balboa Park Loop
Balboa Park Loop is a 4.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near San Diego, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for walking and running and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. - Share the Love!
What better way to spread the love today than adding a note on the A.S. Valentine’s Day Shoutout Board! It’s a free and easy way to stay connected to the A.S. family. - Music Monday
Find a new music artist that makes you smile or swap your music recommendations with loved ones. A music break is a quick and easy way to boost your mood! - Power Yoga ARC Group Fitness
Challenge a coworker to join you with some Power Yoga to end the work day!. This flowing version of Ashtanga yoga will help you develop strength, flexibility, and balance while providing you with a physically demanding workout. Hatha style breath includes a mindful and restorative component to complete your practice. - Wellness Wednesday
Complete two different challenge tasks, and double your earned points for the day! - Tecolote Canyon Trail
Tecolote Canyon Trail is a 6.7 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near San Diego, California that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. - A.S. Book Club - 4:30pm
We will gather for our monthly discussion. This month’s book is So Long, See You Tomorrow, by William Maxwell. - National Love Your Pet Day
Give a little extra love to your furry friends today. You’ll reap the benefits of stress relief and relaxation just by giving your pets a little more time and attention. - Family Game Night
Are you a board game fanatic? Spend the night with your family bonding while playing your favorite board games! - Gentle Yoga ARC Group Fitness Class - 6:00pm
Relax and release stress from both your body and mind. A classical form of hatha yoga, this slower-paced class is a safe way to begin a new yoga practice or deepen your advanced practice. Learn mindful breathing and relaxation techniques Gentle Yoga has to offer, and gets you set to have a calm and relaxing work week. Experience passive stretches that leave you feeling restored. - Relax, Breathe & Let It Go!
Take two 15-minute breaks, one in the morning & one in the afternoon, to meditate and take just a few moments to decompress your mind! - Wellness Wednesday
Complete two different challenge tasks, and double your earned points for the day! - National Chocolate Covered Nut Day
Indulge in a sweet and crunchy snack on this fun and tasty holiday. Dark chocolate or milk chocolate? Peanuts, walnuts or macadamia nuts? Find a combo that suits you and treat yourself! - National Tell a Fairy Tale Day
Share your favorite fairy tale with friends and family on this happily ever after kind of day. It’s a great way to take a break and get your imagination going! - National Strawberry Day
A juicy strawberry can brighten up any dish. It’s even delicious all on its own. Strawberries are a great source of vitamin C and can hit the spot when snack time is calling! - Three Sisters Falls
Visit one of San Diego County’s biggest waterfalls on one of its most popular waterfall hikes. On a winter morning after a storm, there’s nothing quite like the view of this giant three-tiered waterfall springing from a dry-looking mountainside. Three Sisters Falls and the nearby Cedar Creek Falls have become bucket-list hikes for many San Diego hikers. During wildflower season, expect to see poppies and wild mustard to add to the waterfall scenery.
15 Questions
Katie Hecker
- What is your name and title?
Katie Hecker, Outdoor Programs Supervisor - Which A.S. department do you work in?
Aztec Recreation. My job is to develop a love for the outdoors and teach leadership skills and good judgment to the students I'm privileged to work with. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have been coordinating the outdoor program virtual classes and events. I have also been supporting other areas of Aztec Recreation including MBAC with paddle rentals last summer and currently helping supervise at the Aquaplex as I possess a lifeguard certification. - How long have you worked for A.S.?
During my four years as a SDSU student I learned and developed as a Aztec Adventures Student Leader. Through connections I made at Aztec Recreation, I found the Challenge Course Graduate Assistantship at Western Kentucky University where I earned my master’s degree in Recreation and Sport Administration. After graduating from WKU, I worked for Shenandoah University as the Outdoor Program Coordinator and Outdoor Leadership Instructor. I recently got the opportunity to return to A.S. and lead the Aztec Adventures program! At the time this newsletter is released I will have worked as the Outdoor Programs Supervisor for a full year. - What do you like most about working for A.S.?
The students! Educating, inspiring, and bringing groups of students together in the outdoors is an experience of a lifetime. As an Aztec Adventure Leader Alum, I understand the value of watching student leaders graduate and apply the multitude of skill sets they have developed in our program to their chosen careers. - If you won $5 million what would you do with it?
I would buy an airstream and travel around doing all sorts of outdoor adventures, pay off my parents' houses and save the rest. - What is your favorite dessert?
Apple pie. It reminds me of home. - If you had one free hour each day, how would you use it?
To organize my personal life because I have too many projects and not enough time. - What is your favorite book?
I do not have a favorite book, but as everyone can probably guess I tend to read in the conservationist and adventure novel genres. - If you could start a charity, what would it be for?
I want to open a safe space where kids can come, unplug from technology, and learn something new. Hopefully they leave with a few tangible life skills. The idea has taken many forms over the years, everything from summer camps to community centers. - What is your perfect breakfast?
Potato Madness; a paddlers breakfast consisting of lining your Dutch oven with bacon, adding in hash browns and an array of veggies, and topping with cheese and eggs. Of course, it is served with a fresh cup of camp coffee on a river bank somewhere. - If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go?
Back in time to before the Colorado was dammed just so I could paddle the river from source to delta. - What’s the best concert you’ve been to and why was it so good?
Thriving Ivory at the Fillmore in San Francisco, CA. The venue is small and the crowd interaction was the best I have ever taken part in. - If you could be any color in a box of Crayola Crayons, what color would you be?
All the shades of green because the colors remind me of places I want to go. - What is your favorite new stay-at-home activity?
I am currently restoring a 1971 Honda CB100 motorcycle. - During stay-at-home are you ordering more take-out? What's your favorite restaurant for take-out?
I have actually been cooking more during stay-at-home. Shout out to Gage, OB Noodle House was one of my favorite restaurants when I lived by the beach. I am going to have to order some take- out, thank you for the reminder! (Gage Sanders shared this answer in our January newsletter.)
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FEBRUARY 2021
