Boise State University’s Health and Wellness Committee will host a 12-day employee wellness challenge in March aimed at reducing personal screen time. The event, titled “Unplug to recharge: Everything works better after a reboot, including you,” will take place from March 2 to March 13.
The initiative recognizes the necessity of screens for campus work but focuses on encouraging staff to be more intentional about their screen use outside of work hours. Employees are invited to participate by engaging in activities that do not involve screens, such as spending time outdoors, reading for leisure, or practicing hands-on hobbies.
According to the organizers, the challenge is designed to help participants improve their physical well-being, reclaim free time, enhance mood, spark creativity, and foster meaningful connections with others.
Throughout the 12 days, several events are planned. On March 3, an online Lunch and Learn session called “Unplug to Recharge: Moving from Reactive Habits to Intentional Focus” will be held with Jill Heney and Alexis Kenyon. Other activities include a lunch walk on the Greenbelt with Melissa Jensen and Keith Quatraro on March 4 and guided meditation sessions led by Fonda Portales.
On National Unplugged Day (March 6), employees are encouraged to choose an activity highlighted on a featured website. There are also opportunities for creative expression and mindfulness practices during the challenge period.
To participate fully, employees are asked to set personal goals for reducing screen time, track their usage daily using available phone features (such as built-in screen time trackers on iPhone or Android devices), and identify alternative activities. At the end of the challenge on March 13, those who complete a participation form will be entered into a drawing for one of five portable phone lock boxes with timers.
A bonus Rest and Reset challenge is also being offered through Regence Empower for benefit-eligible employees. This separate event encourages healthy sleep habits by promoting consistent bedtimes and less screen use before sleep. Participants who log at least seven hours of sleep on most nights between March 2 and March 22 can win prizes like a sunrise alarm clock or weighted sleep mask. Registration details are available via regence.com until March 9.
Employees seeking additional information can contact benefits@boisestate.edu.
